Labor Day - Pool Side

So, it has kind of become a tradition for the family to get together on Labor-Day. We usually go out to my parents house in Queen Creek. But, that is like 2 hours away and the pool people are super strict about "pool rules and conduct." Seriously, I don't think you are allowed to splash! Anyway, we were able - luckily - to convince my Mom and the fam (those that came) to go out to the pool at our timeshare. It is so much better! It has a graduated entry for the kids, a whirlpool (although we were supposed to have a lazy river :( ), a big slide and other fun stuff. It is only 30 minutes from my house but the family seemed to think it was in outer space, i.e far away. Regardless, we all had fun and got a little too much sun. :) Here are a few pics. (Not in any particular order because that just takes too much work - sorry).

Hannah surfing on Terel's back.

.Hannah jumping off of my back. She actually gets pretty high but Lisa cut her head off in the photo. So, this one gives you the idea.

My Mom and Dad actually cuddling. lol.

Hannah and Georgie playing chicken. Tana was a weak base so I had to take over - we won. Sorry Terel, you just couldn't hang and let go of your man.

Hayydn riding on my back in the whirlpool. It is the same idea as a lazy river but just a big circle. We would run really fast in circles and it would really make the water swirl. The kids like it.

Tana and Brasia.

Hayydn eventually went into the water pretty hard. :) BUT, I tried to save him. He was cool about it though.

Me and Hayydn waiting to go down the slide.

Lisa, Hayydn, and Haddli in the shallow end.

Dad, Arturo, Tana, Hannah, Terel, and Brasia.

Arturo and Tana.

Brasia.

Terel.

Hannah.

Hallie.

Arturo, Tana's Hubby, getting some good speed around the corner.

Tana, well, not so much speed.

Jadie, relaxing in the pirate ship.

Terel and his "friend," Brasia (I hope that is how you spell it??

Grandpa and Georgie. I have pictures of the ending - it isn't pretty! Georgie gets pile drived! Ha Ha Ha.

Haddli, Mom, Hannah, and Hallie waiting for everyone else to come down.
Hannah, just like Mom.

Hallie showing some excitement. She learned that she can stand up after she lands. Even though she can swim she stands up and walks out with the water right to her mouth.

Mama on the slide?? I could have sworn there was a "don't ride if you are pregnant sign?"

Hallie, Hannah, and Grandpa watching as Mom heads down the slide.

Haddli couldn't go down so she sat by the exit and did her part as a little cheerleader. As much as Lisa doesn't want any of our girls to be "Ra - ra's," (no offense to any of you cheerleaders) Haddli is destined for cheer.

Terel, Brasia, and Hayydn.

The lazy people. It looks like my Dad and Lisa are both due at the same time? Well, Dad may be a little ahead of Lisa. :)

Georgie in the boat. He has actually come a long way this summer. He can swim pretty good now.

Hayydn strutting his stuff. Terel, trying to learn from such a naturally studly little man.

Working it.

Grandpa and Hayydn (Actually I think Hayydn is running away). :)

Grandma floating.
Whale Watching. lol

Haddli practicing swimming under the water. She did this the entire time. I was actually quite impressed. I think she will definitely be a full fledged swimmer next summer. Oh, and her eyes were ruined this morning. :) Guess it is time to invest in some Haddli sized goggles.

Taking a breath.

"Ha ha dad, boys don't kiss," was all I got.

This kid loves the water. I had to keep him close because he would just walk off into the water no big deal. I even let him float for awhile, see if it helps him wise up. Uuuhhhmmm, nope. He liked being on my back. I am like his permanent horsey. I don't mind.

Haddli chillin' by herself.

Mama taking her turn with the little energizer bunny.

Showing off for the girls. He was practicing his dramatic exits.

Hallie saved up all her money so she could buy this water puppy. It is actually pretty cool. It has little contact points on the outside so that it will run automatically when you put it in the water. I had teach her how to blow on the contacts to dry them off so it would stop walking. :)

Finally: A Pond Post

So, back in February I put a pond in my backyard. Some time later I actually created a word doc which I intended to use as a blog entry in regards to that pond. Some -further time later - I can't find that word doc. You have no idea what that does to me! It drives me so crazy that I will spend an hour combing my computer looking for it rather than just rewriting the stupid entry. Well, as you might be able to tell at this point . . . I didn't find it. That sucks! But, here's to rewrites. (I am severely tempted to go back and look some more - now that is why I am jacked up - Thanks Mom and Dad - I blame you for my problems!! The genetic ones anyway).

Ok, the pond. I know you don't want to hear it but there is a little bit of a back story, so sit back, get comfy - and try not to fall asleep. (or you can just scroll down to the photos - I will just pretend you can't read).

We have three turtles. One of which we have had for close to ten years. We got him when he was no bigger than a milk cap. He has spent some time in my brother's care (can't believe he is alive after that) But, the important thing is, we have him back (granted he had a huge lump on his right side - which we got fixed). I have always wanted to give our turtle (he doesn't even have a name - who has a ten year old pet with no name? Me) a pond. Well, I was walking through Lowes (window shopping) and low and behold the were closing out all their pond stuff. I couldn't say no. Window shopping became actual shopping. So, I called Lisa and told her I wasn't going to make it to the bus stop to pick up the kids (I know that is low - but this is serious savings).

I picked up a 300 gallon liner for $10, that is a savings of $280. I bought three preformed water fall pools $2 a piece - Total savings of $30. I bought a biological/mechanical filter with built in uv $35 - $150 in savings. (ok, and some other stuff that wasn't on sale ;)) Point is, I saved over $450 bucks.

After a few trips to collect river rock my pond is functional. It will be beautified later when I have money and time. Check out the pics.


You wouldn't think that you would need to dig that much, but . . . YOU DO!

Posing for the Camera.

Uuuhhhmmm, yeah, that didn't end well. I thought it would be funny to throw dirt on her. I guess it isn't??

Haddli is trying out the liner. "Pretty nice," she says, "it is a swimming pool dad," - she continues.

Work continued on into the night.


The next Morning.

From upstairs. Man that is a lot of dirt.

With the river rock.



Here are a couple o the turtles enjoying their new home.








My Filter.



Now that is a dive!

Mountain Man

I haven't been very good at keeping up with our blog, so all my posts are out of order. But I found these pictures and thought I should share them. So, Torel had been studying for the bar since the middle of May and he took the test at the end of July. He decided that he wouldn't shave for that long...well here is the end result. Not too bad for a guy who can't grow facial hair very quickly. He was so proud of it, but I wasn't too fond of it, so it had to go. Now he has that beautiful baby face back that I love. :) Anyway, here he is...

So Tired!

I am soooo tired, for the last week I have been getting up at 4am to get ready for work, to leave the house by 4:40, so I can be in Tucson by 7:00. Well I have gotten cancelled everyday for the last 6 days! So I still get up at 4:00 every morning and leave the house and drive, sometimes to the I-10, just so I can turn around and come home. I should be in bed sleeping right now, but I guess our blog needs some more posts and I am feeling motivated. But maybe my pillow does sound good right now...I will do some more later.

Gotta Love Phoenix!!

Hayydn's Grandma Connie bought him this pool for his birthday, but being the person that I am I never let them go out and play in it. Cause then I would have to watch them and make sure no drowned! Well everytime Torel goes out to look at the pond, he loves so much, which is several times a day, Hayydn follows! This time when Hayydn went out and he stood in the empty pool, and grunts several times to let us know that he wants to play in it, that is what I assume anyway. So of course, we fill it up and everyone gets in and it becomes so much fun, even though it is the smallest pool ever. They still love it! Gotta love Phoenix in August, where it is still 110 degrees!!! Who would ever move!

YESSSS!!! 2 kids in school!

So now Hannah and Hallie are both in school! It is so exciting! You would think I would have all this extra time to blog!! But since my husband insists on adding to our family, I am extremely tired and lazy all the time! Oh well, at least we will be done with kids before I am 30! Woo Hoo. Here is Hallie's 2nd week of school, first homework! She has the same teacher as Hannah did last year, so we know what to expect.