The McMahon Family

With this hot summer, we have been going to the pool pretty regularly.  Mac has always enjoyed the pool, but with no formal swimming lessons, he’s pretty cautious and hesitant to go under or get too splashed in the face.  He would watch his cousins swim underwater and long to swim with them.  So this week, he decided that he was going to do it.  He started with dunking his head and eventually learned to hold his breath and swim underwater.  He still hasn’t had formal training on how to actually swim (read: move) in the water, so he usually just splashes around and stays in one place, BUT his head is submerged!  A huge improvement for him!  I was so proud and excited to see him jumping in and going underwater and all in three days!  So without further ado, here is his video!

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I can’t believe the Fourth of July and vacation have come and gone.  On July 3, we went to the Pritts’ to do some ‘Pre-Fourth Celebrating’ of our own.  Patrick was petrified and screamed through most of it.  I was the ever understanding mother and made him stay through most of it to get him ‘conditioned’ for the next night.  No one is going to make Mommy miss the fireworks! 🙂  Turns out he was fine and enjoyed the big fireworks on Daddy’s lap.  He must have felt Mommy wouldn’t be as understanding…go figure…(cilck below to see all the pics).

Then the next week we left for Virginia!  We had a great time at the Thurman family reunion.  We stayed there for a couple of days then went on to visit Uncle Nate.  We got to see his new place and go to the beach with him.  We rented a van and drove over with Nicki, Lukie and Matthew.  All the boys did a great job and Shannon even made it!  We love it that Daddy sacrificed those days of his life and joined us this time.  He actually admits it wasn’t a horrible experience after all.  (Click the picture to see the trip.)

A two day trip gets a little tedious, so here are a few highlights from the trip, also.

Uncle Nate, Aunt Meme, Lukie and Daddy all did some boogie-boarding.
Here they are catching the waves in!

Okay, this is not one of my great mommy moments.  I encouraged my child to say ‘a bad thing’ so I could get it on tape.  You’ve heard the stories of Patrick’s version of shut your mouth.  He says it daily to his brother.  Although it is not kind and we’re trying to discourage him from saying it, it usually makes us laugh.  Okay, not usually, every time.  So the other day he said it and so I took the opportunity to force him to say it again…for the camera.  I know, bad Mommy.

Anyway, here it is:

Here is the video of the boys on the Slip ‘n’ Slide.
There is an introduction by Mac from his interview with Daddy.

Ah glorious summer vacation.  It has been great so far.  We have spent many afternoons at the pool already, gone to the Orpheum Children’s Museum, had play dates and much more. July is going to be packed with more fun.  We have the Fourth of July coming up this weekend and then our trip to Virginia for the family reunion and to visit Uncle Nate and the beach!!

**Reminder to all (Grandma Rapps in particular!) to click on all pics to see more pictures and videos. 🙂 **