Swim Lessons for All, Tennis Lessons for Morgan, Running Love, and Summer Date Nights

The very first week school was out we hit the summer running with swim lessons for all the kids, and tennis lessons for Morgan.

They all did really well!  Their instructors were all so darling and fun.  I truly think the personality of the person teaching the kids these things makes all the difference!  If they are knowledgeable and easy-going the kids have a great time.  If they are easily annoyed by the learning curve of children or short attention spans then it is just miserable for all.  This year we lucked out big time!  I am so grateful because it also seems to affect their view of the sport they are learning as well.  Swim and tennis lessons are officially over now, but they are two fun, active sports that we will be doing as a family for the rest of the summer. :)

Another sport we like around here is running. We like it a lot actually. :)  Summer running is the best.  Warm sun, open road or trails, training plans for races, the high of a great run, and the energy and confidence you feel throughout your day knowing that you ran.  LOVE!  This year, Trev and I are doing marathons.  Trev did the Ogden Marathon back in May.  He ran it with his brother, Rich.  It rained the entire time, but those guys sure did well, finishing around 3:50.  A great time!  Epsecially in the pouring rain! :)

This is how we cheered him on from the comfort of our warm office. :)

The kids even are beginning to run around here.  Here they are at their school's 5K.  Jake was one of the first ones to finish in the school!  He is so athletic, just like his dad.

Morgan runs like me.  For fun and with uplifting friends.  We are athletic as well, but more on the social side. :)

I am currently training to run the St. George marathon in October.  I have loved the training so far!  It is so fun to have a hard goal your working towards.  Even on those mornings when I don't feel like getting up, I NEVER regret going running.  It fuels my whole day.  Like I said, we love running around here.  Lately I have been taking the kids running with me on my shorter runs.  I run, they either ride in the stroller, scooter, or rip-stick.  It is so neat to be out doing this with them and encouraging them to be active and enjoy exercise.  Something that took me into adulthood before I really liked it. :)  Hopefully this will give them a head-start. :)

Another one of my favorite things that we do is Date Night.  Kid's date night, and our date night.  Each Thursday, either Trev or I will take on of the kids on a date.  Just a little one-on-one time.  It is so neat to get them alone.  I feel like these dates help us to get to know them as individuals so much better.  They love it, we love it.  Yesterday I went with Claire.  We rode the electric scooter down to the Johnny Rockets by our house, split a S'mores shake, and did a little shopping.  She was so cute and fun to be with, and I am sure we were quite a sight on that little scooter together. :)  How I adore my Claire-Bear.

For our last couple date night, Trev and I went to Blue Lemon for dinner, and then to the Utah County Parade of Homes where I found the house I want to move into.  

Too bad I don't have $600,000 plus the lot premium to spend on it. :)  Shoot.

But it was super fun to get see all the houses anyway.  So many new designs, color schemes, and beautiful workmanship.  You can't help but be in awe.  We hope to see some more this weekend. :)

When it is all said and done however, I don't even care what we do as long as Trev and I get a little time just for each other.  We were told when we first got married to go on a date together each week.  Even when it is hard.  So we have made that a priority in our marriage and it is truly a treasure to me.  If he or I have had a difficult week, or even if we haven't, the time where we just get to be alone together strengthens our relationship so much!  

I sure love this handsome, sweet, hard-working, kind man of mine.

Now to start planning a great Father's Day for him.  He is the BEST father, and boy are we going to treat him this Sunday. :)

Sunshine, Swimming, and Grandmas

This last week was SUPER-hot!  Well, not compared to some places I guess, but it felt pretty warm to me.  Which I LOVED!  Especially because we decided to take a break from our "Summer Camp" Themed days and just swim each day. :)  


We don't have a pass to any particular pool, so we just tend to pool-hop.  This time, we hit my friend Dre's pool (you can read all about that experience a previous post).  The next day, we went to my M-I-L's pool.  It's fun, free, and Grandma came with us...win, win, win!  Because she was there I was actually able to get some pictures. :)  It was great!


Here is Jake getting ready...oh wait...yikes! This will most DEFINATELY be shown at his wedding some day.  Sorry bud. :)

This is Grandma Jill's pool.  Pretty great right?!

As you can see...these two were pleased as punch to be here. :)


Here are a few other random shots, that are pretty self-explanatory.  Most candid, many staged. :)  But they give you the feel of the day, nonetheless.

Oh my, we may just have to go there again tomorrow. ;)


The next day, I decided on a whim to go up to my mom's house in Logan with the kids so that Trev could continue working on our entertainment center.  We literally, got up, called my mom to tell her to meet us at the Logan Aquatic Center around 2 p.m., packed, finished some random things, and then drove up. :)


As I previously promised myself, I did take some pictures this time.  Here they are:

Okay, not a ton of pictures, but a few. :)


On a side note, or a full note actually, THIS WAS BIG...I FINALLY, after many, many, many years of being too scared, I went off the HIGH DIVE!  I sort of have this fear of heights, and combine that with a semi-tramatic experience as a child of being thrown off a High Dive, I never wanted to do it.  But after my 6 year old son did it, and I decided it was time.


So with quite a cheering crowd there to encourage me, I FINALLY did it!  Jake did it 3 times!!!  It was very, very big for me.  There is nothing more exhilarating than conquering an irrational fear.  


Shockingly, it wasn't that bad.  I would do it again.  Maybe. :)


What a lucky girl I am to have my kids by my side all summer.  And how blessed to have family so close.  I will miss these days when school starts again.  


Don't get me wrong, we have a lot of kinks and I struggle some days to be patient.  But the good is DEFINATELY outweighing the bad.  That's what matters most. :)