My Swimming Lessons

{Slow Learner}

We {heart} water.  Like many of you...summer means swimming, sunblock, & swim diapers. I've realized that long gone are the days of a relaxing when I visit the pool. 

{Remember when you could just sit and flip through a magazine or close your eyes for an extended period of time?  I know, its a total blurr for me too;)}

I also used to think that I was pretty smart...but I'm realizing that I'm not as quick as I used to be.  Case in Point...its only taken me 5+ yrs of hauling kids to the water for me to learn the following swimming lessons...

{Toys}

If I don't want to chase Aidan all over the place then I need to keep him busy.  Sand toys make AWESOME water toys...

Bath toys are also great for those not ready for slides, lazy rivers, or goggles...

{this is our cousin Amelia}

But just a quick warning...your kids may not be the only ones who think your toys are cool!  Sometimes they may attract a little crowd of new friends!

{The Double Diaper}

Swim diapers are required at most pools these days, and some even require 2!  The purpose of the disposable swim diaper is to keep the poopy out of the water.  But it obviously doesn't absorb a little wee wee...right?

Ask me how I know?  I used to put on the swim diapers before we left home {my boys pretty much run into the pool once they see the water...and its a battle to hold them back} & sometimes even after swimming I'd just through them into the car.

And then the stinky came.

That car seat REALLY started to smell. 

And here was my solution...the double diaper.  I just put both diapers on before we leave, lather on the sunblock, and off we go.  Once at the pool I just pull the regular diaper off and...tah dah! We are in the pool in no time!

{Brighty}

Having kids wear bright swimwear makes it so much easier to spot them!

Especially if its a busy day at the pool!

{Ethan's Tip}

I'm pretty sure this is the official way to enter a pool with flippers on...;)

{On another Note}

Just got an email letting me know what this bad boy is on sale from Amazon.com for $85! And shipping is free! 

I don't know...now may be the time for you to get one! Getting my 1st machine 18 months ago was life changing!:)

And just think of all of the those Christmas gifts you could make!:) 

{Related...kinda}

And back to swimming...I'm out of cool things to say...oh, except that I wanted to let you know {if you don't already} that McDonald's has KIDDIE CONES!! Not all of them offer KC...you have to ask, but if they do the are SO great.  At $.25-$.50 depending on the restaurant they are the best post-swimming treat we've found.  Sorry, no picts...they disappear too fast.

{The Border}

In Utah, the borders are not very controversial.  I mean, if anyone is crossing from Idaho they are probably chasing some sort of livestock.   Utah and Idaho get along pretty well as far as I know...they even share this amazing water hole...aka  Bear Lake.

{Too bad Arizona doesn't share a beautiful lake on their Southern Border...people would just want to stay just where they are!  And it IS a big lake...right after college one of my best friends...Barb Morgan...brought me to Bear Lake & I fell in love instantly.  We decided to bike around it...6 hours later we were sore in places I never knew I had, starving, and popping Advil like crazy.   Ah, Barb!}

Prepare: These next few pictures are in the running for my favorites this summer.   And yes, Aidan's legs are that tan. He's got me beat.

What? Seagulls? Yes.

This history behind the seagulls in Utah goes something like this. {And you should all know better than to quote me...;)}

The pioneers of Utah came across the plains to escape religious persecution. There wasn't much to farm, but they worked hard and started planting and harvesting food. I'm not sure exactly what time of year it was, but crickets came in DROVES and began eating and destroying the settlers only chance for survival. The pioneers prayed for help and guess what came to eat the cricket? You better believe it...SEAGULLS!
I love that bit of history. Don't believe me? Fine...here's link to prove it...and if you ever visit SLC you'll have to go downtown and see the statue built to remember the experience. 

Our friend Anli is taking a break {and Ethan's future wife if we have anything to say about it;)}...doesn't she have the best eyes?!

I thought I was pretty cool when I took this picture.  Love the toys, water, and.....well,  I didn't notice the little swimmer in the background.    Hmmmmmmm.   Sorry. I'm not THAT good with Photoshop.;)

I hope Gina doesn't mind if I post this one...I couldn't resist. Love it.

PS The berry shakes here are highly recommended.  So are the onion rings if you really want to go for it!

{Will's Bday!}

And on the home front...

Happy Birthday Will! Will is my father-in-law and the green thing in his hand is a hammer. 

Can you believe summer is 1/2 over? Boo hoo hoo.   So now I have to warn ya...the berries are back.  {More to come!}

Turkeyby# & I{heart}5 yr olds

First of all, here's a fun little turkey that you {or your kids} can color or paint by number! We love little fun crafts around this place. Just click on it for your own copy!



Second, I{heart}5 yr olds. Why? Well, when you're 5 you can...

...leave little stick people all around the house. They become a beautiful addition to your mom's "decorations".


...are a scavenger. If your mom is busy and you are hungry, you do what you have to. This includes eating applesauce with a measuring spoon. {Your mom will find this spoon later and feel like a lame mother.}

...can color a turkey whatever color you want and everyone will think its cute. Also, you can paste it together anyway that you'd like.


...have a super great time anywhere you go---especially Cornbellies.

{For you locals, Cornbellies is at Thanksgiving Point and its SO great. Unfortunately they are closed now, but they'll open again next September and its so great. Pictured below are our fun friends Heather, Anli, & Sadie--you may recognize them from previous posts.}

...push the "go" button so your little brother can enjoy one of his favorite things at Cornbellies...the Chicken Show.



...think you are so cool when you get to ride in the front of the "cow train".

...take "dress up" very seriously.





...smile as you watch your little brother tries to charm the ladies.



Ahh, to be 5.

TV Update & The Gateway

As you local already know, our TV segment did not air today. I just got an email from our reporter gal and she said it will probably be in the next few days & that she'll email me the day before so I can blog about it.

Now, back to summer & another fun thing about SLC...The Gateway! Now, I'm not just talking about the shopping, eating, and movies. Last summer we LOVED the water fountains! {And its FREE!}


The Gateway Mall and fountains were actually built for the 2002 Winter Olympics. But now you can go and play in the water on a hot summer day! Every 1/2 hour they do a "water dance" to music and the water gets really high. {Just make sure you keep your eyes closed--case in point--the poor girl on the right.}


Bring a ball to play with and it is so much fun.








Obviously its a little cold to be out in the water now, but it will give you something to look forward to next summer!;)

Wheeler Farm Baby!

Even though summer may be over, the weather is still good & let's take advantage of it! If you're a local looking for something free and fun to do...pack a lunch & head on out to the middle of the valley! Wheeler Farm is one of our favorite places to visit. Its especially fun to visit in the spring {with the new babies} or in the fall {with all the great festivities}. Here's a peak at some of the fun at the "farm"!

{The Animals} Sheep, pigs, cows, rabbits, duck, geese {what out for them!}, & chickens are just a few of the animals you'll see! There are also 2 calves now, they are very cute.:)

Aidan kept pulling the sheeps wool. It was pretty funny....well, for us--probably not for the sheep.:)

Aidan and his cute friend Sadie enjoyed the animals right at their level...{can you imagine how weird it would be to have a pig your size?}


There are so many fun thing so see! {Here's my friend Heather and part of the gaggle of kids that came with us!}


Aidan loved chasing the birds...{see the pigeon escaping on the right?}


He also followed the chicken as far as I would let him. Poor chicken. :)


{Tractor Rides!} If you feel like forking out $1.50/each you can take a tractor ride around the property. It isn't the coolest ride you've ever taken, but the kids love it...and we all know that's all that matters.:) You can also milk a cow for $.50 at 5 PM.:)

The treehouses they have are favorite amongst all of the littles...

and so is tree climbing!

So grab a few friends who are up for a good time {like Heather & Katie and their cute girls--thanks guys!}, and enjoy the afternoon on the farm!

Stay tuned! Soon I'll have the marker drawing and some more great giveaways! Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered in the drawing!:)

{TT} Little Hands on the Farm

Okay people, this is going to be a long post...but if you are anywhere near SLC you'll want to check this out! We went to the 1st day of the state fair {big surprise}, and I couldn't wait to take the boys to the "Little Hands on the Farm" exhibit. Its the best thing about the fair, not only because its FREE, but because of how cute and fun it is. Here's what I mean:

The kids become little farmers. And yes, you know I have a play by play. I couldn't help myself.



Each child got an apron to go to work in & a basket.



They had a bunch of "stations" where you went to work as a farmer.





Some kids really liked certain kinds of "work"...



And some kids liked doing other "work".{Ethan was disappointed that "real" milk didn't come out.}



Planting, growing, and picking the produce was alot of fun for everyone.







Well, and playing in the dirt was alot of fun too...



Each "station" was fun to explore and learn from.







Driving your basket around in the John Deere "tractor" bike was my favorite part to watch.:)






Ethan loved to put gas in his tractor. {He's always begging me to let him pump gas at the real gas station.}



And off he went!



Until Brother wanted a ride too...



And then they were off to the final stop--



To trade in their hard work for $!! {And give back their work aprons-- after their mom got a picture.}






Then it was off to the Grocery Store to spend their hard earned $!





Ethan chose to buy crackers...



And Aidan was very excited about his chocolate milk.



What a fun adventure! And after we left "Little Hands" we went and saw the piglets...:)



Love the fair.