Summertime and the livin is easy...

I blinked and 6 weeks went by, but I'll try to recap what I can remember. We kicked off summertime with a weekend by the pool for Memorial Day and it was so much fun seeing the kids take to the water like, well, fish! Both kids are loving their puddle jumpers and since it lets us have about 2 seconds to breathe, we love them too! Gray starts swimming lessons at my friend Shelly's house tomorrow so we are eager to see how he does.

I had a great Mothers Day, sleeping late, church with the fam, lunch with the Patterson clan, and catching a movie with my big sis.

Adam and the kids gave me a gift certificate to a sporting goods store so I can buy a new tennis racquet and I am excited and terrified to pick the sport back up after 15 years. I've finally graduated from the ball machine to humans and actually subbed in a league last week and survived to tell the tale. It was both an invigorating and humbling experience, but I can't wait to get back out there and find my swing again. It's gonna be a long, but fun, road and I am so thankful to my sweet hubby for giving me the encouragement to go for it. He even went and hit with me one night a few weeks ago and I have to say, it was one of the best date nights we've had in a while. I might be seeing mixed doubles in our future!

P and Pop gave the kids an outdoor play set as an early, combined birthday gift and they have been using it like crazy. We've had several play dates back there and a couple of picnics in the tree house and if it's anything like the one my Dad built for me and my sister, I know the kids are going to make LOTS of fun memories on it.

We went to our first Levitt Shell concert and are kicking ourselves for not taking advantage of this Memphis treasure sooner. The kids had a blast dancing with their cousin Greer, eating ice cream from the Yolo truck, and blowing bubbles in the summer night air. And yes, Gray is SOAKED with sweat from all the fun. Poor child!

Last week, I had the privilege of hosting a jewelery party for my good friend, Katie. Several of my sweet friends and family members came to support Katie in her new endeavor and it was so much fun to get together and visit over wine and jewelry. I'm not sure if it was the cake balls or what, but the party was a great success and I am so proud of my sweet friend and her new little business!

I've had lots of requests for the cake balls recipe, so here it is!
Cake balls
- 1 package of boxed cake mix (can use yellow, white, German chocolate, or whatever suits your fancy!)
- 1 container canned icing (any flavor will do)
- 1 package of almond bark (alternatively you can use milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips)
- sprinkles or other decorative details

1. Bake the cake according to package directions
2. Once it is mostly cooled, crumble in a big bow
3. Add the icing and mix well; for cakier balls, add 1/2-3/4 of the icing container. For gooier cake balls, add the whole canister.
4. Freeze cake mixture for at LEAST 1 hour
5. Scoop into balls and then pierce with a tooth pick, skewer, or lollipop stick
6. Dip into melted chocolate, almond bark, etc and place on wax paper to cool
7. While still wet, add sprinkles
8. Let cool and then enjoy! (makes approximately 48)

To commemorate the end of the school year, Gray's First Baptist class had a performance, followed by a school-wide carnival with a petting zoo, bouncy house, and train rides to boot. In true Gray fashion, he sang his heart out and was a complete ham and we were oh so proud parents. In case you are wondering, he asked the face painter to make him look like a bull. What a mess that one is!

This past weekend was the FedEx St. Jude golf tournament and like we have for the past 9 years, Adam and I spent it at the Cole's house, which is prime location.... the 17th hole. Good food, good friends, good times! But, boy have things changed in the last decade or so....particularly with the addition of kids. What an experience!

That's it for now, but stay tuned for more summer fun next time!
Love,
The Pattersons