Swimming for the Reunion

We spent a couple days down in Richfield playing around for our reunion.  On one of the days we went swimming with everyone.  All the kids loved it and it was nice to take a dip in the pool with all the hot weather we were having.

Here's Kenna going down the slide.

Railey was a little nervous at first to go by herself.  But after about 3 times she was a pro and doing it all by herself with out anyone catching her.

All the big boys went down to the other end and practiced their diving and flips and belly flops and such.  This one is Seth

Here's Damen.  He has always hated jumping off the diving boards he doesn't like the water getting in his ears.  But he perfected the dive on this trip and isn't quite as scared to dive off anymore.  Good Job bud!

Oh what do you do in the summer time?

This is what we have been doing ALL summer! We got a "free pass" as the kids put it (you don't have to pay, or so they think) to the outdoor pool and have spent 2-4 days a week down there swimming. We definitely got our moneys worth this year. The kids love the diving boards, the slide, the basketball hoop (new this year) as well as playing with diving toys and teasing Railey. They have all learned something new this year as well which has been fun to see their excitement in the learning game. I love seeing joy in my kids eyes!

Seth loves to do cannon balls. I guess the slap of water hitting your backside is pleasurable??

Seth learned to do back flips. This is him going to do it then last second just jumping in.

Railey being my little fish

Seth getting ready to go off the high dive. He loves it!

Damen learned how to float this year and loves experimenting with holding his breath vs. letting it out.

Railey learned to go under water by "myseowp"

I told you there was joy at the pool

Railey coming out of the water. I kept trying to get the perfect picture of what her face looks like on most times out of the water. You know that pure happiness, I did it look all while laughing and giggling. Well it wasn't happening the day I took the camera, so this was the best I got!

While the Cats Away the Mice will Play

Steve has been gone since Sunday night. All of us miss him A LOT! I have tried to keep the kids entertained to just take their minds off of it. I keep telling them "well Dad would just be at work now anyway so stop thinking about it." But it's not working for them or me. But we are staying busy.

On Monday we went and did all the school shopping. Just call me nutso mom, because yes I took the girls with me. What was I thinking? But it's all done. I decided to do it all in a day so I wouldn't be an awful Mom for 2 different days.

On Tuesday I took the kids swimming. It was a milestone day at the pool. (I've wished so many times this week that I had my camera, but we sent it with Steve) Seth started doing flips off the diving board. Back flips are his specialty. He also does a thing he calls a "come together" (I don't know where that name came from) "basically Mom it's a cartwheel and a flip in one." "Seth they already have a name for that, it's called an aerial." However he tries to do dives and just can't. Who would have thought that a dive would be harder than a flip. I always thought I was just too chicken to do flips, but I can do a great dive. I've had it backwards this whole time.

Railey is now going under the water "by myseowf" She just bounces up and down all over in the water until she goes under. I will get a picture of her face coming up out of the water when Steve comes back, because it is priceless. It's a "I'm so proud of myself, I love the water, I'm big, I'm beautiful and cute and everything else" all in one little smiling look. It's priceless.

Damen started floating on his back and was pretty proud of himself for doing that. He loves diving for things in the pool but doesn't care much for going off the diving board. He says his legs always come open and it "really hurts my privates." Poor kid, we got to keep those legs together.

On Wednesday we went swimming again and also went and picked from the garden. Lots and lots of corn, green beans, couple squash, tons of peppers and my whole colander full of strawberries!

We do have great kids and I really am glad they miss their Dad it shows how important he is to them. They love him because he shows them love and shows them that they are the most important thing in his life. I know because he does the same with me. He deserves this break but we sure are looking forward to him coming home on Sunday. They look forward to skyping him every morning, though not much is said and the mic is fought over they can't wait to see him and ask if he has bought their presents yet and how big the fish were from the day before. Today Seth even made a sign to show on the video camera it said "The wrld's gratest Dad" and "I love You."

If you do end up reading this Steve we are really looking forward to you coming home but hope you have loads of fun while you're there!