A Busy Saturday!

We had a busy day today. This morning Ben had a swim meet at the Granite Bay pool and thankfully our babysitter, Bekah watched the girls for us because it was really HOT! Ben was very excited because his cousins came to watch him swim. He did well today- he completed all his races without stopping on the side. He got a best time in freestyle and may have in backstroke, but we never got his official time. The last two meets he has done really well and is having FUN! After the swim meet we went over to the Galleria for the grand opening of the new Disney Store because Mickey and Minnie were there. Unfortunately, the line was really long and after waiting in it for about a half hour we gave up and just went by the stage and waved at them. Heidi was very concerned because she really wanted Mickey to see her dress. Mickey waved at them so she was satisfied. Then we got some ice cream instead! Dad and Mom both made it to the gym this afternoon and now Dad and Ben are back at the pool for the Flick and Float. Heidi and Kate are enjoying their blow up pools on the deck while I type on this nice WARM evening- summer is HERE!!!

Look how cute Allie is in her sunglasses and halter top

Ben is ready to go!

Getting ready to dive in for freestyle

Andrew, Luke and Ben

Such good buddies!

Ben and Luke by the record board

Waiting in line to see Mickey and Minnie

Heidi wants to join the swim team!

Watermelon Exploration

Aunt Leslie created a great summer activity plan for us and this week was fruit and veggies week. Yesterday for fruit and veggies week, we explored a watermelon and the kids had so much fun. We smelled it, touched it, guessed how many inches around it was, put cards in order of growth, cut string to measure the circumference, put it in water to see if it would sink or float and cut it up. I gave Ben and Heidi each an end of the watermelon in a pan with a spoon and butter knife and they spent a long time cutting it up. Ben kept saying, "Okay Heidi, now let's explore this". Kate explored the watermelon by eating it!

Heid's ABC's

Fairytale Town

Yesterday afternoon we took the kids for a little trip to Fairytale town in Sacramento. They had fun running around, going on the slides, looking at the animals and having snow cones. Snow cones was Ben's favorite part- he carried that thing around the whole time as you can see from the pictures. The other favorite was the roosters. The kids thought they were so funny. We are really enjoying having Dad home more for the summer after our crazy spring!

3 little cuties in the king chair. You can have birthday parties in this room. Heidi asked Ben, "Benny, you want your birthday party here?" Ben answered, "Maybe next year Heidi." I love to listen to the conversations they have now; it's so cute.

Heidi was trying to hang onto Baby Kate for the picture, but she would not cooperate

Sitting by the little minnow pond.

Guess what Ben wanted to do? "Dad, do you think you can catch one of these with your hands?"

Cutest Wizard of Oz characters ever

Ben with his snow cone in the Cinderella carriage

Sherwood Forest

This is as far as Heidi got on the crooked road before she freaked out and Dad had to rescue her

Kate and Dad- she is definitely a Daddy's girl. She must say "Daddy" a hundred times a day!

Watching the pennies go down the Wishing well was very entertaining


Here are the roosters the kids loved!

Silly faces :)

Silly kids waiting in the car for Dad to check in the Sequoia at the Toyota dealer. I was entertaining them by taking silly pictures. Aren't they a cute bunch?

A Fun Monday at Folsom Lake :)

Grandma T had a great idea- since John doesn't work Monday mornings, it would be the perfect time to take the boat to Folsom Lake. So we did, and it was so much fun. Grandma T. watched Kate for us and John, Uncle Dave and I took Ben and Heidi. It was such a beautiful day and there was hardly any other boats out there. John, Dave and I all got to wakeboard twice and after being forced into the tube Ben and Heidi loved it. They even sat in there to eat their lunchables (not while we were moving). At first John rode with them and then they went by themselves. They were so cute- you can see the video below. They would wave and both of them kept giving the "faster" sign. I started to give them a little bit more of an adventurous ride and they got stuck in a swell and fell out. Ben was such a good big brother; he swam over to Heidi and held onto her until the boat got back- I was so proud of him. They were done after that, hopefully I didn't scar them for life! Anyways, it was a great day, we had so much fun! Thank you Grandpa for letting us borrow your boat and truck and thank you Grandma for watching Kate!
At first Ben wasn't really sure about getting in the water

Once he got in, he loved it! Here he swam the rope handle out to Uncle Dave

Dad and Ben

Ben and Heidi really loved to hold the flags (good thing there are 2 in the boat!)

Dad and Ben on the first tube ride

Heidi having a snack

Dad with Ben and Heidi

Riding all by themselves- they're so cute!

Sorry for the video quality- it was a little bumpy

Gators Swim Meet June 20

Ben swam in his second swim meet last Saturday. He swam Freestyle and Backstroke again and beat his times in both. His backstroke race was amazing (according to his fan club)- he dropped 35 seconds! He was more comfortable and had more fun at this meet plus he had Grandpa Rich, Grandpa Les, Grandma T, Uncle Paul and Kelsey there to cheer him on!
The team cheer before the meet started

Ben was so cute in his Gators shirt doing the cheer

Ready to swim!

Grandpa and Grandma came to watch

Ready to dive in for freestyle

Waiting for his turn

Getting some last minute encouragement from Dad

Isn't he cute

Ready for backstroke

Uncle Paul took some great pictures with TT & Jesse's camera- thanks :)


Giving Grandpa Rich 5 after the race

Ben with his 2 grandpas

After the big race :)