I'm back!!!!! with a LOT of pictures

Computer is fixed and almost all of my files were saved!  A few pictures here and there didn't copy but I'm sure I'll never miss them!  So here is some of our summer in pictures.

 Swim lessons (first session) Grace level 2, Andrew level 3

 Andrew working on diving

 Grace swimming across pool

 Daddy's birthday

 They passed!

 Huntington Beach

 Father's Day at Chili's

 Silverwood Lake with Papa Wayne

 Skipping rocks and giving Papa a high five!

 Minecraft with friends

 dressing up for the movies

 dance recital

 summer reading program at the library

 swimming with friends

 bbq with new friends and neighbors

 Andrew's birthday

 learning how to rollerblade in a swim suit

 lots of lego building

 4th of July

 painting (like Rapunzel)

 movie day at home with mommy (watched Dolphin Tale) 89 cent icees from the gas station and popcorn

 another session of swim lessons and the both passed

 dance competition

 dinosaur exhibit on the way home from competition

 bowling day with lots of friends (about 20 actually)

 reading books at barnes and noble

This is a little of what we've done this summer.  We've had such a great time with friends and family.  I've started running with a friend and getting ready for my first 5k in September and trying to work out and improve my diet.  The kids have been playing and reading and enjoying their time off from school.  This is probably one of the best summers we've had in a long time.  Only a few more weeks until school starts.  Andrew started soccer practice a couple weeks ago and Grace starts her new dance season the first week in August.  She has added tap and ballet to her tumbling that she already takes.  We will have 4 practices a week between the 2 kids and Saturday games start the 2nd Saturday in August.  Life is about to get really busy so I am trying to take in the last couple week with nothing on the calendar!

Swimming

The kids finished swim lessons today.  It was a little heart breaking because Grace didn't pass level 2.  She can swim all over the place under water but just can't get it all together with her legs and arms and side breathing.  She came to me devastated but determined not to cry in front of everyone.  I felt so bad.  She was already going to repeat level 2 anyway so it works out fine but it was still very sad.  Andrew on the other hand sailed through level 3.  Technically the instructor said it was a level 4 class because he challenged them.  He was swimming the whole length of the pool every day and they only had to swim the width of the pool.  He did really well and although he passed, I had already signed him up for level 3 again in 2 weeks so he'll be taking it again.  His instructor said he thought Andrew had already taken level 3 because he did so well and followed along so well.  He just figured it wasn't new to him.  This kid pushes himself to be able to do what is asked of him even if it's hard.  He doesn't want to disappoint.  It's been a fun 2 weeks with friends and swimming and now we get a break for 2 weeks and then we'll start again. 

We've also been busy with friends this week.  We've played at the park after swim lessons at least 3 days this week and played with friends a couple days at home also.  In fact, as I type this the kids are with their friends and I'm home alone!!!  I cleaned the floors and am doing some laundry....fun!  Of course I figured I could update here as well.  No pics on my computer yet (I'm sure no one is surprised by that) but I will be downloading pics very soon.  Well, I'm off to go finish up the laundry I started and then to meet up with my kids.  It's very strange to have such a quiet house and not feel like I'm missing out on the fun.  This usually only happens when they are out doing something with David.

Final Day of Swim Lessons

We were able to finish swim lessons even with the ear infection.  We bought some ear plugs and got through the day!  One of the plugs kept falling out but we made it through.  Don't tell his doctor, but I have even let him swim at home and go under water.  Hopefully his ears are still going to clear up even with some swimming.  It hasn't been as much swimming as before.  In fact, it hasn't been warm enough to swim the last couple of days.  We have had the windows open for 2 days and it has been cold at night.  In fact, we wore sweatshirts while sitting outside one night!  Can you believe that in July?  What a wonderful break in the heat!  Now onto a few pictures!

Both of the kids had male instructors and they were awesome.  They were teenagers and had a lot of fun with their classes!  They really seemed to enjoy what they were doing!  Andrew's instructor was even concerned about him missing class.  All of the parents during this session were very happy with the instructors!  We are excited for next year to move up a level and practice swimming again!

Mosaic Pictures

I bought a couple kits I saw on clearance the other day and wondered if it would even be worth it and I can say it definitely was.  There are 4 pictures in each kit and they came packaged with the stickers that go with that particular picture.  Andrew chose to do the dinosaur and this is what it looked like when we opened the package.

 Below are the squares and triangles that go with his pictures.

 Here is Grace's butterfly (in progress).

I didn't get a picture of the finished dinosaur but I still have the picture so I'll put a picture up sometime.  Maybe when we do the other 2 pictures in the box.  I think Andrew already finished his other one but I'm not sure.  He disappeared in his room with it the other day and I forgot to check.  Just another summer activity to keep us busy until the pool is up in another week!

Chocolate

I have been trying to find activities to keep the kids busy and away from the tv during summer break.  Today I haven't been successful with this plan but yesterday we played around with some chocolate.  We have the Hershey's chocolate book about fractions so we read a few pages of it and did the activity.  Most of it is way too hard (especially when you have a Hershey's chocolate bar waiting to be eaten).