DJ's back stroke

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DJ basically taught himself how to do the backstroke. One day he couldn't even float on his back and the next this:

We had to video it to show Jerry, and figured we would share. :-) 

DJ showing off his new moves in the water.

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Summer is here, which means lots of pool time for us. DJ has pretty much taught himself to swim over the years and this year is no exception. He has figured out the front stroke and back stroke over the last couple of days. We had to video it to share with Jerry.

Please Help My Friend Jen!

My friend Jen has an awesome opportunity and I am hoping that someone out there that reads this can help her out in some way! With all that is going on here this is the best I can do for now, unfortunately. But I know that I have some awesome friends and family out there, as well as the random reader that could help her out.   Here are the details in Jen's own words:     Hello Facebook friend, future friend or random invitee! SHORTCUT: There are now TWO ways to sponsor! On PayPal.com, please use my personal email RelayJennnn@gmail.com. On Chase.com (Quick Pay service), please use jen.vargas@gmail.com. Thank you in advance for your support! Collaboration projects & pitches welcomed! HUGE, humble thank yous to those who have sponsored me thus far. If you are unable to donate funds, please consider supporting me by sharing this page on yours or with a retweet on Twitter. ... LONG VERSION WITH DETAILS: My name is Jen Vargas and I was one of 8,000 people in the United States invited by Google to participate in their Glass Explorers project. I am reluctantly sending out this event invite as a last ditch effort to try and secure sponsors to make my Glass For Good project happen. I certainly don't want to be seen as a spammer or charity case, and apologize in advance for using an Event Page for something like this. (Have seen them used for worse though!) Lots of info below, but it's important stuff. Hang in there with me... Have you heard of Google Glass? Google Glass might just be the most revolutionary thing to happen to mobile technology. Despite the privacy stigma already thrust upon it, I honestly believe Glass could do a LOT more good for a LOT of people. I could fill this text box with lots of tech specs that most of you probably won't care about, or I could SHOW you. Check this out... http://www.google.com/glass/start/what-it-does/ http://www.google.com/glass/start/how-it-feels/ What 'Good' do I hope to do with Glass? I am open to any and all project suggestions from anyone who sponsors in the state of Florida. Here are a few of my ideas so far: - Shoot short films on Glass here in Florida - Show people Relay For Life: Hunter's Creek, Florida (a 21 hour fundraising event) through Glass - Show people what Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Metro Orlando (5K walk in Downtown Orlando) is like - Shoot and broadcast (over air/web) the first tv show segment shot on Glass via Indie Cinema Showcase - Show readers of Central Florida Top 5 a Day in The Life of the blog - Show viewers live local events, openings and sneak previews through Glass. THE DEETS: I have 14 days (from June 6) to purchase Google Glass and 30 days (also from June 6) to pick them up. Google is asking all participants to travel to either New York City, Mountain View, CA or Los Angeles to pick up their Glass, and sadly is mandatory. To be as cost efficient as possible, my goal is to fly in/out the same day of pickup. My dream would be to visit Google's Mountain View campus but to cut costs, I will be traveling to New York City. PICKUP DAYS AVAIL (as of Sun June 16): - New York City (Chelsea Market): June 29 [3p], July 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13 [varied pick up times b/w 12p - 6p] MY CURRENT NEEDS: - Google Glass = $1500 - Travel (very last minute airfare, meals, taxis or gas) = $300-$500 - An **available friend with personal transport to take me to/from the airport and to Chelsea Market in NYC. **Gas & lunch money for said available friend above. **Available friend above will also be allowed to accompany me to Google HQ for Glass info session and fitting! - Spare airline miles? (JetBlue?) - Possibly a place to stay overnight, although I'm sure I can sleep at the airport or on a red eye flight. Total funds raised as of Sunday, June 16th: $860. If you are interested in sponsoring my Project Glass project, my PayPal address is **RELAYJENNNN@GMAIL.COM.** I chose not to use crowdsourcing sites for personal reasons... and also because every other Google Glass invitee used these sites to fundraise. I can't promise much in return for your kindness - at least not right now. Social Media shout outs are a given, a blog too. Maybe even individual blogs! Don't worry, I'll think of a creative way to thank ALL who are nice enough to support me :-)

If you can find it in your heart to help her out I would sure appreciate it! If you have any questions you can get ahold of Jen at one of the above email addresses and I am sure she will get right back to you!
The event page that I got the information above at is https://www.facebook.com/events/467654093321974/?viewer_id=538713168

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Family Movie Night at Riverfront Park

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The City of Columbia, sponsors a family movie night at River Front Park every Friday night of the summer. DJ and I went down and met my friend Aime last Friday night and enjoyed Puss In Boots.

From their website:

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What's Happening at the Parks this Weekend! 

MOVIES IN THE PARK 
City of Columbia Parks and Recreation is kicking off the annual Movies in the Park series at a new location this summer, Riverfront Park, 312 Laurel Street. The public is invited to come and take in a great, family flick at the amphitheater while enjoying the natural surroundings near the river. The series will continue this week through July 26. 

June 14 - Puss In Boots
June 21 - The Three Stooges
June 28 - Ice Age: Continental Drift
July 5 - The Croods
July 12 - Life of Pi
July 19 - Parental Guidance
July 26 - Spongebob Squarepants Movie

Take Me Out To The Ball Game... A Night Watching the Columbia Blowfish

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Here in Columbia we have a summer collegiate Coastal Plain League team, the Columbia Blowfish. This past Saturday night was military appreciation night, and since the weather was nice we decided to go downtown and take in a game. Let me say, I would rather pay the $7.00 a person to go watch these kids play than $30 or more to watch the pros play any day. It's just as exciting!

 Before the game started...

The City Of Columbia and several sponsors bused in a bunch of the new recruits from Fort Jackson to watch the game. I believe there were more than 1,000 present in uniform. 

The Fort Jackson Color Guard presenting the colors.

The Fort Jackson Band sang the national anthem.

Between innings the commanding General from Fort Jackson swore in some delayed enlistment kids. 

This gentleman led one of the charges in WWII and is the most decorated veteran alum from the Citadel. 

Natalie got a shirt. 

Blowy, the blowfish racing the kids from third to first base. 

DJ is the first boy in red there in this picture from their race. 

DJ and Blowy

Cutting the Army Birthday Cake

God Bless The USA fireworks and song at the Columbia Blowfish game

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At the Blowfish game on Saturday there were fireworks, and music, live music. So I recorded the singing on "God Bless The USA" :-) Sorry it is on it's side. Oh and when I panned away from the fireworks I was trying to show the Army kids behind us singing. :-)

Take Me Out to The Ball Game~Columbia Blowfish Military Appreciation Night

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Here in Columbia we have a baseball team the Columbia Blowfish. They are part of the Coastal Plain League, which is a collegiate summer league. Tonight at Capital City Stadium was military appreciation night to celebrate the Army's birthday. :-) The kids and I went out to catch the game, and had a great time. I will share pictures and what not later on, but wanted to share this video now. It is the seventh inning stretch and Take Me Out To The Ball Game, sang by about 1000 fairly new Army kids. :-) 

Poinsett State Park

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On our way home from the Gator Boys show on Saturday we stopped by Poinsett State Park to see what there was to see. It is beautiful! Both of the kids are looking forward to going back again one day soon so that we can explore more!

Hilltop shelter area

Lake and swimming area

DJ had to go swim!

Natalie took the time while DJ was swimming to enjoy her book!

More of the lake

Boat shed

2 of the Swamp Fox Murals

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On our adventures on Saturday we came across two of the Swamp Fox murals. I am looking forward to going back down one day soon to try and find them all!

The Gator Boys Come to South Carolina

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If you have watched Animal Planet, you have probably heard of The Gator Boys. They have a road show that helps support their alligator rescue efforts called Scales, Tails and Teeth. This past Saturday, I happened to notice on my Facebook timeline that they would be in South Carolina for the weekend. Once Natalie got done with her ACT, we hopped in the car and drove down to see the show. I like the fact that they do their best to capture the gators without hurting them, and even will buy gators from trappers that sell them for meat.  

DJ and Jimmy

Trey, Adam, and DJ

DJ bought a "chinese" gator and had them sign it instead of a picture. 

Jimmy and a red eared slider

.Trey and his pet snapping turtle

Aligator snapping turtle

Jimmy and Gladiator

Gladiator