On The Second Day In June...

We had our first visit to a swimming pool! 

When Lexie and Hyrum got married they were gifted a three night stay at a nearby hotel and it was the best! We got to swim in their pool and were able to get a little tan. It was so nice and I can tell Noah has been going through withdrawal not going to a pool and having his sisters with him made it twice as fun! I love this pool! We miss the heck out of these kids but luckily Noah and I have each other and find fun stuff to do to keep summer busy. Some days we will just stay home and veg out cause it's been too hot, and somedays we will go to the pool! hat we have a nearby pool to swim in! We do miss Jon but luckily we have the weekends with him!

Pool Time!!

July has been brutally hot lately and it's a heat wave like this where I wish we owned a pool. Well, luckily we know people who have a pool because this past week has been brutally hot. We went to a friends pool at their complex and we also have been swimming at a nearby pool as well. On this day we had the whole pool to ourselves! It was so nice and we had fun. Noah continues to learn to be a strong swimmer but he has a long way to go! Nonetheless we have fun without pressuring him to be the best and as long as he completes his swim merit badge before turning 18 that is fine with us! Cheers to July and all the pool dates ahead!

Swimming Lessons While Having Fun In the Pool!

How fortunate we are for Dan who taught Noah how to swim recently. I know we are waaaayyyyyy late in the game for Noah to be taught but just never made the time. For the past six weeks he has taught Noah to not be afraid to go under the water. To not be afraid to jump in the deep end of the pool. To not be afraid to float and to let go of the floaties. To tread lightly with ease and not panic! Dan was as patient as he can be in teaching him and I will forever be grateful to him for teaching Noah to swim for free! He sure is dear friend to Chelsea and the fact that he works as a lifeguard part time is a bonus! And even thought he's taught him to swim we will still go over to have a little fun in the sun in his pool. Noah's not the perfect swimmer but the more we go to the pool the more "perfect" Noah become! Who knows....he could also be a lifeguard when he gets older! Cheers to Noah in becoming an official swimmer! 

SPLISHIN & A SPLASHIN IN THE POOL!

We have lived in the comforts of Jersey for seven years now, and we still have the most awesome neighbors. Our lives may be busy to the point where we only say hi and goodbye as we exit our homes in the morning, but nonetheless we look out for each other, ask if we can borrow eggs, sugar, milk, and at one point even asked if they had like two pieces of bread on a Sunday because of our neglect to shop during the week or on a Saturday! They've even let us "borrow" their pool when it opens up in the summertime! This has been such a treat for my kids especially since the little blue pool is no longer viable. Those pools can only last for so long, but luckily they were able to enjoy playing in it for a while.  

One thing I am most grateful for is that in the seven years I have lived in this borough I have never had one altercation with anyone on my block! And even though I have shared the gospel with them numerous times in conversation as well as bearing it as a gift to them over the holidays they have not once ever disrespected my beliefs. That's good neighboring, and I'm so grateful to be a part of this neighborhood. 

Just recently we had the chance to splash away, and enjoy our time in the pool on Jon's day off. With Jon driving in the hot sun all day it's nice to have a day off where he can just relax, and lay out by the pool. Of course he's inside the pool playing with the kids, and even taught Noah how to float. I would love to get him in swimming lessons, but have to find the time, and a place that's affordable. Chelsea also learned how to float, and swim on that day!! Yes...she's 10 and just barely learned how to swim. Don't laugh because I still can't swim that well, and I'm almost 44! 

It had been a while since we've been in their pool, and boy did it feel good stepping foot inside it again...

^^^ I spy Noah, a ball, and a pretty handsome guy on a turtle float. ^^^

^^^ Meant to capture Chelsea floating in the water, and here comes papa photobombing it in the background! ^^^

^^^ Noah taking a break after he nearly slipped from the steps in the pool, but by the grace of god doggie paddled, and stood on his tippy toes until Jon grabbed him! He was the closest to him! Almost gave me a heart attack! ^^^ 

This was such a fun day for the kids, and these moments are proof on the internet that show that it's the smallest, most simplest things that keeps these kids in good spirits. Who needs an extravagant trip to Hawaii, or Cancun (although that would be nice someday) when you have your neighbors pool! 

Summer...we really don't want you go, and I really don't want my neighbors to ever move!! 

Bonding Time.

When you have a three day weekend in D.C. including spending time in Virginia chances are you're going to have  to write more than one post, but this one....this one will be very special. 

Special because this small mini vacation/getaway we just had really relieved a lot of stress for my entire family. I can't really put my finger on the reasons why, but I think i have an inkling. Maybe it's the fact that my kids are getting older, and that I have another daughter entering high school...what???, and another one living out west working, and maturing into a true adult...double what??? Maybe it's the the new job change that my husband just had, and the fact that I have to get used to him not working retail hours. I mean, don't get me wrong. Working 8-6 weekdays only is great, but man am I going to miss those three week vacations he had every year for the past five years! Or maybe it's the fact that even though I have a few good friends in Jersey I still long to see faces of friends whom I haven't seen in like six, eight, or 20 years (you feeling me Rosalie and Ceyda!) Or...maybe it's the fact that school is starting in a couple of weeks (not ready for that), and that my time with Noah is limited because this will be the last year of being at home with him all day until next fall (tear). And we all know how quickly those years pass us by (more tears.)

I think it's all of the above. 

Visiting Dominique was just what we all needed with her bubbliness, and all. She's a breath of fresh air, and so is the place where she lives. Being hours away from Jersey was sooooo refreshing. I love Virginia, and there were some moments when I felt as if I was back in North Carolina. The slow pace, and southern hospitality given by others is something that I miss from time to time. I didn't feel rushed by anyone, no one was short with me, not even my family. I absolutely loved the members in her ward. They were all so welcoming, and liked hugs. Instead of finding someone to sit with in Relief Society, I decided to sit on my own spaced in between another sister who looked lonely, and what do you know...another sister sat down on the other side of me and introduced herself. I had someone fellowship me first you guys!! Had to bold that sorry! She was so sweet, and we got to know a lot about each other in the five minutes before class started as well as an extra 15 minutes after church ended. It was great. Dominique even told me that I got to know more members in her ward in three hours than she has in the five years she's lived in it! Yep, I'm a fellowshipper folks, and like I wrote in my previous post from yesterday I love meeting brothers and sisters from different areas of our church. 

Now for the pool. 

The kids all had a grand time, and Noah loved the kiddie pool. There was laughter, merriment, and lots of splashing! We had the pool all to ourselves for the first hour, and it was nice. Especially since Noah was getting used to a swimming pool setting (he's used to going to the beach a lot!). 

I had to tell Noah to stop running because he's not used to being around a swimming pool. He's been going to the beach since birth, and now that he's four all that he has learned when we go to the beach is running away from the waves, run on the sand, and chase pigeons. Running is all he knows when it comes to water, therefore he's never known the proper etiquette of how one is not to run around a pool. I guess you can say I've sheltered him from swimming pools. He understood about the no running rule after telling him not to run about 15 times! 

Lexie and Chelsea sure enjoyed this time together in the pool. There was even a moment where I heard constant laughing, and giggling. I saw that these two were seriously bonding, and that made me so happy. They both miss Sierra, and in some small way they have both realized that they need each other. Chelsea is growing up, and I see that she is wanting to have that relationship that Sierra, and Lexie have. She does have it with the both of them. It's a little different, but they all love each other. I have to remind Chelsea that even though they'll get after her for doing something dumb, they still love her. I remind her that it's all a part of growing up. Being the "middle child" is not always easy. It's so nice seeing the girls having moments like this without any bickering. Now...if only Noah and Chelsea could always get along, but that wouldn't be normal. I see the love they have as sibs when they make up, and it's the sweetest thing. The best thing about sibling rivalry is that when they get older they are all going to be there for each other no matter what, and look back at these times and tease each other about them! 

See what I mean...they will definitely look back at these photos with fond memories, and create more as they grow older. With a mom like me you'll be dang sure that they are always going to be taught true principles, and the concept of love, even after you're baby brother tried to drown you. 

**In case you're wondering Jon was behind the camera the entire time capturing these moments. He forgot his swim trunks, didn't care, and didn't mind taking pictures of us. What a guy!