Summer wrap-up

We didn't have a "vacation" this summer, because we are having our vacation at Christmastime this year!  But here's how we filled up our days:

Rachel spent a lot of time at the pool.  Almost every day.  At the beginning of the summer, Kyle and I went too, but Kyle got a couple of ear infections and had to stay out, and I wasn't really enjoying myself when I went.  I didn't have any of my friends that went regularly, and I usually ended up with a headache from the heat/noise combination.  So, I allowed her to go by herself quite a bit.  At first, I let her ride her bike, and she took my cell phone.  She was required to call me at each pool break and report putting on her sun screen.  She really hated doing that, and I realized my biggest concern was that she was safe there and back.  So, eventually, I would drop her off and pick her up.  If she violated the trust by leaving the pool building, she lost the privilege.  She didn't lose any privileges and proved to me that she was old enough after all.  :)  I was proud of her and I think she enjoyed it.  She always had friends there:

Kyle went quite a bit at the beginning of the summer, but like I said, ear infections interrupted his swimming.  (One thing I don't have a picture of is Kyle working on his boy scout merit badges every day.  Now he is on to his Eagle Scout project, and he is dragging his feet on that one).  When he was at the pool, he spent most of his time at the diving boards.

As a bonus water activity, when the boys were at High Adventure Camp, us girls went to Schlitterbahn water park!  It was when my mom was in town so she, Jen, and Haley came along.  We had a great time.  

A story about the world's tallest water slide:  Some of us decided we would try it.  We had to wait in line to get an "appointment" to ride it, then we went back at our appointed time at waited another 15-20 minutes for our turn.  We walked up the top, and then they told us that the person with the lightest weight had to go in front of the raft. Rachel changed her mind about riding after that fact was made known.  Some of the other passengers were pressuring her to just do it, but I told her to listen to her gut and walk back down if she was nervous.  So, she walked back down and we waited for someone else her size to come take her place on the raft (they have strict guidelines about the combined weight of the raft).  

We finally went down and it was crazy.  Lots of people loved it but I wasn't a big fan.  

Anyway, a few days after we were there, there was an accident on this water slide and a 10 year old boy, riding in front, died.  It was so tragic.  Now the slide is closed and I'm grateful that Rachel didn't get pressured into going on it, but I'm also glad we got the opportunity to go on it before it closed (and of course that we were all safe).  I don't know if it will open again ever.

(After this video was made, they added nets over most of the slide).

Kyle and Rachel also spent a lot of time in the backyard on the trampoline and workout bars.  Looks like it's for more than just pull-ups and dips!

Jason and Kyle had High Adventure Camp at Table Rock Lake.  They did a lot of water sports.  There weren't a lot of pictures, but here's a couple that someone shared.  It looks like they had fun!

Kyle and Kayla both went to youth conference.  It was combined with two other stakes in Missouri.  It was Kyle's first youth conference!  I'm grateful for the pictures people shared:

Kayla basically worked at played sports this summer.  She helped with the youth camps (in this picture her coach took, she's in the middle demonstrating):

She went to team camps (and won their tournament!).

She also played some tournaments and summer leagues.

Basketball:

Volleyball:

One of the most exciting things for me this summer was getting new carpet upstairs!

I'm so frustrated I didn't get before and after pictures. It makes such a difference and feels like a new house!

All of this leads us to the first day of school 2016!  My (l to r) Freshman, Senior, and 6 th grader!