Happy Summer!

Summer is officially underway. (Ammendment: summer is nearly halfway over! I started this blog post at the beginning of June!) Our first day at the pool came on May 26th. We had a pretty chilly spring and it wasn't super hot on that first day, but the kids were just so excited that the pool was open and we just had to check it out. In the past two weeks since then, we've headed up to the pool 5 or 6 times. Last week, the big girls started swim lessons at the rec center, which will last two weeks.

I've been amazed at how much they've learned in just a week. The first couple of classes were mostly made up of blowing bubbles, kicking, practicing a basic crawl stroke, and jumping off the side. I'm very happy with the class because it's only 5 kids with 2 teachers, but I was a little worried that it would be too basic for my two little fish. But after a couple classes of getting used to the water, the kids have started practicing more skills with kickboards, holding their breath underwater (on Friday, Addie was under for 16 seconds!!) and swimming for short distances all on their own!

5/26/15 First Day at the Pool for the Season!

5/29/15 Another trip to the pool. Elizabeth didn't get in during our first trip to the pool, and I was really hoping she would get in this time. She did get in the big pool when I was holding her, but she just sat on the side of the baby pool. She's very content just watching her sisters swim.

6/1/15 First Day of Swim Lessons followed by a pool playdate with our Robb friends

 Elizabeth began a "Let's hug Clark" game. Man, these Robb kids sure are awesome.

We started the next day with swim lessons again. Here are a couple videos of the girls learning to kick with kick boards.



Then we had some friends over for a pool playdate, and Elizabeth got in the pool on her own for the first time of the season. She's been a little hesitant around the water, so any dip she'll take is a big celebration.

The next morning, Emily began her strike against swim lessons. Addie got in, though, and she SWAM ON HER OWN!!!



I filmed how her teacher worked on the crawl stroke with her so that I can practice it with both girls at the pool:



The next day, Emily decided to get in for lessons! :) Here she is doing a back float with a kick board:



And here she is blowing bubbles. I think her teachers must have thought she needed some more practice getting comfortable in the water since she'd decided to skip the day before. Little do they know she's an absolute fish and isn't afraid of the water one bit. She just kept saying she was too shy to get in.





The next day, Emily was again to shy for lessons, but Addie and the class got to practice wearing life jackets and they got to jump off the high side of the pool into the deep end. It was quite exiting.

There will be more, but for now it's over and out!

Baby Hudson

Christa and Dave's baby boy Hudson was born on November 10th last year. Their little family of two became a family of three, and they couldn't be happier. Hudson is a very handsome and serious little boy, and his smiles are very heartwarming.

The happy family of 3

Hudson wasn't even two weeks old when we celebrated Thanksgiving, and everyone was very thankful for his presence!

At Christmas, Hudson got plenty of kisses and cuddles from his big cousins. 

Hudson and Christa came for a visit in January, and the girls were so excited to share their toys (and snuggles) with him.

By Easter, Hudson was looking less like a little newborn and more like a big baby boy.  He is just so handsome! 

Elizabeth says, "Go Hudson! You're so strong!"

When Christa and Hudson came for a visit in April, he was really starting to look like a big boy.

A couple of weeks ago, Christa, Dave, and Hudson came over for dinner, and after Hudson had a chance to acclimate to his cousins' enthusiasm, he started showing us his sweet smile.

Hugs. Gotta start with some hugs.

An attempt at a group picture

Sitting up like a big boy

Smile! :)

Say cheese!

Hey big guy!

Uncle Dave, what are you giving Elizabeth? ;)

Admiring his hair

Elizabeth is enamored with this little guy

We love you Hudson!!

Addie's First Best Friend

Addie made a best friend in preschool this year. His name is Trent, and her face always lit up so much whenever she had a story to tell about him after school. I often chatted with his mom, Jenni, while we waited for the kids to get out of school, and oftentimes we would let the kids run around together for awhile after school. We didn't have our first playdate until April, and then we had a few before the end of the school year, and all three girls loved playing with Trent. He is a sweet natured boy who had a lot of tolerance for three little girls surrounding him and competing for his attention (he has two older sisters, which probably helps!) Unfortunately for us, Trent and his family moved to Arizona at the end of the school year. I keep in touch with Jenni through Facebook and I will show Addie pictures of Trent that Jenni posts and she's always excited to see his face.

We ran into Jenni and Trent at the zoo in February. It was like striking gold and winning the lottery at once. Addie was so excited.

Of course, Trent was first on Addie's list of friends to invite to the girls' birthday party, and while all the kids were listening to the gymnastics teachers tell them the rules for play, Addie just couldn't contain her excitement and had to give Trent a squeeze.

On Saint Patrick's Day, all the kids were looking so cute in their green I just had to take a couple pictures.

Elizabeth and another one of Addie's friends, Mitchell, wanted to join in the picture too!

In March, Sue and Larry came out for their annual ski trip and we joined them in Breckenridge for a few days. Addie found a Ninja Turtle stuffie at a gift shop and bought it for Trent with her birthday money.

We got to go over to Trent's house in April, where the kids had all kinds of fun in his backyard.

Towards the end of the school year, Addie and Trent participated in the Tarver Trot. Here they are with their school mascot.

While Addie was having her Tarver Trot day, Emily was having crazy hair day at Little Lights. Even though the girls were at separate schools this year, it worked out that they both had special days, which was wonderful.

Addie is holding Mousie, the mechanical hamster she bought at a garage sale and became obsessed with for awhile.

Last day of school. Addie was so excited to wear the graduation hat she got to make at school.

~Bye Trent! We'll miss you, but we know you're going to have so much fun in Arizona!~