Weeks 8 and 9

After getting back from Chicago we jumped right back into lessons.  Admittedly, it wore me out.  We haven't done much of anything since getting back except our weekly schedule of lessons (tennis, ice skating, piano, and swimming), doctor appointments, cleaning the house, and play dates.  And honestly, I don't feel about it.  The kids have had a less structured summer than I would have liked, but it was been more busy.  The summer snuck up on me and I wasn't ready.  This summer was a good learning experience for me.  Between last summer and this summer, I think I've really found what I prefer for our rhythm.  And it doesn't involve lessons every single day!

Bree was helping me cook an asian dish and she was really enjoying this bok choy.  I had to get a picture of my little vegetable eater.  Her favorite veggie is green beans.  She can clear a plate of green beans faster than anything I've ever seen.  But she also loves some of these other veggies that are good not cooked.  Her all time favorite raw veggie is green peppers, but I think this bok choy was rivaling that!

On Wednesday the 18th, we went with friends to America the Beautiful Park.  The kids spent some time on the playground and then a good hour or so splashing around in the fountain.  Our friends went home for lunch, but we decided to cash in on our library reading program coupons for a kid's lunch at Louie's.  We got three (large!) slices of pizza and 3 drinks for free.  I always feel bad not paying for anything so I ordered some cheesy bread.  It's so yummy!  And we got all of that for only $5.  

The kids seemed more interested in watching the cartoon network than they were in eating the pizza.

On Friday July 15th we had the opportunity to head to the Olympic Training Center to watch the US Men's Olympic Gymnastics Team in a mock meet.  We got there about 20 minutes early only to find that the parking lot was packed.  We had to search the streets for a spot and ended up several blocks away.  We walked as fast as we could and made it there just at the start time.  BUT....it was overflowing with people.  And the weren't allowing any more people in.  They clearly did not expect so many people to come to the event.  In exchange for turning us away, they offered us a free tour with Olympian Nic Taylor  and told us to check back in an hour or so to see if they could let any more people in.  We headed off on our tour.  We started with a short film about the OTC and then started on our tour.  Nic was such a fun guy and was very patient.  I was very impressed with him.  We went through our first building and on our way to tour the dorms we passed the gym.  As we passed, I noticed they were gathering a group together and giving them instructions on how to go into the gym.  So, we ditched the tour (I felt bad about leaving Nic) and got in with the group.  We were ushered into the gym and told to sit on the floor....the competition floor.  We were able to watch the last three events of the mock meet, while sitting 50 feet or so away from the men the whole time.  It was such an amazing experience. At the end of the meet there was a brief question/answer session and then the men turned to the floor and walked over to mingle with us, take pictures, and sign autographs.  So, the people who showed up early and got to sit in the stands didn't get as close to the men as we did.  It was amazing!  And my phone had died back during the tour.  Reception was not good on OTC grounds.  Bummer.  But it was a great afternoon.  Just don't ask Bree or Finn what they thought of it because they weren't impressed.  Kai, on the other hand, understood the significance of what we had seen and had a much better appreciation for it.

Nic Taylor (our tour guide)

The boys have had pretty much weekly swim lessons.  They are private lessons but this day they had lessons at the same time with two sisters.  They didn't work together at all but I thought it was fun to see the sisters teaching the brothers.

On Tuesday July 19th we had a free morning and so the kids and I headed to the track at the elementary school so I could get in my morning run.  I jogged while Kai rode his bike, Finn rode his scooter, and Bree tried to ride her tricycle.  She wasn't as self-sufficient as I would have liked, but the boys had a good time.  And I enjoyed coming around the track to see my boys circling as well.  Kai ended up riding his bike 3 miles, which impressed me because he had not ridden all summer except once, and that time was HARD because he was scared after having not practiced all winter.

That same afternoon was a skating class for Bree and she was the only one in her class.  Her teacher, Ms. Stephanie, was so good with her.  Ms. Stephanie teaches some advanced skaters, but does great with my little peanut, too.

And later that day I tried to finish painting Bree's bed.  I opted for an enamel paint, but didn't know what I was getting into.  By golly I had to scrub to that off of me.  I was getting frustrated with it, but I really like the finish on the bed.  And it was worth it, I think!

Finn's tennis lessons are on Fridays and it is him, Stevie (in front of him) our neighbor, and Keene (Finn's "BFF" from school)

After tennis on Friday the 22nd, these boys did not want to separate.  They posed themselves so I got out my camera.  Keene and Finn have been in school together for the last two years.  I have no idea what I will do if they aren't together again this year.  For the first trimester last year Keene was in a different class and Finn asked me nearly daily if he could transfer into that class where his friend was.  Heaven help me next week if they get different teachers!

Also during week 9 we went with friends to the Miller Athletic Center in Castle Rock.  We played outside on the playground, and in the splash pad, and then we went in to swim and play on the indoor playground.  It was a tiring day but it was fun to be with friends from the ward.  I didn't take any pictures (I have no idea how that happened--maybe I was enjoying the social scene!) but we did have a great time and we did do something other than going to lessons!