completely pooped…

We’ve been going to swimming lessons every morning for the past 2 weeks.  I couldn’t wait to get Ian into them, but we had to wait until he was 3.  Since he was little tiny he’s been a little fish with absolutely no fear of the water.  He was just 1 when we started our move from Ohio to here and for part of that time we lived in an apartment in Montgomery, Alabama.  It was hot and humid, so after hunkering down for a day inside an air conditioned apartment we would head to the pool.  The second he could he would run to the water and tumble in head first.  Very cute.  Very scary, but very cute.

do you think he's tired?

These days I think his daily morning swim is wearing him out.

he MUST be tired...

What do you think?

on the longest day of the year…

One thing I love about our church is the program of Family Home Evening.  Every Monday evening we are encouraged to gather our families together to sing, pray, have a lesson, do something fun together, and eat yummy treats.  In our family we rotate who is in charge of each thing, so the kids get to teach lessons, choose songs, plan activities, and make treats.

out 'til sunset

Last night Jonah was in charge of the activity, and with it being the summer solstice he decided we needed to swim until sunset.

summer solstice

So we did.

summer solstice

We built sandcastles.

digging the moat

castle building

sand and water

Hunter learned a new word.

goooooose

Goose, goooooooose…

bird, bird

ian

After a hot day the air had cooled off, but the water was pretty warm.  It couldn’t have been more perfect.

at the resevoir

I am so thankful for this tradition we so faithfully keep in our family.  Gathering 5 little ones around the piano after dinner clean-up (and all the prodding and nagging that often entails) does not always feel like the fun, or sane, thing to do after a busy Monday.  Often the treat is a hurried Tupperware full of “shaker pudding” (instant Jello pudding dumped with milk into a Tupperware and shook, shook, shook by the child in charge of treat) or graham crackers dipped in milk, but by the time we have sung together, by the time a little person has taught their lesson and shared a heart felt testimony about their love for the Savior, by the time we’ve finished honoring a child’s wish to jump on the trampoline all together or play a game of Bananagrams we go to bed happier than we could have imagined in those harried minutes of wrangling.

longest day of the year

It’s a miracle in the making…

out until sunset

one week at a time.

Happy Father’s Day!

for Father's Day...

Is it any wonder that Hunter’s first word, after bird, was Daddy?  He does have the best Daddy in the world.  I am so proud to be on his team.  He makes life fun and beautiful and joyful, this husband of mine.  He is a model of patience and love.  I want to be like him when I grow up.

We adore you, Barry!  Happy Father’s Day!

And happy Father’s Day to all of the Papas and Grandpas and Uncles out there too.  My life is full of wonderful men.  I love you all!