Kayda's Hip Hop Dance Class

Kayda's friend Kennedi was doing a dance class this summer so Kayda, of course, wanted to do it with her.  She missed two of the classes due to trips and my forgetfulness but she still got the gist of it.  She had a couple of classes she didn't want to go to because the teacher kept "telling her to smile" and apparently Kayda doesn't like to smile while dancing!

Unfortunately it won't let me upload the video of her dance because the file is too big.  

Swimming with Auntie Kina

Long ago I was a lifeguard with Auntie Kina.  I loved to teach the younger students and just get them to enjoy the water (I've done that part with my own kids quite well).  Kellina would teach the higher levels (side breathing, the more advance strokes etc).  Since I didn't spend much time teaching those higher areas I'm not 100% sure how to teach them to my own kids.  Certain parts I can figure out but I KNEW there was a more effective way to teach side breathing than what I was doing.  So we tried swim lessons.  We tried private swim lessons.  I tried teaching them during public swims at the pool.  None of it worked as well as I would hope.  So we were able to work it out with Auntie Kina to meet up with her once a week (when possible) and she would work with Kayda and Dillon.  I could not be happier.  She works great with them and they ADORE her, and since it's at her apartment pool it's not over run with people and distractions!

 Last week it was the day before Kellina's birthday so we brought her cupcakes and gifts.  We had fun jamming 30 candles into a cupcake!

The kids love to play with Mike (a chinchilla) every time they go over to swim. 

Quick River Visit

A couple of weeks ago we headed over to a new spot on our river.  We managed to find another area where the water splits with a smaller area on one side for the kids to play.  The river was actually fairly shallow all the way across.  If you look at it now the rock stretches almost all the way across completely dry. 

 Dillon wanted to go out to the middle like Kayda but the fast current made him nervous.

 The kids love to build "dams" and balance rocks.  

Daddy took the challenge to float a ways down the river.  

Carson Turns THREE!

Today our sweet youngest child turned 3!  He is getting big so fast!  He is a total character!  He adores his older brother and will follow him around constantly.  He thinks that he belongs in Mommy's lap; there is no hesitation, no matter how I am sitting he will work his way up into my arms and snuggle in.  One of the many benefits of having a summer birthday is the sunshine!  He showed an interest in two things for his birthday: chocolate cake and going out on the boat.  So Grandpa H and Daddy took a half day at work and out we all went on the boat. 

 Carson decided he wanted to try tubing with Mommy so this was the first turn!  He smiled and laughed almost the whole time!

 When I said almost the whole time this was that "almost".  We got outside our boat's wake just to run into another boats wake.  We got bouncing so well that right after this photo Carson literally started flying off the intertube.  I had to reach up with one hand and snag him around his waist and pull him back down.  He was pretty freaked out after that but we started going slowly again so he had a good time. 

 After that incident I had to criss-cross my legs over him so that I was "buckling" him in. 

 He got two rides in a row since Daddy wanted to ride with him too!

 

 Kayda was able to use her foot to kind of bounce herself back up onto the tube; she was almost in the water!

 I had to document the rainbows that kept showing up just behind the boat!

 When the ride was over Kayda decided to tumble into the water.

 

 Daddy vs.  Papa H

 There goes Daddy!  Papa won!
Right after this, Mommy had a turn only to be thrown off as well.  Mommy actually rolled across the water.

 

 Kodak moment!

 

 Carson decided he wanted to go swimming with Daddy.  While he was maneuvering to do that he tumbled in.  He was a little surprised but recovered quickly.  He had a great time pulling himself in on the tow rope.

 After the lake we grabbed Baba and headed to eat.

 

 The boys were playing rock paper scissors.  No matter what the other two did Carson always decided he won and would slap his hand over the top of everyone else. 

 

It was a fantastic day today!  Thanks Grandma and Papa H for getting us all out on the boat again. I'm fairly certain we'll be making another request soon!