.swim graduates.

After being in the same swim level for the past 3 years...my boys passed off their classes and are able to advance to the next level next year! I think I just assumed that after taking a swim class they would be ready for the next level. Not so. And this year (after I moved them up prematurely) the were finally able to advance! This was Brynn's first year in class and she did surprisingly well. She struggled a few times, but we ended good and she was happy because they were rewarded with a Slurpee at the end of the two week class.

All three of them jumped off the diving board.
Both TJ and Gage thought that was their favorite part.

I adore the teachers over at the local pool. They are all young kids and for the most part are very good with children. Brynn's teacher Becca just LOVED her! She was cute and asked afterward if she could get her picture taken with Brynn.

.july 26th.

Monday was Joshs Birthday! I ordered some new bar stools for the kitchen (I finally have a matching set) and they came on his birthday. I teased him saying it was his birthday present. The kids had a bawl making robots with the boxes they came in. Gage walking away in this picture reminds me of Sponge Bob!

This kids started their two week swimming class that day. The boys were in level 2 and 3 and this was Brynn's first year by herself in level one. I had taken a Mom and Tot class with her the previous years. Brynn did surprising well. She struggled at first with her class and teachers. She was pretty shy the first class, but did well and participated by the end.

Josh is usually up by about 1:30 in the afternoon. He has breakfast then and Brynn is always there to keep him company. This day she pulled out all the breakfast stuff, bowls, spoons, cereal and milk out and set it up while he was in the shower. I was in the bedroom when she told me she got Dad's lunch ready. After I came out and discovered what she did, all by herself with no one telling her to, I think it deserved a picture!

.busy.

We found a splash pad that was working and met Tausha and the kids there. There was a free school lunch school right next door so we had lunch together after.

Josh's new job is going well. Its been an adjustment but we are loving having him home more! July 2oth marked his 30 days on the job. We were eligible for medical and dental benefits! Hallelujah!!! We were able to drop our expensive private insurance plan and I got the boys in for dental check-ups. TJ was starting Football at the first of August and I took him into the Dr. for a physical.

.tramp class.

Gage started a tumbling class in early June. I asked the kids what activity they would like to participate in this summer. I chose dance for Brynn, TJ wanted to play padded football and Gage wanted to take a tumbling class. I signed him up just before school let out and his hour class once a week, for 9 weeks. He has loved it and looks forward to it. About 3 weeks into it, his teacher talked to me after class. She said she thought he needed to be moved into a different class because his skills were too advanced for the class and she thought he was getting bored. We moved him into a trampoline class called Tramp Twisters. It has been the perfect move. He's been challenged and has learned lots of new things. He can't wait to go and its been so fun watching him do something he truly loves.

He loved it so much we signed him up for a backhand spring bootcamp. It was an intensive class that lasted 3 straight days. It was so funny watching him with all the other kids, some of which were in high school! They worked him hard and he suffered with horrible leg cramps that week of class. He can almost do one unassisted, shouldn't be too much longer!

I made the decision to not sign him up for a class in the fall. I just thought it could be a fun summer activity. I was again approached by his new teacher after class one day. She told me I should consider putting Gage on a Competition Team. She said he is very skilled and she thinks he would do very well. Gage was sitting there listening to our conversation and interrupted us and said he wanted to do it! I came home and after taking to Josh we decided if he really wanted to do that, we'd support him. We enrolled him in another tramp class and he'll also be taking a Pre Team class. He'll have class twice a week during school, I'm curious to see how it goes. We are very proud of him.

Its hard to get any decent pictures of him in class. I have got a few videos.

We've spent a few Monday nights this summer at the local pool for their family night discount. Matt turned 9 one of those times and they had a party there for him! The whole family came so it was great to have so many cousins for the kids to play with.

.more st. george fun.

We slept in a little bit on Saturday. We enjoyed the yummy continental breakfast our hotel offered, backed up the car with snacks and water, put on our hiking shoes and left for our morning at Snow Canyon. Again, this was a place we visited before, but it was alot different fun with the kids. The boys loved climbing on anything and everything they could. Brynn whined much of the way. She did trip and fall a few times, so that made her a little edgy. Brynna and I waited alot in the shade and enjoyed sunflower seeds while the boys would take off on little side trails and climb. It was pretty hot so it was nice to sit awhile.

We then picked up Subway for lunch and went over the Sand Hollow State Park. The have a beautiful lake and sand dunes to ride motorcycles. I told Josh this much be what his heaven will be like. We didn't pack swimsuits but that didn't stop the kids from getting in the water and making a mess. We didn't stay too long, I was too worried about them getting burnt.

We went back to the hotel after a long day and what did the kids want to do again once we got there? Swim! We spent another 3+ hours at the pool again. I told Josh...I think we could go anywhere in the world and see anything but the thing our kids would like most would be swimming at the hotel.

We went out to Cracker Barrel for dinner. I've never eaten there before and the food was very good and reasonable. The best part was their funky store. The kids all found a treasure to take home from our trip.