Summer Vacation

Cessna has been on furlough for the past three weeks, so Pops has been at home with the McDonald youths. Of course watching these two children requires considerably more effort and energy than a "normal" work day, so the days need to be at least somewhat planned in order to make sure they go smoothly. The original plan was to spend much of the afternoon each day at the neighborhood pool of which we recently became members (almost specifically for the sake of the furlough). Unfortunately we couldn't go swimming for the first week after Desmond's camping injury...doctor's orders. We had to find alternatives, and the list of possible things to do was shortened due to weather. The temps here have been triple digits more days than not since we've all been at home. Time outside is typically limited to the mornings. Trips to the parks, walks, just playing in the yard...and the zoo. We've been to the zoo several times in the past three weeks. We go in the morning and head for home at lunch time before it gets really hot. Some photos...


Above is the first exhibit on our first trip to the zoo. Notice the rental stroller, necessary because Pops had yet to figure out how to get ours into his car without the use of the trunk...it no longer opens.

Desmond got pretty close to a tiger.


Emma and Desmond both love snow cones. The above photo is of Emma's first. Since then Pops has learned to get Emma a simple snow cone with no flavor syrup...all the fun, yet none of the stickiness.


The komodo dragon was nice enough to pose for a picture with Desmond. This photo is of a subsequent visit with respect to those before...I'm just lumping all things zoo.


By this visit Pops had figured out a work-around for the trunk/stroller problem.

Time passed and wounds healed. Before we knew it D had the go-ahead from the doctor for swimming, and he started swimming lessons.


Every lesson starts with a lecture, as shown above, and then its off to the water.


The first lesson included learning "bobs". Perfectly demonstrated by Desmond below.





Our pool has a play area for those not interested in swimming. Its shown below, and if you click on the picture you might be able to make out Aunt Dawn pushing Emma on the swing.


During swimming lessons, the play area is Emma's domain. She, of course, loves to swing, but there are several other toys to play on that she really enjoys. The teeter-totter for instance. Shown below is her first ride on one.


Swimming lessons lasted for two weeks, and on the last day all of the kids got to jump off the diving board (if they wanted too). For many of them they didn't so much jump as they were dropped off the board. This was the case for Desmond.

None-the-less, it was a considerable achievement, and we are very proud of him. It was nice because Aunt Dawn was here on a visit and able to witness Desmond's leap. It was also nice because she was watching Emma on this particular day which allowed me to follow Desmond's group around and take pictures...otherwise I may have missed Desmond on the diving board.


A final event worth mentioning is the Forth of July. Our day included many of the same events as last year (detailed in a previous post)...mostly mooching of Park City. We went to their parade and the ice cream social that followed, but by day's end we were too exhausted to make it back out to see the fireworks display. The parade was fun. This time D was mobile (i.e. not in a cast), so he got the whole parade candy experience. If we talk about the parade now he remembers what he saw...you know, firetrucks, hot rods, motorcycles, horses, a band. But more importantly he remembers which ones gave him candy. For instance, the horses (below) did not give him any candy as he is quick to point out.


Emma got some beads that she was pretty happy about. She had to be kept on a pretty short leash though, which she was not very happy about.

Everyone got tattoos at the event after the parade...


And in lieu of a professional display, Desmond and Jennifer took care of the fireworks...


Luckily no one was injured.