Avery's 4th Birthday

Avery was thrilled to celebrate her birthday. She is the last of the siblings and she was happy to have her day finally come! Choosing her gift was an easy one. A big girl bike to help her keep up with her brothers. Hopefully she won't be taking the training wheels of (like Ryan) any time soon. She happily cruises back and forth on the driveway which allows me time to play sports with the boys.

 Our family celebrated last weekend, at the pool with a pizza party.

 She was VERY eager to open her presents.

 Another costume :)

 I think she likes being the center of attention ;)

Happy 4th Birthday, beautiful girl. We love you!

Lots of pool time

The pool seems to be a perfect spot for our family this summer. All the kids are happy to go and stay (fairly) happy while we are there. I don't often get to relax in a chair, but someday... all too soon that will happen. At least that's what I tell myself ;)

The past two Sunday evening we have spent together as a family at the pool and I love ending our week on that note! On this particular night, Ryan wasn't feeling good and his throat was getting progressively worse. The next day, we discovered he had Hand Foot and Mouth (!) Boo. He recovered quickly and none of the other kids got it, thankfully!

 Ryan's swimming as really progress this summer. So fun!

She is so proud of the fact that she can "touch the bottom" (in the shallow end) and she repeats that statement at least 50 times while we are driving to and from the pool and during our swim time.

The kiddie pool allows me a break from holding her hands while sitting on the steps of the adult pool.

 She loves the water and I think it's very therapeutic for her.

Loving the Pool

She is never far from me...sharing my pool chair and my snack. 

Lots of card games played this summer!

My Mornings

My mornings and afternoons are as different as night and day. I tend to gear myself up for 3 pm as if it's the start of a new day. Thankfully most days I have at least 30 minutes with the bigs before the littles wake up from naps. That helps a lot!

I love my mornings with Ryan and Avery. They really are a lot of fun, especially when I don't have my own agenda ;)

For the past few weeks, Ryan has been taking swim lessons. He didn't learn a whole lot, but he will be more comfortable in the pool at the start of summer. Avery and I sat and watched the 30 min lesson. Some days she was more patient than others.

 

Afterwards if the weather cooperated we stayed to play on the playground for a bit.

On the morning of his last lesson we went to the pool early and we all got IN the pool. It's a good thing I waited until the last day b/c Avery LOVED it so much. I am pretty sure she would not have been content to watch from then on.
Lessons ended last week, but today we went back to swim. They don't last long b/c of teeth chattering and it's quite an ordeal getting them showered and redressed, but they love it and it's the perfect outing for an overcast or rainy morning. Avery is hysterical in the pool. Her little body is so buoyant and she doesn't really mind getting her face wet.
I am looking forward to the pool this summer. They will be a handful for sure, but oh so fun!

The 2 of Us

I am one lucky lady. To be doing this. Feeling a little guilty that the other 2 are in school :)

I doubt I will be sitting on the sidelines much this summer. I am really really trying to enjoy him, but I so desperately want to GO. She is missing and I feel it all the time.
I am really struggling to be "HERE". I've been pretty anxious this week thinking of all that will transpire when we get our TA. Still praying it comes early next week. I can't quite fathom booking international flights with such little notice. It's just not how I like to do things. I am not a spontaneous person. This trip is going to really stretch me. Thankfully EJ is better at it.
Most days my heart feels like it's going to jump out of my chest and my stomach as been in knots much of the week too.
Thankfully we have FOUR baseball games this weekend to keep me occupied :)
Go Nationals! Go Riverdogs!

No Olympians Here

We may have been inspired by the Olympics but that's as far as we got ;)

Our form needs some work.

Owen's "flip"

 toe knee touch

dive?

 and the cute judges

I have not blogged about our time at the pool this summer, but we've gone quite frequently. ALL 3 enjoy it, which is so fun! Owen, of course, prefers if he has a friend there. Mason is perfectly content to play on his own. Ryan keeps me busy for his lack of fear for the water. But he naps oh SO good afterward ;)