Swim Lessons

I was not going to do swim lessons.  Too hot.  Elise.  New baby.  However, by the end of July the flying monkeys and evil witch were at war.  Most people get cabin fever in the winter, stuck inside all day with little kids, snow, everyone gets cagey.   I wouldn't understand, but those of us who live in the desert have our own version of cabin fever once temperatures reach 90* at 7:00am!  It was necessary to give them a physical outlet.  Swimming lessons proved very effective.  A full 45 minutes of actual swimming.  They learned all of the strokes, how to tread water properly and worked on diving skills.  I was impressed with how much they learned in three short weeks.  My kids have been able to swim for years but now they know actual strokes, I'm going to have them teach me since I know one stroke, 

the dog paddle.  

Renn 3,4,5 Months

3 months

This was taken at exactly three months.  He was still so little. 

 He changed so much from 3-4 months.

Just a few weeks later.  First week in June.  

The second week in June he became very curious about toys. 

How Renn feels about camping (exactly 4 months old.)  Incidentally, I feel about the same and when I say camping I really mean staying in a little, log cabin in the woods.

End of June, four and a half months.  

I discovered he likes lying in the window seat watching the world go by.

beginning of July.  The toy mat is his favorite way to pass the time in the morning.  I love that he uses his hands AND feet to grab at objects.  He is quite ferocious with his ninja-kicking skills, poor ladybug feels the wrath when he is ready to be picked up.

New found movement.  He can scoot, roll, burrow his way to necessary objects.

Second week in July.  Relaxing in the shade.  I have been swimming with him at least once a week all summer.  We both endure it.  He doesn't like being in the water and I get hot sitting by the pool.  However, this day was a cool, partly cloudy/rainy day and he loved just being outside.  July hasn't been too bad this year, maybe even cooler than June.  Cool as in 100* as opposed to 115*  

I had to include these pictures for two reasons  1. I have already forgotten how tiny he was.  2.Those dolls are not the same, BUT they are the same size.  He has grown so much.  

3 days old to 5 months.  Time flies.

The Livin' is Easy

Elise with one of her masterpiece self-portraits.  

Tent/hammock forts.  I thought my table might buckle or someone might end up flat on their back but the table survived and so did the kids.  They loved it.  I loved it because they were occupied and I had to order pizza because really where were we going to sit to eat a prepared meal?

We have had a few spontaneous, down-right chilly days hovering around a mere 100*, we take advantage of the opportunity to pursue outdoor recreational activities that are normally restricted to the spring and fall. 

Our custom swimming pool.  

I figure it's Jara's last summer to agree to this.  

Ruby displaying a sign of her retriever pedigree.  We think she's mostly coyote.  

Amazon prime pantry.  My new-found friend.  I may never have to go to Wal-Mart again, which is worth it's weight in gold when you have four little people home all day. 

A Little Trip

All rainbows 

Exploring

Hiking

Riding.  

It's always nice when you live in the desert to escape for the summer, even if it's for a quick trip.  Green trees, clouds, rain, streams, they are all cooling.  Soothing.  Well worth the "holy crap it's a lot of work to pack up four people and try to sleep in one tiny motel room."  

Best memories of the trip:

-The raging bull that wanted to stampede the Ranger.  I wouldn't let Jed charge it.  He was convinced it would mooove. haha.  No really you don't mess around with bulls in the wild.  

They. will. hurt. you.  

-The hike to beautiful waterfalls and as we watched a couple of horse riders meander along the trail I asked Elise "Wouldn't you like a pretty horse?"  Elise:  Noooo, they poop too much.  

-Hoover's-not Hooter's-berry cobbler.

-Sleeping upside down on our hotel bed because everyone else had taken over.

-The 6 foot Jolly Green Giant in someone's garden.

-Elise zooming around on her Strider bike.

-Jack zipping through the elementary school's monkey bars

-Jara singing "the farmer in the dell" for the last 30 minutes of our ride. 

   

Memorial Day

Renn is presented to the valley

He survived

Not just one flag

End of School

Hallelujah! 

The day school got out was a joyous day.  No more packing lunches.  No more carpool.  No more trying to be on time and failing.  No more monstrous spelling.  No more forgetting to sign crap.  No more whining.  No more laundry.  (wait that never ends) No more projects.  I love school, but after 9 months of trying to get through the aforementioned I am done and so are the kids.  

Jara's end of the year play.  

Jack's part in the Kinder program

The QUEEN

Do not call her a princess.  

She will none so gently remind you she is a girl and the QUEEN.

And has the outfit to prove it.

When she isn't wearing her crown she enjoys her cowgirl hat and a little country/western music on her vtech "computer."  I stuffed playdough in the cursed thing when the volume got stuck on high. 

A little pre-school fun with her awesome teacher-me!

 That one day Renn took a nap and I wasn't sleeping too.

Fancy ladies.  

That about sums up their relationship.

Her Owl family.  

"Jara, Jack, ELISE, Renn" not sure which order.

She's a good mommy.  

Quotes:

As she is putting her hair in Renn's face.

Me: Don't put your hair in Renn's face it will hurt him.

Elise:  indignantly Hair doesn't hurt.  CHAINSAWS hurt.  (good job mom)

In the grocery store

Elise:  Can we have some non-nutritious, food dyed an obscure, unnatural color?

Me:  No

Elise:  Why not

Me: Because...pause

Elise:  BECAUSE is not an answer mommy!!!

Long live the queen!