Misc July

We did swimming lessons again at the Surf and Swim. Greta did it too this time. I think they had fun, but they both got cold a lot and Greta didn't last the whole time most of the time. I wasn't super impressed with what they do and how they do it. I kind of felt that way last year but we decided to do it again this year because it's so cheap and I think there are some benefits. But I think next year for Harvey, I'll probably put him in private lessons so he can actually get to a point where he can swim. He needs that.

We had a little swim party with friends at our friend Laura's house. It was so much fun. The kids had a great time and it was nice to just sit and relax while they played! I had Oakley and Hudson cause I tended them so Steff and Nate could do a little overnight excursion. They were great.

Then Arctic Circle for dinner. Then I left them sleep in a fort together. It worked out ok. Took a while to wind down and actually sleep.

They joined us for more swimming lessons the next day and then we went to the park after for a little bit. We had a great time with them!

We failed with Upstart the last couple of months. Harvey didn't love doing it anymore. Our lack of structure left us forgetting it a lot, and he seemed to get bored with a lot of the stuff. So I kind of felt guilty going to the graduation, but we did do it pretty good for awhile and it was a big part of his school year last year, so we went and it was kind of anticlimactic but he was cute and shy when he got his name read and he stood in front of everyone.

I had a little motivation to work on some small projects. Unfortunately the fire died shortly after this. There's so many little things I want to do but feels like the effort of paying for, thinking about, and shopping for with kids who are always crazy running around etc makes it hard to feel capable of accomplishing much. I need to do better. Oh well. We all keep living and surviving with all those unfinished tasks.

This happened early July after I asked Harvey to pick up a few things before going out to ride his bike and he threw a 10 minute plus tantrum. And that's when I realized they needed some more structured responsibility. We have done pretty good with it. Not sure how it will work when school starts and we have to be up and going so early.

We saw this toy by the baby stuff and Harvey wanted it so bad. I didn't buy it for him but couldn't find it on amazon or even on Walmart's website. He drew this later that day out of memory of it. Cute little robot.

I love the all 3 of these pictures. Makes me laugh...the sequence.

We ventured out for a family outing to Cherry Hill. Always interesting trying to mini golf with the girls. Lottie just picks up everyone's balls and throws her own. Greta isn't that interested. But it was fun :)

Greta's pre-op appointment - they both wanted their pictures taken in the small toy area.

HUGH JACKMAN! Tanner got me (us) tickets for Christmas. I wasn't sure how excited I was about it...had no idea what it would even be like. But as it got closer I got more excited and it. was. amazing!!! It was so much fun. He is awesome. The music and show and dancing and everything was just so fun and so good. I loved it all. And Tanner did too! Clare, Berrie and Elaine ended up coming too - they sat in different places but we went to The Mandarin before. Perfect evening!

Ben invited us over soon after Greta had her tonsils out. I was just going to drop the other kids off but she was feeling good and wanted to stay. So we stayed and played and Ben and I chatted and he ordered pizza (and Greta ate it! Literally 2 days after surgery). It was fun!

Niederhauser Family Reunion the next night at the Farmington Pool. Greta felt great then too and swam for a few hours. Crazy girl. But so grateful she was doing so good! I didn't take too many pictures. I'm never as good at taking pictures at Tanner's families stuff.

She loves this baby! So sweet.

Andrea invited me to do this Spartan race with her. I was excited and super gung ho about training for awhile. But then I started training less and eating more (crap) and just became sooo nervous for it and disappointed in myself. Well, Andrea was a great friend and kept saying I should do it and it would be better than I thought. When I realized they weren't hard core about making sure you did every last burpee (supposed to do 30 for a failed obstacle) and the fact that they weren't going super hard and fast...I decided to just go with it. Already paid the $100+ bucks for it. And then...I loved it. It was so much fun. I did really good at the obstacles. There were only 3 I didn't do and all the monkey bar variations they had I did which felt really good and empowering. The trail was super steep up and down and that part was really exhausting but gorgeous. It was so fun with Andrea and her friend. Tail between my legs...I kind of want to do another one! I don't love these pictures of me...I accidentally gained a bunch of weight...but this is all they got and so...what the heck.

That night we had another outing with the fam. Tanner misses out on a lot of what we do because of his work responsibilities or whatever, so we try to make the most of evenings together. Dinner at Zupa's then Toy Story 4. Lottie's first movie theater experience. She didn't have to get taken out. She watched a minimal amount. Played with the chairs and climbed on and off them a maximum amount. The movie was awesome though. I liked it a lot. I think everyone else (that watched it) did too.

"Helping" organize stuff for upcoming camping and backpacking trips.

A little impromptu swimming party at Mimi and Papa's pool. Laura, Crew and Lucy came too. It was fun. We tried a floater for Lottie for the first time. She didn't like not being held on to but was still so wild - it was kind of exhausting.

My friend Laura took Harvey to a park and splash pad with her and some other friend's while I had to work. She was nice and sent me a few pictures.

We went with my sister Laura to a new(ish) park that we had never been to in Farmington. It was super fun. Great for all ages. The kids loved it.

Greta in her "Frozen" cape. ALWAYS wants to play Frozen. It's so funny and cute and unfortunately gets old faster than I care to admit. It's easy to play and so I need to just suck it up and do it more.

Harvey got this chain at my parents and hung it around him and walked in big circles around the yard. Over and over again. He said he was doing "Spartan". I love it.