Swim Lessons

Two years ago Andrea and I took Mommy and Me swim lessons, but last year she was not interesting in taking lessons without me.  I feel learning to swim is such an important skill, so her and I just went to the pool occasionally and I tried to work with her. 

This year she was very excited about swim lessons, without or without me.  Since they closed Tooele's outdoor pool this year we signed up at the indoor pool, which is very close to our house. Rumor has it that the classes all filled up fast, understandably, so I'm glad we got her in. 

She loved it, and couldn't wait to go each day.  She made a new friend, Taylor, and I enjoyed visiting with Taylor's mom.  I was very impressed with her teachers, so they were so patient with that age group, and got Andrea to try more things than I ever could.

 

 

 

All together she took nine classes, five the first week, four the next.  The last ten minutes of class were play time, and they gave the kids toys in the kiddie pool.  Fridays during the last ten minutes they would turn on the water fountains and the big slide and her teachers would go down the slide with each child.

 

I wasn't sure if she was going to pass since she wasn't going to jump in the pool on the last day, but the teachers talked her into it.  Here is the before and after shot.

She passed level 1, which means next year she will get to move up.  I guess Ryan and I will have to take her swimming more often to get her used to being under water before then. 

A Wonderful Gift

Since I use this blog as my only journal, I wanted to blog about an amazing experience we had this weekend, so I can look back and always appreciate it. 

We have been bombarded with dental expenses this year.  Ryan had two root canals in January that will take us a while to pay off.  I figured once we did we would make sure to stay on top of all of our dental appointments, Andrea would go for a check up next, then Ryan, then me.  Granted, this all couldn't happen 'til next year, but I didn't want any more unexpected issues that could have been prevented. 

Well, no such luck, Andrea started complaining about a tooth last month, so when I took her to the dentist it was also a root canal that needed a silver cap, as well as two other cavities.  More bills added to the total and I lost progress on dental debt. 

While I was venting on Facebook about our unfortunate luck a friend that graduated High School with Ryan and I, and who is now a dentist in Texas, told us to fly down next time because even with the flight cost it would have been cheaper.  I thought it my mind, yeah, right, wouldn't that be nice?!

Shortly after he messaged me and told me he would be coming to Tooele soon and would love to get Ryan and I caught up on our dental issues, free of charge.  I was blown away, who does this?  He soon called me to prove he was serious and we talked for quite a while about the real cost of dental work versus what is being charged.  I found out he works for an office in Texas that makes dental costs much more affordable to those in need. 

So sure enough on Saturday he made it happen.  He found a location here locally, even got a assistant to come in and work to take care of Ryan, and me, and others that he knew needed it.  Ryan had four fillings, and a cleaning.  I also had four fillings, but they were minor enough I didn't even have to get numb, pretty good for not seeing a dentist in over 8 years. 

I hope Dr. Bateman knows how much this meant to me. I am blown away by his generosity and his willingness to give of his time and talents to help others.  It brings tears to my eyes thinking about how much Ryan and I are always trying to help others, yet this great guy who we've never done anything for, helped us so tremendously!

I'm sure Ryan won't appreciate me posting a picture, but I wanted to remember what a wonderful gift we were given!

4th of July

This year was the first year that my childhood home was owned by someone else, and we weren't sure where to sit for the parade.  Luckily the new owners, the Coopers, were nice enough to allow us to join their family to watch the parade in the same spot we always have. 
I'm putting a before pic of Andrea, you see that her hair is done, her shirt fits, she is wearing her hat, by the end of the parade she was a hot mess!

 Brigitta and Roland were pretty particular about what candy they would actually pick up.  The white salt water taffy was never one of the favored few.  Andrea was not prejudice when it came to candy, so she had quite the full bag by the end.

Thank goodness for umbrellas!

Told ya.... a hot mess! Her and I made her shirt weeks ago and she's been dying to wear it. That night we joined Ryan's parents for some store bought fireworks.  Now that Utah has legalized bottle rockets their neighbors had some that were a little more exciting than ours. 

 

Ryan wanted to drive up Smelter Road to get some photos of the fireworks throughout the town, this one is my favorite.

The city fireworks were the next night after a concert, so we planned to lay in a park nearby but the rain starting pouring down about 20 minutes before the fireworks started and it never fully let up.  Luckily they still launched them and it was a good show, but Ryan couldn't take pictures and we had to watch from inside the car.

 

Hatch Patch 2013

This year we were invited to Hatch Patch for Brigitta's 8th birthday.  It happened to be on a weekend that Peyton and Meryn were here visiting while Matt and Sara were in Boston.  Amy was so nice to let us bring them along with us.

Amy had planned such cute activities, first it was making a mini smores necklace out of clay. 

Then the kids went on a scavenger hunt, which went all over the property.  Roland wanted me to go with him and by the end of it I was beat. It seemed to go from one end of the property back and forth, I think Eric had a lot to do with the planning.

One of the clues was out on a beach ball in the water, so Brigitta and Peyton got that one.

The treasure was Gatorade and compass bracelets.  All the kids were pretty excited to have a cold drink after their adventure.

 The next game was to shoot a bow through tissue paper for a prize.

Most kids after a few tries got to just go punch through one of the hole and get a prize.

Ryan enjoyed walking the property and taking photos, it really is a beautiful place up there and I'm always so happy when we get invited to go.