More Swimming

This is Sam training to be a life guard.  She's always been a fish with no fear of water.

Sammi

 While Grace was with us, the girls spent a lot of time at the pool. 

Jill, Grace and Miki

Jill and Miki under the fountain

Grace

Jill underwater and Miki

 We had a family swim night at the pool, and Sam tried out her mermaid tail that she'd got for Christmas last year.  It was a lot of fun to listen to the reactions of the little kids at the pool.  To the side of her you can see one little girl that kept going underwater to watch Sam's tail.   Sam reports that it is actually easier to swim as a mermaid.

Sam

Sam

Miki, Sam and an intrigued little girl

Conquering Fears

When Jill was about 2 or 3 years-old she had a near drowning experience that made her deathly afraid of water.  I've had her in swimming lessons every year trying to conquer that fear.  This is the year she's finally done it.  We started her in group lessons, but in the end put her in private lessons.

Jill with her teacher and Sam in the water for lap swim

 Seeing her swim like this makes me so happy.  She's gone from refusing to get her head wet to this.

And she's even got a smile on her face!

This would totally make her teacher from four years ago proud... the one who experienced Jill actually climbing up onto her shoulders and hanging onto her head to stay out of the water.

She'll have a lot more fun at the pool now that she's brave enough to play on some of the equipment.

Just look at the water dripping from her face.  Makes a momma proud.

Huge milestones reached this summer.  This is something she never would have done... ever.

4th Celebrations

Another 4th of July has come and gone.  We had another great year with lots of pictures to sift through.  To start the day we went to the parade, ready with bags to hold candy and our traditional water balloons.

Miki, Troy, and Jill chasing candy

The kiddos getting soaked

more candy

Kenzie armed and ready with water balloons

For some reason cheerleaders have always been a favorite target.

Ready, aim, fire

Sammi

Grace and Miki

Sammi after the parade

Kaylon in his cool hamburger shirt

Miki, Jill, and Troy being a caterpillar in the sleeping bag

 After the parade we ate lunch, hung out at the carnival, and got ready for our annual BBQ- a 19 year tradition.  This year we had 48 people.

some of the kids playing outside

Kay BBQ-ing

 This is me and my niece.  She was born on my birthday.  We both bought the same 4th of July shirt without the other knowing... great minds think alike ;)

Because Sam's b-day is so close to the 4th we always have a cake or something for her.  This year we made red velvet cupcakes and put pop rocks candy on top of the frosting.  When we bit into them they popped in our mouths like fireworks.

Mik eating a cupcake

 After the BBQ we packed up and went down to the park to listen to the band while we waited for the fireworks show.

Samantha and Georgia

Mik

Troy

Whirlwind

This summer has felt like a whirlwind.  From swimming lessons, 4th of July celebrations, family visiting and daily adventures, it's no surprise that this summer has flown by.  Miki has officially become a fish.  These pictures are all of my fish in training, and really need no explanations.

At the end of the two week lessons all the kids had the chance to dive to the bottom of the pool for a pop.  Miki came up with a root beer

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