Summer was packed of all sorts of excitement. We decided not to sign up for too much this summer and just enjoy being here in hot Arizona and enjoy our surroundings and the things to do here with friends and family.
We had lots of days playing around the house....
One of Lizzie's favorites....wearing make-up and doing dress up whenever we went out.
Cole enjoyed his first overnight campout with the 11 year old scouts. I was a nervous wreck but he was more than excited to go! He even learned how to fish on the Black River. We love our 11 year old leaders! Thanks Bro. Wagner and Bro. Fuentes!
We also enjoyed our weekly summer movies! What a great deal and a great excuse to get out of the house for a cheap price! The kids enjoyed getting their own drinks and occasionally we'd splurge and get popcorn! Weird thing....Lizzie decided she doesn't like movie popcorn. Max, on the other hand, LOVES IT!
And of course, there was plenty of pool time! Not only at our house with friends and family but we loved our trips to Mesquite Groves Pool with the Grays. Despite the 100+ degree weather daily, the pool was always the place to be. This kiddo was so cute, he loved the Whirlpool and never wanted to get out!
Of course, one of our favorites are all the treats we take with us!
Kate and Max in the whirlpool - she's such a good big sister!
And Lizzie - she's just a fun little girl. Loved her goggles everywhere she went!
We were even lucky enough to have Sarah come and visit us for a while and we took advantage of that and headed to the pool with her. Lizzie and Luke were inseparable and such great playmates!
The one thing we DID do this summer was swim team. I know I got pictures of all of the kids, but not sure where they are. Cole, Kate and Lizzie loved it. So starting at 6 a.m. - 9 a.m. every morning we were back and forth at the pool learning our strokes. These kids love to swim and are so good at it! Cole competed on Thursday nights but the girls had no desire. I was just glad that they wanted to go!
We made lots of good friends and rediscovered old ones. Liz and Lily became good friends quickly.
And of course, any chance we could get, we'd convince Jared to get off work early and head to the lake. Sometimes it was just for an afternoon, sometimes all day, but regardless, the kids never dragged their feet when we started to pack up!
Lizzie loved riding in the front of the boat
Cole earned his boating Merit badge for scouts and loved learning to drive the boat.
Max was the perfect little rider. Not a fan of the tube yet, but I'm sure that will come.
Kate was our tube rider, knee boarder, and sun bather...just like her mama.
And our dad was always happy to take a ride on the tube.
Our little bathing beauties
We were just glad we had friends that were willing to come with us. We convinced our neighbor, Brock, to come with us and he was so willing to try everything, even though it was his first time in a boat!
We also enjoyed lazy summer mornings and breakfasts, watching t.v. and trying new recipes.
I think Max loved having his siblings around all the time and even let Lizzie make him his little dolly. I love this kid!
And even though the weather was warm, it never stopped us from going to the mall and enjoying some park/splash pad time.
We love it when our cousins come to town!
Sam
Max
Crazy boys!
Luke and Max
I think he liked the splash pad, do you?
And trips to feed the ducks at Discovery Park on our bike rides. Funny thing, as he fed the ducks, he was getting mad because he wanted to only feed the white duck (the swan) but the other ducks kept getting his bread. Silly ducks!
But one of my sweetest moments, was during the last week of school, one morning I came back in to hurry the girls to get going or we would be late to school, and this is what I found....Kate trying to teach Lizzie how to tie her shoes.
So even though we have our ups and downs, it's the tender moments like these, where we take care of each other as a family that makes it all worth it.
I love my little family.
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