Some more summer stuff....

A friend from church has graciously opened up her super fun pool for anyone from church to use, so we have been going the last few weeks or so. The best part? The water slide of course! Rory and Sydney both love it.

                                            Rory and one of our friends Emily.

                                         We of course have spent lots of time at Legoland:

                                                       The beach:

                                        We went a couple of weeks ago with my sister in law Holli and nephew Seth:

                                                  Mini golfing too. Rory got his second hole in one(he got one another time he went with Micah:

                                              Lunch at Islands, yumm.

Swim lessons

The kids both took swim lessons a couple of weeks ago, and even though Rory has taken them several times over the past couple of summers, this was Sydney's first time. She really liked it. Even though she was the youngest in the class(one day past 3 when she started), she really learned a lot. She has always loved the water and the pool, but I have noticed she has really gotten brave in the water. She had a difficult time staying on the steps of the pool when her teacher was with another child, and would start swimming out into the deeper water. Myself or her teacher would have to tell her to get back on the steps about every 2 minutes.
Rory has really gotten much better at swimming and getting around in the water this year. He swims all over the place, and I have a lot of confidence in his swimming capabilities. His favorite thing is just playing, so he loves jumping off the side of pools, off of rocks, diving boards, going down slides...you name it. His favorite place is Legoland water park and he LOVES going down the big water slides.

Back to School!

Well, for us, just to school, not back. Rory started his first day of school today! Here's some pictures of the big event. He was so excited, and his new teacher, Mrs. Hafer, is so nice. He was put into the Kindergarten/First Grade Combination class. We will see how that goes. I think for him, it will be beneficial being around the older kids. Plus, he gets to go straight out to the big kid playground, and eat lunch with the big kids of the school, too. They have a seperate smaller area for kindergartners to eat and play, but he will bypass that completely.
We all walked him to school, and it was so fun to watch all of the kids line up and head to their classes.

 Had to show off his Lego Star Wars bacpack! He also has a Darth Vader lunchbox.

                                          He's now a Midland Rattler!

Summer Part 3-Syd's 3rd Birthday

Miss Sydney turned 3 back on the 7th, and wow, she is a handful. She is extremely stubborn, can throw the biggest tantrums you have ever experienced, and can drive even the most patient mother batty. But besides all of that, she is extremely funny, oh so smart, very outgoing and friendly, athletic,  almost always has a huge grin on her face, loves her family(especially her big brother), is the most beautiful little girl I have ever layed eyes upon, energetic, and always willing to help. She loves to play cars with the boys, and throw dirt, but also loves her baby dolls. Basically many of the qualities I wish to have, and all in a tanned pint sized body.

                        We celebrated her birthday the whole weekend, and she got a new princess bike:

                                                   And a new Dora watch from Rory:

                                             She wanted a Tangled birthday, so we decorated with Tangled stuff, but she also wated a Dora and Diego cake(which I can't believe I forgot to photograph!)

                                                   Her card from Rory:

New Rupunzel  Doll from Mema and Grandpa(who also got her some pink Legos)

                                              Aunt Angie and family set a cool froggy backpack and a big pink soft hippo that opens up to a sleeping bag and pillow. She has been sleeping with Mr. hippo every night.

                                                   Out riding bikes:

We don't do birthday parties with friends until the 5th birthday, so she got to pick where we went to dinner the night before her birthday(since her birthday landed on a Sunday this year), and just like her 2nd birthday, she picked Rubio's for a fish taco. That was just fine with me! She got to invite both sets of Grandparents, so that was fun.

Summer of fun, part 2

We have also spent our summer doing lots and lots of walks, bike and scooter rides, playing at different parks, picnics with friends and families, plus more:

                                                              Lots of lego building:

                                                 Sydney with one of her favorite pals, Chase:

                                                      Got a new rug...

                                                 lazy summer day naps:

                                                Rory and his cousin Madelynn:

                                              My mother-in law and my nephew Seth:

                                                            Playing disc golf:

                                                    My gorgeous niece Lacy:

                                                My niece Lacy and her Dad Matt:

                                          My sister in law Holli and brother in law Tyler, with baby Seth: