#9 Go to the park

I knew we would be going to the park quite a bit during the summer, but we decided to add it to our bucket list anyway. We had a group of friends meet up at Lake of the Woods park the first week of June. The kids love to go there because they have great sand to play in. On this day they loved burying each other in the sand. Benny just really loved eating the sand.

#2 Finish a Triathlon

About the middle of April Shad decided he was going to sign up for a sprint triathlon with his friend James. James had completed a few triathlons, but this was Shad's first. They signed up for the triathlon in Muncie, Indiana on June 11th and we added it to the summer bucket list. He had a little less than two months to train for it. He said it was one of the hardest things he has ever done. He really mainly struggled with the swim portion of the race. He isn't a great swimmer and we don't have regular access to a pool, so it made it kind of difficult for him to practice. He really only went to the pool a handful of times for training.

When it came down to the race he struggled with the swim, as anticipated, and came in pretty much last. He had to hold onto the kayak they had available a few times just to catch his breath, but he did finish and didn't get disqualified. He must have made up the time in the run and the bike because he actually ended up with a really great time and got 3rd place in his age category and 48th overall. His friend James got 2nd place and friend Reza got 8th place in their age category too. I think they felt ok about that. One of Shad's YSA members (Jason) did the Olympic triathlon and also did very well.

We didn't end up going to see him finish like we had originally planned because we had a baptism of a friend to go to that afternoon and I knew it would be difficult for us to get back in time for the baptism. Shad just barely made it back in time even without kids.

I'm so proud of him. I'm glad that he is setting such a great example for our kids to follow of making fitness goals and achieving them.

#10 Go to the pool

On June 9th we made our first venture of the summer to the public pool. The great thing about Champaign/Urbana is that there are actually quite a few pools to choose from and they are all pretty great (or so I have heard).

This time we went to Crystal Lake in Urbana because I bought a discounted punch pass which made it less than half price of what it would have cost us ($4 a person instead of $9!) Haken brought his friend Seth with him. I am so glad that we brought him because it gave Haken someone to do the "big kid" stuff with while I watched the littles in the smaller pools. I honestly didn't see them hardly at all unless they were hungry. Jack still isn't tall enough to ride the slides, although I know he would go down them if he were.

Taylor Morefield (one of the YSA from the branch) came with us. She actually had been staying at our house for the last week and a half before this. Her sister was in the hospital in St. Louis and the rest of her family was there with her, so Taylor stayed with us so she didn't have to be alone.

Jack and Gracie also had friends to play with. Our neighbors the Junge's and the Cunningham's both ended up going the same day coincidentally. It made for a really great day.

This place had everything...splash pad, water table, slides, playground, whirlpool, climbing wall...you name it. The kids had a ball. We will definitely be going back since we didn't use all of our punch pass yet. Summer just needs to slow down a bit so that we can find another free day!

Playing with friend Troy

Benny LOVED the water

Benny is SO close to walking but still refuses to take steps. He can stand up all by himself, and then just stands there. 

Haken getting dumped on with Seth

Little fishies

2016 Summer Bucket List

This summer we decided to make a summer bucket list at the beginning of the summer. The kids kept telling me all of the things they wanted to do this summer and I just couldn't keep track of them all. So we wrote them all down and put them on the cabinet. As we check them off we will be taking them down and putting them around the door frame.

1. Summer camp

2. Finish a triathalon (Shad)

3. St. Louis

4. Ward pool party

5. BBQ

6. Flea Market

7. Bike Ride

8. Golfing

9. Go to the Park

10. Go to the pool

11. Go to Arthur

12. Get Benny to walk

13. Swim at the Holmes'

14. Build a sandbox

15. Roller skating

16. Farmers Market

17. Nauvoo

18. Plant a Salsa garden and berries

19. Swimming lessons

20. Chicago

21. Bowling

22. Washington D.C.

23. Homer Lake

24. Run a 5k

25. Plant Trees

26. Drive in Movie

27. Finish "Around the world in 80 days"

28. Read "Lord of the Rings"

29. Rent peddle boats and Lake of the Woods

30. Open gymnastics

31. Go to the splash pad

32. Meet Ruby