Junior Swim Team

This year we enrolled both Olivia and Mason on the Junior Swim Team.  Olivia did this last year and we were impressed with the program.  Again, Olivia had great instruction and daily practice with the four strokes.  I was a little less impressed with Mason's, but he technically shouldn't have been on the team (age limit of 4 and older).  Although he did improve his swimming, his maturity was some room for improvement ;)  

Overall, we were happy with the program and grateful to have these opportunities.  I was also impressed that the kiddos didn't complain about waking up early and jumping in the pool.  Practice was all of June and July four days a week from 8:15-8:45am!!  It helps that it's so warm in houston that jumping in a pool is always appealing. 

Mason

free: 52.82

back: 111.03

Olivia

free: 25.56

back: 40.42

breast: 54.97

fly: 52.25

2013 Junior Swim Team

Our good buddy Cameron was also on the team. You should have heard these three cheering each other on...some excellent team spirit!!

Good Friends

Celebratory Dinner Out!!

SICK!

What I didn't mention was that Tim and I were sick sick sick over the weekend.  It started last Thursday feeling a little under the weather, then Friday I had complete laryngitis...and then on Saturday, Tim started sounding crummy :-/   As the icing on the cake, today I woke up with PINK EYE!!!  UGH.  So Tim and I have been coughing, sneezing, feeling crummy for the past 6 days.  In an effort to do as little parenting as possible, we took the kids to a local pool and let them entertain themselves.  I think the kids would prefer more Mommy/Daddy sick days ;) 

Naps

this was just a nap...and i went to get olivia from her room (we ask that she stay in her room for 90 minutes of quiet time).  Except, when I went into her room...she wasn't there.

Not exactly sure why, but this sweet girl decided to climb into bed with her brother and fall fast asleep!

The Cousins

A great weekend!  Can't wait to see you all Labor Day!!

Lots of Hertels in Texas :)

Everyone was here for basically one full day...so we crammed as much fun as we could in one day :)  

 Oh and this Baby Hannah.  I have absolutely LOOOVED spending so much quality time with her.  Katie has been so nice to let us hold, snuggle, feed, change, and play with her constantly.

She has won a part of my heart....and not just me...we all have to take turns with Olivia who wants nothing else to do but take care of Hannah.  

The Sanners Arrived!

but not until late...but that didn't stop us from jumping in the pool!!

Look Who Arrived Today...

...IN A NEW CAR!!!!

Sometimes You Just Gotta "Move It"

The kids couldn't see my phone (sometimes they put on an extra good show for the phone...).  I recorded the whole song, but just saved the good parts for you guys 

Check out previous "Move It" variations

Olivia
Mason 

Last Day

It was a pleasure to have Logan and Reagan at our house.  I loved watching the cousins bond and play and learn.  Overall it was a very good week.  Sure, the transitions took longer, the playroom got a little messier, meals required more food, but there were also more hugs and more laughter and more dancing.  We took the approach of us all doing the same "thing".  We ate the same things, played in the same place, slept at the same time...less chances for opinions, but that also left less room for disagreements :)   

It was at the end of the day though, when I took pictures of these sweet kiddos that my heart just melted.

Day 6

Second to last day with everyone.  The girls had a sleepover (it only took them 90 minutes to fall asleep)

So I must mention Jerry.  He ABSOLUTELY loooved having the two additional kiddos eating and dropping all sorts of dry cereal in the couches.

But hands down, his favorite friend was Logan.  

Trix...they aren't JUST for kids ;)

Day 5

Day 4

Day 3

Day 2

4 Kids

For the next week we will have two additional cuties living with us, while their parents take a much deserved vacation!!!  

Hello Toothfairy!!!

About 10 days ago Olivia noticed that her bottom left tooth was wiggly (the right tooth has been loose for awhile, but it was knocked loose).  The left one was definitely ready to come out on it's own.  A week later it's super wiggly...so I snapped two brief pictures of her mouth (top two pictures) mentioning to Olivia that I want to have a picture of her beautiful smile with all her baby teeth.

Ten minutes later, she walks downstairs with her tooth in her hand!!!  She pulled it out by herself!!

And yes, the toothfairy came, bringing $1.40 

WOW Science Camp

Last year, Mason wasn't old enough to attend....needless to say he was pretty jazzed this year to participate.  Olivia has proclaimed that she wants to be a scientist and make discoveries and observations and experiments. It was an awesome week that ended with a fun snowcone treat.  

Ladies Nite

An awesome nite out ~ Happy Birthday Leslie!

Three Years Ago....

This would have been considered a "work gathering"....but now, it's good friends having a great time together!

Foto Friday

Oh Thumb Sucking...

I posted  THIS in April.

She's relapsed :(   We did so much work and it's all down the drain.  It started awhile ago...I've just put off writing about it.  Her video monitor broke and so we haven't been watching her...come to find out she was pulling back the thumb guards and sucking her thumb...even with the bad tasting stuff on it.  She told me, "If I just suck it for awhile, the taste goes away."

So I created a shirt with a sock sewed onto the sleeve...

And she pulled her arm out the bottom of her shirt...

Not exactly sure what I want to do.  Should I continue to force it?  Will she just eventually stop?  Thoughts????

BIG STUFF

Both kids took great naps today and I knew they wouldn't be ready to go to bed unless they burned some serious energy.  

S for the first time ever, we took our kids to a public pool and SAT ON THE SIDE.  We watched them.  We chatted about our day and looked after our kids swimming, and chasing, and diving, and playing.

It was absolutely glorious.  

**as noted in the comments: check out this link about being a "Lounge Chair Mom"

First Time...

...using the hair dyer :)

ONE ABOVE & one below

Nappin' with Toys

Mason naps 5+ times a week.  Olivia is only napping if she stayed up late the night before and/or had lots of activities (3ish times a month).  But they both never want to nap and ask to bring a toy with them :)

Thank heavens, sometimes the toys just aren't entertaining enough and sleep takes over.

Boating

We've gone out on my parents boat multiple times this year and it's a great time.  

Everyone loves being on the water.

It's really nice they have joined this boat club.  They don't have to maintain or store a boat...that's what the club does.  Instead they reserve a boat and take us all out on it.  WIN WIN!

Seriously can't believe this is the first time I'm really posting about this...since we've gone out so many times!

Erin does a great job of bringing out the big camera and taking FANTASTIC pictures.  Very grateful for these!!

And as you see below, my kiddos went on the tube all by themselves.  This was all fun and games until Mason falls off.  I seriously have not felt such instant panic for a very long time...my body just took over.  I felt nauseous and dizzy and cold and hot and I was shaking and my heart felt like it was going to break through my skin and was ready to start screaming...but didn't for fear that puke was going to come out.  I remember looking at everyone else and they were fine...it was just me.  AND MASON was great!  He was happy and he tells the story like a true warrior.  

This past weekend on the 5th of July we went out again.


This time we went fishing :)

"We weren't ready for a turtle" lol.  Lots of silly screaming and annoying voices...but quite the catch!
If you were wondering, we were fishing with hot dogs.

And on our way home, the kids always look like this...

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for giving us memories that we'll always treasure!!!!

July 4th!

Recently we've been sooo busy and doing lots of fun...and it's really hard to say no to exciting activities, but today was one of those days.  Every year we've gone to a parade and then pool...this year, although the weather was ideal (overcast and cooler), we decided to just skip it and lounge at home.  Didn't realize how much we all needed it.  

By the afternoon we rallied and went to a friends house to swim and cookout.  And then we ended the evening at the Outten house, where instead of sweating in this oppressive heat and spending 2 hours in the car getting home, we watched fireworks on TV and then went outside to light some sparklers. 

 It was PERFECT.  

can you believe this was the VERY first picture of the kids I took?? Everyone was 6 or younger!

ha...and our kiddos at the end of the night ;)

The Movies

Took these cuties to the movies (gotta love dollar summer movies).  We watched Turbo.

Afterwards they played snails :)

The Salon

Olivia has been asking to get her hair cut for awhile now.  She was JAZZED!  

And I totally forgot to take an AFTER picture...doh!

Workbook Time

I've created a little routine with the kids to practice some academics.  I work with each kids individually for 30 minutes.  While I'm working with one, the other cleans their room and anytime they have left...they get to play ipad.  It's been a huge success.  The kids love their individual time with me and, of course, ipad time is always a winner!

Mason's name has really improved!!!