Last weekend we went to a baptism in the river.  The kids had a blast playing in the water. 

Tessa and her friend Sadie

Emma had a little bit of trouble keeping her feet clean.

…imply that my daughter cries and is clingy when I drop her off at Kindergarten (or sabbath school, or ballet, or last year in preschool) because I'm a stay at home mom. 

I'm not going to judge you for making the decisions that are right for your family such as going to work and leaving your kids in daycare, don't judge me for staying home with my kids!

Yesterday was Tessa's first day of Kindergarten.  (Where did my baby go?!)

Emma says, "I'm ready to go to school!"

Tessa by the entrance to her new school.

Tessa started out feeling a little scared and sad.

But it wasn't long before she started to warm up.

She found some friends to play with.

And was all smiles.

Happy First Day of Kindergarten Tessa!

I was inspired to color coordinate my books and join the Rainbow of Books group on Flickr (check it out for some amazing pictures of bookshelves organized by color) by Sundry at Sundrybuzz.  At the very least, it is a free way to add some eye catching color to a room.

We set out from the dock on our annual family pontoon party boat trip.  Grandpa is driving the boat.

Soon after, Emma takes over driving the boat.  She doesn't yet have a boating license so we all have to watch out for the boating cops.

It is possible that we might have brought too many floaties.  What do you think?

Kiara has to hold on to the big colorful star floatie so it doesn't fly off the boat.

Tessa isn't so sure about boating.

Braden, right before he had to jump into the water to retrieve Grandpa's hat.  (Grandpa's hat blows off every year and we have to go into the water to get it.)

(Video of Braden retrieving Grandpa's hat… the hat is the white thing in the water.)

Rogene plays the guitar to entertain everyone.

Tessa and Emma got into the raft with me.

Pam and Kiara go swimming.

(Video of Pam and Kiara right after they jumped in the lake.  I think they may have had some regrets about jumping in.  What do you think?)

Emma LOVES the water.

(Emma and me swimming circles in the water.)

Tessa decides to see if she can fit in Emma's floatie.  (Pretty brave considering she told me at least 100 times that she was NOT going in the water).

(Video of Darryl, Kiara and Pam chasing Tessa and I through the water.)

Tangled up in the floaties.

Braden entertains Emma while she floats in the raft.

Rogene relaxing on the boat.

Grandpa staying out of the sun.

All this fun is exhausting!

Creepiest part of the day… when the tree stumps crawled out of the water up onto the beach.  Yikes!

Highlights of the day…

Rogene, Tessa, Emma and I taking a little ride in the raft.

Pam and Kiara jumping into the water and then scrambling to get back out of the water because it was so cold.

The look of pure joy and discovery on Tessa's face when she finally got into the water and realized how much fun it was to swim.

Swimming under the pontoon boat with Kiara, who kept telling me she saw a fish because she knows that gives me the creeps.

Swimming Emma around in her floatie boat and listening to her laugh.

Watching Braden dive into the water to retrieve Grandpa's hat.

Trying to trick Grandpa into thinking we forgot the sandwiches. (Inside family joke.)

Waving to the other pontoon boats on the lake and making it look like we are REALLY partying on our boat.  Why this cracks me up every year I do not know.  But it does.

Here are some highlights from earlier this month when Rogene's family came to our house for a visit.

Bubbles in the backyard.

Trey contemplating who to soak with the SuperSoaker.

Anson plotting revenge with the SuperSoaker.

Actual evidence of Jordan and Anson playing with dolls in church.

Meet the President of Ecuador (inside joke, long story).

Riccoh plays some music.

Marj relaxing.

Jordan playing the guitar.

Andrew taking a break from the fun.

Rogene playing the guitar. (Yes, we have a lot of musical talent in the family.)

Lolo and Lola enjoying our local Mexican restaurant.

Lhevinne and her boys at the Mexican restaurant.

Marj, Rianna and Tessa at the Mexican restaurant.

Auntie Marj holding Emma.

Rianna getting ready to go to sleep.

Best friends.  Tessa and Rianna.

Group picture.

Lhevinne and the boys are ready for the long drive home.

Tessa decided to sing with Rogene in the praise team at church last week.  This is Tessa's current favorite song.

Here is the video I took.

And here is the video my sister took.

Rogene's cousins Mark and Myronie came to stay with us last Sunday night.  They were "just passing through" and we were lucky enough to get a few hours to catch up with them.  Tessa was thrilled that Myronie french braided her hair. 

Myronie and Tessa

Mark and Tessa

Thanks for stopping by Myronie and Mark!

Rogene's family came to our house for a visit recently.  There was a LOT of jumping on the trampoline going on.  Behold…

Trey doing his magic head bounce.  (Kidding!)

Trey walking the high rope.  (Kidding again!)

Jordan playing upside down soccer.

Rianna trying out a new hair style.

Tessa also trying out new hair styles.

Tessa got the hose and decided her cousins needed to cool down.

Looks like someone grabbed the hose and gave Tessa a little of her own medicine.

(Thank you to Rogene's brother Riccoh for the pictures, most of which were taken with his new and very cool camera.)