4th of July & Swim Lessons ~ July 2016 - Weeks 1 & 2

The Fourth of July was on a Monday this year and we had plan to go celebrate at the home of some friends.  Unfortunately, Madison got sick a couple of days after we got home from our trip and I realized Sunday night that I had gotten sick from her.  So, Madison and I stayed home from the party and Kyle and the big girls went to swim in the afternoon, but came home to grill dinner with us and do some fireworks with us.

Mmmm, firework popsicles.

Getting ready for the fireworks to start!

Kyle getting ready to light the first one.

At the beginning of June, Kyle started a new work schedule.  He is now working from home 3 days a week, in Orange County 1 day a week and in west LA 1 day a week.  His LA day is usually a long day with both the drive and an longer hours in the office.  This has been great as we are eating dinner as a family and seeing him more than ever.  One of the advantages of his working from home is we can now run errands or do activities in the evening.  This has never been an option for us before, unless he got off super early.  We recently took an evening to make some returns and play a little at Bass Pro Shops.

They always enjoy 'driving' the boats.

After Bass Pro, we had ice cream at McDonalds.  Madison made a little bit of a mess.

The girls enjoy watching Daddy plays games.  They also will nab the i-pad and play on it as much as we let them.  Madison is especially good at grabbing it the second I lay it down within her reach and does not give it up willingly.  She is also starting to grab my phone and run off with it.  I frequently find her hiding in bedrooms on one of the devices playing a game.

For the last few years, it has just worked out that Vacation Bible School at our church has been the same week the girls are in swim lessons.  I would rather not do that as they get wiped out, but we have had a busy summer and it was one of the only weeks where they would be able to attend every session.  We went through a different local program this year where the sessions were a little longer, but it only last 1 week.  We have been swimming quite a bit this summer and the girls are really improving.  I think they were already familiar with swimming for the summer when they took lessons and they seemed to really learn a lot.  It is now a couple weeks after swim lessons and Katelyn just jumped into the deep end and swam to the side without any assistance!  Brooklyn usually uses her floaties on her arms, but is getting pretty good at 'ice cream scoops' and getting where she wants to go.  She also will jump in and swim unassisted with floaties on!

Madison reading her Frozen book while waiting for her sisters in the heat.

Brooke is center on the far side.

Brooklyn

Katelyn working on her backs stroke.

Katelyn

Brooklyn waiting patiently.

Katelyn (on the left).   She made a good friend and really enjoyed going every day to see her.

On the last day, all the kids lined up to jump off the lifeguard chair.  Katelyn is about to jump in this photo.  She just climbed right up and jumped off without assistance two times.

Brooklyn about to jump off.  Her teacher jumped with her.