A Summer of Firsts

Ok, I know I've been horrible about updating this blog for over a month now. Well hold on, because I have a lot of updates coming fast! I just did 2 tonight, but I have about 50 coming over the next couple of weeks. Jack has had a long summer of firsts, and it's been exhausting.

In July we spent our first day as a family at the beach. Ok, it wasn't a real beach, it was the beach and swim area at Chatfield Reservoir, but to Lucy it was amazing! I have a couple of beach bums on my hands, Lucy, and Shawn.



Lucy built her first Sand Castle. Not bad.



She also built herself a little sand chair, or a hole in the ground to sit in and eat snacks.





Jack enjoied himself too. Cute little bug!



Lucy also loved to swim in the water. I'm a little ashamed to admit that I taught swimming lessons for 3 years in high school and my own daughter doesn't know how to swim yet. We just didn't make it to the water very much this summer. I'll get her next summer. At least I can say she is not at all afraid of the water, and that is huge.



This summer Lucy decided that she actually likes some fruit. She LOVE raspberries, and she has been ok with applesause and even apples a few times. The most recent addition, apple juice! We're getting somewhere.



After seeing what a hit the beach was, we spent the next weekend at a pool here in Colorado Springs. Lucy LOVED it. She just wanted nothing to do with the spray area, and especially their slide. I can't blame her, that slide was the steepest thing ever, for kids! They all shot out crying because it was too intense.



Jack gave the water a go...



But he wasn't such a fan.



I was surprised that Jack didn't go for the pool, because this boy loves the bath. He had his first big boy bath with Lucy in July. Our tub is really slippery, so he struggles, mostly because he is so squirmy and excited about the toys.





So do you know what happens when your husband goes out of town for a week yet again? You lose your mind. And you go from having long flowing hair to...

Pretty much no hair. I looked in the mirror one night and I got so frustrated with my hair. Jack kept yanking on it, and he was getting stronger and stronger, and grabbing just a few random hairs all over my head. So it went from feeling good, to being annoying as heck! I also go sick of the work that was involved with long hair. So I went and chopped it off. For the record, I only intended for it to be just above my sholders, but that got lost in the translation somewhere. I kind of paniced for a couple of days, but the one thing that made me feel much better was that I was able to donate it, and my haircut was free. Too bad I can't add that pony tail to my other one for another white elephant gift!

Jack learned to sit up, and he learned to play with toys while sitting, that is a glorious day in the life of a mom!

And the weekend of July 24th, our ward had a ward campout at the Air Force Acadamy Campsites. We went down for dinner, but we didn't dare stay the night. Instead, we came home and camped out in our backyard. I love having a backyard! Lucy was SO excited! She helped me set up the tent, she hammered in most of the stakes by herself!

And she did a great job!

Two excited kids! Ok, one excited kid and one who is ready for bed.

So what did we learn? Turns out our kids sleep better outside then in! We also learned that grass really is not soft enough to consider a good enough cushion for your bed. We had a blast though and look forward to many more nights outside in our little tent!

Even if we have to clean up when we are done.