Summer Life with the Winns

This morning our ward had a 4th of July program and breakfast. The opening song made me ball like a school girl. I've never really paid attention to the last verse in Star-Spangled Banner, and it's amazing. I'm sooooooooooo blessed and thankful to live in this free land that is blessed by God. Here's the verse:

Oh, thus be it ever, when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust!"
And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

The boys both loved the fireworks last night on Base. Luke was worried at first and just cuddled with Jess until he was ready to watch. Kade loved it though. We got them glow-in-the-dark swords which they loved....and had tons and tons of snacks. Turns out the show was only like 10 minutes so...we'll probably go somewhere again tonight.








Let's see, Luke can count to 30 (prety much...it get's a little crazy for bit in there but overall--he's awesome. He loves singing his alphabet and is so good at it. He loves doing ninja moves with Kaden and playing with play dough. Jess and I love listening to him talk now with so much personality--it just keeps coming and coming with that one--he's hilarious!
Kade read his first real book this week. "When Sheep Sleep" and now is all excited about reading. He loves math and counting by 2's, 3's, 5's and 10's. Not to mention he's awesome at cartwheels and round-offs and is literally on his head probably 10% of the time.



So I look like such a nerd in the next picture--but I'm teaching myself to ride a skateboard. Our neighbors had a yard sale last week and we bought a skateboard for $2. The boys really like it....but I sneak my turns in there way more.
In January when I went snowboarding in Utah-- it made me realize how much I missed it and this is the next best thing right (except the whole--pushing yourself on the skateboard--I like the "lift" idea of snowboarding.)
Anyway--we have a really calm neighborhood which makes it great for riding bikes and skateboarding at night (when the heat drops and we can bare being outside). Besides the fact that I look so incredible "awesome" being 25 and learning to ride...I love it. If anyone has any tips or ideas to share about skateboarding--feel free. I could use it!

Oh, and having a yard---YIKES! I'll have to get some pics in the blog next time because our yard/dirt and rocks with some green crab grass--is out of control! So wish us luck with that. The back yard hasn't been mowed yet because it's taken us FOREVER to rake the rocks out....turns out it takes a lot more work then just mowing and watering a lawn--WHO KNEW? That's our main project right now on the house. Super fun :)


Jess has started taking his camera around more and he loves it. He loves photography. He's been slowing getting as much information and taking short classes on how do take a good picture. I've loved the ones he took two nights ago. For Christmas he wants a flash, and he can't hardly wait.