A Summer in Pictures (Part I)

As anyone who gets on the road in Baton Rouge can tell, summer is coming to an end and what a fun, exciting summer it was. Ashley and the boys survived their first summer together at home, and we managed to do a lot of fun things as a family of four. Since we didn't get to post as much lately, we're hitting you with a big summer in pictures recap (in two parts). You ready?

The first big activity of our summer was catching the circus in Baton Rouge. While it seemed a little long for kids, especially with an intermission, but Trace loved it. He especially loved eating popcorn and watching Dumbo (all elephants are Dumbo). Fisher even had a good time, mostly napping.

Summer's are also a time filled with birthday parties (including Trace's). For a while it seemed like we were going to a birthday party every weekend.

Trace turns 3:

A party at Lyndsey's Bouncing Tiger:

A party at the Splash Park:


Parker's 3rd birthday:


One of the big activities of the summer was Trace taking swimming lessons. The first day of class was an emotional one for mommy and Trace, but after that, he enjoyed it and learned a lot of swimming basics. With a little more practice, he'll be swimming without his floaties sooner than we know it.

Ashley and the boys caught a few story times and other activities at the library this summer. Trace even got to meet Harvey the Rabbit and Friends:


During the summer, the Ballard family also became members of the Baton Rouge zoo. Before Trace's birthday, Nonk Eli, Aunt Kassi and cousin Morgan spent the day (or at least as long as we could take the heat) at the zoo with us. Not long after this there was a new addition to their family:

We spent the 4th of July in Grand Isle and got to see the effects of the oil spill first hand. Actually, the only effects we saw were lots of cleanup workers on the island and no boiled crabs to eat, but thank you for the fireworks BP:

Fisher and Trace gained a new cousin this summer with the arrival of Gracie Mae on July 16, 2010:


That brings us to mid-July. One half of the summer down, one half to go. To end part one of our summer in pictures, we leave you with a few random shots to give you a flavor of the summer in the Ballard house:

Cereal and Veggies

It's hard to believe, but Fisher is already 5 months old. He is growing so fast and discovering new things every day. The other day, he discovered his voice, or should I say, his yelling voice. He isn't upset or anything, but he will just lay there and yell as loud as he can. He's just trying to make sure he inherited mom and dad's great singing voices.

At the beginning of this month, we started Fisher on cereal. Saying he doesn't love it is an understatement. He's gotten better, but he still blocks the spoon with his tongue, and you have to maneuver it around to make sure the cereal gets where it's intended to get. Ashley recently started with two feedings a day and introduced his first vegetable: sweet potatoes. He liked the sweet potatoes a little better, so hopefully with more flavors, he picks up on eating from a spoon quicker.

Trace supervising to make sure mommy remembers how to do this:

Daddy's first attempt at feeding cereal:

First vegetable: