Simple Pleasures

This afternoon, the kids and I went out to swim for a little while. It was quite pleasant to watch the kids splash and enjoy themselves in the water. I tried to challenge Brayden to jump in from a different spot than he usually does, but with Dalton in the water, I didn't dare leave him in the care of Bailey for too long, and Brayden was too nervous to take on the challenge today.

Dalton really enjoys being in the pool. He splashes and squeals as he chews on the dive sticks. As we were getting closer to the time we needed to get out, I decided to go get in the spa to get warm before getting out. I don't have it set for too warm of a temperature, but warm enough that the kids like being there (about 95 degrees). Dalton really enjoys standing on the bench and splashing on the tile decking that spills over into the pool. As he was thoroughly enjoying himself, I found myself taking in the neat moment there with my kids. Brayden was playing with my feet. He finds such joy out of lifting my legs out of the water and trying to get me to squish his face with my feet or calves (part of his feet enjoyment he has always liked -- good workout for me).

(Brayden likes my feet.)


The girls were playing "Queen of the spa." They would take turns sitting on the step which served as their throne. The queen would then get to give out an order to one of the other girls to perform a "challenge," such as put your face under water without goggles for 10 seconds. They found this silly game to be so much fun and were continually rotating queen status and performing tasks as ordered by the queen. Brayden was all smiles and giggles with my feet, and Dalton was in heaven standing there and splashing.

It was just a simple thing, but I found myself taking in this simple moment. No fighting, quarreling or arguing. Each child happy and content and I was just a spectator among such amazing spirits. They are each so individual and unique with such varied interests and traits. I felt like I was the queen there, being so lucky to be their mom. I enjoyed the moment so much, and kind of felt bad that Shane wasn't able to be there to enjoy it himself. He would have loved it. What amazing little gems I have!

So Much Happening -- such little blogging time

So much happens and my time to sit and blog seems very limited, or so I like to use that as an excuse. I would much rather be doing and enjoying than writing about it. So now on to getting things caught up.

Kelsie learned how to ride "a two-wheeler." I saw our neighbor out working with her son to help him learn how to ride a bike (he's about a year older than Kelsie) so I told her to go bug her dad to take off her training wheels and help her learn to ride. Little did I know that he had told her other sisters the day before, that he was planning on working with her that day on learning to ride. By time we got out there ready to start, the neighbor had been out practicing for about 20 minutes and was getting the hang of it. One time down the street and back, Kelsie had a pretty good grasp on how it was done. The neighbors were shocked on how quick she picked it up. Shane took her back out a few days later and worked with her a little more on a few skills and she is pretty darn good if I do say so myself. She starts and stops and turns all on her own. She is awfully proud of herself!

We have spent every chance we get in the pool, trying to take it all in before the water is too cold to be out there. With the solar heating, the water has been as high as 86 degrees this week. It fluctuates about 4 degrees daily. Shane and I have even been out swimming laps in the evening. It is kinda fun. The kids enjoy it more when we have friends or family over to swim with them. That is an open invitation for you to come join us!

This past week, we had Misti come down with Payton and Porter. Todd was flying in from work he was doing in Arizona, so we got to have family visit. Payton was anxious to get in that pool. He is a pretty good swimmer! He spent a lot of time in the pool. Porter enjoyed it too, but he likes the heated jacuzzi the best. It was so much fun to have family down to play for a little while.

Friday (Halloween) morning we carved pumpkins with Misti's family. Shane (& Todd) had taken the camera out coyote hunting so I didn't get pictures in the pumpkin dept, but I did get Morgan to take a few, just so we had proof that we did it. Payton thought it was "disgusting" and disappeared. The rest of the crew stuck with it and got some interesting jack-o-lanterns carved. It is nice to have the majority of the crew at a point that I can give them the pumpkin carving "knives" and let them create their own masterpiece.

After a little more swimming, Misti and Todd loaded up and headed home so that they could be ready for trick-or-treating at their house.

That evening we went to our ward activity/trunk-or-treat up at the preschool a few blocks from our house. This year was nice to not have to come up with a costume idea for Brayden. It has always been a task to come up with a costume to dress up in that Brayden didn't "feel" like he was actually dressed up. (A bit out of his comfort zone!) Of course, he was given candy even without a costume. Morgan dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood. Bailey was a hot dog -- or a Hallo-weener to put it in a more desirable title. Kelsie dressed up as Tigger, and Dalton ended up being a sheep. Misti had loaned me a frog costume she found for cheap, but last minute, I decided to have him wear the costume that all of his siblings had dressed up in. Kelsie may not have worn it (due to the wrong size/season) but the rest of the crew made an appearance in that costume when they were that size (not that young of an age though). The kids got so much candy! We are all either going to gain a lot of weight from all of this or I am sure Shane will throw a bunch away -- probably both.