Swimming Lessons 2015

The older boys were able to take a week’s worth of swimming lessons again this summer.  Micah’s started to get the hang of the fact that if you kick your legs and move your arms you can swim.  So that was progress.  Calvin’s diving got a bit better, and he’s certainly a little fish in the water.  When you live in a place without pools you have to get creative and seize opportunities to learn to swim when you can.

The highlight for Micah was getting to jump off the diving board.  I can’t wait till I am more comfortable of him around the water.  He makes me pretty nervous.  Judah still prefers throwing things into water than being in it.  Maybe next year.

Kansas Culture Lessons

Marvin’s brother’s family always heads to the Kaw Valley Rodeo every year.  They invited us to tag along this year.  The boys hadn’t been to a rodeo before and neither had I.  It was a learning experience and it turned out to be a beautiful night.

Drew slept right through it, with this hottie.

And as we parked, the car beside us turned out to be a friend I went to grad school with.  How fun is that.

Their favorite event of the night was the monkey who rode a dog and rounded up some goats.  It was certainly entertaining. 

We realized how we need to teach them a few things about American culture that they don’t get overseas, like standing for the national anthem or a flag passing by.  But I’m glad they could get a little taste of Kansas culture this summer.

County Fair

Some friends of ours mailed some artwork the boys did for the fair.  They had fun finding their artwork, but we didn’t spend too much time looking around this year.  It was so hot.

The both got Blue Ribbons and were pretty proud.

We got to watch the girls show in the round robin.  Which is where they show other champions animals.  So they aren’t even their animals.  They have to know something about that animal too and how to show it.  My Father-in-law is always good about answering all my farm related questions and I had a ton for him.  They did such a great job, but looked so tiny around those big dairy cows and horses.

Of course they enjoyed the carnival.  I took the smaller two back to Marvin’s folks so didn’t get to enjoy their faces enjoying the rides this year.  But I heard the full report later that it was awesome.