Swim Team, Summer Fest & Scera Pool

Another summer of Riverside Swim Team! This is their third year swimming and I love watching them swim so much. I love seeing them in their speedos and swim caps! Just the cutest little swimmers.

Chase gets a punch pass to Scera Pool from work. We also got Red's punch pass and Nuggets punch pass! Score! We usually ask the people from his crew for their passes if they aren't going to use them or don't have kids. 

Chase loathe's working during Summer Fest. He can't stand the crowds of people and all the craziness that goes on each year. But this year was his best Summer Fest yet and ours too! We went to visit him the first day...

The kids begged to ride this thing and were in heaven. Chase and I are always horrified hoping the ride doesn't malfunction or fall apart while our kids are in tow. Luckily it hasn't happened yet and the kids always exit the ride feeling dizziness, a touch of nausea and lots of laughter. 

Day 2 of Summer Fest was the parade. Chase drove the engine while I sat on top with the kids. Swenson's were also on top with kids and friends. 

It was an evening parade and the weather was perfect. It really wasn't too hot and the sun was behind us most of the time. It was totally lame they banned throwing candy from the vehicles this year. But we had a few bags of Dum-Dums we would throw anyway. Its too hard seeing the look of disappointment on the kids faces down below just waiting for their candy and not giving it to them! We did our best to not get caught by the volunteer police who were on candy patrol. And the kids did a great job throwing it far into the crowd and not into the street so we could keep the kids safe. 

A quick family picture while we killed time before fireworks. Before this we walked over to Chick-fil-a for dinner after the parade.

Swenson is currently Chase's captain and he wanted to make Summer Fest a fun night to remember for his kids just as much as Chase did.  They put the ladder up on the truck and we all climbed it to the roof of the city building. 

It was a magical summer night. The firework show was one for the books. We had blankets spread out and all laid back to enjoy the party in the sky. Expressions of awe and wonder across the faces of our kids will always be remembered. It was the perfect All-American Summer Night. 

Chase's career as a firefighter is hard. His lack of sleep, demanding work schedule and high stress factors at work all take a toll on our family. But his career as a firefighter is also pretty amazing. We have built many memories at the fire station with him, his crews and their families. How many kids can say their dad is a fireman, ride in a parade on his engine and watch the fireworks from the rooftops? (To top off the night they didn't get a single call. That never happens! )