it's getting hot in here...

so let's go swimm-m-ing... sydney spent part of the day with us and we decided to head to grans house to spend some time in the pool. we have been hibernating in what feels like a cave for about a week now. it's just too hot to do anything outside. miserable. but the kids are going stir crazy and i seem to have lost all patience {whatever i had}, so off to the pool to get rid of some of that crazy energy!
we had so much fun and sydney is such a sweetie. we love her and were so happy to have her spend some alone time with us! Maddy came and spent a day before i went out of town, so syd had to have her own day, too. ava is trying to talk auntie christina into a spend the time sometime before school starts...she is a very persistent little thing! that's for sure!
ava has come so far this summer in her swimming. she does so well and as long as she has on her goggles is like a little fish. if the goggles come off, we're in trouble. she doesn't like that water in her eyes...can't say i blame her!
here she is in all her mermaid glory!

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home.

well, my mom and i left for vacations the same day. She and Felix drove up to minnesota the same day i took off for kansas. we caravaned through kansas and it was really nice to have a little safety net in case i ran into any issues. i have never drove that distance alone before, so it was a new {and wonderful} experience. anyway, my mom just got back in town late tuesday night and we spent yesterday evening over at her place swimming, eating, watching movies, and running to target! FUN! i am so happy she is back. we spend so much time over there that i have decided her house is an extension of ours. when we are there it is like we are home. i love that feeling. anyway, just a few shots from yesterday morning on the "castle" and last night swimming!

this was too funny. ava kept calling sam in the pool. he would swim out to her and then she and sam would swim back to the steps together! ha! she really did turn into more of a fish while i was gone. she spent a lot of time swimming at her nonna's house with her older cousins and i think she learned a lot by watching them!

the princess in her castle.
swinging.

& more swinging...they love this big swing!

the kids are loving their swingset and i love that it was such a special gift from multiple sets of grandparents for both of their birthdays. we have some pretty amazing family around us!

xo,

a

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ava the fish...

my girl loves to swim and just finished her swim lesson session today! she did so well and loves the water! thought i'd share some video of her swimming her little heart out! {please ignore my silly voice...and yes, that's hollis squealing in that second one!}

she has learned so much the past few months and i am so proud of our little swimmer! look out michael phelps! ha!

xo,

a

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the littles...

it's been too long since a blog post or any photos of these two adorable littles....& all i have are excuses, so i'm not even gonna give 'em! it's been a crazy month full of birthdays, travel, visiting loved ones, ear infections {blech}, swimming, family time, building metal building in the back patch...all kinds of crazy business! for now, though, a photo of my sweetest boy sleeping soundly in his crib...yes that's my pink holly hobby blanket he's sleeping on...and several other blankets in bed with him...what can i say, the boy loves blankeys!

check out those thunder thighs! love 'em!
missy ava jumping herself into the pool! don't let the floaties fool you...she is a swimming fool! look out michael phels!

my chamion back floater {being lazy with the floaties on!...but that's okay, it was a lazy kind of day!}

hope you all have a beautiful weekend...it is going to be crazy hot here...i see more swimming in our future!

xo,

a

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daddy's getting the boat ready....

one more subtle reminder that summer is getting closer and closer....

maybe i should have passed up on all that dessert?!

it's never too late....it's never too late....

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