Summer Time Fun

The first day playing in the pool with friends Cy and Carina.

I never did get a picture of just BenBen. He was too busy playing and having fun to look up at the camera.

So, over Memorial Day weekend we got a little swimming pool from Grandma and Grandpa. Since we don't know if we'll be staying here, and because Kenny really wants to turn the garden area into a kids play area anyway, we decided to put the pool in the garden area. Kenny put a tarp down and then set up the pool. The entire week has been beautiful weather and the pool water, thanks to it's cover, has warmed up nicely in the afternoons. It has been a blast for the kids and I think it'll prove to be a great blessing during the hot summer months.

The water was a little cold, can you tell by the face?

Hannah getting a little cold, but still having fun.

The first used it on Wednesday after Sarah Kate got home from school. The water wasn't the warmest yet, but the still had a lot of fun. We found some car cleaning sponges that we've never used and brought out some bath tub toys for them to used. They splashed, dove under the water, and just played and had a lot of fun. After getting in our neighbor friends Carina and Cy came over to play. They were very excited to get in the pool and ran home to get in their swimming suits. They just added to the fun and the kids played until they were blue in the lips and couldn't stand to stay in any longer. The one exception was Gracie who was not to thrilled with the idea of going in the pool. I don't know if it was the water temperature or just being afraid to get in, but she was just fine sitting on the side or playing in the water on the tarp that had been splashed out.

Gracie sitting on the edge of the pool.

Luckily a few days later she warmed up to the pool and discovered how fun it is to be in the water.

For the rest of the week the kids have enjoyed playing in the pool every day. Carina and Cy's mom had her baby this week (lucky duck) so their grandma has let them come over almost everyday to swim with our kids. They have all had a blast and Kenny and I are pleased at how well they have been doing in the water. Sarah has started practicing her swimming. She can float on her back now and swim the short distance of the pool. Ben is doing great dunking and holding his breathe under water. We even got Gracie to go in the pool and she has discovered how much she loves it. Hannah is getting accustom to getting her ears wet (something she's HATED since getting tubes put in them in January) and we are very proud of her. All in all I think it's been a wonderful toy. Thanks so much and I'm sure there will be more pictures as the summer goes on.