NMSU Swim School Graduates

After regretting not getting the kids into swim lessons last summer, we made sure to get them in this summer. In the past, we have taken them to Gym Magic, but this year decided to try out NMSU, along with the Hamricks. It was a 3-week session, Monday through Thursday, beginning at 10:30. Cameras were not allowed until the last day, which was Fun Day, so I only have pictures of them playing. Also, no pictures of Mckynze and Mckaela because, unfortunately, they got sick and had to miss the last day. Here is what I got, though:Their classes had been held in the Indoor Pool, but the NM Senior Olympic Swimming Events were going on that last day of the session, so they got to have Fun Day outside in the big pool. Luckily, I had sunscreen in my vehicle because we didn't know that in advance!! ;-) Colton's class did a lot of jumping off the diving board:He also did some fun games with the other two in his class (he missed Mckaela lots, though):His instructor, who was on his way to Vegas on that last day, was a very good teacher! They learned several new strokes such as the breast stroke and butterfly and practiced diving, too. We were very impressed with all they learned! They also got to spend the last 5-10 minutes of each class jumping off the high dive and regular diving boards which was their favorite!

Cady was in a class with only 1 other kiddo and her instructor was pretty awesome as well. She had improved so much since classes two summers ago when she didn't like putting her head and face in the water. This time she would go all the way under and had no problem blowing bubbles and stuff. She also would jump off the side to her instructor and off the diving board holding onto a noodle without hesitation! I was very impressed! She was almost doing the backfloat without help and could doggy paddle all by herself around the pool.

On this last day, they had fun jumping off the edge and playing with the noodles and other floats:Here she is doggy-paddling to the edge of the pool all by herself:
It was a great 3-weeks and we highly recommend the University Swim School. I know we will definitely be back next year!

Kylie at Thirteen?!?

Kylie, the daughter of Colin's older brother, Michael John, was born in Port Angeles, Washington right before Colin and I were married. They were able to come down for the wedding and we got to meet her when she was almost 4 months old. It is hard to believe that this past February she became a teenager! She is growing up so fast and turning into a beautiful young lady. We treasure the time we get to spend with her, because it is usually just every 2 years that we see her. When she was here in the Summer of 2008, I did a fun photo shoot with her and that was definitely on our list of things to do this time, too. We did just that this past Tuesday, down around Old Mesilla. It was so much fun and also made me sad at the same time because of how fast she is growing up! Here are some of my favorites:

1st Annual Full Moon With Friends At White Sands!!

Last night we did something I have wanted to do for a long time - we enjoyed a Full Moon Night at White Sands with lots of friends (and family). This was the year I finally decided we were going to do it, and with Sherri's help, we invited many of our friends from church and soccer and made it happen. The Full Moon Nights are the best nights to be out there because not only is it beautiful, but it stays lighter out past dark, plus they let you stay in the park until 11 instead of kicking you out at 10. This one wasn't really ideal because it fell on a Monday, but we didn't let that stop us and we had 10 families (out of about 15 who were invited), so I think that was great!



What made it extra-special this year was that Full Moon Night fell when Kylie was here. We all took her to White Sands when she was here in 2008 and that was on the top of her list for what she wanted to do when she came this time. We parked near a great hill that was perfect for using our saucers to slide down on. The following are just a bunch of pictures I took. I tried hard to get pictures of every family, but I also played a little too, and playing in the sand while holding a camera isn't a good mix, so didn't have my camera attached to me 24/7 as usual! :-)

Kylie enjoying a slide down the hill:

Tyler's turn: His parents couldn't make it this time, so we took him with us!

Travis spent a lot of time digging a huge hole. This picture is one of my faves:
Carly making sand Angels:

Had to snap a shot or two of the cousins:

Kylie with Grampa Mac and Uncle Colin:
Kynze took over digging in Travis' hole for a little bit:

The Three Amigos - friends since nursery school - Travis, Tyler & Colton:
Great Buddies and soccer teammates - Tyler, Colton and Mckaela:

Good friends and soccer teammates - Cady & Carly: Mckaela makes a run down the hill:

Cady loves to dig and play in the sand:

Travis' hole was just her size:

Mckynze tried it out, too:The grown-ups (especially the dads) have just as much fun as the kids. Here are Colin and Colton going down the hill:We discovered last time we were there that going down in a "train" makes you go way faster!

Here is Jenna giving Mckaela a hand down the hill:

Grammy & Grampa enjoyed themselves:
Kylie worked a little on the big hole:
Here goes the Travis, Colton & Tyler train:

Our usual family picture around sunset (thanks, Kylie!):

Travis sailing down the hill:
There were a lot of kids there - it was so much fun!

Kaci's turn:

Michael cooked the hotdogs (with pliers? He must have learned that at Texas Tech!):

It worked, though - they tasted great!

Colin cooked the hamburgers and they were good, too:Travis recruited more help to dig the hole:

and still more help:So much energy:

Taking a rest with Carly:

Kaci, Haley, Tori & Lexi are ready to journey down the hill:

Carly, Mckynze and Cady:

Beautiful girls - Kaci, Carly, Tori, Mckynze & Cady:

Jagger & Jackson enjoying their dinner:Tim & Yvonne:

Adan was a pro at sliding down the hill:

Brevin, too - he went so fast:

Joy & Jeff: Mark & Yvonne:

Matt & Erica:

So much fun:

As you can see, everyone had a great time and we will definitely be doing it again next year!! Thanks to all who came out on a Monday night and made it a great get-together!