Summer 2010 Swimming Lessons

The boys took swimming lessons this summer for 3 sessions which equals 6 weeks.  They did fantastic!  Lewis was the smallest in his class because he is so advanced in his swimming.  I took him to swimming classes all last year so he could learn the lifesaving techniques--the ones where they teach the kids to roll over and float on their backs then flip and swim then roll over until they get to the side of the pool, so if they ever fell into a pool they wouldn't drown.  

So lets just say Lew is a very advanced 3 year old swimmer.  They only reason they didn't bump him up to Griffin's class (learning the strokes) is because he was so little!   So in class you are supposed to hold on to the side of the pool until it's your turn for whatever they are doing next.  Lew just couldn't do it!  He had to let go and swim to the bottom and pop back up which made for some very nervous lifeguards.  By the end of the first session they had his number and it was just a matter of time before he was sitting out next to one of them until it was his turn.  He really never learned his lesson (stubborn little thing) and had to sit out often but not daily by the end of the 3rd session. 

both boys with their teachers

lew has the floating down pat, dave isn't even touching him

lew demonstrating he knows how to hold on to the wall

sit and kick with lifeguard teacher david

sitting out

Griffin spent this summer learning the strokes.  The plan is for him to do swim team with the girls next year.  He did pretty well.  He gives it all he's got, it's not pretty but it gets the job done.  It is quite comical to watch his teachers swim after him as he heads into another class.

grif with his teacher kicking for all he is worth!

Grif beginning freestyle on one end

Griffin in middle of pool going full length

The Return trip

Terrin & Andy's Baseball Wedding

Happy Couple with us

My niece Terrin got married last weekend to Andy.  Terrin belongs to Brad's brother Dave and his wife Terrie.  She is their oldest and 1st to get married.  

Brad and I drove up to Logan so we could go.  It was such a fun wedding with a Baseball Theme.  They got married on home plate and the food was all baseball food, hot-dogs, watermelon, lemonade, cupcakes with baseball rings, water bottles with their pictures on them and the wedding cake itself was a baseball.  They even had kids walking around passing out popcorn.  It was so fun.   

Enjoy the photos!

Happy couple on Home Plate

Terrie, Terrin and Dave

Jenkins and their boys

The Jenkins Family

The Jenkins Men

Wedding Cake

Yummy food

Brad and Dave

Awesome Uncle John

My bro John is really fantastic to take Grif and do fun stuff with him one on one.  The last time Grif was in Flag, John took him out on the Rino for a day of treasure hunting.  They had a great time and Griffin says "Uncle John is the BEST ever!"  I agree!!  The pic is from Amie's camera phone as the boys were pulling out. Thanks John.

Riding the Army Depot Train at Camp Navajo

Grammy and the grandkids

My parents had an activity out at the army depot in Flag which involved a train.  That's all that needed to be said for us to be all in!  Lewis worships trains and was thrilled to be able to go ride on the front of one.

It was a fun activity with a cookout, lots of yummy food, a huge play area and finally the train.  "Plablow" drove the train for us.  (That's Pablo for you non-3-year-old speakers) 

Remnants of the money we smashed

First we put a bunch of money down to get smashed flat then we all got on the train and rode it up the track and then backed down the track for the return trip.  Lewis requested a 2nd trip and...wish granted!  He was sooooooo happy!!!  It was the best day ever!

the boys

Grammy's Birthday & Gift

Blow those candles out!

My mom had a milestone birthday this year. (check the cake if you want to know the number.)  We happened to go up to Flag to visit the weekend before so we had Aleksia and her Aunt Bre make her a cake on the sly.  We surprised her with it that night.  She loved the cake and the surprise.  We were happy to be able to share it with  her. 

Mary, Grammy, Helen and Aleksia

She and my dad went to Vegas the next day to celebrate.  They saw Donny and Marie live at the Flamingo and  LE RÊVE, at Wynn Las Vegas, which "offers breathtaking performances in an intimate aqua theater-in-the-round. The show features aerial acrobatics, provocative choreography and artistic athleticism.  The cast of 85 captures the imagination with their outrageous antics and daring feats of strength and agility. Live music and elaborate special effects immerse the audience into a world of fantasy, adventure and intrigue."  She and my dad had a fantastic time and had a great time celebrating her birthday.  

Since we did her birthday a little early, our gift wasn't ready yet.  This past weekend we got to give it to her.  She loves it!  Yippee...its always nice to give a gift they really like.   Here it is installed on the wall in their front entry.

Close up of quote

Front Entry