SWIMMING!

Our first trip to a swimming pool!

A few weeks ago our good friends invited us swimming. Just wanted to share a few pictures of the boys' first time at a pool. We all had a blast!

The zero-depth entry area was completely fenced in and safe for us.

Lunch!

Cooper

Tucker

Carter

The boys had a snack and watched the big kids in the big pool for a bit before we had to leave.

Madison with her friends (two cuties) - Dax and Barrett.

I am so grateful for my good friend Kelli for inviting me out and putting up with my one million questions about the facility and planning for the day. Love her because she makes me feel 'normal.' :)

Swim-Swim-Swim

We decided to enroll M in swimming lessons at the Y this year. It was great to have the opportunity to take a Saturday class so that Josh could join her for a weekly activity. I know they both enjoyed it so much!

Of course...I took a bazillion pictures. Just wanted to share a few.

She loved saying, "Swim, swim, swim." I love her fishie cheeks as she holds her breath.

My brother took her one Saturday when Josh was working. (Yea for Uncle!)

She loved swim class. But, she did not like splashing or getting water on her face. We could not get her to ever put her face in the water, or to try blowing bubbles.

Getting her duck.

One of her two Dora swim suits.

Fun, fun, fun!

Cutie!!!! Her newest suit from Gymboree...I couldn't help but buy it!

Trying to dive in.

Learning to hold herself on the side and move along the edge.

Playtime was always the last 10 minutes of class. Her favorite thing was dumping water on Josh's head.

They turned on the big slide for the first and last class...she loved it!

I'm sure we will have many fun swimming adventures this summer (if it ever gets here)!

Family Vacation 2012

Wanna see the photo book I created and ordred from Shutterfly?
Do it! Just click HERE.

Ok, wait, don't do it if you are Tracy, my Dad, or Bev...cause you're getting an actual photo book in a couple weeks once they arrive!!!

I had to stay up LATE last night and finish it. I went on their site and saw their 50% off sale on photo books ended that day AND I could get free shipping!! Knowing I was ordering 4 books...it was totally worth it to work on it and get it ordered last night.

BUT...if you don't wanna load, and click through the book, I did include SOME of my FAVORITE photos from the trip in this post. Just scroll on down...

(I had them in order in on my computer...but when they uploaded they got out of order and I'm too lazy to re-order them. Sorry!)


She really did not like the fish.

Mama doesn't camp without running water, A/C, and free Wi-Fi...neither does M apparently. She loved watching one of her shows on my phone.

Not too sure of her first fish! 

A lily pad.

Group shot of all the kayak-ers.

Daddy's favorite part of vacation...kayaking with his girl!

Ooh...checking out the tackle box with G'pa Dave.

She loved looking at the worms.

Fishing!

Fun with her sticker book from Great G'ma Bev.

The lazy river at the water park.

Daddy's so silly.

Jet-skiing (she fell asleep by the way).

More fun in the lake.

Group shot with the three bears of Three Bears Lodge.

Group shot!

Great G'ma Bev, M, and Igor the mouse.

Grandpa Dave, M wearing a cheese hat, and Igor the mouse.

All ready to kayak!

Already giving the camera the look as if I'm totally embarrassing her.

Our family.

The Greats with M.

Patiently waiting on Grandpa.

We had a lot of fun doing all kinds of outdoorsy activities (which before motherhood I would have probably wanted to skip but seeing M experience everything was totally worth it, haha!), and Madison had an absolute blast EVERYDAY. It. was. awesome. M got to ride and nap in a kayak and on a jet ski ride :), go fishing, play at a water park, play outside, and most importantly make lotsa memories with her family.

Josh and I got to enjoy some quiet time each evening out by the fire, eat lotsa s'mores :), read on our Kindles, and finally take a break from work together. :)

So...when can we go on vacation again!?

Water Park Fun

Last Saturday Josh, Madison, and I headed to the Aquatic Center at Weed Park in Muscatine, IA. We have been enjoying the pool this HOT HOT summer as much as we can, and I am glad we got a summer membership. 

However, Saturday was special because it was Madison's first experience with the water slides, and Grandma Tracy and Jeff also joined us.

M's always been a bit hesitant around the water and usually doesn't like getting splashed...but she is slowly getting used to it, and I'm SO happy for her! Anyways, I only had my phone, but I was able to capture a few decent pictures.

We started with the smallest family slide.

 Daddy and M getting ready!

A bit shocked her first time entering the water.

But there were never tears...only smiles from then on!

Grandma and M. 

Mama and M.

Then, we decided to let her try one of the big slides with Daddy! And by 'we' I mean, Josh and Tracy convinced me she'd be ok, and I had a hundred mini heart attacks watching her slide down the first time.

She LOVED the slides. She said 'weeeee' all the way down (so I'm told). I was too chicken to take her down the blue one ever. 

So much fun with Daddy!

She continued to go down the family slide and blue slide with Daddy and Grandma. After a while, she began to point to the two drop slides that drop you into the deep end. What a a little dare-devil! We actually decided to leave once she started requesting to try those because I knew a tantrum was probably coming since she was very insistent on wanting to try those! I hope she knows she doesn't get to try those for a LONG time!!! Geez! Slow down, baby girl!

Before we left she had some fun with the little water spray area (which she normally hates). 

She liked stepping on the little area the water was spraying from.

It takes a lot of coordination for a little girl!

Oh uh...water on her face!

It was a super fun afternoon...and we can't wait to go there again! (And I'm hoping that after a summer of water park fun...she'll finally stop crying during her bath time when I have to wash her hair! My fingers are crossed!)