Fun with Friends

We have been having a blast this summer. We got the kids a pool for the backyard, and they have really enjoyed it! We had a huge thunderstorm a few weeks ago, accompanied by massive winds that blew our pool away (there was no water in it, just patio furniture). I had to drive around the neighborhood with the kids trying to find it. We found it, and I was able to get it home, but apparently it has a teeny hole somewhere. A couple hours after filling it up it started to deflate on one side...

Sarah having a good time... and she's actually smiling!

Our poor droopy pool... The kids didn't care! They still had fun with their friends!

Maddy playing with Mikaela's squirt gun

We have also discovered the beautiful River Walk here in Conway. We walked a small part of it a couple of weeks ago, and then invited my parents and siblings to join us for Family Home Evening last week. It was so nice!

Natuarally, Sarah was attached to Erynn. There was no separating them!

Ben was enjoying himself too!

There is a really neat park there too... The kids had a great time playing on the playground. There are also picnic tables that I think we'll take advantage of next time. Ben tried out the swing for the first time... He LOVED it.

We decided to continue down the path, and see where it led, but Maddy was not happy. She just wanted to play on the playground.

I wish I took more pictures! The path continues along the river and there are bench swings all along the way for you to swing and enjoy the view. The trees and flowers are just beautiful. There is also a large gazebo with several rocking chairs overlooking the river as well. I am definitely taking my -out of town- family members when they come visit...

Now, after this wonderful evening in nature... we invited the family back to our house to help us build the swingset we got for the kids. WHAT A PAIN!! We love it now that it's finished, but it took a week to build. Joseph worked on it every night for a couple of hours, and even had family come help. Grrrrr. Lets just say that the instructions weren't that clear, and pre assembled parts weren't assembled correctly. I guess all that matters is that it's done, and the kids LOVE it!

I thought this picture was funny... Maddy is jumping off the slide backwards and somehow I caught a picture of it!

It has a "flying saucer" on the far left side with a 200 lb weight limit, so I get to lay in it with the kids. I totally love it. Sarah doesn't like to swing. She wants to sit and not move... so its nice to just plop her in the saucer with a pillow. Ben loves it too! The kids haven't been able to enjoy it too much with the temperature reaching 110* plus with the heat index. But any opportunity they have, they are outside. We like to have our friends come over and play too... We love the Atkinsons!!