Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

The first month of swim lessons is now over, cut short by the weather this week. Audrey started her first swim class this year, now that she is old enough to go without mommy in the pool too! She is fearless and loved every minute. In fact, for a few lessons she was the only kid in her class who would even get in the water. By the last class when they were jumping off the side to the instructor, she would climb up on the starting block and jump from there. I have a feeling that she'll be pretty good by the end of the summer.

Miles continued where he left off and just got stronger and stronger. In the last class he swam the entire length of the pool with no noodle or support at all. When his instructor would have him jump in and swim to her, she kept backing up until he'd gone over halfway, and then he went all the way back to the wall. Next month he moves up to the highest level in his age group and will work on his strokes. He really likes the frog kick! Here's hoping for nice weather to keep us in the pool.

Two wheeler!

We took the training wheels off Miles's bike this week. We rode the greenways in the park near our house. This is the end of about 2 miles of practice! Here's a quick video, it's hard to do without another person:

Tornadic Activity

What a crazy weather week! A wild thunderstorm Monday did lots of damage around UT campus, and left so much debris that on Tuesday morning Wayne couldn't get to his office. Their power was out anyway, so he got a work-from-home pass.

Then on Wednesday, we were subjected to about 12 hours of tornado watches and warnings, along with some crazy lightning and hail storms. We survived with almost no damage, just some slight dimpling to my car that you have to really look to see. A few windows at Wayne's office got popped, but overall we were safe from the storm. The kids and I did ride out one warning in the closet, stocked up with snacks and flashlights.

Even the fur-kids wanted to seek shelter.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with all those devastated by this week's storms.

sillies in the closet waiting out the tornado warning

Easter weekend: highs and lows

Unfortunately Audrey was sick over Easter weekend, so we didn't get a cute family portrait in our Easter duds. She had a fever Friday, but that was gone by the morning. Saturday she dressed out for the neighborhood egg hunt but didn't even want to to hunt. Miles gathered some eggs for his sister, so she wasn't without. As Easter morning dawned, she woke up sick to her stomach. When she threw up as it was time to get dressed, we called it and Wayne stayed home with her. Miles and I enjoyed a beautiful service then joined Wayne and the recuperating Audrey at Waffle House. Oh well. At least she was fine after that, and all are well now!

swim lessons! Miles is on the far left, Audrey in yellow in right group.

The wedding

No, not THE wedding, yet. On April 2nd my youngest cousin Shannon married Joey in Memphis. I was honored to read the first reading and Audrey was one of the flower girls. Here she is in practice mode.

The rehearsal dinner was catered at the Pink Palace, a beautiful setting for the evening. Wayne & I were seated next to the bar.

And also with my brother & Megan, Tiffany and my parents. Shannon came to greet us after the toasts.

Here are the girls ready for their big debut. People kept calling them angels, but Ellie (Tiffany's daughter, the brunette) was quick to correct: "We're PRINCESSES."

The little princesses with the Princess.

I was a little nervous about how they'd do down the aisle of a packed church, but they all seemed to love the audience. They walked tossing petals and smiling sweetly all the way to the altar.

The reception was on the riverfront and it was a fantastic spring evening. The groom's cake gave a not-so-subtle nod to his favorite past time.

The best part of the whole weekend is that the two monkeys seen here...

Got to visit with all of the grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins along the way! They stayed at my dad's house, so I still need to get copies of their photos to share. We stopped and Mimi & Pawpaw's  house for a visit.

And and Aunt Elizabeth & Uncle Shay's, where we played with YaYa & B and the cousins. Here is their "crazy" picture.

It was such a wonderful weekend, and we wish Shannon and Joey a lifetime of happiness!

my baby cousin Shannon and her flower girls!