Out with a bang

Brennan is into dressing up with anything he can find

These last two weeks of summer are full of birthday parties, pool parties, a bridal shower, a baby shower and a wedding. On one hand it's hard to believe summer is just about over. But on the other, much larger hand, I'm ready for school to start.

Dallin's water skills have improved immensely this summer. Two months ago he didn't even want to put his head in the water. Now he's swimming all over and doesn't want to get out, even when he has shivering blue lips.

Brennan will only get in if I hold him, but otherwise he is perfectly happy to just sit on the edge and put his feet in. And yet he loves to put on his swimming suit and go to the pool and wear goggles. You know, just in case. Unfortunately we lost his water shirt in San Diego and all the stores seem to have sold out of them; this causes sadness every time we swim because he wants to "wear water shirt!"

Swimming Lessons

Spencer and Tyler have loved swimming lessons this week. Dallin was adamant about not doing them, and I've learned that Level I is a waste of time and money when all they do is teach the kids to put their face in the water. But as soon as he saw how much fun the boys were having, he really wished he was in there with them.

And lucky for me, the weathermen were way off on the temps this week. It was supposed to be over 100 all week, but it barely got above 90; it was cool and breezy for me in the shade, but of course the boys froze when they got out.

Day at the lake

Our friends Jake and Kristin invited us to their family's lake house last weekend. It's about an hour away, and we drove out Friday night after Spencer's party. One side of the house is all windows overlooking the water. We woke up early to see a beautiful sunrise over very calm water.
They have 3 kids - Hallie, Dallon and Layla, and they all get along really well. They're the ones we went to Disneyland with last year.

As soon as we ate breakfast and slathered everyone with sunscreen, the kids were in the water, swimming and kayaking. We had just given Spencer a snorkle for his birthday (a good one with a valve, not just a cheap one with a j-tube), and he picked it right up. At first the kids rode with Dave and Jake in the kayaks, but soon the older boys were able to do it by themselves.

Kristin and I packed a picnic lunch, and then we all got in the boat.

"Faster! Faster!" Hallie and Spencer got to ride on the tube first.

We drove their boat out to a little sandy beach where we swam and played in the sand and ate our picnic lunch. Layla and the adults mostly hung out in the shade, enjoying the perfect weather and slight breeze. Don't you just love her rubber band arms?!

Tyler (center) got to ride the tube on the way back. He loved it!

Dallin didn't want to go on the tube, so he drove the boat instead. Brennan fell asleep on the way back.

Then we dropped off the tube and went for a fast boat ride around the lake. We were surprised that the kids weren't at all afraid. I know I would have been at their age.By the time we got back it was hot! I heard it got up to 105 that day. The kids did some more swimming and kayaking, but then we all went back inside to cool off. After dinner Jake and Dave took the kids back down to the lake. It was an awesome day! And we didn't even get sunburned.