The summer of swimming

This summer has been filled with swimming. Our friends graciously invite us to swim in their community pools. The kids have a great time together with their friends, and I have a great time with my friends. Every one is happy. At times I feel a tinge of guilt as I am swimming and enjoying the summer heat, while Cor is working hard. Of course, some seasons of mothering are more enjoyable than others, and this season has been a blast so far!

all lined up to jump
(Julianna being the youngest by far, has no trouble keeping up)

Pool Progress

Asher, this is what you missed today...

it was very neat to see them form the steps with the trowel
the two older guys have been doing pools together for 30 years!

pouring the floor

I can't believe how quickly things change. Tomorrow all the dirt will be smoothed around the pool for the deck and the huge dirt pile which has been attracting every neighbor kid will be removed. Next week all the plumbing/electrical will be done and the tiles will be installed.

Sunday Evening Beach shots

I went a little crazy with the camera. I wanted to take some pictures that weren't posed. Here are some of the fun ones. My subjects are of course...Cor, Arianna, Asher and Julianna.

plumeria plant
beautiful flower and fragrant smell!

Two years later....

Asher's room is decorated! He has never had a decorated room, we have always moved before we got around to his room. Well, all that has changed, and he is pumped! Here it is.

painting started in November '06- with no real ideas in mind but the room at least had some color

Asher and I saw a border we liked so Cor started painting the bottom half two weeks ago
June '07

being at the right place at the right time- in the Lord's kind providence.
I was shopping for sports decor last week and found some things, I was waiting to pay for them and the lady waiting at the checkout behind me noticed my decor and asked me if I was decorating a boys sports room. I replied with a "yes ma'am" and she said she was redecorating her sons room that was sports. She was going to take all her sports decor to goodwill and offered it all to me instead! What an unexpected blessing.

no pictures of the border going up. My friend Michelle and I did it yesterday while our 6 kids had a blast messin' around.

the three sports balls on the shelf is the only decor I bought!
(except the border)

I finished and hung the curtains this morning. I opened up a pillow sham to make the curtain.
I'm very pleased with the way it all came together. It may be the nicest room in the home now! Cor said last night "decorated rooms like this make homes sell!" No plans though...

BECAUSE...

yesterday our back yard looked like this:

and this morning it looks like this:

we are getting a pool! We are all so excited, it is expected to be completed August 7. Weather permitting of course, and what is the weather doing the first hour of work...it's raining!!

Memorial Day Weekend

We stayed home Memorial Day weekend, and had a very relaxing family time together. Work first of course though, so Cor started painting the bottom half of Asher's bedroom wall. We, actually Cor (I take no credit) painted the whole room a yellow a few months back, but last week I saw a border that I liked and it had a lot of blue in it so I thought blue below the border would look just great. I ran that idea by Cor and ordered the paint for him to pick up on his way home from work. That was easy! Cor paints but he will not help me with the border. After the paint cures for a bit, my friend and I will put up the border.

SATURDAY

Asher helping daddy
(I finally got rid of Asher's Saturday clothes,
hunter shirt and blue shorts size 3 are no longer in the rotation!)

SUNDAY
Boone Park in the early evening hours when the sun is starting to set
we had a great time

nothing can be done normally for Julianna!

it's funny how you can have a toy for a while and it never gets played with and then it is the hottest toy in the house! Here is the rediscovery of Marbleworks. It is fun to make different paths for the marble to follow.

MONDAY
(Beach time, early morning before it's too wicked hot and busy)

Julianna's type of beach fun - very content to sit, watch the people and eat chips!
(she is so like her mother!)

I know... a very boring beach shot