This and That...

We have been going non-stop around here! I mean really, non-stop.

I am so blessed and content with life right now. I mean, I would love to have a break from graduate school, but that is a part of life that will not go on forever and ever, so, I shall Endeavor to Preserver!

But in every other aspect of life, I am so blessed there are not words. My kids are growing up so fast. Sawyer and Carys we talking about God's love and power today. It blesses by soul to hear them talking about such things on their own and with such accuracy.

We had a nice visit to the Cahaba this weekend. The kids are just old enough to enjoy the water and for us to stay a few hours. We were equipped with beach umbrella's and lounge chairs. The kids loved swimming and playing in the river. With the water and the shade we were able to stay cool. Beside getting to enjoy our lovely Cahaba, we also had the pleasure of seeing four bald eagles. I got some shots of them, but even with the longest lens I had, they are a bit blurry. I will post them later. It was a awesome experience!

It was a bittersweet day as well. It was our last family outing with our best friend Bill {for a while}. He is gone to the trainer for a month. Yes, as the kids would say, THIRTY DAYS! Although we know he is in good hands, we miss him terribly!

I noticed this is my 199th post. I will have to develop a good one for #200!

I have accomplished a lot this weekend. I've been working on school work, Justin and I trimmed all the hedge bushes, I made pickles, and put up a 5 gallon bucket of corn. Its all in a day's work {make that a weekend's work} for a country gal!

Super Retriever Series...

Okay, maybe not, but let a dog dream!
A couple times per week Bill travels to various bodies of water with his daddy to retrieve. He lives and breathes to retrieve!

This evening, I was able to tag along {me and my camera that is!} I am particularity proud both of Bill's Skills and the photos I "retrieved."

Hope you enjoy!

Various Cottingham Happenings

So, as I mentioned we have been SUPER busy.
The kids had a week of swimming lessons. At the end of last summer Carys was jumping of the diving board and very confident. The first few weeks of swimming this year she was a little unsettled in the water. One week with Mrs. Jan did the trick! She is back to jumping in and swimming under. She loves to give underwater kisses!

Sawyer. Oh, Sawyer. When we opened our pool and when we were at the beach Sawyer still has his fear of the water. Even during his week with Mrs. Jan he was VERY hesitant to put his face in.

Something changed the week after lessons and he decided that the water was more fun than scary. He will now swim under with me holding his hands and he loves to explore how things look underwater.

Okay, since starting summer school we have been around the house a lot. The kids have been great to play in their rooms while I try and complete assignments. Many days, Carys changes clothes fifty times while Sawyer stays in his sleep shorts all day (with no shirt!)

Here, Sawyer on one of the rare occasions when he pealed the computer away from me. He was on Starfall.com and he was upset because he wanted to "save the planet" but he did not know what to do; again, shirtless!

For those of you who might wonder if the family you read about on the blog is our "real" family, her you go. This is what the scene normally looks like in Carys room. When I ask her how paper got all over the floor, she just smiles and says that the babies were learning to cut. She was sure to tell me that they are not very good at it yet. She thinks they are too young. Summertime means we (need to) vacuum every day and our rooms get cleaned at lunch, and then again before bed!

We consume an unbelievable amount of fresh fruit and veggies in the summertime. Here is a morning snack for the kids. Fresh peaches sprinkled with Splenda.

This is another "normal" scene in our home. We have a very strict no-kids-or-dogs-in-our-bed policy. It seems this rule only applies when we are IN the bed. As soon as Justin and I vacate, others take over. Carys is listnening to her "iPod." Which is not really an iPod, but a Phillips MP3 player. Santa brought both kids one as we decided they were too young to care for the iPods the requested, but these Phillips ones were great (spell that CHEAP) alternatives. I recommend them for young kids like ours. They are easy to operate and have adequate memory.

Have I ever told ya'll that Sawyer has some weird quirks? He prefers to sleep without a pillow case. I have tried to explain to him why he needs one, but I often find him like this (missing his pillow case) in the mornings.

Anyway, here are a few moments from our lives! God is Good!!

VBS Round-Up

This year our theme for VBS was Saddle Ridge Ranch.
The western theme sparked us to have a Round-Up for our kick-off.

Of course Sawyer thought this was the best VBS ever! Everyone was encouraged to dress in western ware, but that was difficult due to the heat.
Games included a "barrel race" where the dads became the horses. It was hilarious!

This is my favorite shot of the day!

It was a wonderful party and VBS was a great success.

Could Someone Please STOP the Coaster...

So that I might get off!

I feel as though I have been on a non-stop roller coaster ride for the past few weeks. I am not sure what all will make it in this post, just know it will be random!

College, a have moments where I think a graduate degree is WAY over rated. I know this is not true, its just a passing thought. I have spent the past few days staying up until midnight to try and complete all of the necessary assignments for my three courses. Two are totally on-line. Now, if you have never taken an on-line course, let me explain. Everything is written. All class discussions, written. All projects, written. You would think as much as I love to blog and participate in on-line communities replying to comments would be easy. Not so. I find myself obsessing over every verb (is that in the passive voice), every formatting issues (should I put that word in bold type?), everything!

When I signed up for these courses my objective was FINISH AND FINISH FAST. That was, excuse my language, stupid! {both of my children would shun me for using that word!} Now, in the mist of the work I remember my over all Graduate school goal; to have a 4.0. Somehow, I don' think that will happen if I continue to overload myself. I thought it would be easier to complete one extra course while I was not working. What I was not thinking about, was the fact that I am working the summer. It is more difficult to keep a house clean when you have three people living in it ALL day than when they are gone to school. There are more dishes, more clothes, more trash, and more toys everywhere. SO, I think I am going to drop one of the courses and take it again at a later time. :) I am smiling just thinking about it!

I have so much to share about Justin's birthday weekend, the kids summer fun, and more. I just don't have the time right now. Maybe later today...

Execllent News!!

For those of you who thought as though I had maybe fell off the planet, I am here!

I do have exciting news!

We are the proud owners of our very own satellite dish for internet service. It is a bow-hunkin dish too! I told the guy it reminded me of the "big dish" that we had growing up!

This "should" mean more lovely writings from Yours Truly, but there is a LOT of school work on my plate as well.

On that note...I really don't think I am cut out for on-line classes. It has made me realize (and question) that my communication skills are maybe not quite what I thought they were. I mean, you guys understand what I am talking about when I write. Right?

Anyway, the thing about grad school classes is that you are in there with people who are working on the doctorates and hopefully the teachers acknowledge that these students have had a little more practice with wordage and phrasing than have I {at least I hope!}

Yesterday was my darling hubby's 30th birthday!! You all know how I feel about him, but in case you don't...

Justin, you are my EVERTHING. My one and only LOVE!!!!

We are going to spend an evening at the "condo" AKA Drury Inn in Birmingham tomorrow night. The kids are finishing up swimming lessons tomorrow, so they will get to share their skills with dad in the hotel pool. Justin loves staying at hotels {**and this is our favorite**} I am sure we will have a nice meal out as well.

Guess what I am looking forward to doing late tonight after the kids go to bed and all is quiet and still...

No, not THAT! I was talking about uploading and editing pictures:) I am way over due for that relaxing activity. I have almost completed a t-ball book for Sawyer. I will post a linc once it is complete.

God Bless Everyone!