Summer Swim Team

This is Austin's first year on the swim team. His first swim meet was June 9, 2012. Doesn't he look excited? Getting up at 6:30 am on Saturday morning is obviously not his favorite thing.

Here I am giving Eden a few last minute tips. I'm probably way too involved in their races but honestly, I can't help it. It's just so exciting.

This is the best picture Ryan has ever taken. It's so awesome I looked at it every day for a week, or more. Eden's breastroke is also pretty amazing. She's improved so much.

Once Austin gets in the water he's totally happy. He's a natural. And he has one of the cutest freestyle strokes I've ever seen. We tried to capture a little of his cuteness with these pictures.

He reaches super far into the water and claws his hands in. It's awesome and he's super fast for a five year old.

Dallin took last year off from swim team. We were excited to see how he would do this year.

This unfortunately became a recurring nightmare throughout most of his meets this summer. As soon as he dove in his goggles would fall off. When we finally figured out how to keep his goggles on (using a swim cap) during one of his last meets he dove in with them on his forehead. He had forgotten to even put them on. At least we finally all just laughed at the ridiculousness of it all.

Austin's cute backstroke.

Cameron wasn't feeling well so she sat this meet out. I was a little suspicious, though, she looks fine to me.

Evelyn gave us a run for our money at this swim meet. Her attempts to get into the pool were almost successful many times and one time we found her holding hands with a stranger after we realized no one was watching her. It was crazy. Good thing everyone just thought she was cute.

Austin in all his cuteness. Just check out these series of pictures.

On your mark...

Go...

Summer Fun

On the second day of summer I busted out the old inflatable pool. It starts deflating about ten minutes after we blow it up but still manages to hold enough water to last longer than the kids. Evelyn, in particular, really loved it. But even Austin and his friends had some fun until they got too cold.

First Day of Summer Break

On May 29 Austin had swim team tryouts bright and early at 7:30 am. He had swim lessons at the Whitney pool during the cold winter months so he would be ready for this moment. Only a couple weeks ago he was still struggling to do front crawl across the pool so I was still a little nervous. But I shouldn't have been. He was amazing! He did front crawl the whole way without stopping and then backstroke the whole way back. I was so proud of him and he looked amazing. He has improved so much.

That night he had another tball game. I just had to add a couple more pictures.

First We Work then We Play

For Dallin's Family Life merit badge he decided to prepare our garden for the summer. He had spent a few weeks weeding, tilling, and putting in fertilizer. On May 28, Memorial Day, he was ready to plant the vegetables he had purchased. We all went outside in the morning to help him get the work done as quickly as possible.  There were some new weeds in the rocks so we pulled those too. I love how Evelyn grabbed a glove and tried to help.

She didn't quite manage to get any weeds pulled but she was so determined I didn't feel like keeping her from trying.

After the work was done we had a quick lunch and then headed to the Hogle Zoo.

The monkeys were putting on quite a show that day. There were so many swinging around and making all kinds of noise. Evelyn loved it.

The tigers definitely had no entertainment value other than the fact that even when they're sleeping they're huge and scary looking.

Ryan loves birds but we always manage to miss the bird show. He caught part of it from up above and was enchanted until Evelyn decided to get his attention... "honk".

I took Evelyn and some of the kids to the park so Ryan could enjoy the rest of the show.

It was a beautiful day. We finished it with dinner at Red Robin. We had a whole room to ourselves and ate way too much but had a nice quiet drive home. What a great way to start summer break.

Sixth Grade Graduation

On May 25th Cameron had her last day of elementary school. I can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday she walked into first grade confident that she was about to have the time of her life. And so she has. I don't know anyone who makes more out of life than Cameron does. I'm so proud of all she's learned and accomplished.

This is the local Kiwanis club recognizing all the Fantastic kids during graduation.

Cameron's teacher awarded her Diploma. Say "cheese".

I'm so glad Ryan's parents were able to take time away from their missionary work to come to her graduation.

Some of Cameron's best friends from the past five years of school. These girls have all been such good examples to her and are all so motivated. I can't wait to see what the next five or so years brings for all of them.

I was still pretty mummified for her graduation but not as bad as the previous week. And at least you can't see the back of my arms which was still pretty gruesome.

Life Goes On

It's been a while since I last blogged, about six weeks, pretty much the time it's taken for my hand to heel so I can type again. I'd like to blame it on how busy we've been but the biggest deterrent was the thought of chipping away at the keyboard with only one hand. Obviously, I'm doing much better but we'll get to that soon.

Ryan took the week after my accident off of work to help with Evelyn since the kids were all still in school. I realized there was so little that I could do. I couldn't change Evelyn's diapers or get her dressed. I couldn't cook any meals and had a really hard time just getting myself dressed. Looking back it was a more difficult week than I realized at the time. I was trying to be tough but I was in a lot of pain. Mostly from the road rash. There were a lot of things that went by the wayside that week because Ryan was still trying to work from home. I normally don't let Evelyn wander around trailing snacks behind her but had to get a picture when it happened anyway because I wasn't in much of a position to fight her on it.

On May 24th I made it to another one of Austin's tball games. They are just too cute to miss.

We went as a family and sometimes brought a few tag alongs.