Summer Swim Lessons

So, the summer weeks went by pretty fast, huh? We just returned from a long vacation and I've got tons of things I can (and will) post about. But, tonight I'm just putting up some pictures from swim lessons.

We always do 2 sessions (each session is M-F for 2 weeks and the lessons are 30-45 minutes). Brenna completed both Preschool 1 and Preschool 2 this time around. I let her take lessons because she really wants to and she's in low levels right now, but because of her physical limitations I find myself wondering how much she'll really be able to do in terms of swimming. I was surprised and pleased that she passed her classes. So I guess we'll let her try again next summer and see how far she can go.

Ashlyn passed Level 2 the first session and took Level 3 second session. She can swim quite well, but doubts her own abilities and so doesn't usually perform as well as she could. She needs to fine-tune some of her more basic skills before moving on to Level 4, which focuses on more advanced strokes.

Kaylee was a rock star and she easily passed Level 3 and Level 4. Her Level 4 instructor was surprised at how quickly she picked up on new things, like the "butterfly" and "elementary backstroke". Two summers ago when we moved to Texas and started swim lessons here Kaylee cried at the thought of even putting her head under the water. Who would have guessed she would be so confident in the water now?

McKell and I did 2 sessions of the "Water Babies" class (basically a Mommy & Me thing). The real reason I registered her for the class was so that I didn't have to chase her around the pool and keep her out of the water every morning while the other girls were swimming. She had fun though, and improved in a few things.

Anyway, here are the fun pictures:

Brenna with her instructor, Mr. Keith.

My friend made each of the girls a darling swim bag.

We have been so happy with the swim lessons offered here, and we'll certainly be returning next summer!

4th of July

Hooray for Independence Day! 

We started our day with a ward pancake breakfast at the park/splash pad near our house.

  

  

We spent the afternoon watching World Cup soccer and prepping the house and yard for our PARTY.

Including our family, there were 32 people in attendance. The kids played inside, or outside in the water and on the trampoline. Russ grilled hot dogs and sausages. We ate lots of yummy food. Everyone danced (Just Dance). And we had ice cream. I think we'll definitely keep this holiday tradition.

After the party we headed out and found a spot to watch the fireworks (clearly, Ashlyn was a big fan).

Hope everyone else had as much fun as we did!

Father's Day 2014

Here's our attempt at a group shot of Daddy and his Girls on Father's Day.

It's pretty representative of our various attitudes toward taking pictures. 

Three cooperative girls. 

One who would rather do just about anything else.

Birthday Girls

Here's a quick recap of the June birthday girls.

On June 6th Ashlyn turned SEVEN

Russ tries to take the birthday girl out for breakfast, and they almost always choose donuts.

Our favorite donut shop has ENORMOUS cinnamon rolls.

For dinner Ashlyn chose Los Cucos, a Mexican restaurant she really likes.

Our awesome waiter informed the Mariachi Band that it was her special day, so they came over to our table and sang "Happy Birthday" and a few other numbers. She loved it, but was pretty embarrassed. 

She asked for a "Watermelon Cake" this year, so I did my best. :{

Before we drove home from dinner we gave Kaylee and Ashlyn a small gift to open in the car. They each unwrapped 3 American flags. Confusion. 

What did you get?

flags

How many?

3

How many did you get Ash?

3

Hmm . . . 3 flags + 3 flags . . . how many does that make?

6

. . . . . . . 

SIX FLAGS!!!! We're going to SIX FLAGS!!!!!

Our main gift to the girls was passes to Six Flags. 

And they made their first trip of the season the following day.

On June 7th Kaylee turned NINE

(this was taken at home just before the trio took off for Six Flags in San Antonio)

The all had an AWESOME time!

(in spite of Ashlyn's anger over Russ unintentionally taking her on a REALLY intense roller coaster)

 Because Kaylee was at Six Flags on her actual birthday, we did her regular celebrations a few days later.

The donut shop also has GIANT apple fritters.

She loves a book series called "Warriors" (about some clans of wild cats), 

so that's the cake she requested this year.

Russ thought my cake looked like a dung hill. He's mean.

All in all, another successful round of birthday celebrations!

After 10 years of marriage

We finally decided to purchase a grill.

Russ fired it up for the first time last night and the girls were like,

"Wow! This dinner looks SOOO good!"
"Thanks for dinner, AWESOME Dad!"
"I declare this the BEST dinner I've ever eaten!"

Seriously? Hot dogs on a grill. I'm pretty sure they don't react to my dinners that way. I'll take it though, if it means Russ is now going to be in charge of meals once in a while. :)

2014 Spring Piano Recital

Kaylee participated in a piano recital the first weekend in May (I know, this post is really late in coming). I was actually out of town at that time, but I made her play her songs for me later so I could record them. She continues to be an excellent student and she is generally really good about practicing on her own (which both her mother and her teacher appreciate!)

Here's the duet she performed with Samantha, who is the piano teacher's daughter and also a friend of Kaylee's from her primary class at church.

Stars & Stripes Forever
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J2bqA-tfyQ&feature=youtu.be


Here are her 2 solo pieces.

The Juggler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax4wDGV6qrM&feature=youtu.be

and Brave Hawk (which she had memorized)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpNvFmcgeU4&feature=youtu.be


And if you want to see how far she's come in a year,
here's the post with her recital pieces from Spring 2013.
http://russanneburnettfamily.blogspot.com/2013/05/piano-recital.html

End of School

First Day of School - 8/26/13                        Last Day of School - 6/5/14

  

  

  

 (Apparently she still really likes this outfit.)