Cleaning My Boss Man's Pool

Up until a couple of years ago, I wouldn't have been caught dead in a bathing suit.  I was too fat and self conscience to wear one, and I was always missing out on all the fun because of that.  Then I lost some weight, and even though I still have several pounds to lose, I became more comfortable in my own skin.  Two years ago, my mom bought a house with a pool.  For the first time, I wanted to be able to swim when everyone else did, so I went out and bought a bathing suit.  I do not have the Beach Body I would like to have, but I am getting there.

Last Spring, I helped my boss open his pool.  I put my bathing suit on and jumped into the dirty water to help him clean the middle, which he couldn't reach from the sides of the pool.  I knew I wasn't the best to look at in my bathing suit, but I had a crush on him and wanted to help, so I sucked it up.  A few days ago he asked me if I would help him again this year, and there was no way I could say no.  This year, though, I am embarrassed to put on my bathing suit, because I haven't lost any more weight, and I'm not feeling confident enough right now.  I need to do something like the 90 Day Review, though I am not sure I'll have 90 days before he needs my help. Maybe the Extreme Body Workout would be a better choice.  I don't know.  All I do know is that I am not looking forward to jumping into his pool this year.

This is a guest post provided by Fitness Alliance.

Swimming, Sleeping, And Watches

 I know this guy who owns several different watches.  I thought it was only women who matched their watches to their outfits, but apparently I was wrong.  His watches are pretty awesome, too.  I'm not sure if he owns a invicta mens watch, but I do know he has one that has a purple face.  Yes, that's right. It's purple. Makes you wonder why I like that one best, doesn't it? 

My mom gave me a watch for Christmas last year, and it broke soon after.  The watch itself is fine, it's the band that snapped.  It had a stretchable beaded band that was beautiful.  My mom says she can fix it, if she ever finds the time.  She's like me these days...so busy.  I hate that most days by the time I get home from work I am too tired to do much of anything.  I have been taking the kids swimming every night (okay, I have been swimming too) so I feel like I never have time to just relax.  Then when I do decide to stay home in the evenings, I miss swimming.  I just can't win.

Maybe I just need to go to bed now and try to get a good nights sleep.  Or maybe I'll just play on Facebook for a little while longer.  Yeah, I think Facebook will win.

We Need Some Inflatable Rafts

I spent the day yesterday in a pool.  Now, if you read my blog last year, you will remember that I got a pretty bad sunburn. 

You would think that I would have learned from that. 

You would think that I would have lathered myself up with sunscreen so it didn't happen again this year.

Um, yeah, I didn't, and now, I look like a lobster.

Again.

And it hurts like crazy.  The good news is that I had fun yesterday.  So did Brandi.  She got to play with a friend of hers, and they had boogie boards in the pool that they were playing on.  That got me to thinking that she would really enjoy playing on the lake with tubes and inflatable rafts.  I know they have some that have motors on them, but I would get her one that she would have to row.  Heck, she could even row it in the pool, especially my mom's pool.  Her pool is definitely big enough for something like that.

I am looking forward to spending another summer in the water.  I really enjoyed our cookouts last year, and spending time with my mom.  I hope we have just as much fun this year.

Dreams Of Warmer Weather

We woke up yesterday morning to snowfall.  By early afternoon, we had a little over five inches of the white stuff covering everything in sight.  The kids couldn't wait to get outside to play in it.  I, on the other hand, being from New York and sick as a dog, didn't want to leave the warmth of my computer chair.  But, being the awesome mom I am, I bundled everyone up and we headed out for about thirty minutes of fun.

After coming back inside and thawing out, I started looking forward to summer.  I long for warm weather and lounging in the pool.  I miss the time we were spending at my mom's house, cooking out and spending time together, eating hot dogs and hamburgers while sitting on brightly colored patio cushions.  

I know I have several months before the hot weather will make an appearance again.  Living in South Carolina, I am sure it will be warm again by next week, and all the snow will melt away.  For now though, I am going to sit here and imagine that the bathrobe keeping me warm is a towel that I just wrapped around myself after getting out of the pool.

Finally, A Relaxing Weekend!

 I know Summer is coming to en end, and as much as I don't want it to, a part of me is looking forward to the lazy Fall days ahead.  This past weekend, we were supposed to spend Saturday and Sunday at my mom's house, but Saturday morning, a friend of Junior's called and asked if he could help move a building, so he went and did that.  Made an easy $80, so it was worth it.  He took Ryan with him, which left me and the girls home alone.

Kasi and I found a scary movie to watch while Brandi was playing with her play-doh.  This kid goes through phases, where she will play with one thing for days on end, and then suddenly switch to something else.  Right now, it's play-doh.  She has been building with it and pretend cooking with it and using her imagination in some awesome ways. 

On Sunday, we did go to my mom's.  Ryan and Junior worked while the girls swam.  I got in the pool for a little while, but I was so tired I fell asleep on a float, which is not a good thing to do when watching kids.  So I got out and decided to spend some time with Dean Koontz.

I have read just about all of his books, except the Frankenstein series.  A few months ago when the 4th book came out, I decided to start reading it.  I was able to find one book that had the first three books in it (a collection of sorts) and I haven't been able to put it down.  I was expecting a re-telling of the old Frankenstein, but that's not what this is.  This is a modern day story that has completely sucked me in.  I am almost finished with the second book, and can't wait to see how this all ends.

My Stomach Hurt After This One

Ryan did a big old belly flop into the pool, and I just happened to have my camera ready to capture it.  I don't know how they can jump in like that!  Seriously, my stomach hurt just watching him.

I'm Beat

For the first time all week, we were able to spend a few hours in the pool today.  We went to mom's Monday, Tuesday, and yesterday, and everyday, as soon as we got in the pool, the thunderstorms rolled in.  Finally today, the storms held off, and we were able to swim for a few hours.  The sun was hot, which means I am now exhausted.  I don't know why being in the sun drains all my energy, but it does.  We're going back tomorrow to help mom get some yard work done.  We're having a family pool party Saturday, and she wants the yard looking good, and we are more than happy to help her out.

We just have to hope that there are no storms tomorrow...

Chicken Fights

We were at my mom's house last week swimming (surprise, surprise) and the kids decided to have a chicken fight.  Brandi got on Ryan's shoulders, and Colleen got on her husband, Mike's, shoulders.  It was pretty funny watching Brandi try to knock my sister down.  She didn't win, but she gave it all she had!

At one point, my sister got on my shoulders, and we fought against Ryan and Brandi.  I could barely stand up I was laughing so hard! 

We haven't been to my mom's in a couple of days due to thunderstorms, but we are planning to swim this afternoon.  The kids have so much fun, and to be honest, so do I.  I have always been a water rat.  I was always the first one in the pool, and the last one out.  My girls inherited this from me, I think. 

Now we just have to pray that the storms stay away for today so we can get a little swimming in...

My Day. It Was A Long, But Good One

Brandi is still sick.  Well, I say sick because she is running a fever, but she has no other symptoms.  When I ask how she feels, she says nothing hurts (ears, throat, chest, stomach), she just doesn't feel good.  For a while this afternoon, her fever broke, and I thought she was doing better.  She even got in the pool for awhile.  When we got back home, her temp was back to 101.7.  I'm thinking we might just hang out at home tomorrow and let her, and Junior, start feeling better.

Junior's hand is looking better.  It is in no way looking good, but it look better than it did yesterday.  This is a good thing, because it means he won't go in for surgery on Monday.  Huge sigh of relief.  I think the high dose of antibiotics is doing the trick.  He is still hurting, but the pain medicine is making it bearable.

I spent today with my mom, sister, Grandmother, and my favorite aunt.  I was so close to her growing up, and it was wonderful to spend time with her today.  She has to fly back to Florida in the morning, so I dragged Brandi over to my mom's house and set her up in bed with her movies while I visited.  Do I get the bad mom award for that?  I am not usually emotional, but I cried when I saw my Aunt today.  It's been about 6 years since I have seen her.  When I was little, I used to spend weeks at a time at her house.  If we had a vacation from school, I was at her house.  During the summer, I spent weeks on end over there.  She is the only person in the world still allowed to call me Jenny.

I guess that's about it.  I am beat, and ready for bed.  I know I have said this before, but swimming, and being in the sun, wears me out!

Quick Update

Can you tell how much better it looks?  I have been putting a lot of after sun lotion and a Jergens hydrating lotion on it, and it seems to be healing. 

I am looking forward to this weekend.  Not only is it Father's Day, but my grandmother and aunt are coming to visit, and I haven't seen them in years.  Brandi was so little she doesn't remember ever meeting them, so this will be good for her.  My aunt is only here for the weekend, but my Grandmother is staying for the whole week. 

I see a lot of swimming and cooking out in my future, which is awesome!

A Day Off

 Gotta love that smile!

We didn't swim today.  I needed a break from the sun and to get my house clean.  Thankfully, both things have been accomplished.  I did run up to the grocery store with Junior, and I am happy to be back in the AC.  It is hot outside!

Better?

Okay, so the sunburn is a little better today.  I think the burn cream is working, and I had on a lot of sunblock today while I was in the pool.  I have to tell you...I am exhausted!  Being in the pool/sun all day for a few days can wear a person out.  Aside from the burn on my chest, the rest of me is finally getting tan.  (can't you tell?) We are staying home tomorrow, though.  This way, I can have a day out of the sun, and maybe catch up on all the housework and computer stuff I have been neglecting.

Maybe...or I might just be lazy and re-watch the new episode of True Blood on demand.  You know how much I love my vampires.

This Is How It Looks Today

I. Am. In. Pain.

Yup, it seems to be getting worse before it gets better.  The only thing that seems to ease the burn is an actual burn cream that Junior got for me.  I haven't tried the vinegar yet, because I don't have any in the house and I forgot to get some at the store today.  Aloe makes it hurt worse, which is weird, but when I put it on, I had to pour an entire bottle of water on it to ease the burning as I wiped it off.  I have an after sun cream that is working on the rest of my chest and back and shoulders.

The funny thing is, today we were in the pool for about 6 hours (I know!) and it didn't hurt then.  I was, of course, covered in sunscreen.  I took this picture about five minutes ago.  I just got out of the shower, and put the burn cream on it...that's why it's shiny.

Is it crazy that I plan on spending a few more hours swimming tomorrow?

My Sunburn

Nice, right? 

This is my chest, and it hurts! 

This seems to be the worst spot though, and right now it is peeling.  In fact, my entire back, chest, and shoulders are peeling.  I had Kasi peeling me this morning, and then while I was in the pool this afternoon, my skin was sliding off. 

I know, it's gross.

I'm hoping from here on out I will just tan.  And yes, I am wearing sunscreen...it just doesn't work too well.

Work Before Play, At Least For Today

No pool for us today.  I couldn't have timed a day away from the pool better, because it is raining outside, which means we couldn't have swam anyway.   I told my mom yesterday that I wanted to stay home today and get some stuff done around the house that I have been neglecting.  Plus, my sun burn is really bad, and I think a day out of the sun will help it get a little better.

Junior also made plans today, so he couldn't have taken us over there anyway.  When he got off of work, he came and picked up Ryan and they went to work on a Toyota Corolla.  The car belongs to a friends of Junior's ex-father-in-law, so he won't make much money putting in a new water pump.  But that's okay.  This is an older man who doesn't have much money,  and taking his car to a Chicago auto repair shop is out of the question, so Junior does the work cheap.  I believe in karma, so doing this for him will come back around to us someday.

Tomorrow, though, we are heading back to mom's to swim, and help her get the steps into the pool.  My foot and lower shin are bruised from where I fell trying to get out of the pool the other day, so I am looking forward to the steps being in.  It will be easier on the kids, too.  They are continuously getting out of the pool to jump back in down in the deep end. Brandi is a maniac, and yesterday always hit her head on the side of the pool as she jumped and spun on her way into the water.  Ryan has been working on diving, and he's getting the hang of it.

My dives are looking pretty good, too.

Hey! Remember Me?

It is so weird, but I have hardly been on the computer at all the last three days.  This is why:

(that's Brandi under the water...she just jumped in)

Mom finally got the pool open, after a lot of hard work, and we were able to get wet and have fun.  We spent most of Saturday, yesterday, and today over there, enjoying the pool.  Tonight we had a throw together at the last minute cookout with mom, colleen, and the kids, and it was great.

The kids love the water as much as I do, which is awesome.  As a kid, I was always the first one in the pool, and the last one out.  My kids are the same way.  Ryan and Kasi are both swimming well enough to be in the deep end, but Kasi is not confident in her swimming enough to jump in yet.  but she'll get there.  Brandi has no fear at all, but I make her wear swimmies at all times, just for my peace of mind.  

I plan on spending a lot of time over at mom's this summer, so if I disappear for a few days, you'll know where to find me :D

My Weekend

Another busy weekend is behind us, and I am glad it's Monday. Saturday we all got up early, and went to some yard sales. The only things I found were purses for the girls, and a rubbermaid shelf. Junior was hoping to find fishing equipment, but we didn't have much luck with that.

Sunday, my sister moved, and asked if I could keep Carson for the day. (She only asked me because my mom was in NY, but that's okay) The kids swam, played hard, got hyper, at like little piggies, and had an awesome day! As usual, I put all the pictures on my picture blog, and on Facebook.

Today I am going to see my sister's new house. It's twice as big as her old house, with a beautiful back yard. I am very happy for them.

Sun Kissed

Look at my poor little Boo.

Even with 30spf sunblock, she still burned.

As you can see, though, she is still all smiles, and begging to go back in the pool.

I told her to wait until tomorrow, or at least until after Deadliest Catch.

Maybe we can set up a spotlight out there so we can swim in the dark.

Too Much Sun

The kids have been in the pool all day. I hopped in a couple of times to cool off, otherwise I was happy sitting in the sun with my book. I was able to finish The 8th Confession...review will come in a few days. My back is a little burned, but mostly I am just getting a darker tan. Brandi slathered herself in sunblock, but Kasi didn't want to. She is paying for it with the backs of her thighs bright red. Maybe tomorrow she will listen to me.

I love that we have the pool. It gives the kids something to do, and they take full advantage. I am hoping that all this swimming will tire them out and they will start going to be before 2 am. I know I am exhausted just from being in the sun.

I wonder if anyone would notice if I went and took a quick nap? Or maybe a nice long one....

Burned

The pool is now up, and I am unhappy with where we put it. I hate that our neighbors are a foot away, and we have no privacy. This would have happened no matter where in the yard we put the pool, and at least where it is we can put something up between them and us. I was originally thinking about a wall or something, but that would block the sun completely. They I was thinking Junior could do something with perforated decorative metal sheets and at least the sun would be able to shine through. There is a point during the day when the pool will be in the shade, but it's during the hottest part of the day, so I'm okay with that. Yesterday, poor Kasi burned the backs of her legs and a section of her back. I thought she put sunscreen on. I know she put some on Boo, and I thought Boo put some on her in return. Apparently not. I need to make sure everyone has sunscreen on today, because I have a feeling we will spent a good part of it in the pool.