Happy Canada Day!

Our nephew Jonathon was performing at the Canada Day Children's Festival in our community today. He did a great act and had definitely one of the larger turn-outs for an audience. It was a scorcher of a day with temperatures in the mid 30s. Afterwards we headed back to our place for a swim in the pool, along with cousin Cairo and his mom and dad (Deb and Adam). Vic's cousin Neville came over for hamburgers a little while later for dinner. It was a full house but lots of fun.

First official pool day

Vic and Sophie swam in our pool today. The first day we have had it opened!

Fynn got his pool time in his swimming lessons (Salamander).

No pool for me, but I am happy to report I had our area rugs cleaned today. It was one of those things that was driving me insane. I feel much better now having clean rugs.

Last day in the pool for the season

It has been unseasonably warm this month -- in the upper 20s (Celcius). We heated the pool up into the mid 80s today and went for one final dip.

We have used the pool a lot this summer. By our guesstimate at least 25 times.

Time to close it down and have the fellows at Neptune come in and get it ready for winter.

relaxing

It's important to relax a bit everyday.

Today it was nice to sleep in on a Saturday and not have to go anywhere in particular.

We spent some time in the pool, read books, and generally hanging out. Tonight Vic and I start Season 2 of Downton Abbey. I can't wait!

Everybody Into The PYOOOL!

Whenever someone jumps into the pool for the first time, that classic Flintstone's episode comes to mind. Fred wants a better life for Pebbles, so he moves the Flntstones into a high society apartment. This is one of the most classic and imitated scenes in Flintstone's History..."Everybody Into the Pyoool!"

Here is Sophie doing her big jump.

It was a great day -- we hung out by the pool, had sandwiches, chips, grapes, read and played. Perfection.

First swim of the year

I like to document the first swim in our pool each year. This year it is today June 23. Sophie invited her friend Cami over for a swim and to spend the night. Vic and the kids took to the pool while it was raining. You could see steam coming off the pool since the air temperature was cooler than the water temperature.

happy saturday

Our old roomate Jim came by for a visit last night. Here was in town for the Blue Grass Festival. He is a gifted photographer and helped me with a few questions I had.

We had some nice family time in the pool this afternoon.

31 degrees celcius here today so we are just hanging low and staying cool.

a very good playdate

Yesterday I emailed Mikayla's mom and asked her if Mikayla could come over today for a swim and an afternoon playdate. She was happy to come and Sophie was excited.

They happily played in the pool (a lovely 85+ degrees so I was in there for quite awhile too) and when it came time for Kari to pick her up, I could see how she really didn't want to go home yet. I suggested Mikayla spend the night. The right playmate makes all the difference. Her and Sophie happily played, we had dinner and now all 3 kids are watching Ramona and Beezus. Everyone is happy and no one is complaining to me about being bored. I am looking forward to when Fynn can start having real playdates with his little buddies.

The day was lovely here. Beautiful weather and happy times.

sights of summer

After a week of rain, we got out into the pool today. I love how it relaxes the kids and lets them burn off energy.

Tomorrow we are off to Vancouver for a couple of days, then over to Oliver to visit my family.

thankful

Today I’m thankful for the fact that Vic talked me into installing our pool when we built our house.

He grew up with a pool as a kid and had nice memories of it.

I grew up spending summers going to Haynes Point beach on occasional Sundays or going to the town pool.

With our own pool steps from our door we have been in it 4 days this week. Sophie and Maggie were in it for over 3 hours this afternoon. I couldn't believe they weren't getting bored but not a chance. Maggie's mom came over to get her at 3pm but she wanted to stay -- so she did.

I look at Sophie and Fynn splashing around - Sophie diving for toys and Fynn riding his "Sharky" and it makes me happy.

We had lunch and dinner on our deck under the gazebo and that topped off a lovely day.

I'm thankful to give my kids the chance to create their own summer routines and memories right in our backyard.

Fynn

 
At first he is reluctant with the water, preferring to pretend to "fish" on the pool deck with a pool noodle. Once he gets in, he's fine.

sights of summer

Summertime is the quintessential season for being a kid. Bare feet, water play, flip flops...the stuff of memories. We are trying to get out into the pool as much as possible. I walked home from work today and I was hot. I said to Vic, "let's take the kids into the pool." So, we put dinner on hold and all went to take a dip. Later we had dinner on the deck.

I think so many of our childhood memories are made in summertime...in our backyards, at grandma's house, on vacation.

the sweet smells of summer

It is really starting to feel like summer here.
Highs in the 30s, swimming in the pool, and the smell of Coppertone on my babies,


"A pool is, for many of us in the West, a symbol not of affluence but of order, of control over the uncontrollable. A pool is water, made available and useful, and is, as such, infinitely soothing to the western eye.” Joan Didion, American jounalist and novelist.

the first swim

We opened up our pool this week.
Sophie couldn't wait to get in today, so her and dad jumped in.
Fynn and I watched on the sidelines as he has a cold that has been a bit rough on him.