Not Join Amberly Swim Club? What was I Thinking?

For the past two summers, we have joined the Amberly Swim Club. We really love it there. It has been a spot of many great memories. The first summer, we spent nearly every day there. Last summer, we did not go as often, but we did get our money's worth. Many of our friends are members there as are many of the faculty and children who attend E.R. Dickson, so we are never at a loss to find someone to play with.

This year we opted out of joining. Well, I guess I should say that I did. Mike thought it was a great idea, but I am really trying to be a little more frugal, and a better steward of the money the Lord has provided for our family. Plus, I REALLY, REALLY want to go on a mission with Mike someday and I know the only way that will be possible is if our house is paid off and we are out of debt. So, I thought we have a pool in our backyard, why should we spend $300 to swim at someone else's. Really, the girls have had a great time at ours. I have not regretted not joining, but it is always fun to be able to go and hang out with people you love!
Yesterday, we were reminded though of how much fun we had at Amberly. The Ottingers invited us to be their guest and we had a blast. We saw a lot of friends: The Constantines, The Fagerstroms, The Mannings, The Burdens, and the Bakers just to name few. Here are a few pictures of our fun day!

Kendal and Cecily. Cecily adores Kendal, and Kendal is very sweet with Cecily. She always looks after Cecily and plays with her.

Justin, Ariel, Kendal, and Cecily hanging out in the pool. Cecily is trying to dive. She always says she wants to dive as good as Mrs. Susan.In this picture, it appears though Ariel is trying to drown Justin, but I promise they are just playing.

When it was time to leave, we told the kids they needed to get out and dry off. This was their response.

Thanks again to the Ottingers for inviting us!

As a side note, we all got sunburns. Ariel and Cecily have one on their faces, and I have one on my back and shoulders (and boy does it hurt). I feel horrible about the girls getting one. I'm their mom, I should make sure they are well covered and for the most part I do. Cecily and Ariel both were swim shirts, which they don't mind, and I thought I applied enough sunscreen, but apparently not. Every time the girls and I get burned (Ariel has only been burned about 2 times in her life, but unfortunately with Cecily having such fair skin, she has been burned a few more times than that), I promise myself that I will never do that again. What is wrong with me??? Mike gets upset with me especially when the girls get burned, because due to his job he often has to frequent the Cancer Center at the hospital to work on their computers. I can always tell the days he does. He comes home a little more somber. It is sad to see and hear of people of all ages being affected by sun cancer--something that usually we inflict upon ourselves. Last week, Mike said he saw a beautiful girl who could not have been over 16 have cancer splotches all over her face. Every time the girls get sunburns, he threatens to take us all on a field trip to the cancer center. He believes that one visit will cure us (or I guess I should say me, because I'm the mom) from being so absent minded when it comes to protecting our skin from the sun. I've promised myself again to be more careful and I hope this will be the last of our sunburns this summer and all the summers to come. Let's just hope and pray that if we do ever have to visit the Cancer Center, it will be just for a field trip, and not for something more serious.