Summer Update

Somehow my camera is just not making it out these days.  We are loving Summer and our layed back days.  Yesterday was the kids last day of swimming.  Two weeks of jumping out of our bed, throwing on suits and heading to the pool.  I love that it is close and coming back to the house, having late breakfasts together has been nice.  It is amazing what the kids eat!  James about beats all the kids and is usually last at the table cleaning up everyone's plate.  The kids really had a good two weeks with swimming.  James is all set to swim without his float-not me!  He looks like a drowned rat and gave me quite a scare at the neighbors pool when he decided to jump in and swim.  I  was about ready to jump in when he finally managed to make it to the side and promptly looked at me, like what's your problem mom?  and says "See I swim!"  The float will stay on! Becca and Brayden worked on learning different strokes and both practiced at becoming stronger swimmers. The high dive was a hit for both.  Becca learned to dive-such excitement.  Andrea struggled but managed to stay in the water and do what her teacher asked, most of the time.  She struggles with water in her nose and thought she could get out if she had a tummy ache.  After the first couple days I had, had it with her.....all the other moms are cheering and smiling, I on the other hand am telling my child that I don't care even if her stomach hurts, suck it up and get in the pool-lovely.  The crazy thing is that she can swim, so frustrating to see her clinging to the side of the pool crying--ahhh.
   Summer has been filled with little things, the past week it was a trip to the vending machine after swimming...which actually ate our money, learning to deal with disappointment.  Taking many trips to the library and using the self check-out.  Watching free movies and getting to sit in the back row of a movie theatre, eating popcorn and candy. Multiple trips to the pool, Becca was up to 37 times down the slide before she told me she was going to quite counting.  It wouldn't be summer if the computer wasn't running-lots of mine-craft building, my little pony playing along with WII mario games with neighbor friends.  Ice and water wars on the tramp are in full swing now that the OK heat seems to have moved in.  I will have to do a better job in documenting as these days are full of fun memories.  Brayden is taking care of a pet spider??  Who knew catching a grasshopper these hot days would be so hard?  We are loving just hanging around these summer days
      Summer is lots of play and fun but also work.  The kids are enjoying lots of free time as long as their work is done.  They are great bed makers and bathroom cleaners...with reminding of course.  Becca is my little helper and is not so sure she wants to be paid-so opposite of Brayden.  The weeding gets done faster with many little hands, although our garden is in sad shape thanks to the devastating work of a puppy.   The kids are getting older and self-motivation is finally taking shape as a result they are plugging away at their reading programs. Writing is still a push but writing letters to each other has turned out to be pretty fun.  Just a little work along with lots of relaxing.  Sometimes so nice to relax a bit with the rules-I think we will all survive, as I hear them crank up "Who Let the Dogs Out"  even James is singing/yelling.  The make me smile and drive me crazy all at once.