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Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Oh, not an easy thing to watch!

Sesily has had the kids take swimming lesson this summer. They have all improved so much. The two girls are certified now in some kind of safe swim technique where they know what to do if they were to fall into water.

I missed watching Ella test but was there for Amara, with camera in hand! These ARE NOT easy pictures to look at. I am so glad, especially for Amara, that she knows how to save herself if she ever needed to.

They test them with summer clothing and winter clothing on. Gail, the teacher, will turn them upside down to disorient them. But you will see that Amara comes up to the top and will roll over to float on her back to get her breath. Then she will roll over again and swim to the side. I am most amazed!












But, doesn't Amara just have a little doll-face profile! She doesn't cry if Sesily is in the water with her. Poor Gail, she says that she doesn't take it personal because ALL the babies cry.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Thank you, Megan!

One morning I woke up with the idea that I wanted to paint the garage floor! (Sometimes, I like the ideas I have when I wake up, but I wasn't so sure about this one.)
It was when we were still having a 'cool spell' in the weather and I knew I had to do it now or wait until October. The weather can't exceed 90 degrees for the paint.

The carpets in our house are always getting so dirty. I hoped that by painting the dirty garage floor it would help a bit. And besides, I just hate the feel of concrete on my bare feet.

It was a three day process but was actually not bad. First, is the acid wash, then the paint and finally the sealer.

Megan was so helpful. She got the hard job while I just moved my little stool around the garage to paint the edges and crevices. I was so grateful she helped because the paint has to be used in 2 hours or it becomes too sticky.
It really was a two man (woman!) job. Thank you, Megan!

Now it cleans up so easily. But I do have to mop the tire marks up. Our feet are much cleaner! We wanted to even have a party on it! (That thought didn't last long.)




Friday, July 9, 2010

Cabo San Luca, Mexico

In June, Chad and I went with Trent's familee on their familee vacation to Mexico. This is the second year we have done that. We stay in a resort using the time share points that has a three bedroom suite and a big living/kitchen area. It works out nicely so that we can all be together in one room.

This is at the airport leaving Las Vegas.


On our lay over Amara finally fell asleep. Since Amara likes her bed best to sleep in, we were glad she was able to fall sleep in her stroller. It is a bit challenging traveling with little kids, all the luggage and going through customs. Cohen and Ella each have a back pack filled with things to do and snacks to eat.



At the resort, Cabo Azul, they have a great pool area where we spend most of the day. The kids have all been in swimming lessons so they got lots of practice. Cohen and Ella have improved so much in their ability to swim because of lessons.



Swim lessons for Amara was a MUST! She wants to be in the water all the time, she has no fear of it. Because she is so tiny, it is amazing to watch her swim. She goes under the water, wiggles, and kicks and makes her way over to you. Then she comes up smiling and clapping! And two seconds later, she has flipped around and is reaching out to swim back.

I watched people watch her at the pool. If they had children, they were just amazed at her in the water. But, if they didn't have children, you could see the disgust on their faces of disapproval, as if to say "I would NEVER do that." But, it is all Amara! And thank goodness she is in swim lesson where they teach her how to be water safe.




Swimming all day can wear them out!



Chad and Trent have the ability to work while on vacation. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not!



One night we took bubbles down to the beach. Every kid loves bubbles. Some of Cohen and Ella's faces are so funny catching the bubbles!



At the resort, they have fire pits. I don't think they use them for marshmallow roasts, but we do!



The hotel is right on the beach. However, there are rip tides in the water so we don't go there to swim. The waves are huge! These are cute pictures of the kids jumping at the beach. A lesson we learned...don't jump with a dress on! Sesily's skirt totally came up to her waist. Her reaction is so funny!





At the resort, our room had a jacuzzi on the patio deck. If there is water, Amara wants in it! We had to drain it for her safety.



Another day at the pool.


Before we left, Trent contacted a Stake President in Cabo. We told them we were interested in helping out a family or two with some clothing we could bring with us. We went to Deseret Industries and some thrift stores to buy some white shirts, dresses, ties, play clothes, short, pants in a variety of sizes.

The Stake President gave us a name of a Bishop there in Cabo. While we were there, we meet with this Bishop. We picked him up from work, which was at one of the other resorts and took him home. It was a wonderful experience but also very 'eye-opening' to see what real life for the people who live there is like. Unpaved dirt road, open stores with layers of dust coming in, most of the people walking since they don't have transportation...totally opposite life than down the highway to the resorts.

We were able to meet the Bishop's wife and baby. His home was much different than what we know here in the states but taken well care of. But even though the difference, the Spirit was the same. I could feel the Spirit within their tiny home. And that is a wonderful thing!

The Bishop was so, so grateful that we brought clothes. He text Trent three times that night expressing his gratitude. I believe that when we go next year, we will just call him directly and find out the needs of his particular ward. Then we can be more specific in what we take. We all loved this experience!



Each home is a different color.

Cohen, Ella & Amara in Mexico

These pictures were taken in Mexico while we were on vacation in Cabo.






Sunday, July 4, 2010

More of Caiden










Celebrating Caiden

Always love a party! The Kennedy's and Lee's celebrated Caiden's birth at a luncheon. I like doing the showers after the baby is born so everyone can see the baby. Sometimes it can be a long time after they are born before the whole family gets to see him. If we waited until the blessing in October, he will be three months old by then.

Back row: Heidi, Marie Lee, Heather Allen, RaeLene Kennedy, LaRue Morrill, Elaine Kennedy holding Jacob Flynn, Nicole Flynn
Front row: Megan & Bree Lee, Lana Mehlhoff, Barbara Lee holding Caiden.
Sesily, Ella and Amara had to leave early for swim lessons.
She got some wonderful gifts. Grandma Kennedy made the blanket in the center picture, homemade blankets, money for diaper, etc. Megan presented the birth slide show at the shower and gave to Bree. The bear in the pictures at the top right is from Lana. It has a recording of Caiden's (almost) first cry. Love that gift!

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Darling as ever!

Aren't these dressed so darling that Sesily made for the girls? I know just how she feels when you create something you love. And I love their hair bows as well. Ella and Amara posed for pictures while Chad, Trent and Cohen went on dunebuggy rides. Ella wanted her pictures done. She was far more interested in the dunebuggy than a photo shoot.







I love these pictures with the suckers. Ella is so good to Amara, so is Cohen. They snuggle up to her and coo in her face and give her loves. They are kind to her.

And, here is what we battled at this photo shoot...WIND! Lots of it. It nearly blew the little girls over. We parked the cars side by side to block it just a bit. By the time we finished, it stopped. Brother!