Fireworks & Family Fun

As the bar is coming closer the less and less we see of Jake. He came down for that weekend, but he was either at the library, face behind a book or we saw the back of his head at the computer screen. I really can't wait till this test is over...do I maybe have a countdown in my cell phone for when its done? (guilty!)

Anyway, he was able to peel away from studying to take Carder for a Father Son outing at Home Depot to build something, do some swimming and enjoy some fireworks with us on the Fourth of July. Ever since the Murrieta Birthday party Carder has been saying "I have fun at the Fireworks...You have fun at the Fireworks?" He will just say this out of nowhere, so I was really excited for him to get to see some fireworks again since he'd enjoyed them so much.

Every so often Home Depot has a project set up on a Saturday for kids to come do, they usually get an orange apron and get to build something...which Carder thought was the coolest. They made a periscope, but the aprons were on backorder, so I guess Jake will be taking him again one of these Saturdays.

Carder has just turned into a little fish this summer. He just loves to be in the pool. Jake grew up in Utah, so the only time he really had access to a pool was on vacations, so whenever he gets to swim he turns into a little kid as well. This day we also got the pleasure of Kelsie joining us. She left her cell phone inside and spent time with us giving us her full attention, not sending a single text...Amazing I tell you! Thanks Kels, we loved playing with you!

Jake trying to talk Carder into coming into the pool, he'd got on that raft for a second, but quickly decided it was "too cold, too cold...go in hot one"

The Action Shots

Carder is becoming quite the daredevil jumping off the step into the Jacuzzi and now is even jumping off the rocks!

Kelsie showing off her mad tennis guns

The little trouble maker doing what he does best...make trouble, his favorite thing is to throw chairs into the Jacuzzi

On our way to Fireworks...Carder with his classic Cheese Face

Watching the Fireworks

Kelsie & Jaxon watching Fireworks...Jaxon thought he was the coolest kid ever getting to lay on top of the Van with Kelsie

Our Attempt at a Family Picture (I guess Carder couldn't miss out on a single Firework)...Oh well at least as he puts it "Dat was a fun day...you have a fun day?" Yes we did.

The Great Outdoors

I don't know what it is about outside, but my boy sure does love it...so much that usually when he is brought in he cries and begs "more outside, more outside."  This summer he has gotten a lot of outdoors time by either getting to go to the park with Jaxon, the ward pool/pond days, or just getting to play in my parents backyard.

Carder picking apricots from Mimi's tree...I am not sure if he realizes they are food not just little balls to throw around the backyard

One of his most favorite things to do is the watering

This orange car was mine when I was his age...funny how some toys are cool 20+ years later

Jumping in the mud puddle he made with the hose

I just love him in his floaties...even though he is getting big fast, for some reason when he has those on with his little pot belly he looks like my little baby boy

Carder loves doing swimming with Jaxon, but he'll only swim in the spa (and only if its heated to at least warm) otherwise he just says "too cold," so his mothers child!

Carder has been doing great with the floaties, but Mimi let him try swimming without floaties a few days ago, which he LOVED! So now he likes to do it that way, and prefers to go commando (I guess the shorts weigh him down or something), he seriously looks like the baby from the Nirvana album cover when he attempts his "swimming"...maybe one of these days he'll learn to use his arms.  I'm just excited he is showing interest in learning to swim, so hopefully he'll have it down by next summer and I won't have to freak out every time we are by a body of water since my child has no fear!