More Botanic Garden Pictures......

Lots of fun in the sand and water area...watch out for falling sand!

There was a worm themed area with huge worm pipes coming in and out of the ground....they were so cool!

Claire taking a closer look at mommy on the top deck of the tree house!

Lily Grace & Claire taking a rest in the "birds nest" portion of the gardens. Our little chicks are so very cute!

Weekend with Family!

Well, our great family members, The Schiller Family, were kind enough to invite us for a day on Horseshoe Lake on their great boat. This was Claire's 1st time on a boat and Jesse's 2nd. They both had such a fantastic time! Jesse especially enjoyed riding on the tube, "Big Bertha!"

Claire had no fears and loves swimming in the lake with Uncle Tommy and all the cousins!

Peyton & Jesse after jumping off the boat again and again....

Jesse in action! Thanks to The Schiler Family for such a great Saturday!

Guess who started 3rd grade today.......

Holding up the big #3 before heading off to meet his new teacher this morning. Jesse wasn't too thrilled about going back to school....but the fact that he is going to have a "guy teacher" gave him a reason to be excited! We'll see.....

Jesse upon taking his seat, anxious to meet his new friends in Mr. Cook's class!

Well, there's lots going on around here, so I promise to post again very soon!
Love,Gretchen

Spring River Fun!

Well, Lance decided we should take an impromptu trip to Hardy, Arkansas to canoe down the Spring River with just Jesse, since he starts school in 2 weeks! Well, we had a blast and tumped over just once and made it back to Bartlett in one piece. Jesse enjoyed the time with just the 2 of us and we enjoyed the company as well!

Yes, I WAS doing most of the work.....

For most of the 5 miles down river, we could see lots of turtles sunning on logs, which Jesse just loved and had to get a photo of for the blog! Lots of fun in Arkansas and promises to post again real soon!

Love,Gretchen

Fun in July!!

Well, we've just been having a great summer and I'm so glad my kids never tire of the zoo!!! It seems like we discover some new event or activity every time we come! This zoo visit we had the pleasure of Nana accompanying us! The kids loved it because that means sno-cones!! It was a lovely day and not hot!!

My handsome boy really starting to look like a little man.....

Posing before heading out to Church on Sunday morning.

She was cooking while waiting on the rest of us to leave for Church...

Guess who found Jesse's old Halloween costumes???

Promises to post soon!

Love,Gretchen

More fun in July!

Well, we've had lots of fun over the last week doing many fun things around town. Yesterday we ventured to the Mud Island Riverwalk with our friends and neighbors Mrs. Amy, Ryan, & Baby Jillian. It was warm, but the kids loved splashing along the riverwalk in the cool water!

Ryan, Claire, & Jesse...standing in the "miniature" Mississppi with the "real" Mississippi right behind them...

Claire loves to dress up, and now she has an outfit like her baby Lily!

Gretch & kids on the river enjoying the music (see background) and mosquitoes......

How we love the Summer!

Jesse woke up on July 1st and ran straight outside, pajamas and all, to pick the 1st ripe tomato of the season.

Claire started swim lessons this week and is doing great! She sits on the edge of the pool until her instructor gets her and is holding her breath under water for 6 seconds.

Jesse and her instructor, Ms. Lydia.

We really have to get Jesse to stop holding his nose.....

Lance and his coaches and team at the end of season party. Lance is so proud of his Tigers this season!!!

A Few Final Beach Photos.....

More family photos from Uncle Pat! Here are Jesse and Claire and their cousins with Grandma Hydrick. We were lacking 3 of the Grandkids, but this is pretty good still!!!

The whole Hydrick Clan on the beach!!! We wer actually lacking the entire Presley Clan, but still had a pretty good showing! We missed you Presleys!!

My sweet husband on the beach after taking the kids out in the ocean and then building a snake out of the sand!!!

Orange Beach, AL

Well, Here are some more vacation pictures...this time provided by my Uncle Pat who was snapping pics all week long!! Thanks uncle Pat!

Claire under the tent after swimming in the ocean and playing on the sand all morning!

Jesse and his "cuz" Justin! We love you Justin!

Aunt Linda playing with Claire one evening by the pool!

Vacation 2009!!!

Well, first I'd like to say thanks for your patience. I've had lots of requests for me to update my blog, but we just got our internet connection back after 14 days! So, I'm way past due on posting, and will have lots more to post soon!

Of course, my kids live on the beach when we're there, and this is typical Jesse.......On the sand.....boy did he have sand in all his crevices!!

I love this one of Lance with the kids. They are smitten with their daddy!

My mom, grandma, and brother on the beach with us! We love you Uncle Tommy, Grandma, and Grandma Hydrick!!!

Last day.....not ready to depart...especially to a home with some storm damage!!!!

Promise to post soon! Love,Gretchen

More Vacation Photos.....

Obligatory family picture on the last day of vacation. The kids were so sick of pictures after the day was over!!

I love thisone!! Jesse catching a football in mid-air thrown by Lance!

Lance and Jesse went to a par 3 while in Orange Beach and had a really great time! Jesse got to drive the cart and loved that of course.....

Claire wanted that bulky lifevest on for the picture, but never wore it in the water! She didn't want anything on in the water so she could "kick the waves!"

On the way to Orange Beach, we stopped in Montgomery to see our friends the Hixons, who traveled to China with us! Claire and Mary Grace were in the same orphanage for 10 months! We see them yearly and the girls had a blast together. Thanks for the hospitality Hixon family!!!