Swimming Lessons

If you want to go swimming in Washington you can - but you have to look for it and it's probably going to be inside or in a lake. I do not see the point in this :) (at least from a having fun standpoint) Plus it's quite often cold so we just never really went swimming. Everyone needs to learn to swim though so we would have given the kids lessons at some point. Here, however, there are swimming pools all over the place and little kids swim all the time. We knew they needed lessons as soon as possible but we weren't really sure how to make that happen. I eneded up figuring out how to get lessons at the YMCA and for only 30 more dollars we could also be members of the pool there for a couple months - totally worth it. They have a regular pool and a wading pool that has a splash park built in. The kids LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Swimming lessons began today. Kylie and I dropped the boys off and then went to the wade pool. I did not know how it was going to go. However, I did have to put them in the youngest class available where the parents do not go in. They were way bigger and older than everyone else in their class but it's really the one they need to take. The teacher obviously thought it was odd how old they were (and they look older). They had to wear these little floatie backpacks - which I'm quite certain would not hold the boys up and looked quite ridiculous on them :) Hopefully they gain some confidence and get better in the water. We may get them the next set of lessons after that or else wait till the first of next summer. Kylie will start next summer. They had fun though. Here are a few pictures. I was really far away so they wouldn't see me...

New Bed

Finally we have everything to get Kylie in her big bed. And it is BIG.
It is full size and parts of her crib are the headboard and footboard.
She is SO excited!!! We have to move some pictures around, get a
bedskirt, and then we will get her a nicer blanket in the fall. (the
boys always toss theirs to the floor - we will see what she does :) ).
We got a rail at a yards ale but it doesn't really work with this
setup. We didn't use a box spring though and just used slats so it
really isn't very high. We put her crib mattress on the floor next to
her for now in case she falls.
I'll post more pictures when I finish getting her room together. For
now in just wondering when she will get up in the morning and am just
a little sad - no more cribs in this house.

Tooth number two!

Summer Fun at the Pool!

Family Reunion

We hosted a little family gathering at our house this year. I would have loved to get more creative with the hosting but seriously have not had time. We don't often get a chance for everyone to get together in the family so we decided to make this afternoon happen. Here are some pictures... (unfortunately I didn't take too many)

Off to get some free chicken

Off to get some free chicken

Family Yahtzee!

July 4th

We had a great July 4th but alas, I did not take any pictures.... We had a relaxing morning and then went over to the family's house of a friend of Jared's that he used to work with. They have 2 boys that are older than our boys but they were very good with them. We went to their neighborhood pool and mini splash park. I thought the kids would flock to the splash area and steer clear of the pool. Not so. They used to not want to swim AT ALL. I do not technically own a bathing suit so Kylie went in the pool with Jared and loved it. The boys went in on their own and their head was just above water in the shallow end. I made them stay by the stairs since I have not invested in floatation devices for them (not wanting to spend the money only for them to sit on the side and cry :) ). They LOVED it. Made me wish our neighborhood had a pool. We'll probably try to go a few more times this summer. I'm just not sure what to do about floaties. With 3 kids the age they are, it's impossible to handle them all unless they can float. I need to get them in swim lessons too. Maybe I'll get the boys in this summer. I need to research that. Any suggestions are welcome. Then we went back to their house for a bbq and stayed until it was time for fireworks. They were doing a show about 5 min from us at 9:30 so we decided that was the best option. We were not expecting traffic going to our house and there were actually people parked in our neighborhood so Jared dropped us off near our neighborhood, drove home, and rode his bike to us. The show was great, the kids loved it, and we just walked home after. It was a great day!

A Little Catch Up

Our family has been looking for a second car. We thought we found what we wanted down in Columbia, SC (an hour and a half from here) and that's right by the zoo. So we went to check out the car (which was a no go) and since we have a year round pass to the zoo we spent pretty much the entire day there and had a GREAT time. It was HOT!. Nearly 100 degrees. At lunch it poured rain and cooled down significantly for the afternoon which was nice. We DID find a car, however! Jared really wants a honda wagon but those are really hard to find. Another option was to find a van that was more reliable than the one we have. The one we allready have is great for the most part but there are a couple issues that are very frustrating (I won't go into detail). We ended up getting a 2003 Honda Van that has lots of extra features and was really well taken car of. It cost more than a car would but we got a GREAT deal and now have something reliable. The people who sold it to us were Christians and were SO wonderful. Jared will drive the other van for a while while keeping his eye out for something else. We are so thankful God provided the finances to make this happen. I now have the freedom to get out and about during the day without having to drop Jared off at work and pick him up! :) Recently we went to a splash park with my brothers wife and kids (we get together fairly regularly). I did not know how it was going to go. We went to one last year and it was SO packed and there were kids (and adults) alot older that my kids were terrified and would barely go in. When we went the other week though we went to a different place that does not let it get as crazy. The kids LOVED it, and that would be an understatement! It was around 100 degrees that day so it was great to cool off. After that they played on the playground and took a train ride. They had a blast and we have plans to go next week with some friends of ours.