Ready...Set...JUMP!!!

There she goes! First time off the diving board! Claire just finished up her last week of swimming lessons. She passed level 1, which thrilled her to no end. She is well on her way to joining Emma and Joe in the deep end.

The best part of swimming lessons is that at the end, the brave of heart can jump off the diving board to one of their teachers (who are also very brave, because the kids tend to jump directly ON them, instead of in front of them!) Claire was hesitant early in the week, but by day 3 she was jumping with the best of them! Way to go, Claire!!!

Take Me Out to the BALL GAME!

Can you believe how blurry this picture is? I took it from my NEW phone...and this is the best it can do?!? Oh well, I guess I've learned that I need to bring my camera with me ALL the time.

Anyway, we had a GREAT time watching the Hagerstown Suns last night! This is the first game we've made it to all summer and the kids loved it! I'm not sure what they loved best; the peanuts, the ice cream, the songs, or the fireworks at the end. My vote is the fireworks...they were pretty great!

This is the first time we actually made it to the end of a game (usually we leave by the 5th inning), so I guess that shows growth, right! Now if only the Suns had won....

Use the Force, Joey!

Is that a Jedi?!? Why yes it is! Imagine our surprise when we stumbled upon a group of Jedi warriors performing in the park. Joey was quite thrilled to watch their battle sequences on stage....and even more thrilled when he was allowed to hold a lightsaber! We didn't approach the Jedi dressed in black, we assumed he was from the dark side, and we didn't want to take any chances. May the force be with you, Joey!

Bike Tour

Tio rode in a 40 mile bike tour of Antrim Township this weekend. It was a new event for Old Home Week this year, and over 100 people went out for it. You could choose to do a 12, 22, or 40 mile loop. The 40 mile loop went through the Martin's Mill covered bridge (in the background). Tio did great & kept up with the lead pack! The kids and I had fun driving around to see him at various points on the tour...he had quite a cheering section! Way to go, T!

A STAR is born...

Emma got her first taste of acting this week when she participated in Drama Camp at the library. The kids put on the production "The Best Day Ever" about a surprise birthday party. Emma played the part of Dani, one of the birthday girl's friends.

It was a really cute play, and it was impressive how well the kids did considering they only put it together in four days (thanks to Mrs. Fridgen who wrote the play and directed the camp!)

I think Emma has a future in show biz...watch out Hollywood!

And the Winner Is.....

...US!!! Yep, we won first place in a chalk art contest sponsored by the library! The theme was "scenes from our community" and was a part of Old Home Week (our town's homecoming that is celebrated every three years). We drew a postcard of Greencastle, complete with two of our town's landmarks...the clock tower and Martin's covered bridge.

The library has a chalk art contest every year, and we have entered every year, and we have NEVER won anything. If fact, when we were discussing what we should do for this year, Emma said, "Mom, we never win this thing." Of course I replied that it's not about winning, it's about having fun. Now I think my kids feel that winning is lots of FUN.

The best part...we won 4 tickets to Dutch Wonderland! We've never been there, and I hear we're in for a treat! The kids were SO excited to win, it borderlined on insanity. Way to go team Paci!

The Racers...

Emma & Joe competed in a bike race yesterday for Old Home Week.
It was "drag race" style. The kids were lined up two by two and raced down the street. They were timed between two lines painted on the road, so they were at their maximum speed for the timing. It was very cool!
I've got two speedy kids!