Swimming Lessons!

 The boys had swimming lessons at the Bellingham Athletic Club this summer. Benjamin did so much better than last year! It was a relief to seem him enjoying his swimming so much (where last year he was so afraid). The funny thing is that this year Benjamin and Rhett were in the lowest class--same one Benjamin was in last year with Payton Katschke and other 4-year-old boys--but this time they had two little two-year-old girls for classmates! They didn't seem to care, but it was funny to watch.
 

 Look! There's Grandma Key! I think she suspected I was taking her picture. But at least we have evidence of her visit!

Lucy was a trooper through all the lessons. Maybe next year she can have a turn swimming too.

Their teacher was a 21-year-old, tattoo-covered guy who hardly cracked a smile or showed any enthusiasm or emotion during the first few lessons. You'd think someone teaching small children to swim would be a little more animated... Anyway, I think he warmed up to them in the end because they did make him almost smile a few times!

Grandma Key Came to Town...

...but we hardly took any pictures!

We went to the aquarium one day, but this is all I have. Benjamin checking out the beluga whale; Lucy eating a snack (which only temporarily stopped the fussing) while we waited for the beluga whale show; alligator-type creatures.

Thursday

 10:02 am

Changing the sheets

View of the tomatoes from the kids' window

11:03 am

Washing the boys' blankets

 

11:12 am

A new skirt for a birthday girl

 

11:21 am

On our way to the birthday party

 

11:59 am

In the CD player

 

1:12 pm

Birthday party at Cornwall Park

 

 

1:45 pm

Cupcake time

 

2:04 pm

Benjamin and Harold

 

2:19 pm

Going home

 

 5:34 pm

Driving to the temple

 

"Robot Giraffes" by Rhett

I love the stuff he comes up with. Rhett has been really creative lately.

A Daytrip to Seattle with Aunt Ruth

 Paul's little sister Ruth was an EFY counselor in Tacoma for a couple of weeks this summer, and between her sessions she spend the weekend with us.

We walked around the University of Washington campus.

And enjoyed the Pike's Place Market.

 

 

 Remember how Rhett got sick on the fourth of July? Well, it spread to the other two. Lucy threw up in her bed as she slept Saturday morning, but was fine the rest of the day. Benjamin had it worse. Just before we walked out the door he suddenly threw up in the doorway. (Sorry for talking about throw-up.) He still wanted to go to Seattle with Ruth, so we packed along a bowl and drove down anyway. Poor Benjamin did not have a fun time! He spent quite a bit of it asleep in Lucy's stroller.

 

We saw some fun Post-It Note art:

Somehow we didn't get any pictures with Aunt Ruth! She came home with us for the night and went back to Tacoma on Sunday. It was so fun to be with her for the weekend! We're so thankful she came!

Little Lucy

I love those blue eyes AND that messy face!

Fourth of July

 The day started off with tree-climbing and backyard exploration.

That evening we went to our friends' the Youngs' house for burgers and fireworks and lots of fun. They have a zip line in their back yard which Benjamin thought was awesome!

When it got dark we all went down to Bellingham to watch the fireworks show at the park, which was awesome! However, the day ended on a not-so-awesome note when we pulled into our driveway at home, and Rhett proceeded to throw up all over himself just as I was taking him out of the car... Yuck. He continued to be sick every thirty minutes all night long. Poor boy!

Happy Birthday, Rhett!

Rhett turned 4! (Can anyone tell I'm behind on the blog?)

This was his Cars 2 "cake." (Apparently we didn't get a pictures before people started digging in.) I had really planned on doing something nicer, but in the end I think I felt burned out and he ended up with cupcakes from a box (and homemade icing!), with sprinkles and Cars 2 character pictures printed off the computer and stuck in the cupcakes with toothpicks. (Come to think of it, his 3rd birthday cake was a little on the lame side too... Sorry, Rhett!)

Hey! Here's photographic evidence of the 3rd birthday cake lameness, since I apparently don't have a blog post to link to! Bless Rhett's heart for loving me anyway.

Our friends and neighbors from across the street came over to celebrate with us: Nayla, Guillermo, and Guillermo Jr.

Love this happy boy! Rhett is our most passionate child by far. Thankfully, his extreme sweetness makes up for any extremities in the... other direction (which are nothing if not plentiful).

Here's hoping for a better birthday cake when you turn 5!