::fimming lessons::

We just finished up 4 weeks of swimming lessons...

Their first session...

Chloe: back float, front crawl, circle arms, bobs, treasure hunt

Porter: kicking, getting his face wet, picking up "treasure" off the bottom of the pool, lots of games

Their second session...

Chloe: (advanced to level 3!!) treading water, elementry back stroke, refining level 2 skills

Porter: (level 1 again) lots of games, head COMPLETELY under water!!, kicking, back floating, more treasure hunts

They both did SO great!

Porter, especially after his first session, really warmed up to the water. He didn't even want to swim at first, and by the end of his second session, he was going completely under the water, and he didn't get mad when he got splashed (which is a pretty big deal:) ).

Chloe advanced from level 2 to level 3. She is a fish! When I tell her that, she corrects me and says she's a mermaid. Either way, she's a great swimmer! Her teacher in level 3 (a class full of mostly 8 year olds) kept saying "I can't believe she's only 5!!"

Next time (next summer)Port will move up to level 2 and Chloe will do one more session of level 3.

Some of us are really sad swimming lessons are over, but Coopie and I are kinda glad...

...see his red cheeks?? (this pic was right after swimming lessons yesterday)

It's pretty hot just sitting there watching (and wishing we could swim too ;) ).

We're proud of those two...glad they're getting comfortable in the water...they can't wait to take lessons again next summer :)

::discovery::

The kids and I didn't have any plans yesterday, so I called Grandma Kitty, and we grabbed Sarah (Matt and J were working on the shed) and met her & Papa and Billy's family for lunch at our FAVORITE restaurant...

After lunch ((YUUUUM)) we took all the kids to this fun place...

a little donation to start off

some horseback ridin' (they oughtta be pros since we just went to the rodeo and all :) )

doin' some cookin'

<>Chloe<>
gardening. shopping, lookin' in the mirror, makin' dinner, feeding Papa, mazes with Sarah, dressing up, ridin' horses, rock climbing

<>Porter<>

busy, climbing, drivin', lots of tongue stickin' out (that's when he's really concentrating), splashin', pumping water, grocery shopping, construction work, jumping

<>Coops<>

lots of scootin', goo-goos, splashin', holdin' Grandma, stroller, sleepy

a gust of wind

cool scooters


Nuggie got a little tired towards the end of the day

a stop at the gift shop (of course!)

Chloe got a make-your-own wand, and Port got 3 little tractors

(I'm sure we're all SHOCKED by their selections :) )

That is SUCH a cool place! We're excited to go again and show it to Dadduh.

Thanks Grandma and Papa for taking us :)

::rodeo::

We went to the Pioneer Days Rodeo last night!!

There were kids ridin' on sheep, bareback bronco ridin', saddle bronco ridin', barrel racin', lasso competition, bull ridin', motorcycle tricks, parachuters, fireworks...it was so fun!

checkin' out the livestock

all of us

it was SO hot! see all their red cheeks?

the parachuters (so cool!!)

that one had the Flag

saddle bronco ridin'

J and Sae caught a shirt!!

we all wore our boots (except for Coopie)

Us. Poor Coopie was so tired!

the kids LOVED the motorcycles!

me and my baby kangaroo :)

It was such a fun night! It was Matt and Jared and the kids' first rodeo experience. It was long and hot (at first), and the kids got a little restless, but once all the fun stuff got goin' it was great!

Thanks for goin' with us, J and Sae!!

::Chloe's last t-ball game::

Tonight....

...was Chloe's last T-Ball game.

The game ended a little early because it was SO hot outside (I think the temp was 98 when we got there)

The kids all got medals...

...and a cute group picture.

And, of course, a picture with the coach...

...aren't they cute??

It was a fun little season. She's the cutest runner EVER! (I was planning on videoing her tonight, but the game ended a lot sooner than I expected; so just take my word for it :) )

Matt's glad he got to coach, he liked being out there with the kids. We'll probably do it again next year :)

::lvd::

This past weekend was a little celebration in Matt's home town.

There are activities all week (golf tournament, service project, beauty pageant, etc.)

We participated in a few of the Saturday activities..

First was the Dam Race

4.7 miles around this little beauty...

...see the lake way out there? We ran around that. Such a pretty dam run!!

my dam shirt

a few of our little fans

our dam start

Papa's dam finish

our dam after picture

Papa's time: 37:30 (WOW!!)

Mine: 56.33

Grandma's: about 5 minutes after mine-not sure of her "official" time


After the race, we went to the parade.

It's a teeny town, so the parade is teeny too. They throw candy for the kids and it's just fun.

cute little cousins :)

waiting for it


oh! the candy!! (this is Port's pile)

watchin'

watchin'

After the parade, we went swimming

Matt was working on his parents' shed all day (I'll add a pic of that later)

To end the day, we watched some fireworks.

the kids LOVE ridin' our fourwheeler (they took this down to the fireworks)

most our our group

Coopie at the fireworks (he fell asleep later)

some glowsticks (of course)

Chloe and Keely ;) Aren't they pretty little cousins??

the fireworks

those red dots are the men lighting the fireworks just across the street. It's SO fun watching the fireworks up there 'cause we can be so close. They're so LOUD & so HUGE!

Fun, BUSY weekend. One of our favorite Summer traditions. Glad we got to go. Glad we got to see everyone :)