Singapore

Taylor went to Singapore for 12 days. It was his first time out of the country. The flight was REALLY long and he had terrible jet lag being 14 hours ahead. Overall I think he enjoyed the experience...he went to a conference where he presented some of his work and then spent a week doing research at the university there. He went to church and did some wandering around, but mostly was working and trying to sleep. 

We really missed him while he was gone and could only talk on Skype first thing in the morning or at night since our schedules were so off. The kids and I went to Houston for a few days, had some fun 4th of July festivities (parade, swimming, carnival, fireworks), and Teresa came to visit for 10 days. 

This is some crazy ice cream wrapped in bread..."it was all right."

Aunt Teresa (and 4th of July)

The 4th was pretty fun with me and the kids. First off was swim practice still. We loved the small Wells Branch Parade and then headed to the carnival to play games and swim and eat. It was a ton of fun actually...had a great day with my kiddos and then headed to watch fireworks. Super fun. 

Teresa flew in the next day and we had a lot of fun with her. The divisional meet was the day after she arrived. Then we just hung out--went swimming and read books mostly. It was nice to have her around though. We had the Piranhas banquet while she was here and that was good. Matthias got a trophy for Most Improved Piranha, 6 and under since he received 13 time improvements during the season. Then the older kids and I went to the pool party after from 8 to 10 pm while Teresa took Hyrum home to bed. 

Taylor and I were able to run out on a date when he got back from Singapore before Teresa left and that was nice also. We loved having her here to visit!

Pflugerville Piranhas--Division 4 Champions!

Finished up the swim season with lots of fun! The boys' team, the Pflugerville Piranhas took first in our division meet on July 6. They both posed with the trophy. Also Matthias places 2nd overall in 6 and under 25 yard Butterfly in the division and 3rd in 6 and under 25 yard Breaststroke. James' medley relay team placed 8th. James' favorite stroke is breaststroke which he worked hard on all year and was able to get a 1.29 second time improvement in. Teresa got both these pictures on her phone and since Taylor had our camera in Singapore during this meet we didn't get any other photos. So proud of the boys' hard work and we all enjoyed swim so much! Can't wait for next year with 3 swimmers now that Hannah can swim all the way across the pool!

Pure Awesomeness

James went to Cub Scout Twilight camp last week and loved it! As he said, "This is pure awesomeness. I just love, LOVE scout camp." In our area the cub scouts have twilight camp in the evenings from 5 to 9 although it's still 95 degrees most of the camp. He was great about drinking lots of water though. He loved archery best, but had a great time doing everything...water slides, weaving, posters, leather work, singing, the skit, buying plastic ninjas at the trading post. He didn't love bb guns, but by the last day was able to hit the paper so they were more fun. 3 other boys from our ward attended so he had some friends there. James looked so old when I picked him up that first night and brought him home. Can't believe he is already old enough to do cub scouts!

Pflugerville Piranhas...Swim Pfast

The boys are doing swim team this year and it's been so much fun. They are both swimming great and loving it and we spend a lot of time at the pool. Unfortunately Hannah, Hyrum, and I are sweating to death watching practice, but we survive. And lots of days we head to our pool afterwards to all swim.

The team, Pflugerville Piranhas, has had four meets so far and the boys are improving and enjoying. I'm so happy my boys love to swim because I love hanging out at the pool. 2 hours for practice every day, one hour each. The coaches are great. And meets are about 6 hours on Saturdays...we have to be at the pool by 6 am!

James' favorite stroke is breaststroke and he does a great job with it. A lot of the boys his age get disqualified for getting the stroke wrong but he has always nailed it. And he likes doing freestyle as well. All of his times have improved from the beginning of the season so he has done wonderful! And he can breath to the side while swimming now which is great.

Matthias loves to swim butterfly and does great with it, always coming in top 3. His age group has less competition since he swims 6 and unders but he is fast. He has gotten really fast in butterfly (close to invitational time) and freestyle. And today he swam breaststroke without getting disqualified...first 6 and under boy on our team to do so.

And they both just look so cute in their team suits, swim caps and goggles! =]

One of these boys looks just like the other...

Seriously this is one picture of Matthias and one of Hyrum. I doubled checked to make sure I didn't accidentally post two pictures of Hyrum, but the first picture was taken in 2007 so it's really Matthias. Same blue vein at the top of the nose, same mouth shape, same chubby cheeks, same smile, same stare, same clothes.

Happy Harvey Day

For Happy Harvey Day this year we made Turtle cookies (since our family mascot is the box turtle). Really amazing chocolate chip cookies with pecans pressed in the tops while still warm, then drizzled with ganache and caramel sauce. Mmmm. They were amazing. We also went swimming of course and had a yummy dinner. We love our Happy Harveys!