Swim Time

Miki's our next life guard in training. 

 

 

She always has fun at her lessons, but she loves the last day.  This day it was a race to see who could swim, cross logs, dive in, and swim some more the fastest. 

 

 

At the end she had finished first between her and the girl she raced with.  When I mentioned her first place winning she said, "no, we both won.  It was our agreement." 

 

 

She was happy this session to learn that one of her best friends from school and a cousin were there with her.

 

 

At the end of the lessons, diving for a pop is a highly anticipated event that I think all of the kids look forward to.

 

Last Day = Lake

After a great week with my sister and her family we hated to see it end.  On the last day they were here we headed to Lake Powell to show the Easterners our beaches. 

 

 

After the Lake we cleaned up and headed to Twin Rocks Café for dinner.

 

 

To finish the day we had everyone up to make s'mores. 

 

 

It was a great way to end the day, and we look forward to the next visit.

Samantha. 16. Beautiful. Brilliant. Best Friend. Kind. Strong. Courageous. Good Example. Leader. Miracle. Awesome Sister.  Playful. Loving. Determined. Independent. Aunt. Self Motivated. Spiritual. Daughter of God. 

 

 

Sammi is all of that and so much more.  She is also a licensed driver!  For her birthday she wanted money, clothes, and a glow pet.  By the time kids reach this age the element of surprise seems to be lost.

 

 

Happy Birthday my sweet, sweet Samma Lee!

Fabulous Fourth

The 4th festivities started bright and early this year by running the 5k with my sister.  She came all the way from Virginia, and she took 2nd place in her age division... which is young, very young ;)

 

 

After we waited forever and a day for the awards we made it home just in time to get ready for the parade.  The only thing that makes the parade bearable on a hot July day is water, and plenty of it.  The kids always look forward to the water trucks that drive by and cool them off.

 

 

Of course getting a little candy makes the parade fun too.

 

 

I always feel for those walking, or in the case of the Royals, dancing in the parade.  They looked hot.  So, we cooled them off with a couple of water balloons.

 

 

Squirt guns work great too.  My dad doesn't normally come down for the 4th, but this year he did.  I'm sure he appreciated the cool down with the water gun as much as everyone else.

 

 

The swimming pool is a hot spot for cooling off on the 4th.  After lunch and the parade we took the two younger girls and headed for diving for dollars.

 

         

 

After a quick nap we started preparing for our annual family bbq.  Although our numbers were fewer than normal this year, the food was great and the company was even better.  We snapped this picture right before heading to the best fireworks in the state, which is the perfect end to a day of celebrating our freedoms.

 

RAIN

RAIN!!  Need I say more?