Is Swim Team in Catherine Ellis's Future?

The girls took swimming lessons the first two weeks of June - Caroline's first swimming lessons and Catherine Ellis's second set of swimming lessons.  We belong to the J - love that place - and their swim instructors are top-notch!

We didn't start swimming lessons with Catherine Ellis until she was four, but she caught right on and was swimming and jumping off the low-dive by the end of her first set of lessons. 

So, this year she took advanced lessons and learned more about techniques, how to dive, how to dive to the bottom of the pool and retrieve items, perfecting floating, side breathing etc.  She loved every minute and while we didn't have Miss Anna this year, we had sweet Zach - who was just as wonderful!

 Protective big sissy watching over little sissy (who was screaming her head off!)

 So excited about her first lesson of the summer!

 Little mama watching over big sissy - these two are just the sweetest!

 Learning how to dive in the deep end

 CE and Miss Anna (her teacher last year and Caroline's this year!)

 CE's bestie, Clarke, who came to support her on the last night of lessons - love these two!

CE and Zach - most patient high-schooler alive!

I took several videos as well - the first is of her swimming half the length of the pool and the last two are of her learning to dive - we've still got some work to do on diving - it's hard - but we're working every time we swim!

Her goal this summer is the get better at her arm techniques, swim the length of the pool and learn to dive.  If we can do all of those, she'll be swim team ready.  It's something she's really excited about - and neither David or I are swimmers, so we're excited about learning more!  Happy swimming to you!

We like to party!

Summertime is just my favorite season ever - I realize many people feel the same way!  There is ALWAYS something to do, the days are longer, the kids play harder, sleep longer and it seems there are more hours in the day.  What's not to love?!

Our summer so far has had many play dates and birthday parties - something we know will continue into the summer - yippee!

Have to be sure you're dressed for summer - all the essentials - water bottle, necklace, 

heels, skirt, bikini top and big hair

 Splash pad play date - always a good time!

 Selfies with Mommy - this child....

 Dinner with sweet friends!

 CE and Parker - so precious!

 Me and Parker

 Saws Juke Joint with the Evans - doesn't get much better than this!

Cooking in the kitchen is HOT in the summer time - panties and heels only!

 Crafting at Claire's birthday bash

Hard at work

 Sweet Charlie and Mama Lauren - fun for all ages :)

 Peyton - the apple of Caroline's eye - she wanted to bring this puppy home.  

This puppy was glad to see Caroline go :)

 Archer's third birthday party - hugs from C!

 Archer and the Cain ladies

 They can still squeeze in the sink - Daddy's turn for bath time this night :)

Summertime is always the best of what might be - 

Charles Bowden

Old friends

Old friends are the best friends - that's so true!  A few weeks ago our friend Amy and her sweet family ventured to Birmingham to make a stop on their two week trek across the southeast as they were moving from Oklahoma to Maryland.  We threw together a quick girls night at the Cain house to catch up and play - we had kiddos for days and Amy even left one of hers at home - and several other friends were out of town.  

It was a girls only party and we had girls galore!  So much fun - there were lots of moving little people, so not a ton of pictures, but enough to remember the night as a special one!  

All the little ladies eating dinner 

 Bouncy house fun

 High in the sky

 All the little ladies one last time

Photography by Caroline - we're missing Catherine over on the left!

Lily's Baptism

My brother and sister-in-law's precious baby girl, Lily Grace, was baptized a few weeks ago in Auburn at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.  We were so excited to see Lily and the rest of our family and celebration her joining a wonderful community of faith that will be a strong foundation to anchor her as she journeys through this life.

It was a perfect day - gorgeous weather, great to be with family and friends, good food and sweet Lily - life doesn't get much better!

She looked gorgeous in her baptism gown that both her mother and aunt wore as babies when they were baptized.  Lily was on her best behavior, but honestly, she's always so well behaved - she has the sweetest disposition!

We enjoyed our time in Auburn and can't wait to see her again soon!  Happy Baptism Day Lily Grace Bates!

Kim, Lily and Andrew

Kim and her godparents

Godparents and parents and Lily

Andrew, Meme, Lily and Kim

The Cains and the Bates family - we were the last picture, Lily had about how it with smiling :)

Pre-K Graduation

Catherine Ellis graduated from pre-school on Friday, May 30th!  And yes, they do graduation for pre-schoolers now.  I love it because it's a fun moment to capture in life. And y'all know I LOVE a reason to take a picture:)

May 30, 2014 - 5 years

Before graduation and the fabulous production that Catherine Ellis and friends put on we headed to the doctor for well visits - doesn't everyone do that to start the day off right?!  I knew there weren't any shots for either this go around and we adore Dr. Farr - so it was all good!  They loved every minute!

Family and friends gathered Friday morning to witness Catherine Ellis's year-end play that they had been hard at work on for many, many weeks.  It was just precious and Catherine Ellis was a star of course!  I was not as prepared as I thought and ran out of video space on my phone, but I managed to capture the parts CE was in so it worked out just fine!

The stage was set perfectly:

The Rainbow Friends have been working on the set for months now!

Sweet little program

Rainbow Friends Productions presents:

Ladies and Gentleman: The Enormous Watermelon:

Catherine Ellis singing after the play

Our little family!

We had several family members and friends join us for the big occasion - it was so very sweet to have them all there.  Catherine Ellis is so blessed to have so many that love and cherish her - I know her village will raise her well - and believe me, we need all the help we can get :)

Meme and Caroline - front row and very inquisitive

Ms. Octavia and Catherine Ellis - we LOVE her!  She was CE's 4 year old 

teacher and one of the best we've had!

Yay for finishing Pre-K!

Proud parents!

Ms. Megan is CE's Pre-K teacher - hands down most

fabulous Pre-K teacher out there!  She's inspired what we hope will be a life-long passion for learning!

CE and the Greats - Auntie B and Uncle C

Meme and CE

Gran and CE

Coco and CE 

Besties - Clarke and CE - they are going to miss each other so much next year! :(

Clarke and CE introduced the play

These two adore each other - so thankful for Coco and her great love of CE!

Ms. Von - Pre-K assistant teacher and CE 

 Coco and Caroline

We are so thankful for the village that supports us, loves us, builds us up and is there through the good, the bad and the ugly.  While Pre-K graduation isn't a huge deal, it's super fun to support your children through all of their milestones in life - no matter how great or small they are.  Our family and friends always oblige us and jump in on the fun - Catherine Ellis and Caroline have no shortage of support to get them through the milestones of life.  For that, we are eternally grateful.  Thank you for loving us so well!

She was a wild, wicked slip of a girl.  She burned too bright for this world.

- Emily Bronte

Keep burning bright, Catherine Ellis!  We love you as deep as the ocean and as wide as the sky!