Busy Days

I've been busy lately, chauffeuring Livie around to various activities (mainly swimming), and trying to get some studying accomplished (hard to do with Livie out of school for the summer).

However, we have been able to do a few fun things during my "summertime extended study break," (aside from swimming/swim lessons, studying, and reading for the library's summer reading program).

The other night, for example, Livie and I were able to go to an outdoor concert in the local park. We had a picnic dinner and listened to a classic rock cover band.

On the way back to the car (which was parked a few blocks away), I snapped a photo of a local church, using the Instagram app on my iPhone:

Of course, it seems like in the summertime, the weekend is the best time for me to get study time, because Andrew's home and able to do fun things with Livie (like gardening stuff). So that's when I get an hour or two to get out of the house and get some hard core reading/studying accomplished - at the local bookstore/cafe, of course (which also entails getting myself a little treat, like an iced caramel macchiatto). This photo was also taken with my iPhone and the Instagram app:

Your Sunday Best (5/12/12)

A swim lesson's tools of the trade, 12 May 2012, local YMCA.

Taken with an iPhone camera, I used PicMonkey to edit the photo (I used "Posterize").

Taking part in this week's "Your Sunday Best," hosted by A Rural Journal. Please click on the button below to view the rest of this week's photographic entries:

The Lazy River and Other Water Fun

We were at my parents' place over the 4th of July holiday weekend. There's this great pool down the street from them (maybe about a 5-8 minute drive, or so). Livie LOVES going there.

Not only do they have a zero-entry pool for the younger kids (with the "deep end" about chest level for me -- I'm 5'2" to give you an idea) with a little kid water slide, splash pad, and shaded, super shallow area (just about 3" deep), they also have a bigger pool for the bigger kids, with huge water slides, diving boards, and an area with lanes for adults to lap swim.

Plus, they have a "lazy river," too, where you ride tubes along a gentle current of water. Liv and I really enjoy the "lazy river." I usually go down the lazy river, but the last time we went to the pool, I opted to take photos after swimming for a bit.

The "lazy river" tubes are usually "donuts," with holes in the middle. There are also doubles, which are figure-8 shaped. A few of the double ones have the hole in the middle of the back circle for the adult to float in, with no hole in the front one, so younger kids can sit and not slip through. (Get it, I hope? I can't seem to figure out how to word it better.)

That's the kind of "floatie" we have to get when taking Livie for a ride, by the way.

Anyway, here are a few photos from our time at the pool:

Liv's determined to head to the water slide!

She's deciding which slide to go down.

There she is, ready to slide down!

She wants to jump, but Daddy's telling her to wait 'til it's clear.

The lazy river! I usually go but decided to take pics this time.

"Take a picture, Mama!"

 

"Take another picture, Mama! Did you get another picture?!"

Taking an overnight road trip, Part 2

Heading into Wisconsin after crossing the Mississippi River:

Welcome to Wisconsin!

Daddy says "Take a pic of THIS! 'Ahhhhh'!"

On the road in southwestern Wisconsin:

We had to stop in Mineral Point, WI for a potty break. Here's the view of the Dairyland Motel as seen from the gas station:

We're finally at the hotel in Madison. Liv's having fun at the hotel's pool . . .

Warming up her feet in the hot tub. . .

Daddy got cold, so he's getting into the hot tub for a couple minutes:

More swimming in the pool . . .

For photos from Part 1, check out Taking an overnight road trip, Part 1. 

Just a few more photos to come . . .

. . . and the final photos can be found at Part 3, so click here: Taking an overnight road trip, Part 3.