A tour of the Deer Valley Pool

 We spend 3 hours 4 days a week at this pool.  It is our home away from home.  We love it.

 On Thursdays they let the kids go down the slides.  Jesse makes it fun for the kids and splashes them on the way down. 

The big kids play gutter ball (water polo).

 RHM wished he could play too!  He loves a good game of gutter ball.

 Everyday the kids have to check in by their name. 

 Princess and her friends sometimes help out the first 2 hours with the younger kids.  They love being in the water and they don't mind little kids too.  They are all good, fast swimmers = good assistant coaches.

This is our "CAMP" that we set up everyday.  We bring chairs and breakfast and games to keep us busy.  There are about 4 families that hang out with us.  I like to take a lap or two walking around the pool/park during the first 2 hours, then I stay and watch the little kids while the big kids swim the last hour.  Swim team is fun, but I am glad it is almost over.  6 weeks in the sun is enough. 

Loss

I went to a funeral Tuesday.  It was sad.  It was for a 4 year old boy.  I know him because his mother volunteers ALL THE TIME at my kids' school.  Her little Micah was there on every spirit day helping his mother pass out ice cream in the kindergarten area.  Her boy was 4.  My Sweetie is 4.  Sweetie fought with Micah, but who doesn't Sweetie fight with.  She is pretty aggressive.  Micah did his best to put up with my girl and he was actually the nicest, sweetest little boy.  So polite.  I know there will be a big hole when I see Micah's mother this school year.  I can't imagine what pain and sorrow she is going through.  I have much love and compassion for this wonderful mother. 

The funeral itself was FULL.  I had to sit in the overflow section and watch the whole thing on a TV.  The musical numbers were beautiful and the poems really got to me.  I feel pain for the loss of this family.  I hope you (or I for that matter) never have to feel that pain, but the truth of it is: life is all too short and accidents happen everyday.  This one happened to a family I know.  My heart is breaking. 

I know where Micah is and so does his family.  I know that Micah is pure and innocent and will be doing great work and amazing things in the next life.  But for now there is much pain and sorrow. 

Swim Team picture day

 My two older kids were at camp when the swim team had picture day, but I just had to capture the moment.  I love team pictures at this pool.  Seeing the kids climb on the slide is so fun!  My RHM is on the back row at the bottom of the slide on the right.  Sweetie is on the front row on the bottom of the slide on the left.

 RHM has on a white shirt.  They were still practicing that day.  It was the breast stroke kick in the swallow end. 

line up for pictures

King of the Hill - pool style

This is what my kids do for fun in the pool.  I have to admit, I am more entertained by this behavior than shocked!  Good, clean, family fun!

My Sweetie writes her name for the first time - June 10

So, it is funny to me that I don't put my children's name on this blog, but if you listen to the videos you can learn their names and if you look carefully at this picture you might be able to learn my youngest child's name.  I am so proud of her.  She is growing up fast!  She did this in between swim lessons with Nancy.  This is the first time that I was able identify every letter of her name.  She is amazing!

My 36th birthday

 I woke up to a nice surprise!  My Visiting Teachers LOVE ME!  They put this sign up and signed it and everything.  They rock!

 Then my Princess took me out to a movie with her gift card.  We saw Green Lantern.  It was the best movie I have seen all year.  I loved it!

 Then it was time for lunch, cake, and presents!  All my kids were finally home.  Agent J got home from scout camp that morning. YAY!

 I love my kids.

 I told them to show their teeth and they did.  Funny guys.

 Andrea and a couple of her kids drop by a gift and were just in time for a picture! 

Later that afternoon and evening, Travis took me to the temple.  We got there early so we just had to stop by Bahama Bucks for some shaved ice.  DE-LISH!  We had a trek temple session at 5 p.m. and we made the most of a trek thing on my birthday by going out to eat afterwards.  This was my free birthday dessert!  YUM! 

Temple Sealing

Kat and Devin Clough family

Friday morning I was able to go to the Mesa Temple for the endowment and sealing of this great couple and family.  It was a glorious day in the temple.

I met Kat doing the Ma/Pa training for the upcoming Trek.  She is AWESOME!  I have since gone on a local hike on Camelback with her and then the big Grand Canyon girls' trip.  She is so positive!  I love her.  Her husband recently broke his foot jumping in a lake trying to help his dog and he needs surgery.  Ma Clough is now becoming "Aunt Clough" on the Trek.  :(  Sad. But I am sure Kat is staying positive about it. 

Painting the living room - well not me, but Scottee did it...

 This wall still looks like this...

 but the rest of the room got a make over!  THANKS SCOTTEE!

Before

during

AFTER

What do you think?  Travis hates it.  I love it.  So comment away!


The design is only on 2 walls and it makes me able to live with the horrible baby blue that I picked for that room.  It is the first time I picked a color that I did not like on the walls, but with this design, I am going to love living with it for a few years.  Now, time to buy a new entertainment center, couches, wall hangings, etc (I love you, Travis).

2nd Swim Meet of the Season - Deer Valley BABY!

My youngest child, Sweetie, swam in her first swim meet this Thursday.  She was supposed to be swim freestyle.  She made it across and did great!  I was so impressed that she jumped in all by herself.  But I am heard yelling over and over on this tape to ROLL OVER, ROLL OVER, because she has been taught to take a breathe on her back - but the race in supposed to be freestyle and on her tummy.  Oh well, at least she did it.  She is only 4.  If you watch the video, she in the first lane.  And I apologize for my high pitch yelling.  I can't help it.  I love swim meets.

This is her after her first and so far, only race.


Here is a video of RHM in the 2nd lane doing breaststroke.  There are 4 events at each meet and my older 3 kids general participate in all 4 events, but I figure that boring you with 4 videos x 3 kids would be the death of this blog.  One video per kid is good, right?

Our boy had a great night!  SO CUTE in his leopard skin hat.


In this video Katie is in lane 3 and Princess is in lane 6.  FAST RACE!

Princess and her friend Emily were disappointed with their 2nd place finish, but they both did great!  Emily got 2nd in her heat.  And Princess got 2nd in the next heat, up against our friend Katie.

Katie got first in the race against Princess who got 2nd.  Dang it. But good for Katie.

There goes trouble.  He is all BOY!

This is where Sweetie spent most of her time at the swim meet.  She is SO independent. 

 This is my friend in the yellow and a great family that we have been going to swim meets with for 4 years now.  CRAZY!

It was a HOT night, but only lasted 2 hours.  I am so proud of my kids.  Agent J was at scout camp and we look forward to his return next week!

A very good Wednesday!

 My Princess came home from Girls' Camp and asked - "What are we doing for at Mutual tonight?"  I had to let her down easy that Girls' Camp was the Wednesday night church activity and her leaders needed to rest and recoop from little sleep.  She was disappointed, but went on to show me the dance the girls learned - she sang the whole thing.  Loved it.  She told me about the pink & purple hair piece she got for braiding everyone's hair all week.  She told me about the bugs she killed for the cabin.  She went on and on about pranking Deer Valley ward.  She just loved it!  I am so proud of my young woman.  WAY TO GO PRINCESS!

my girl is in the red in the middle

Later Wednesday night, we were assigned to clean the church with our cleaning group of about 4 -5 families.  We just had to get a picture of Travis cleaning the bathrooms.  Too funny!

Kaitlyn and Colby's wedding reception on June 11

Colby and Kaitlyn

 Another one of my babysitters got married.  Dang it!  Just kidding.  I am happy for them, but I miss seeing her horribly.  I need to plan a get to together so I can see her soon!

Princess, Chandler, Sarrah helped at the reception

dessert table - YUM!

Terry family and Darcie - Mother of the Bride

 Darcie and Dan moved to Utah the week after this reception.  Lots going on and I already miss my friends.

me with the happy couple

It was a fun night to be able to help with the food and drinks.  Tawnya did most of the work, but I loved seeing everyone at the reception and mingling with friends.  Good times!

Dback game - Tuesday night June 14

Once in a while, I get to go with my friend Andrea to a Dback game.  She has front row seats along the third base line in the out field.  We are close enough to talk to the players and hear the relief pitchers warming up.  It is an awesome feeling to be so close to the game.  I love baseball!