Fun in the Sun

This week was both busy and fun. Last Sunday we had dinner at a friends house. Amy Weston (now Jeppson) lives here in Idaho Falls. She found Jared on Facebook and we have gotten together with her and her family a couple times. Her oldest is RJ's age and they get along well. Tuesday I got together with Amy again and our kids enjoyed the summer heat out in her splash pool thingamabog. Then Wednesday was a big Beat the Heat Picnic at the Library. They had lots of games and water activities for the kids. I was also able to have two successful SimplyFun parties this week, which I was very excited about since this week was Birthday week with a lot of exciting sales. (Most of which is still on Sale till the end of the month) But here are some photos of the kids this week.
RJ and Rylie Sunday evening after dinner. RJ dressed himself as a cowboy.

These are from Tuesday:

Wednesday at the Library Picnic:

Bear Lake

Jared got home from a business trip in Virgina Thursday afternoon and that evening we drove three hours south to camp at Bear Lake. We had gone last year and loved it and knew we wanted to go again this year. Our summer schedule has been so busy, I am glad we were able to squeeze in a trip down there. It was a hot weekend but the water was nice. The kids loved splashing in the water and playing in the sand. I enjoyed watching them and relaxing on the beach reading while they spent some good quality time with dad. Both RJ and I learned to fly a kite (yes that is right, I really didn't know how to do this). It was fun. Friday night the wind picked up making lots of big waves. Jared took the kids out in the boat and they had a little rapid ride. I don't have any picture of that since I was out in the water too making sure the boat didn't tip. The water is very shallow and you have to go out several yards before either Jared and I can dive under the water. It is nice to let the kids get loose in the Lake and not worry to much , especially since Savannah is a little dare devil and water baby. The two don't mix very well, but Bear Lake makes it easier. Saturday morning we packed up but still manged to spend most the morning down at the water. RJ however received his first bee sting which wasn't much fun. Other then that we had a great trip. By the way, Bear Lake's famous raspberry shakes and still the best, ummm it was so good. Better then last year's I think. RJ really likes creating stories for me to write down. We wrote a story about our day while Daddy was getting the fire started for dinner. Then he tired to read it back to me.

Jared left his hot dog sticks with the scout stuff. So the kids helped him find a stick and got his knife and went to work wielding it. (not sure if I spelled that right)

Cooking Hot Dogs

Enjoying smores before bed. Yes, it is after 8 even though it doesn't look like it.
Throwing "Canon Balls"

Last week

Every once in a while, the kids get on Skype and talk with Grandma over the computer. They love it because they can not only talk to her, they can see her too. Last Sunday we set up a call but the sound wasn't working very well. So the kids got on the phone to talk and were still able to see the video. Since Jared and I only have cell phones and no land line, we had to create a conference call so both kids could use the phone. RJ was very confused that he could not only hear Grandma on the phone but he was hearing Savannah in the phone as well as in the same room. To took him awhile to get what was going on. It was so funny to watch.
This past week Jared was in Virgina for business and RJ finished up his last week of swim lessons. He passed the level and had a blast doing it. I however wasn't very impressed with his teacher who didn't keep his eye on the six kids in his class while he worked with one or even went to chat with a fellow instructor. A couple of times he took the kids across the pool from 3 feet of water to 5. They swam with both noodles and a floatie. RJ loved it. One day they tried it with just a noddle. RJ was very nervous and was having a hard time. Once he slipped off his noddle and went under. The teacher's back was turned and I panicked. The Idaho Falls city pool is indoor and the parents are asked to leave the deck and watch their kids from the upstairs bleachers that over look the pool. There is a glass wall there for you to watch through.By going up there we are being asked to put are fully trust in the lifeguards and swim instructors. Unfortunately, but their actions, I didn't have too much trust in them. I am sure they are fully trained when an emergency arises but they didn't seem to be trying to prevent emergencies from happening. So there wasn't much I could do upstairs behind the glass wall. I couldn't yell at the teacher or lifeguard to get their attention and let them know that my son was drowning. And there was no way I could get down to the deck in time to help, since I had to run down a flight of stairs and and through the locker rooms to get out there. Luckily in my few seconds of panic the teacher turned around a swam over and pulled him out. I did discover that there is in outdoor pool in Ammon. Which is closer to our home so next year I might try swim lessons over there. Savannah will be in lessons then too and I will be able to enjoy the sun instead of sitting in a hot stuffie room for a half hour. And if the guards aren't to my satisfaction, at least I'll be on the deck.

After lessons one day, we headed to the river for a picnic and decided to stop at this park by the art museum. I had past it a few time but never had time to stop. It was fun and the kids loved it. The picnic benches were all in the shade. The play set, however was all in the sun, but the equipment didn't seem hot. I was able to sit in the shade while the kids played. There is also a huge grass area that they enjoyed running around. We took one of Savannah's toys and hide it and played Hot and Cold, one of RJ's new favorite games.

Looking at the ducks



RJ wanted to go on a trip or an adventure to the top of a mountain. But he didn't want to walk or hike. He decided that he wanted to do this in an airplane. I told him he would have to wait till he was older and had lots of money to hire his own private jet to take him to the top of a mountain. He didn't like the idea of waiting that long. Fortunately, we found some stickers that contained words describing trips and airplane rides. We made up an adventure story while putting each sticker on him. That worked just fine and satisfied his need to take a plane ride to the top of a mountain. Thank goodness for stickers and creativity.

Cinderella

Savannah loves to be a big girl. She has to do everything herself, or at least try it until she asks for help. Sometimes she is just too independent for her own good and gets into lots of trouble. I am constantly having to keep in eye on her. One thing she really like to do is attempt to but her shoes on by herself. Most of the time she is pretty good at putting her sandals on without help. Last Sunday she tried her church shoes and she did pretty good for the most part. We of course helped her with the buckles, after she gave it her best effort.