This Week at Our House # 29

1. John had a busy week. He worked, he fixed our bed, put up a support for the air conditioning unit and mowed the lawn. He went to the beach with us, Thursday afternoon, and the Temple with me Friday night. John also walked several miles most days for exercise. He has been getting in regular exercise, and while he probably doesn't recognize it, he is sleeping a lot less. I think the exercise has given him more energy.
2. I loved the beach on Thursday. It was a bit of a spontaneous trip. Ruth needed to get in a couple of hours of driving practice, so I decided we might as well make the gas and time count toward something fun. We left at 3:30 so John could come after working. We got there late enough that we did not have to pay to park or wear sunscreen. The whole shoreline has changed since we were there on July 4th. The ocean is pretty amazing. The waves were very gentle this time. I took Suzy out and while she sang, "no, no, no," she sang it very happily and enjoyed being out in the waves. 
3. I suspect there will come a time when Ruth does not hate to drive, but I think that won't happen as long as she only has a 15 passenger van to drive. Ruth was reluctant to check her blind spot and acted like we were being unkind by suggesting that she does that every time she changes lanes. Finally, we just got frank with her and told her that checking your blind spot has nothing to do with parent child relationships and that every person on the planet that wants to obtain a drivers licence must check their blind spots.
4. Kate read books all week. She had fun at the beach on Thursday and babysat for us Friday night for several hours while we went to the Temple. 
5. Joseph got a boxed set of Fablehaven books from my parents for his birthday. When Joseph opened the package, Johnny immediately burst out and said, "That's not just for you. I mean we can all read it!" Clearly, Johnny wants those books!
6. Adam came to the beach and stayed in the water the entire time. He loves to swim. I don't think it much matters whether it is a pool, lake, or ocean, Adam just loves it. Adam has been practicing the piano everyday now. I have found that when I let my kids pick out their own songs to learn, they are much more likely to learn the piano and to stick with it.
7. Rachel's knee is slowly getting better. She can walk and run around without much limping now, but still has some pain. Rachel is becoming a much better swimmer. Since the water was very calm when we went to the beach, Rachel spent most of her time out above her heading floating on the waves. She always swam next to someone who could stand in case things got rough.
8. I read Ramona and Her Father to Anya this week. At first, she seemed annoyed that I was making her sit for a book, but then she rather enjoyed it and asked me to finish it for her in a day's time.
9. Joseph had his birthday on Wednesday. He is now 7 and will be starting the 2nd grade. That is somewhat hard for me to grasp. He got 2 legos for his birthday plus the box set of  books from my home, Johnny stayed home from the beach with Joseph and helped him build all of his sets. I think Joseph and Johnny felt like it was worth it.
10. Josh was not going to go to the beach. He said he did not want to go until we were all getting in the car, and then he changed his mind. Because people were already in the hot car waiting, he came with his regular clothes on. The pockets of his shorts filled with sand and kept nearly washing off. It was pretty funny. He loved the beach, just not the drive.
11. Arwen is excited for her birthday in a few more days. She will be 4 and she acts it. 
12. Suzy found one of Ruth's markers and colored all of her stuff including her lipstick. Suzy also put lipstick all over Ruth's giant teddy bear. Ruth was not too happy about it. 

This Week's Pictures