Preston's swimming lessons

Preston has been in swimming lessons for the last two weeks and he has been improving a lot. Here is his class (I think Natasha took this picture).

He has learned how to float on his back.

He had to swim the length of the pool using a noodle and he did great.

They started off by jumping off the side with a noodle.

Waiting in line to jump off the blocks.

They graduated from jumping off the side to jumping off the blocks. I only had once chance for this picture and it turned out burry. Bummer.

Then they graduated to jumping off the blocks with no noodle. Piece of cake for Preston. He has been jumping off our spa for a few weeks now. He has turned into a really great swimmer. His only obstacle is breathing. He thinks you have to have your head in the water to swim. Therefore he can only swim as far as he can hold his breath. Lucky for him that's a long time. Hopefully he will figure this out by the end of the summer. I think he will be ready to be a Galt Gator by next summer!

The Garden

Here is some of the first produce that we've been able to pick from our garden. All the kids like the garden but especially Preston. Every day he likes to go and check out how things are progressing. We are excited too because some of our tomatoes are starting to finally turn red. Andrew can't wait to have BLT's with our tomatoes.

Meeting Porter

Last weekend we went to visit the kid's newest cousin Porter. He was born May 12th and he is so cute. I couldn't convince anyone to hold him though so that's why I'm in the picture.

Porter and his mommy Kirsten.

So fun to hold a newborn!

There was a nice park near Kirsten's house and we went to feed the ducks.

In San Luis Obsipo there is a place to eat called Firestone Grill and it's one of my favorite places to eat. They have the BEST tri-tip sandwiches ever!! While we were waiting for our food I took this picture. I just happened to catch Adam in a natural smile. I have very pictures of it. He usually gives me his "cheese" grin. I LOVE this picture!

We also got to go to Avila Beach again. The kids had so much fun last time they were begging to go back. Luckily we had good weather again.

Adam and Daddy hanging out on the beach.

Andrew and Preston playing in the sand. Can you see Natasha way in the background?

Jason built them a huge hole in the sand and that kept them busy for a VERY long time. We made a mental note - next time build hole first thing!

We had a great time visiting Porter and family. We can't wait until we can see them again!

Old Friends

We recently got to spend a day with some dear friends that we haven't seen in about six years. We were friends with them back from our old BYU days. We spent most of the afternoon swimming in our pool. It was such a blast to re-connect after all these years. It was almost like no time had past. I so wish we lived closer!!!

Dave, Laurel, Me and Jason

Adam, Adam, Natasha, Emma, Ethan, Andrew, Preston

Andrew and Ethan got along great! They are both 8 years old and picked up with each other like they had been friends for a long time.

Emma and Natasha also got along awesome. They are both girls who live in a world surrounded by boys. They had so much fun playing animals in Natasha's room and they played water animals in the pool. Emma is 6 and Natasha is 7 (both of their birthdays are in May). Emma kept calling Natasha "My-Tasha", it was so cute. They did not want to separate when it was time to go.

After swimming and playing for a long time they wanted to watch a CareBear movie. I put it on and then all their animals didn't want to be left alone so they had to come watch too!

Preston didn't have a playmate that matched up to his age but that didn't bother him at all. He is a pretty social guy and gets along with most kids. He had a lot of fun too.

Here are the Adam's. They are only about a month apart and they are both named Adam. It was soooo funny to watch them because they kept getting confused as to who was talking to them and what they were supposed to do. I tried to call my Adam AJ to help things but sometimes I forgot. If one of them got it wrong we would tell them not you, the other Adam.

Watching "The Apple"

All the kids love to listen to music and we often turn the music on our computer. When you turn them on through iTunes you can press a button to make cool designs come up on the monitor. The designs pulsate to the beat of the music. When it first comes up a picture of an apple comes up, representing the Apple brand computer. When Andrew was very little whenever he wanted to listen to the music and watch the monitor he would say "I want to watch the apple!" That saying stuck and now days when I think of it and want a few minutes to myself I suggest that we "watch the apple." They all love it.

I couldn't resist taking this picture of them all calmly sitting next to each other watching the apple. It is so fitting too that everyone except Adam has on a swimming suit. I don't know why I even buy summer clothes for them because they just live in bathing suits. It's also fitting that everyone's hair is a mess because that's usually how it is too! I also like how it shows the dynamics of their relationships. Natasha is sharing a chair with Adam and Andrew is sharing with Preston. Those are usually the match ups that work the best.

Swim Meet Saturday

This last Saturday was our third swim meet of the summer. I usually get up around 5:45am and the kids get up at 6:15 so we can be to the swim center by 7:00. Jason then brings Preston and Adam much later, in time to watch the individual races. They stay as along as can be managed (it just depends) and Jason takes them home so Adam can take a nap. It can be a long day too. The last two meets didn't get over until 2:30. The kids really enjoy it though. They both like the competition factor and they like hanging out with their friends.

There can be a lot of down time in the morning before the meet starts. This is Andrew playing his DS in his "tent" that I made for him to help with the glare.

The bump under the black sleeping bag is Natasha playing her DS. She has a lot of friends on swim team so sometimes I don't see her for a long time. She is usually hanging out at their tents.
Here are the girls going to the blocks for their next race. Natasha is on the left with the pink goggles.

Swimmers step up,..............take your mark,............

.

...........Beeeep! (Natasha just learned how to dive a few weeks ago.)

Andrew waiting at the ready bench. This is where they get the swimmers lined up based on what heat, and what lane they are swimming in.

Swimmers place your feet..................

........ Beeeeeep!

Andrew finishing back stroke.

They usually swim in five races during the meet. The first race is the medley relay, where 4 swimmers swim and each one swims a different stroke. This meet Natasha swam breaststroke and Andrew swam backstroke. Then Natasha swam the 25 yard freestyle (1 lap) , 50 yard freestyle (2 laps), 25 yard breaststroke, and the 100 yard freestyle relay (4 swimmers swim 1 lap of freestyle). Besides the medley Andrew swam the 25 yard backstroke, 25 yard, breaststroke, 25 yard butterfly, and the 100 yard freestyle relay.

They all swam great and they usually try to compete against their own personal times rather than other swimmers. This was the first time Natasha has ever swam a two lap race and she took second place by hundredths of a second. We are so proud of our swimmers!

Camping - sort of

Last weekend we had planned to go camping to Calaveras Big Trees but we ended up having to cancel because of thunderstorms.  The kids were devastated. We were going with our friends the Edward's so we decided to have our own camp out at our house.  Since we had already bought all the food we had a BBQ and then our own campfire. We got to roast marshmallows and make smores.

The kids really enjoyed playing in the tent. 

Having a camp fire and doing smores just wasn't enough for the kids. They REALLY wanted to sleep outside so Jason slept with the three older ones in the tent. 
Luckily we were able to turn major disappointment into some fun.  The next day we went with the Edward's to go see Night at the Museum Battle of the Smithsonian on IMAX.  It was a lot of fun and the kids were good.  I think Andrew liked seeing the preview for the new Transformers almost as much as the real movie. Yay for a fun weekend!

Spirit Week

This last week at school was spirit week so I took a few pictures.  I didn't really think the themes were that great though, they were really girl oriented. I really missed not having crazy hair day.  Anyway, one of the days was dress like a teacher and Natasha spent a half hour in her room coming up with this outfit all on her own.

Another day was Hawaiin Day.


Monday was the first graders field day and Natasha loved her face painting. She didn't want to wash it off.  I thought it looked really good too. They went all out!

2nd Best

This last weekend there was a giant yard sale where hundreds of people contribute.  The kids each got to pick out something and they did a really great job.  They found something that they were uniquely interested in.

This is the picture I took that night after the sale.  They played with their toys for a long time. Natasha would get phone calls on her phone from the "master" who would then tell them what to do.  The boys would go off and shoot the bad guys based on what the "master" would say.  The "master" would also inform Natasha that she would have to turn into a dog or sometimes other animals.  It was a cute game that kept them occupied for quite awhile.
I was very excited to find this banana car for only $5.  Adam also LOVES this car.  If he's not riding in it he's pushing it around.
Preston immediately found this toy gun and it has lived up to his expectations. It turns out that Andrew had seen that gun first but passed over it because he thought it needed bullets.  Preston wanted it and he didn't even think it made any noise. After we bought it we found out it made noise and that was an added bonus.  Ever since Andrew has been kicking himself for not getting the gun himself.  They call it the tank gun and EVERYONE always wants it.  It is all mechanical and not electric. You pull back this one part and when you shoot it sounds like a machine gun (no batteries needed).  It was packaged with a PowerRanger gun (the one Andrew's holding in the picture of all four of them) and they have been worth WAY more than the $3 I paid for them.  
Natasha found this outfit all by herself. I don't think I would have picked something so bold but it looks absolutely beautiful on her. She wore it school the next day, to the movies the day after that, and then to church the day after that.  Needless to say I think she likes it.