Sweetman Swimmers Graduation

I vividly remember pushing baby Charley in the swings at our neighborhood playground in the spring of 2012, when I overheard two other moms talking about "the very best swim program in town!"  For some reason I didn't have my phone with me, so I quickly put Charley in the stroller and repeated "Sweetman Swimmers" over and over until I got home to my computer.  It seemed a little odd to sign my baby up for swimming lessons, but it's one of the best decisions Craig and I have ever made for the girls.

When Charley was 2.5 years old, we were on a family vacation at the beach and as I put my stuff down on the lounge chair, I realized I didn't see her little feet behind me.  I quickly looked up and found her floating in the pool...just like she was taught at Sweetman Swimmers.

I always knew the lessons were good for her, but that incident made me a believer and huge advocate of their program.  Each summer we've set aside time and money for the girls to attend 1-2 weeks of classes, and this summer, Charley graduated from the program.  She not only knows how to do different strokes, but most importantly, I'm confident she can save her life!

"Doing Corn" in Kentucky

We are not always in town when Grandaddy Charlie decides the corn is ready, but we were this year, and Carter loved every minute of the process!  I remember going down to my great-grandparent's farm and "doing corn" on their back patio when I was the a little girl.  Not much has changed, or at least in my mind, since back then.  The men get up early and pick the corn.  The women provide the breakfast.  (Amma and I picked up donuts...definitely not the same as back then, but we did our best.) Grandad always says it won't be much because of heat or rain or animals have gotten in it.  It's always a TON...way more than he or we anticipate.  Then we meet on the back porch to "do corn."  To an outsider that phrase might sound crazy, but it basically means we shuck, silk, and soak the ears of corn.  Then, and only if you are an approved cutter per Granny Martha, we cut/cream it off the cob.  By now, we are approaching 9 a.m.  From there, we go in the house and cook it on the stove, let it cool, put it in bags and freeze it for the winter. 

It's a lot of hard work, but so worth it! I know the girls will cherish their corn memories on the back patio, just like I do.  

Grandaddy Charlie's Annual 4th of July Fish Fry