Swimming, Secrets, and Sweat

The boys and I went to the pool today. We were there totally alone - which meant I was the entertainer. The time was spent playing their favorite game - Raging Rivers (which is basically mom becoming the amusement park ride and splashing, crashing , and dunking them until I am past the point of exhaustion.) But it was a good -really good kind of exhaustion.

Then we had dive competition(which for us is when I give them a creature/person they have to dive like. Tyler's clown is my all-time-favorite dive.)
Alot of time was spent in me teaching(or trying to) them how to float. Little know fact about Andrea: I am a world class expert at the float. Someone once told me that I float so well because fat is lighter than water and I have a higher body fat percentage.

SECRETS TO WOMEN #1 - Never, ever, EVER, tell a woman that the reason she floats so well is because she has so much fat.

Way to rain on my parade. I just thought I had a gift. 

Later I took the boys to get the supplies for these. We are making them for Ethan's party next week.

And to our surprise we are one of the few houses that still have power on our side of Mesa. Apparently there was a huge power outage and all the stores were in the dark...and Albertson's meat department smelled WRONG! 112 degree temperatures +no air conditioning + a large amount of raw beef = BAD NEWS. 

So the boys and I hurried back to our very cool house and said major prayers of gratitude. I am so thankful we still have air conditioning. I am not sure what we'd have done...but it wouldn't have been pretty.

As I was putting them to bed tonight I really felt like this was the perfect day. It was completely ordinary. But EXACTLY the kind of day I would chose  - low key - time with no demands, no plans, no stress. Just me and these two little boys who have become two of the greatest friends of my life.

I'm Back

This blog is always the first to go when things get crazy. I hate that - I love having this outlet and getting to look back at what we've been doing. But I still haven't figured out how to keep it going when life gets nuts...
We've had a lot go on since my last post.

• Ethan turned 8 and will be getting baptized in a couple of weeks. He got a wii - and was thrilled - we celebrated with a few of his friends at Peter Piper Pizza (its like chucky cheese)

•  Lynsey took me to my first concert (I know...I have lived a sheltered life:) And we had an amazing time. I felt like I got a taste of a true college experience. I got in bed at 2:30 am and had to get up at 5:00 am for graduation.

 We now have a cub scout.

 The boys finished the school year and are home for the summer. I cannot believe I have soon to be 1st and 3rd graders. It really feels like they were just little diapered babies a few days ago.We've been keeping ourselves busy and cool with puzzles and trips to the Science Center.

 These pictures make me smile. Tyler's smile is just infectious...

  I graduated!! And then a couple of weeks later started my graduate program. I took 6 credits in 3 weeks and it was one of the toughest things I have ever done. However, it was worth it. I will now be able to be home with my kids every evening in the fall.  I am off school until August 17th and we are going to LIVE IT UP!!

  Ethan's class had a Japanese Tea and I, as the room mother (do not ask me how that happened) was in charge of it. Isn't it adorable??

• I got a new calling as a Relief Society teacher. I am very excited and a little nervous. I love teaching - it forces me to stretch and grow - but I get so nervous. Every time I swear it takes a couple of years off my life. 

• I have gotten the "decorator" bug and have been working on my bedroom. So far I am pretty pleased - but I still have a ways to go. Stay tuned for the reveal..

Okay, this is the most disorganized, haphazard and chaotic blog post ever. If you read this you must have whiplash. From Japanese Tea's to bedroom makeovers, graduation and relief society...Wow! But I just needed to get that off my chest. I wanted to remember it all. Next post will have one topic - I promise!