We took several self-portraits in the car, but this was the best one. It's tricky with 5 people, especially when 4 of them are kids.
Before going to the pool we stopped off at Smart Cookie to use the free cookie coupons we had gotten from the walk-a-thon at school. They were going to expire on the 30th and we had 4 of them so this worked out well. Surprisingly (or maybe not) Eva did NOT want a cookie. She said she'd already had lunch and that she didn't feel like having a cookie (what the?).
She seemed to have forgotten all about being full from lunch (which I don't think she'd actually had) not long after we got to the pool. We had only packed a stack of Oreos, a partial bag of chips and a box of crackers (what were we thinking?!) but she was very happy with those.
I hardly saw the bigger kids except for a couple towel breaks when we were all kicked out of the pool so they could test the chlorine levels (and encourage people to go to the bathroom).
Landon and Lucas are always great together.
During the 2:00 break the bigger kids went to get snow cones for all of us, so Eva and I were hanging out at our little towel camp.
She borrowed Whitney's sun glasses, but had a hard time managing them since they were too big. It was fun seeing her in this darling bathing suit that used to be Whitney's!
This photo of Whitney from summer 2003 just hurts my heart. Could she be any cuter? She wasn't even 3 yet when she wore this suit, and Eva is already 4!
The kids returned with our snow cones 35 minutes after getting in line! I don't know if there was only one person working or what, but that was some serious dedication and commitment.
I just like this photo.
Eva and I spent about 4 hours (except for maybe 20 minutes in the Lazy River) in the kiddie pool. She was super cautious in the beginning and not keen on people splashing (ha), but gradually warmed up to things and had fun.
I saw multiple friends from church there (and just tried not to think about the horror of them seeing me in my swim get-up) and ran into blogging friend Jenny and got to talk to her for awhile.
It was a very quiet (as in no talking) car ride home since we were all exhausted from being at the pool for 5 hours. Eva fell asleep right away, which was good because she had been campaigning to go play at our house and I feared she wouldn't handle hearing "no" for an answer very well. Instead it all worked out great.
**Do you have to psych yourself up to
wear your bathing suit in public?
Would you stand in line for 35 minutes for a snow cone?
Does seeing photos from when your
kids were tiny hurt your heart?**
wear your bathing suit in public?
Would you stand in line for 35 minutes for a snow cone?
Does seeing photos from when your
kids were tiny hurt your heart?**
20 comments:
Jill, I just love reading your blog ( I've been a lurked for a long time now). You are so good about documenting the things you do and you keep it real! You always have wonderful ideas! Thanks for sharing!
Autumn
Carly had that same swimming suit and it hurt my heart seeing Eva and then Whitney in it making me just think about sweet Carly in it!
Yes, that picture does tug at my heart and I've only known Whitney three years via blogging...but I FEEL like I know her.
I love a mom that takes her kids to a pool and doesn't let her own body image doubts keep her from it. I imagine people there with their kids have the same idea, so I'll bet your secret of looking less than swimming suit svelte is safe.
You are one nice mama and friend to take all those kids to the pool. I offered to take Luci and Griffin today and they both informed me it was too hot! I usually sit in the shade and read but get in the pool on occasion.
It was so fun getting to see you at the pool.
I really don't like being in a bathing suit either. I really had to psych myself up to go, then kept my legs covered up as much as possible.
That line was pretty long, I told my son that we had no money when I saw how long it was. I think I only saw 2 boys working when I walked by to the bathroom. One looked a little lost. So glad Eva feel asleep so quick.
Oh my goodness that pic of Whitney from long ago is too cute! Sounds like you all had a great time at the pool! I wish we had an outdoor pool, but ours is indoor only.
Hi Jill,
I'm a blog lurker. I love reading your blog. You are so funny and real. I always feel like I can relate to the things you're writing about.
Yes---I have to psych myself up to wear a swim suit in public. Sometimes that doesn't even work though. I really don't do it very often, but need to do it more for the sake of my 2 kids. We live near the beach in California for Pete's sake. I need to enjoy it more. I actually love the beach. We walk there a lot, but we don't do the swimming thing too often.
YES---looking at pictures of my kids when they were little(even just a few years younger) hurts my heart. I didn't know others felt this way too. The time goes way too fast. The picture of Whitney is so cute(as well as that adorable swimsuit).
I don't think I would stand in line for 35 minutes for a snowcone---maybe a milkshake---but not a snowcone. I just find a lot more motivation in milshakes.
Love your blog! Thanks!
Yes I have to psych myself up to be in a swim suit in public! Good for you that you do it. I need to do it more often.
Snow cones are not worth waiting in any line.
My heart hurts when I see pictures of my kids when they were really little. They got along so much better back then, there was no fighting or screaming, just love and happiness from those little sweeties. (Or at least that's the way I remember it) LIfe was so much easier and they grow up SO fast.
You are an awesome friend and mom!
I love the kids little. Dang it. I so wish we could go back in time and do it all again. So cute.
Psyching myself up to wear a swimsuit in public is no longer effective enough.
I now have to SNORT CRACK to be able to wear it in public.
Ew.
jill!!!
i'm checking in on your blog. :) it is one that i HAVE to check. i've missed you!
just seeing my new tiny one makes my heart hurt on a daily basis. this mommy thing kills me.
ah- and taegen is pronounced TAY-gen. we're getting a lot of TEE-gan. but it's TAY-gen. poor boy- he'll have so much explaining to do thanks to his parents' naming skills!
and wow- what weekends you've been having! and can i just say i'd love to hang out with your family- adam cracks me up and i don't even know him!
I love the quiet after swimming. You know they kids are so wiped out and everyone gets such good sleep that night.
I was just going to comment that I loved Eva's suit and then you showed the photo of Whitney in it--she was sooo darling. That suit is adorable and I'm so glad you found that photo! You are a good friend.
Eva didn't want a cookie?? what the? is right!
That old photo of Whitney is awesome -- I love the way she still looks like Whitney but oh so little, and her hair is amazing. So fun to see her in that suit again. Photos of them being so little definitely hurts my heart.
You rock so hard for taking them away during Max's party and then taking them to the POOL! Always a big sacrifice in my book. Thanks.
Oh Jill! That photo of Whitney hurt my heart and I don't even know her! They grow and change so fast! What a cutie! I love her smile in the self portrait in the car! Cracked me up!
What an awesome friend you are. I love that Eva loves and adores you. Much like my PQ that moved away. Sob.
I don't know anyone (underline anyone) that loves to wear a swimsuit. I hate it myself...
I would not be able to stand in line for 35 mins for much of anything...
I read this last night- but everyone was tugging on me... so I am back today to say-
YOU DESERVE AN AWARD taking the kids to the pool!! I don't "DO" the pool- my gift to myself when i turned 40. The gift that keeps on giving ;)
I LOVE that photo of Whit! MY heart does ache...
35 minute snow cone wait- wow- only a kid-
I am so glad it is finally hot enough to go swimming-
NOW it feels like summer & I love it.
I don't have to psych myself to go out in my swimsuit... I just have to pretend my thighs don't exist. Does that count as psyching, or just denial? Thankfully, my swimsuit is vintage pinup, so it hides some of my thighs by not being high cut.
I love that pic of Eva with the sno-cone. What a great shot! Your kids are dedicated. 35 min!! Eeek.
I love how quiet the kids get in the car after a busy and fun day. That silence that says they had so much fun and are totally wiped. I'm so paranoid about the kids getting into water though, life jackets are required. My poor kids. But really, they are huge clutzes.
I know what you mean about your heart hurting from Whitney's pic. My heart feels all squeezed up tight whenever I go through my picture stash. But then I think of the wonderful, amazing people they are becoming, and it lightens the squeeze. Still get a lil baby blues though.
I just love the picture of sweet little Whitney at 3...I could eat her up!
It totally hurts my heart to see my kids when they were really little...(I just have to remember the schlepping and frustration that comes with the cuteness and that keeps me from pining away)
I would have waited for 30 minutes for a snowcone that looked like the one that Eva was holding for sure!
You are a brave woman indeed for taking all of those kids to the pool...The picture of Eva zonked out sums up my thoughts on this undertaking!
When wearing regular clothes, you get to kid yourself into believing that you look better than you do...but a swimsuit - blech!! Kristen was swimming with me when she was about 4 and said "Look Mommy - the water makes your legs look even bigger!" As far as the snow cone goes - no way - and I adore the picture of Whitney.
We're headed to UT next week for a family reunion and I am SOOOOO getting 20 snow cones. I almost died the first summer I lived in Oregon and didn't see a single snow shack on the street. You have to go to the zoo or county fair to get one. What is wrong with this state!
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