Summer Swimming (lotsa pics)

Here's a giant run of pictures in backwards order of today's lazing at the pool.




I like her cool shout-out to somebody here.



I had to include a picture of me to show that I was here, too. I'm just not a fan of pictures of myself , so it's faceless=) It could be any ole mama at the pool, really!
This made me laugh. Tiny little tutu-ed Avery just goes to the top of the slide and yells at the other kids, no matter how big they are. She didn't even go down the slide.
But she did pat the duck. For good luck?







This is my favorite picture (above).




Tate said, "I like my turtle". I'm glad.





We've come to Pendleton about once a week to visit grandma and pa, grandma-great, and to swim. This week we came twice since Bre and Lane were up from Portland. I've decided that August is the best time to swim here. The weather is hot enough, the pool has been heated from the sun for a couple months, and it seems like many people are traveling because the aquatic center isn't too busy. The kids discovered round floaties and supervision has become easier as a result =) I love watching Avery lounge and watch everybody. Tate is getting more confident in the water each year. Last year he was getting comfortable on the little duck and frog slides. This year he's backed off of them, perhaps he doesn't like the splash in his face at the end. But he still likes to send toys down them.

Today mom brought along her camera so we have lots of pictures! I find I don't do much with them unless I blog them while at her home and then they will eventually make it into the blog book and be had forever and ever =) So, that's my explanation for the onslaught of photos today. Seriously, there's about 30, so fun for me, but readers be warned...maybe boring for you =) But you should appreciate how well Avery's swim tutu holds up in the water. I'm impressed.

Cousin Laners

Here's Lane at 9 months and Aunt Bre. He's so perfectly round and squishy with a deep loud voice. He's a speedy army crawler, too!

Aaaaahhhhh!

Imagine Eric's surprise when he was peeking under the crack in Avery's door to see how she was sleeping earlier this evening...

and he saw a little Avery eye at the door base staring right back at him! They both screamed and then laughed from both sides of the door.

Windows

This is why I must clean my windows...

and at the same time wonder, "Why bother?".

Tate burped.
Me: "Say 'excuse me'."
Tate: "No, that not 'xcuse me', that say 'oh my!'"

This and That

Me: "Tate, you are a silly dude."

Tate: "A siwy doo?"

Me again: "A silly dude."

T: "Oh, a city doo doo. Yes."

Me: "What sound does L make?"

Tate: "Kuh, kuh, letters."

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Tate kept pausing to smile at his reflection in the mirror across the room. Then, he put his finger in his mouth and removed a tiny fuzz. I said, "Did you have a fuzzy in your mouth?"
"No," he whispered, "a spider web."
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Tate: "What's that"

Me: "A praying mantis."

T: "I draw a peeing mantis!"

I enjoy locking myself in the bathroom each morning for a shower. I know it's a risk to leave the rugrats free to roam, but it's worth it. Last Thursday, I exited the bathroom and noticed a hard white mess in Tate's hair and freaked out thinking that they had somehow gotten into the paint!! Thank goodness it was only frosting =) I had to document Avery's fine frosting artwork left on the couch.

Avery likes to run behind this chair and assume a reading position when I tell her it's time to change her diaper. She thinks she's untouchable =)

Gratitude

Tonight, I feel like making a gratitude list here so I can remember a couple kindnesses that were shown.

1. I've been battling a staple gun for the past five days. A very nice old man who works at the Home Depot put my frustration to an end by picking out the right size staples and showing me how to put them in the gun. Thank you! I knew I just needed someone to "hold my hand" and do it for me =) Now I can enjoy that "picture frame with the magnetic mesh thing" (pfwtmmt for short) pictured above. It may not look like much to you, but I love it and it makes me happy.

2. My life and health. Visited Uncle Wally today and he's not expected to live much longer. It was really nice to meet his daughter Kristi. She's really pretty, especially at such a time.

3. This one has a little story, like #1. I went to pick-up dinner at Papa Murphy's tonight and Tate ran into the store before I could catch-up from getting Aves out of her seat. So, when I entered, he was already on all floors pretending to be a dog. Avery thought it was a good idea and joined him. Then, they switched it up to running in circles while squealing in delight. I caught Avery touch some lady's bum, but the woman didn't seem to notice. Anyway, there was a bit of mayhem, but by the time my order was paid for, all the other customers were gone. Then, one of the workers there OFFERED TO HELP ME OUT WITH OUR FOOD! It was fabulous. They've never done that before and it's one of my least favorite places to take the kids. So, anyway, I'm grateful for those nice teenagers working there today. The gal who helped me even said my kids were adorable =)

4. Had a playdate and got to chat with a friend I haven't seen in a while. She always makes me happy so that was fun.