Summer Fun

It has been a few weeks since I last updated this blog.  So, I'm going to try to be diligent and keep it up.  The kids had so much fun at their little cousin, Brynlee's 1st birthday party.  They especially liked the pinata, dipping their strawberries in the chocolate fondu fountain, and playing with cousins. 

            

 A week later at the end of June, Rachelle and Kristen finished up their private swim lessons.  They did so well!  Rachelle is actually swimming now!  She even learned some back stroke and butterfly stroke.  Kristen, on the other hand, is still a beginner.  She got good at blowing bubbles, kicking, diving, and rowing and loves to still sing the silly song that Miss Dayna and Miss Dixie taught her, "Row, row, row your boat strongly down the stream.  Stretch them out nice and long as we move along.  Row, row, row, and row."  In addition, Kristen learned how to float on her back, jump in and swim back to the side, grab the wall, and climb out.  Such important life saving skills!  We loved Miss Dayna and Miss Dixie so much that we'll be taking swim lessons again next summer.

        

  



The next fun activity was Xtreme Summer at Webster Elementary for Kade, Marlyse, and Rachelle.  For three weeks they were busy having fun with crafts, PE-type games, swimming, and watching movies.  Kristen also loved going just to say "Hi, nice lady!" to Nanette, one of the directors in charge.  Last Friday, when their daddy picked them up, they were sad to say goodbye.  Next summer we'll do it again!

 

Before you know it, the 4th of July came and went!  We took the kids to the 2nd annual Mesa Arizona Celebration of Freedom.  This year, Don volunteered at one of the bounce houses and cleaned up after the event.  The kids had a blast jumping, going on all the water slides, playing games at the game booths, and of course, the FIREWORKS!  This year Kristen kept her eyes open, but covered her ears.  She actually thought they were okay.  Last year she kept telling us that she didn't like the "boom, booms."  Now she does!  For the 4th of July, I sewed  some patriotic skirts for Rachelle and Kristen.  I really tried hard to get done with Marlyse's, but I kept getting distracted.  We were using the day, as if an additional Saturday, to get some chores done around the house.  Don finally built those storage shelves and now we are on our way to getting organized!  Yay!  We ended the day with a yummy BBQ dinner:  burgers, corn on the cob, potato salad, and our red, white, & blue flag jello.  The kids loved that!  

                      

 

 

Kristen, Rachelle, Marlyse, & Kade on July 4, 2011 
Our Firecrackers!

 





Bruce, Jennifer, Audrie, Hailey, & Derek Larson 



Saturday, July 9th, we travelled up to Flagstaff for cousin Audrie's baptism.  It was a great day:  perfect weather, great food, and a great time visiting with family.  The trip was a little restless for the kids, but overall, it was a good day!

Today was my 4th prenatal visit with Dr. Huish.  Everything checks out just great-- blood pressure, weight, baby's heart rate, and I measure right on.  I did have some trace amounts of protein in the urine, so they'll monitor that to make sure I don't get toxemia.  I'm already 22+ weeks and more than half way there!  Yikes, I'm not ready!!!  We've got a little less than 4 months to pull things together.  The kids are so excited!  Kade, Marlyse, and Rachelle keep saying it's a boy, but Kristen keeps saying it's a girl.  We'll just have to wait and see because we don't find out.  Last Sunday, we were talking to Kristen's nursery leader, Sister Hyatt, about how we wait until the birth day to find out the sex.  Rachelle chimed in, "Mommy wanted to give the baby some privacy."  The cute things kids say!  In the mean time, we're struggling to come up with both boy and girl names.  We're thinking of Brayden (not sure on the spelling) if it's a boy and Larissa if it's a girl.  Then there are the middle names to figure out.  Uggh!  Give us some suggestions on those middle names!