Summer Swimming

We spent almost EVERYDAY this summer, in the pool, but I never bothered to take pictures. So... on the last warm weekend of this year, we went swimming and took pictures. Unfortunately, because it was starting to get cold at night, the water didn't stay warm, and it didn't warm up as fast. So this time the boys barely got in, and it was only for a little while.



Here we are swimming, floating, and sitting on the side. I think Jeff only got in the pool once this whole summer!

Nicole didn't have a "mommy n' me" class this year, so I just did stuff with Aryk on my own. It worked out. At the beginning of the summer he would scream in the shower, tub, and the pool. But here he is, playing games and going under the water. Not one tear. Now... he enjoys bath time too!

Here's AJ jumping in the pool, being brave! He did GREAT this summer with lessons. He can swim from the shallow end, to the deep end. He is jumping off the diving board. And diving to the bottom of the shallow end. All WITHOUT a floaty! Yeah!! Aunt Nicole is a GREAT swim teacher. And the boys LOVE the pool! Now that the weather has cooled off... I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL NEXT SUMMER!

Discovery Center

For the last week of summer we decided we wanted to hit The Discovery Center and then a picnic in the park.

Here are the boys trying out some experiments with how things move. Aryk enjoyed the bouncy balls on a string. I couldn't get him to let go.

Aryk loves to go to the store and he and the big boys had fun pretending at the mini-store. Aryk LOVED pushing his own cart around and putting things in it! He also enjoyed taking them out and putting them away. We have to get him his own little grocery cart.

The boys have always been to scared to try the nail bed, until this year... As you can tell, I had never tried it either. I don't think any of us care to lay down on that again! It's not that comfortable, go figure.

We enjoyed the bike with the skeleton. The boys thought it was pretty to cool to see how our bones and joints work while doing activities.

Ashton and AJ were able to pull themselves up using the pulley system hooked to this hammock chair. They are pretty strong! I pulled Aryk, of course. And Ashton was able to sign off a scout activity by learning about and using a pulley!

After we finished at The Discovery Center, we crossed over the river to the park. There were a lot of geese over in a clearing, so we went and sat under the trees, in the shade. I was amazed at how quickly those geese came over to our table! At first it was fun, geese, that close...

Then we pulled our food out of the lunch cooler, and they came even closer! This one actually tried to take Aryk's sandwich out of his hands! I moved the sandwich and swatted the goose away and it just missed pecking Aryk's leg! So... we scared the geese away and finished our lunch, very quickly.

Then moved on to the playground. Aryk LOVES to swing, and Ashton (sometimes AJ) has a lot of fun pushing him. Look at the smiles! YEAH!! It was a fun day, and a great way to finish summer.

Build & Grow

Lowe's hosts FREE workshops for kids. We signed the boys up to make putting greens, pirate ships, treasure boxes, power boats, school buses, and drums. WOW!!!

They are neat kits that have all you need. The pieces are pre-cut and nail holes are pre-drilled. The boys got cool aprons and safety goggles too! It has been fun.

Fun at the pool!

We of course have been doing more than sitting at home drooling over the baby, and wishing I was in Europe. We go to the pool and enjoy cooling off and playing. Here are the boys swimming.