it's been one of these kind of days.

hot
full
loud
wet
treat filled
sun kissed

These days are exhausting, but some of my most favorite of the summer. I think that feeling is very much tied to my childhood. Absolutely the best activity I could ever do as a kid in the summer was go to the pool, especially when it wasn't an everyday occurrence. I learned to appreciate each opportunity. And I can still remember what it felt like to come home, clean the pool off me, & hop straight into my jammies feeling my tight newly sun kissed skin. It's still very much the same today, except I never fight bed time--because let's face it, right now, my bed has never felt so good.

spring break photos

Megan came to me Sunday night crying. Spring break had been so good she didn't know how to go to school the next day--all she wanted was sleep in and lay in bed all day. Adam sat laughing in the background as I tried to talk her through it knowing his amusement was due to the fact that he had heard something very similar from my lips hours before.

I guess you could say spring break was good to us. We left the rain and cold weather behind and lazied about all week in the sun. Well, we weren't entirely lazy. When we weren't swimming we were riding bikes around the neighborhood. I'm pretty sure Tess was in heaven each morning as we hit the road. She loves to bike, but has major hills to contend with at home so she goes back and forth a lot on the same street. Needless to say I think swimming came in second on this trip. Even Megan, who has lacked confidence in the past, was acting like a pro the last day. I'm so glad we took the bikes this time.





















Other than those two activities it was pretty low key, but perfectly what we all needed--a spring break.

our staycation starts now

My sister and her family are in town for the next week and a half so we'll be finishing off our summer break with them. I'm not sure what we'll do or where we'll go, though there has been talk of doing some different things like hike Mount Timpanogos. You know of all the time I've lived here I've actually never done that.

It ends up being a crazy 10 days and with school starting it might feel a little more hectic this year, but I love having everyone together, it happens so infrequent, and love seeing how easily the kids pick up where they left off.

here are a few little moments throughout the day that stood out to me and made me smile...


Catching Bella pull out her camera and take a self portrait with her cousin.


Watching Tess and Alan get over their shyness and act like best friends.


Seeing how much she has grown and changed from the little pre-teen to teenager.


Finding them together hiding & counting in little spaces.


Seeing them all blissfully happy making the most out of the few days we have together.

have a great weekend.
xo amy

summery goodness

swim team

Bella & Tess started swim team June 8th, the first day of summer. I didn't sign them up for the swim meets, rather, I just wanted something that would help them develop their swimming skills/strokes. Luckily I found a beginner team that started at 9am so it wouldn't put too much pressure on us in the morning, though I am finding there have been days I've had to wake Tess up.

I stayed for their first class and realized they have a lot of work to do. I knew that though, going into it. I knew the majority of the kids had been swimming all winter long and that my girls would have to practice hard to catch up.









5 weeks later I went again and was pleasantly surprised by their progress. Especially with freestyle, they both improved drastically. They actually put their face in the water while doing the stroke and turn to the side to breath. They still have more work to do with the other strokes, though I don't expect the butterfly will ever be perfected...that is one hard stroke.

Swimming is tiring and tough, they come home wasted and hungry (especially Tess) everyday, but I've been so impressed with their attitude. They go knowing they will work hard and consequently they are getting it...and are even enjoying their time in the pool. Just goes to show you, you're only good at what you do everyday. I'm not sure it will fit into our fall schedule, but we'll definitely be doing it next year...hopefully then Megan will be able to join them.


Now I'm off to put the finishing touches on Megan's birthday party that's tomorrow morning.
Have a great weekend.
xoxo

independence holiday || photos

parade + face painting + breakfast + swimming + fireworks from the backyard = one good holiday

over the weekend...

I took the kids swimming. I didn't pull my camera out very much, but enough to remember from last year that what I want is to get my hands on some under water equipment for my camera so I can take photos below the surface. Unfortunately they don't rent it so I'm going to have to rely on Kodak disposables until I can figure something else out.

since schools been out...

We've started swim lessons,


and been to the pool.


We've had the breakfast of champions,


and seen baby birds born.


I've said goodbye to a dear friend. Hannah I miss your face.


and jumped on a trampoline...it's been years. [photo by john mckenzie]


We've organized our rooms and spent rainy afternoons playing games or watching movies.


We've been to the book store,


and played with cousins and friends.


It's been a good, semi-crazy, summer vacation thus far. I'm still trying to adjust to the change in my routine, but I have the highest hopes for the next 76 days.