Have you ever played Piggly Wiggly?

in your PJ's? In the middle of the afternoon?
After eating homemade cinnamon rolls that you helped make?
With all your favorite friends?



Ohhh, pick me! Pick me!





Charmed, I say. Charmed.

Can you say shave off?

In preparation for the last meet of the season...







Good bye practice
Good bye meets
Good bye drama
Good bye fun
Good bye racing
Good bye cap and goggles
Good bye eye candy

Aqua Bears are in hibernation.

Scouting

I have been *considering* trying to grow up and be a photographer for about 13 years now. I am getting things in the works. Keep tuned for details.

I went out scouting for locations the other night. The kids were in some random clothes and post swim hair and Kiera fell asleep before we got anywhere. Still, give me {2}daughters.

What do you think of this location? Stay tuned for more options. Am I crazy?

Cousins

We had so much fun last week hosting our cousins. The ride on BART into San Francisco is usually the highlight of the trip, but I think the slides at Yerba Buena Gardens topped the train this trip. We had our fair share of sibling squabbles (mine, not hers) but the thrill of that big drop was enough to keep them happy.

Camping it up in Lake Tahoe

Pure Fashion

My children live charmed lives (OK, me too). Beautiful outdoor weather, amazing setup and all your best girls friends for a fashion show. I really can't imagine a more idyllic afternoon. Charmed, I say. Charmed.

Independence Day

Instead of the usual fourth festivities we started out our day at the swim meet. Neve was so excited to be an official part of the team in her newly acquired team suit. *no more hot pink neve*

The girls did well and we had our first day of no crying from any of the three girls. {progress}.

Neve was so excited to receive the "You Rule" award for the team for hardwork. Good attitude may not win you the blue ribbon, but a ruler with puff paint, that is a different story.

The new blue suit in action. Swim, Neve, swim.

Maren loves to show off her freakish bird wings. Frightening.

Later we attended the Blatter Fourth of July extravaganza. I have been waiting for such an event to make this cake that I saw a while back. The trouble with things like this is that I want to make them, but then have no self control not to eat the entire cake. ...Must take to large party where I will only be able to eat *one* small slice. Perfection. Please notice at least two small size 5 year old finger prints in the peanut butter cream cheese frosting...

The party was so much fun. The kids swam, the adults grilled. We ate delicious food. We reminisced about Classic Skate in Orem. The kids bounced in the bounce house, and the tramp.

We ate perfectly patriotic snow cones.

Before the fireworks shows the kids treated us to a bike parade. I don't know how many *maybe 35 kids* but it was amazing that no one was seriously hurt. Or anyone's vehicle maimed. The kids were in heaven. I needed another sweater.

Crow Canyon Day Camp

Last week the kids did what all kids should be able to do sometime in the summer: go to camp. They sang songs, played games, had doughnut eating contests, and made boondoggle accessories. They went on creek hikes, played cops and robbers and broom ball and went rock climbing. The best part? Their camp counselors and their crazy made up names: Cricket, Python, Ladybug, Firefly, Cattails, Mango, Cactus, Porcupine, Chipmunk, Toucan. Goose was the favorite and they chased and tortured him all week. A summertime rite of passage.

Swim Team

Where do I start.  I don't know how this happened, but all three girls are on the Aqua Bears swim team for the summer.

This isn't a job.  Or even a volunteer position at church.  We picked this.  Why?

I wonder this at 6 a.m. on Saturday when we are all getting up and heading for the swim meet.

But then there are the friends.

And they start to look like they know what they are doing.

And how can you discount all that down time in the tent with the DS. That is quality time, folks.



And this girl has the BEST attitude.  Even though her official swim team suit is still on backorder.  Who is that darling girl in that sea of blue and black shining in her bright pink?  That's my Neve.



And then there is Kiera. She swims! She loves Kaya her swim teacher (she is 11).



She won her heat on Saturday and exclaimed, "Mama, I was so fast!". She is anxiously awaiting the delivery of her blue ribbon.



We aren't quite at the love portion of our fling with the swim team, but we are definitely beyond the hate. Wish us luck for next Saturday.   Yes, that is our nation's birthday party.  How will we be celebrating? Parade?  Pancake breakfast?  No, swim meet.  From 7 a.m. till 2 p.m.  Hmmmmm.