Swim Class

This summer I signed the kiddos up for swim lessons.  Classes started the first week of June, and run through this Thursday.  The kiddos have been going on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m. 

It was a struggle at first.  They didn't want to get in the pool - let alone be spoken to by the instructor!  In the second week, we had made some progress.  I might have mentioned something about not being able to go to Wisconsin Dells if they didn't participate in class...  After returning from the Dells, I might have then bribed them with the stay at Pa and Gram's house...  Needless to say, they have really come a long way, are learning how to be safe in the water, and (dare I say) are enjoying it!

Here's some video of them working on going under water and kicking with noodles.

Here are a few other pictures as well...

Reba floating with help from the noodle only! (Dallas can do this as well, but he was being stubborn at class last week)

After doing great at swim class, we let the kiddos pick something to do as a reward.  They chose to go out for ice cream!  So Cold Stone Creamery it was...

I also found this great deal on a swimming pool while the kiddos were on their stay-cation.  They were pretty excited when they came back home to find the pool was big enough for them plus Momma and Daddy.

Until next time...

Summer Stay-cation

After the kiddos re-couped from the vacation to the Dells, they headed off for another vacation at Gram and Pa's house!  We met up with Gram and Pa on a Thursday after swim class.  They were originally going to stay until the following Monday so they would be back for swim class on Tuesday, but low and behold - there was no swim class that week because of the 4th of July holiday.  Long story short...they stayed through the week and came home the next Saturday!  Gram was kind enough to share some pictures...enjoy!

Dallas loves Pa's JD 70 pedal - especially when Teddy can ride along!

...or his sister

One day, they visited some of Pa and Gram's friends (who live on a lake and have a boat).  Thanks Jim and Linda for taking the kiddos for a ride; they loved it!

Linda was even able to cuddle with Reba

Gram and her grandbabies

Aunt Josie, Reba, Pa and Dallas

Dallas loves to talk about this bike Pa looked at a few times

Aunt Josie and the kiddos

While the kiddos were visiting, Indiana (as well as other parts of the country) experienced a HEAT wave.  Down here, we had 10 straight days of 100+ temps.  Good thing Gram and Pa still had the swimming pool to keep the kiddos cool!

Some old cups Gram found for the kiddos to use

Pa also redid this old toy box so the kiddos could have a better place to be contained store their toys

Gram also found this old game (that Daddy and Aunt Josie played as kids) called Loopin' Louie to help entertain everyone since it was so hot outside.

Thanks again for letting the kiddos come stay and play!  I do believe they had tons of fun...so much so that Reba crashed in the chair as soon as we got home from church that next morning!

Until next time...

Line 'Em Up!

A while back, our friends Ciara and Mattison came to play for the afternoon.  Luckily, we are equipped with enough Cozy Coupes to keep everyone entertained!  Enjoy the video...

Until next time...

Fun Friday Fotos - Vacation Randoms

Hopefully, I still have a few readers out there after my multiple vacation posts...if so, I have one more post of vacation pictures.  These are the random ones, or even the out-takes, if you will.  Mind you, these are in no particular order either.

The kiddos loved the bunk beds they got to sleep in at the hotel

I'm pretty sure on more than one occasion, the server at the resturants believe my kiddos were actually Aunt Katie's kiddos.  I'm trying to think if they even sat by me at a single meal.  Nope, pretty sure they always called dibs to sit by Aunt Katie!

Reba left her pink Oliver hat somewhere...but no fear - Pa-paw found it!

Sleepy boy waiting in line at the go-karts

Yep, that's Momma and Pa-paw racing the luggage cart down the hallway! Do as I say, not as I do...

Pa-paw was finally able to carry Reba - after a long day spent at the water park

Check out the awesome gas mileage our van got on the way to Wisconsin - 30.6 mpg!!!

 Please, Momma...no more pictures

If Dallas was going to be Mr. Grumpy Pants about getting his picture taken, so was Aunt Katie

A self-portrait of Momma and Reba while horseback riding

One night, while playing arcade games, we (Doug, Aunt Lisa and I) were trying to win some fast tickets.  After we each took a turn (and not having much luck), Reba pulled the handle before we knew it...and what does she win?  Yep...100 tickets!

Vacation complete...east bound and down...headed home

Until next time...

Moose Jaw and Billards

Our last night in the Dells, we at at this wonderful pizza place called Moose Jaw.  It was going to be a bit for us to get seated, so they suggested we visit downstairs where the aracades and such were located.
Cowboy Dallas shootin' the bad guys

These two climbed right up on those bikes like they knew what they were doing!

It is a very rustic/outdoors theme inside - antler chandler, moose heads...

goat foot hooks - you know everyday normal!

Pa-paw buying a kiss from Little Miss

Those pizzas didn't stand a chance with this group!

Pa-paw, Rajean, Reba, Aunt Lisa, Doug, and Dallas

Dallas was so proud of his balancing act!

The Moose Jaw uses these PT Cruisers for their deliveries

Needless to say, Dallas thought they were hillarious!

After supper, we made it back to the hotel for a few games of billards.  Pa-paw and Momma were on a team and Aunt Lisa and Daddy were the other.  I do believe Pa-paw and I won overall :)

Until next time...