Family Swimming

We set up our pool a few weeks ago in the back yard and we finally have nice sunny weather! This whole Memorial Day Weekend, we have been playing in the pool. It is a 15 ft pool which is 4 ft deep. Not big enough for the big people to swim, but we can float and relax while Shayna and Emma swim. I'm so glad we had Shayna and Emma go through swimming lessons! Of course the pool is just the right depth for them to stand up if they want. The pool is expecially nice for Stephen and Anita who have just started running. It feels so good to soak in the cool water after a hot sweaty run! Our whole family is starting to get tan. The other day we had the cover on the pool and our kitten, Pouncy, decided to get up there and walk around, what a goof! It's very nice to have a cheap form of entertainment this summer, especially one that the whole family enjoys!

Our kitten

We have 2 cats. Our older cat is named rascal, but we call him fuzzy. We have a new kitten named Pouncy. He is very cute and very funny. He keeps us entertained all day when he wrestles with our older cat or when he "attacks" our toes and pounces around our furniture. He has the cutest paws with an extra thumb on each. He loves to grab things and hug them, especially our arms and legs!

Here is a picture of him and Shayna

Shayna's letter to our birthparents

Shayna is so excited that someone might place their beautiful baby with us through adoption. She wanted to write a letter thanking them in advance.

She is only 6 years old and is just learning to read and write. She alternates wanting a baby brother and a baby sister on almost a daily basis.

Track and Band

Thursday we went to Taryn's track meet. She placed 4th in the 75 meter hurdles and her team placed second in the 400 meter relay. The weather was 70 degrees and sunny in the beautiful northwest. We are actually going to have sunny weather for the entire memorial day weekend.
Thursday night we went to Miranda's last band concert. Her wind ensemble played 4 songs. Miranda plays the flute and the piccolo. They were very good.

Volunteering feels so good!

My husband, Stephen and our teenage daughters, Miranda and Taryn just had the opportunity to help a family move into their new home. Our family always tries to help new families move in when we know about them. this way we are able to teach our girls to serve others and think about something beyond themselves! They are usually initially a little reluctant to help a family they don't know at first, but they always feel so good about helping others in need after they are done. Plus, our girls are strong, hardworking and super helpful and end up doing just as much work as the men who are present!