Ainsley finished her first swimming session today... she was so excited to learn she's moving up to the next level... level 3. She's worked really hard the past 2 weeks and can't wait until Tuesday to start again.

At the end of yesterday and today they introduced diving... shot some video for Stewart to see and thought I'd share it with you all too!

It's a busy day today so I'll just post a good picture I got yesterday of the roses blooming in the front yard.

Ainsley had been really into the American Girl books this summer. At the end of the story there is usually a craft or food item to make. I think that's what is really driving her to read the books... hey whatever works!

Last week she wanted to make a jewelry tree. She was pretty happy with it... even though it didn't look exactly like the picture (I'm trying to get her in the habit of using what we have instead of begging me to take her to the craft store to get supplies). I think it turned out cute.

It's now in her room all loaded down with bracelets. This week she wants to make a charm bag... it requires a piece of leather, leather punch and waxed thread like who has that laying around?  I suggested we make it with fabric... as of now she's not too thrilled with that idea. So we are going to go with her second choice.. dyeing a shirt with onions. Should be interesting.

Every morning Monday through Thursday until school starts Ainsley is here doing group swim lessons.

She's making progress and looking forward to each class to see if they will do something new. She's still doesn't like jumping in all by herself with no one to catch her. At the end of last week they had to jump in and then swim to their teacher. She didn't want to do it... wanted all the other kids to go first... but she finally did and hopefully this week it will get a bit easier.

Every afternoon twice a week we are at the pool again for Walker to do some private lessons..

His first two lessons were quite traumatic for him. He has a good teacher... a tough love kind of teacher... hard being a Mama and watching him cry and struggle to the point of just about throwing up. Hopefully it will get better as the summer goes on.

Last of the pictures of our trip. The next morning we got up early and swam first thing, had breakfast and then headed out to do one more trail before heading home.

This trail was a bit longer at 2 1/2 miles. It took you up to the old quarry that was used for fossils in the 1800s until the 1960s.

As usual Walker was the leader..

I felt really spoiled, we had the whole trail to ourselves. A favorite picture... love when the kiddos take an interest in something I love... taking pictures.

We walked and walked until we got to the point along the trail that took us to the quarry which is here... almost all the way to the top of the mountain. If you look closely you can see the fence in the mountain.

It was a tough climb... there was lots of complaining (by Ainsley) and stops along the way, but we made it!

Then it started to get windy... really windy and we all huddled together..

And Walker was a bit unsure about coming down the mountain...

We continued along the trail and found the old cabin that was used in the summers by the fossil hunters.

And that's it the end of the trip. Was nice to get away from the craziness and mundane tasks of everyday life. There's just something about being out in nature that makes you feel alive... with a sense of peace. We so look forward to exploring the world with the kiddos, especially the things that are right around us. Have a few more "local" areas to check out this summer as well.

After our big hike we headed into town. Checked into the hotel and headed to the pool..

Kemmerer WY happens to be where the first JcPenney store was founded they still have the original store there as well. We first did the whole tourist thing after swimming and went to the founder, James Cash Penney's home for a tour.

Was a cute little home... felt like a giant in there with the ceilings so low.

Couple pictures of the inside..

loved the back porch where they added on using the shipping crates from the store.

Afterwards we headed to the original store...

I should have taken some picture of the inside was quite cool... old tin ceilings, amazing woodwork. They have left the original pulley system that was used when money was exchanged. James Penney only trusted a handful of people with the money so they put the receipt and money in the "jar" and then like a sling shot sent it up to the top level for change.

Headed to Pizza Hut (Walker still calls it Pizza HUNT)

Then back to the hotel... favorite photo of the day... kiddos in jammies... hanging out just before bed.

Last group of photos tomorrow.

We headed to Kemmerer WY this past weekend to check out this National Monument...

Obviously it was all about fossils. The visitor center mostly contained fish fossils but they also had some really cool plant fossils... the palm fronds were amazing..(so no picture but it was pretty cool) wasn't sure if I could take pictures but I did sneak this crocodile fossil... which everyone agreed was their favorite.

The kiddos completed another Junior Ranger program and got a new badge after being sworn in.

With new Ranger badges on we headed out to hike the 1.5 mile trail up to the current quarry where the Park Rangers are currently working on removing the fossils.

Walker being the Ranger fanatic always has to be the leader...

Up at the quarry we watched the Rangers work and listened to the talk they provided. Hard to believe that we are standing at where the bottom of the lake was 50 million years ago and we are half way up the mountain!

The kiddos got to "help" clean off an area...

Was fun to watch them work, peeling layer after layer of rock off... and checking each piece for a fossil.

While standing there you could see the fossils in front of you, do you see one? (all the numbers mean previous fossils that were taken out and recorded.)

More pictures tomorrow of the rest of the weekend.

Was super hard to just let her do it her own way but she finally did it...

Now we just have to move from the grass to the pavement!

The kiddos have become Star Wars fanatics...

It all started when Walker got a Star Wars Lego set from a friend for his birthday... he wanted to know who was who and what they did. So we decided he was old enough to watch the first few "original" ones. He loved them... now he's into having Lego battles...

Making little light sabers for his old Lego guys...

and currently we are watching the first in series Star Wars so we are big into making pod racers...

Sorry I've been a bad blogger lately... been sick... been cooped up in the house too long since it's been cold/rainy weather.

But I have taken a few pictures over the past week..

The kiddos enjoyed a new box..

complete with control panel...

Walker got a new summer buzz...

We've been hitting piano lessons hard...

Been doing some bird figuring out as to what we have frequently at the newly placed feeder...

Been doing some sketching..

and always art projects...