4th of July

A few 4th of July pictures:)

A girl and her mamma's shoes

Schoolwork 

Filling up the pool for some water fun later

Then it was off to a garage sale and a walk

Kiely reading Hannah a book

I couldn't get Hudson out of the water.  He reminds me so much of my brother in this pic.  Joe used to swim in his life jacket just like this for hours, in the shallow.  LOVE!

Then he joined his sis

Gigi's here!

But her heart belongs to Gpa

Then it was time for running into the pool!

Fun fun fun!

Then it was time to see what Neighbor Rod caught.

Gigi prepping her eggs!  My favorite!

Again to Gpa for snuggles!

Dessert time!  

A few picture favorites:).

Ladder Golf Anyone?

First paddle boat ride of the season

Boat Ride!

Looking for eagles

Now Hannah had a very different boat experience.  She wanted to drive!  

Matter of fact, she didn't want to let Pop's help her at all!  She elbowed him out of the way.  

Hudson was content over on his co-captain seat...

Then he decided driving looked like fun too!

A cute peek-a-boo pic before bed:).

This book was a favorite of mine because it used the word "cute" often in it.  This is Jared's least favorite word that I use, especially with Hudson.  So I had him read it to the kids:).

Then we visited a friend's place at the end of the lake.  Hannah liked the ladder:).

Then we did see the eagle, flying right over us!

Hannah decided to take a break and relax on daddy for a bit.

Then it was back to the boat for another boat ride.  It was a wonderful breakfast at Cavanaugh's with many planes to see!

Someone LOVES the boat!

Someone doesn't....

Then we ended the weekend with stellar water gun fight!  Shane and Kiely got out their water guns and we had an all out war!

The boys looking tough!

I eventually came over and initiated the water gun fight, getting wet but poor Kiely got the brunt of it.    We had a wonderful time hanging out with our neighbors.  

We love our lake and our neighbors!

Truly blessed to spend this 4th with the freedoms we have with loved ones.  

Thank you to those who have served!

Swim Lessons

Well I think it's safe to say that Hudson has had a hate relationship with swimming lessons.  The first one he had, at 15 months old, the swim instructor told me to dunk him (yes she was 15 or so and I listened to her).  Since then, Hudson has not enjoyed swim and he hasn't trusted me.  

The year I was pregnant with Hannah, we enrolled him in 3 swim sessions.  It was our last chance to expose him to the water before he turned 3, when we couldn't be in the water with him.  It ended up that he did better with Jared in the water.  

Still didn't love it and it always took him a good 3+ classes to warm up but he did better.  The worst part was laying on his back.  

SO I tabled it.  I wasn't going to push him anymore, plus he gets exposure every summer at the lake.  Well when we went to LA, Hudson asked to go swimming in the pool every night and loved the ocean.  I thought to myself, "He might be ready for swim lessons."  

A friend enrolled her daughter in some survival swim lessons but I didn't feel that was the right fit for Hudson.  Luckily I knew some teachers in the district who taught swimming lessons so I signed him up!

Then his preschool party confirmed he was ready!  One of his friends had a pool and Hudson didn't get out of it for the entire party!

The many faces of Hudson, Luke, and Sol:

Here's a recap of the first day

They took each kid individually in a circle practicing their arm strokes (arrows), stretching their arms out, back float, and blowing bubbles.  

Then they ended the first day by jumping off the side of the pool.

This is how they started each day.  Aren't their heads so cute?!

On day 2, it was raining but the teacher heated up the pool so it wasn't bad at all!

I told Hudson he would be warmer than I was and he was!  He really was working hard and I was so proud of him!

Yes he was cracking the teachers up!  He's a nut!

At the end of day 2, he jumped off the diving board with help:).  He was pretty proud of himself!

Practicing reaches

The face of determination

Miss Tonya often had to tell Hudson to stop talking.  Yes, he is so my child!  He couldn't swim under water and talk, shocker I know!

Probably telling him to reach:).

Light as a feather, stiff as a board

He finally started to relax on his back!

It was so exciting to see him enjoy the water!  

Here he is with his goggles!  

Pure Joy!

Deep breath!

Blowing bubbles!

Practicing holding his breath under water

Swimming!

Waiting in line to jump off the diving board

Still a bit hesitant on his back

He decided he didn't want to get his hair wet on this day..hmmm

He liked swim class so much, I enrolled him in another session but we could only make half of it because he had music class the second half.  

Confidence!

I'd say it was a very successful start to our summer!  We look forward to participating in swim again next summer.  He keeps asking if he can go back:).  I think I have a water bug now!  

Thank you Miss Tonya and Miss Cami for the wonderful swim lessons!  You were wonderful with Hudson and gently nudged him.  He has the swimming fever now!

Happy Summer!!!