Where You'll Find Us

We have added a new ritual to our daily routine. Once Kelly gets home from work we eat dinner then head to the pool. Last summer I would take the kids swimming during the day and the kids loved it. When you have 2 kids and 2 arms it works quite nice. Now that we have 3 kids and 2 arms it just doesn't seem to work as well. Especially with Miss Daredevil Kora who doesn't care if she can't swim or care if someone is in the pool to watch her or not. She has perfect faith that when she goes in and sinks that someone is going to save her. Thank goodness this has been true so far. Because of this we wait until Daddy gets home, 4 arms and 4 eyes work better with 3 kids. At first we tried the arm floaties with Kora, unfortunately the parent watching her didn't enjoy much because she kept going under. The constant fear of her drowning made it hard to relax. She refuses to stay close to the steps and actually tells us to "GO!" if we get close to her in order to save her. I finally remembered the life jacket I purchased a few years ago for the Kerr family houseboat trip and life is good. Kora can be Miss Independent and Miss Daredevil and Kelly and I can enjoy our swim. We also went the extra mile and put arm floaties on her so she can stay upright. Last night when we put her arm floaties on she was so anxious to go swimming she didn't wait for Kelly to finish putting both floaties on. After Kelly put one on she dove in. The life vest flipped her onto her back and with only one floatie on she couldn't pull herself up. She was screaming and kicking and flailing her arms which made her spin in a circle. We knew she was safe so we started laughing. Eventually she stopped kicking and let Kelly finish putting the other floatie on. I think anyone walking by might see her and call us over cautious but seriously, first, they don't know her and second my kids lives are more important than how silly they may look! Honestly, with a smile like that she'll never look silly and I think she looks darn cute in her head to toe fluorescent orange swim gear.

As for Hunter, he has kept his promise. When that kid tells you he's going to swim and jump in the pool when he turns 4, then he is going to swim and jump in the pool when he turns 4. You would have never thought it possible a month ago. He would scream in terror when Kelly and I took him to the middle of the pool. His idea of swimming was walking on the steps. The arm floaties have given him confidence and allowed him to keep his promise to swim when he turned 4. I had been searching for those arm floaties for weeks. I found some at Target but because they had the Speedo name on them they were almost $8. After nearly giving up I went to the seasonal section at our grocery store (Winco) and found them for 88 cents. I'm so glad we found them because I would guess that Hunter would still be swimming on the steps if we hadn't.

So, next time you try to call and we don't answer we're probably at the pool and thanks to the life vest you may even find us at the pool during the day too!

4 on the 4th

Hunter turned the big 4 on the 4th. He has been talking about his "Transformers" Birthday for months and it has finally come with as much anticipation as a 3 year old could possess. He has been telling everyone that when he turns 4 he can shower, jump into the pool and swim all by himself. Well, he's 4 now and he hasn't accomplished any of his goals as of yet but we're working on them.

In case you can't tell or just don't know his cake was Optimus Prime the good guy Transformer leader. The cake wasn't perfect but it was sweet when Hunter woke up and Kelly took him down stairs to see the cake and he came upstairs and thanked me for his cake. It made the 5 hours it took to make well worth it. I wish it would have looked better but when the birthday boy is happy and thrilled with it, I'm happy.

Hunter's birthday was small and simple. Just how us K Kerr's like it. Hunter is pretty fortunate because his birthday falls on a holiday it is easier for out of town family to come and visit...although also bad because California Family go out of town and may not be here. We had the pleasure to have Lisa, Bryce and Lisa's Mom, Karen visit as well as Jodie, Taylor and Mason and a special last minute surprise visit from Stevie and Seema. I only wish I had taken my camera out sooner to take pictures of everyone. It was a nice day spent with family and NO FIREWORKS. For all of you who know our little 4th of July baby he is scared to death of fireworks so after the party was done we went home and played Hunter's newest video game, Mario Kart.

Quick Funny story: Kelly and Gene tried all day to get the water slide set up and working. They found numerous holes and patched them up. After they patched up a hole they would let it set and then turn the slide back on only to have it not fully inflate. Hours later and after several people already left Gene thought he would put the hose on the slide to see if he could see any bubbles. Next thing we know the slide is filling up with air. I guess the water plugged up the holes. Who would have guessed? The kids got to use the slide and had a blast going from warm spa to slide and back...again, and again and again. Fun Day!

Hunter with his Cousins Bryson and Taylor

Great-Grandpa and Kora Swimming in the Spa

Mason riding the whale. This kid is such a hoot.

Mylie and Nani

Kora (her eye looks so much better)

Grandma & Grandpa with Mylie

Hunter braving the water slide

As a final statement aside from Hunter's Birthday I would like to add how grateful I am to live in this country and for all the freedoms we have because of our servicemen. I am so thankful for the sacrifices they have given so that we are able to celebrate our freedom and live the way that we do. Thank You to all the servicemen and their families because I know that the families sacrifice almost just as much.

Happy Belated 4th of July!