Busy Summer

Oh my goodness, here I am falling behind on my posts again!  Sorry, we've just been out having so much fun lately!!  Let's see. . . I'll go back and try not to miss anything.

We've gone swimming a couple times.  First with our good friend Jan.  She has a pool membership, and invited us to join her.  It was a great transition into swimming with 3 kiddos.  Riley could swim with the pool noodle, and Jan and I could each keep track of Jayce and Amara.  I liked having the extra set of eyes/ears/hands for just my kids.  It was so nice that they could play, burn off a TON of energy (they were so pooped afterwards it was great), and I got to catch up with a good friend.  The second time we went was to my photog friend Nicole's house.  That was an AMAZING trip!  After the trip with Jan we went and bought some more swim stuff: a couple toys, a lifejacket for Jayce (just for my own peace-of-mind), and a snorkel and mask for Riley.  I thought he might do better at putting his head in the water with a mask on since he doesn't like to do that.  When I picked one out he got mad and said he wanted the one with the big tube too (snorkel).  So we got that one instead.  SO GLAD I caved on that battle!!!  Within 5 minutes at Nicole's pool he was putting his face in the water (shallow end is 3 feet, so normally he wouldn't stray from the stairs) and within another 20 he was swimming with his face in the water!!!  I mean, feet up, kicking and arms doggie-paddling!  HE NEVER PICKS HIS FEET OFF THE GROUND!!!  I was so proud of him!  He was doing amazing!  He still won't dive under, and only "snorkels", but I don't care, it will come with time and confidence.  Jayce even got a little more bold and let me carry him around the pool.  I think we are going to do lessons with them both later on in the summer, so hopefully we can build their confidence.  I'm looking forward to many more fun swimming trips with these 2!  Here's some pictures from our swimming adventures:

in the baby pool at Jan's

In the big pool at Jan's

Sun-Bathing!

New Snorkel!!

Swimming!!!!

He sat on the steps "fishing" most of the day

Nicole having some fun with Hayden

Other wet news:  We've been playing a lot in the sprinklers, or just buckets of water.  Yesterday we even went to the Splash Park at Spring Canyon.  I let Riley take his friend Zack from school, and they had so much fun!!  Naturally it was the coldest day of the summer thus far, only 81 and windy and rainy.  But they didn't mind.  They didn't play in the water very long, and we headed out early after it started raining, but it was really good to get them together.  Zack seems to be coming out of his shell a little more, so I'm happy to contribute to that. 

At the Splash Park with Zack

Best Buds

Another regular thing we do is head to the movies.  On Tuesdays there are a couple theaters doing cheap movies, so we can pick what movies we want to see. We've gone 2 weeks in a row now, and the boys really enjoy it.  I'm just glad it only costs $1-2 per person, and it is kid-friendly.  A great way to transition them into real movie theater settings (noisy, prolonged sitting, etc.)

One night I was in the mood for smores, so my wonderful husband humored me!  He built a fire in the firepit, even though it was still 90 degrees out at 7:00!  I ran into the gas station for some hershey bars, and we roasted marshmallows for smores.  It was so good! And nice and relaxing to just spend some time together as a family.  I can't wait to go camping later this summer and enjoy my family like that!

Trying to eat 1/2 the gianormous marshmallow

I also got to go on a couple more Girl's Night Out events.  One was a sewing class.  I've been itching to do some sewing, but my machine is older than me about 3 times over, and it really intimidates me!  So my friend Trista found a class at Joann's where I could use their sewing machine, and then have someone walk me through a project.  So we did it!!  (Thankfully Trista came along for moral support, even though she is quite the seamstress and doesn't need a introductory class like that - you can see her fashionable designs here: Sweet Pea Boutique) The other was another Painting class at Picasso and Wine - I told you I was Addicted!!!  It was another cow painting, this one a little more cartoony, and fun!!  I loved it!  Once again it was with Trista, but that's part of the best part!  She loves cows as much as I do, so it was perfect!

Who'd have thought this would turn into a cute cow like . . .

THIS!!!

Trista and I and our Cows!

Father's Day was another laid back day.  We didn't do anything super special.  Made Daddy breakfast, gave him our homemade cards and fingerpaintings and some pictures I put together for a tri-fold frame he has at work:

Then he went to get a Massage!!  Mommy LOVES getting massages, and with all the running and stress daddy has been under she knew he would benefit from a massage greatly! And he did!!  I'm so glad I just went ahead and booked it for him.  He deserves the best, because he is the best. dad. period.  I can't say enough about how wonderful he has been as a partner in parenting.

Ok, enough with the mush!!  Well, speaking of mush - Amara's eating solid foods now!!  We started her on rice cereal a couple weeks ago, and will probably start introducing some fruits later this week.  It took her a while to catch on, she's not been doing well with food alternatives to Mommy (still not having the bottle thing!!) but she seems to be enjoying it now.  She's getting better and eating it instead of wearing it, and definitely prefers the oatmeal to the rice cereal.  This is a big step for us since she won't take a bottle, up until now me going out has required me to take her with me, or leave her with Daddy to scream herself to sleep.  So I know Daddy is just as happy about this transition!  ;)

Jayce is making big strides too.  Potty training is getting better, if we are home all day he usually wears his undies instead of diapers, and we have been able to make it 2-3 pairs a day!!  This is a huge step forward!  He prefers wearing undies, so I'm not pushing them on him, and for going Number 1, he does a good job, most of the time.  We still have a few accidents here and there (mostly when he's playing outside and doesn't remember to), but #2 is still an issue.  Like his big brother, he doesn't want to take the time to sit on the potty long enough to go.  So he knows he needs to, but can't handle sitting there and then holds it til it's too late.  If he's still having trouble at the end of the summer I'll probably work on a reward system to help expedite the process! 

Lastly, we no longer have a Jeep!  :(  It was a sad day yesterday, we said goodbye to the Jeep.  Cameron sold it to a guy at his work.  I think it was hard for him to let go, but at least we know it's in good hands where it will be wheeled properly.  We (ok, mostly Cameron) have spent the last 11 years fixing, modifying, ripping apart and fixing again, spending money on, and arguing over the big red Jeep.  It took us to all over Colorado, Moab, The Poudre Canyon, RMNP, Arches, Canyonlands, Camping, and Christmas Tree Hunting. To the bottom of mudpits and the top of mountains and over passes.  It taught us how to wheel, and others "how it's done".  Through sun scorching deserts to snow measured in feet.  That Jeep was a part of the family, and will be missed.  So, Goodbye Big Red Brick.  (Applications for new Jeep family member will be taken in the near future.) 

One last family photo

Don't sell it Daddy, I'm finally bigger than the tires!

"Fixing" the jeep

Well, I think that helps to catch you up over the last couple weeks.  Tomorrow is Cameron and my Anniversary!!  I can't believe it's been 12 years since we got married!!  That's so crazy!  But it has been a wonderful 12 years to say the least.  Not always the easiest, but always adventurous!  I love you Cam, and so happy to have met you 14 years ago.  You are the light of my life, and I would be lost without you! 

And Lastly - Just a few fun Photos to hold you over til we get to Indy to see everyone!  ;)

In Mommy's new sunglasses

Baby Popsicle