Once we got home, there was one week left of swim team. K and T were on the regular team, EV was on mini-developmental. K and T did a lot of laps those 2 months. It was good exercise and good for water safety.

The meets didn't always go so well. I would know about how well they both could swim and almost couldn't stand it when they'd not really put much into a race. Which shows what a lousy Mom I really can be. For the most part, they did fine. T would work to win the heat ribbons (first in just his heat). K finally won 1 heat ribbon at the last meet. T could place in the 6 and Unders, so he got a few extra ribbons that way.

By the end, they both could swim about equally, but had different strengths. T likes to dive and does it pretty well. K knows how to dive, but won't for whatever reason, so it slows her times down. Doing backstroke, K won't padddle her arms big - it's sorta like the doggy paddle, only on her back. But she kicks good. T's arms are better but he had his own kinks to work out. T's freestyle is faster than K, but K was starting to get better at the breathing and less stopping to doggie paddle to take a breath (the traditional Hansen children method, I found).

Well, it was all just in interesting adventure. I was only really angry one meet at their lack of effort. It's a lot of work getting them to the meets - they have to arrive at 6 am on a Saturday morning. All parents have to be volunteers for various duties. And I was cranky that after all the effort on their behaves, they would put so little into their races. But I've repented of my evil ways. Till next summer...

This was a week we had been looking forward to all year. And it was as fun as could possibly be. What an amazing week. The kids played in waves, with all sorts of beach creatures, played in waves, played on the boogie board, played in the sand, then played in the waves some more.

One day the waves were really big and the lifeguards were calling people in from the water. We tried some boogie boarding that day. Chad is more brave then me. But I wanted to swim in the waves - dive under them. But couldn't with Chad b/c couldn't leave kids all alone. But after the lifeguards got off duty, 2 of them went swimming. The waves were so strong, it was taking them way down the beach quickly, so they'd get out and jog back. I got in the water and stayed close to them. The waves were very strong and we were really traveling down the beach. I would dive under a wave and could feel how strong it was. It was fun and a good workout. My only trouble came when it was time to get out. I got tumbled around pretty good.

That was the only really rough day. The rest were great, as far as safe for kids. A couple days we saw lots and lots of dolphin, some very close to shore. At one point when dolphins were visible, I saw this wave crash on the beach and in the white part I saw a dark triangle shape and I really think I heard a "flap, flap" sound. But I never saw a dolphin swimming away and no one around me made any comments about it. But possibly a dolphin was in a wave that was crashing right on the shore.

The kids found a lot of crabs of a few varieties. They dug for these little crabs that live just under the sand where the waves come in and out. I don't know what they're called. Then at night, we went looking for Ghost Crabs, and they were everywhere. Thomas and Chad would chase them around and get them in a bucket. The chasing was hilarious b/c these crabs run in every direction including sideways. And the guys would be hunched over, running with their arms outstretched. To avoid the pinchers, they would scoop up the crab with the surrounding sand and throw it all into the bucket. Of course, T always wanted to keep them as pets forever and we'd have to explain that they are wild and most happy at their home. We let him take a couple back to the house just to get good looks at them, but not to keep for very long. One night, as T was checking out a crab at the beach house, it got away, which could be fatal for poor crabby. But he was found and lived to make it back to the beach. Which becomes good ammo for explanations on why we don't keep wild animals. Typically, they die.

Kayleigh did some beading with Kristin, and has decided she loves it. Good thing, b/c the girl has a bunch of beads at home to use up. We had an amazing time, but needed another day. That's the rule, really. No matter how many days are at the beach, you always need just one more. I brought back a large picture for our bedroom wall. It's a lifeguard's beach chair with a surf board leaning on it, and it's looking out towards the water, so the chair is shown from behind. It reminds me of our spot on the beach, as it's by a lifeguard chair. There are no people in the picture, and I just like it. Sort of a "Fill in the blank" picture.

We attended the ward there - this was our third time there -they have a great bunch. One lady I've seen each time - she's the Gospel Doctrine class teacher, and she's a crack-up. A perfect teacher, least I think so. Always cracking jokes but teaching lots of good info at the same time.

Then on our way home, we stopped at Assateague Island State Park. Saw some wild horses, but mostly deer. Went on a couple nice walks. Watched some wind surfers - it was windy and rainy that day. We had wanted to rent bikes, but the weather was no good. Plus they didn't rent a kid trailer. Bought some local produce close by and came home.

Kayleigh - lots of showing off the the camera. She brought her Kailey doll and gear for a photo.

Thomas - boy, does he love eating crabs. He's just a crab fan all around. Here he is eating crabs, then playing with crabs in a bucket, then with a net Kristin got him to catch more crabs.

E.V. - played her heart out every day. Loves those sand critters and trinkets.

Melanie - Kristin and Aunt Lynne found her a cute outfit. She definitely loved beach living.

Chad and I went to West Virginia and climbed the Via Ferata, a sort of "Climbing for Dummies" route. It can't be messed up, isn't the slightest bit hard to do (the equipment I mean), and is a lot of fun. We were climbing up these cliffs and getting great views. Wow. It was a blast. Chad had done it a couple of time with groups of Scouts and said how great it was. So I'm glad I got to do it.

A lot has happened lately. Kayleigh turned 8 this month, which of course is very special for us. Our first child to be baptized. We couldn't have picked an easier kid to be the oldest and example for the other 3. Kayleigh likes to please her teachers/leaders/parents. It's been quite a wake-up call to see EV in action - tantrum action. Aye-yie-yie!!! Kayleigh would never have tried throwing tantrums. Even if a little one ever started, she could be talked right out of it. Somehow, she's had control of herself that way. EV and even Thomas just didn't/don't know how to get a hold of themselves and control their tempers and their bodies.

Kayleigh also likes to clown around. Things can't get too serious for her. If the atmosphere starts to get tense or uncomfortable, she will giggle. When there's something serious to discuss with her and she can't laugh her way through it, then she will burst into tears. About 6 months ago or so, I wanted to discuss her habit of not finishing her schoolwork on time with her and her teacher. The three of us sat down and I started telling her what I was concerned about, but before I could say much of anything, she started crying. So I found myself lightening the mood, just like she always tries to do.

Kayleigh loves to read and has really taken off with it. She was so proud of herself for reading the Harry Potter book (#1) by herself before 2nd Grade. I believe she was reading it the summer before. I started out helping her with it, but she finished it by herself. Then she read the next 2 Harry Potter books on her own. She'd read the rest, but I don't have soft back copies of them for her yet. She watches the movies after she reads the book.

Well, back to her birthday... she had a beach birthday party. She picked her theme. It was inside except for at the very end, they all slid down the water slide. Her party was getting a little crazy, and I blame it on the guys. Somehow, several of the girls she invited couldn't come, but a few extra boys came.

So it was a rougher party than expected. There was a mermaid game, but it didn't work out. The kids were to have a garbage bag taped around their legs, but the boys just ripped them up or got out, it seemed. But Kayleigh actually seemed to like it. We decorated sun visors, had cake. The real entertainment was the water slide. It was rainy, but the kids didn't seem to care. We set up the giant water slide and everyone was happy. Whew! The indoor activities were sorta a bust. They slid and they slid and the parents who stayed huddled under the table umbrella.

These photos are the party gang with garbage bags taped around their legs, then outside on the water slide. And of course, the birthday girl herself.

Fourth of July

Kayleigh's friend, Alex was over for the week (she lives in West Virginia). On this holiday, they did a lot of good sliding, then had some great grilling at the Banton's (our friends) and fireworks there afterwords (Good job, Andy!).

Melanie's Big Climb

While talking on the phone, I looked over and Melanie had done this, just a couple of feet away from me, without my even noticing...

I took her down, and a few minutes later she was at it again...

Remember, she's not walking at this point yet. So I was a bit amazed!

Aunt Lynne invited us all for ribs and a cake for Kayleigh's coming 8th Birthday. Ribs at Lynne's is always amazing. And our kids LOVE being around dogs. Oh, how they love the dogs!

Our friend invited us to go on his wave runners with him and we had a blast. K, T and EV all had rides.