Popi's Pool

Some of my favorite memories growing up involve Grandma and Popi's house. In San Antonio that especially included the pool. (I should post about Utah summers sometime.)

*One of my first memories is of it being dark (I think we had just arrived from North Carolina) and I just jumped into the pool. I couldn't swim. Someone pulled me out.

*We named the pool cleaner R2D2. The only resemblance to the domed robot was that it was white and blue. I was always scared of the cleaner.

*I tried a backflip once and landed on my back in the water, ouch, so I would never attempt it again.

*Heather used to squat down, press her hands together and fall forward to dive. (or was it Carianne?)

*One winter the pool froze over and my sisters convinced me to go ice skating on it with real ice skates. I broke through and couldn't get out because I was just rolling up the side of the pool. Luckily all this was in the shallow end. No adult was around to know what happened, but Carianne told later.

*Popi made the best hamburgers. We had a bunch of BBQ's all summer long. Once I got in trouble for swimming during the prayer, but I was under water when it started.

*I was scared to touch the sides of the water slide. My mom told us not to slide with our hands on it or we would get hurt. Now I know it is because the fiber glass could cut us. At the time it was scary.

*We used to put the diving rings around our ankles and pretend to be mermaids. (Before The Little Mermaid, by the way.)

*We used to use the rafts and make water houses.

*Uncle Bob would dive off the chimney into the pool, making Grandma furious. (She was really scared.)

*I learned to swim when I was 3 in Grandma and Popi's pool.

*Our hair would turn green (seriously) and our eyes would be blurry from chlorine all summer long.

*I was so sad when they filled it in. I remember dumping trash in the hole and then how weird it was every time to see the green lawn over where our toy was.

*We played Bocce on the lawn after that but it wasn't the same going to there house.

*In Utah Popi has a big yard and Pam and I tried to convince him to put in a pool at one point. No luck.

Carianne, Heather and Me with Popi and Grandma

My first pool summer.

With Mom and Grandma

In the jacuzzi with Heather, Mom, Grandma and Carianne.

Me in the pool, Carianne, Popi, Dad, Mom and Heather in the jacuzzi.

'84(?) Me jumping, Heather getting out.

I loved this tube and used it even when it rubbed my arm pits.

Grandma's house was always fun.

They had fun dress ups.

Popi and Grandma loved us and played with us. There are so many good memories. We each got to stay by ourselves for a week at their house. I loved sleeping on the "fainting couch".

I need to cover Sunshine Cottage and Executive Printing sometime, too. I had a great childhood.

No Memory Monday

Sorry, I am not done talking about my trip, so I will not do Memory Monday today. I don't want it to get too old. However, memories are mixed into this post, too.

On Monday we went to my Grandpa's house for breakfast. Popi was on a liquid diet for the day, but we still had an enjoyable time. Anneke saw the pink bathroom upstairs and immediately had to use the potty. She also loved the pink room, especially the little bed. (I think it is a fainting couch.) I told her I used to sleep on that when I was her age. While we were upstairs Luke went exploring on his own. He found the front room and broke a Hummel. (Don't worry, no one's name was on the bottom.) I about had a heart attack. Andy felt horrible, but Popi was not worried. It was a clean break and can easily be fixed. I think it has been broken before. I showed them Grandma's charm bracelet, the glass sacrament cup and Popi showed Anneke his goblets with the Royal thistle pattern on them. Marcus thought the coolest was the basement and the coal room. We played Don't Break the Ice and other games downstairs while we chatted. Popi gave Andy a few books and then Luke lost it. He is beginning to want to do things like his siblings, but is not coordinated enough. So, Luke had his first tantrum and in front of Popi. I was pretty embarrassed! We left soon after so they could get on with their day, but I loved it. I forget to take pictures when I am there because I am focused on spending time with Popi and Doreen nothing else. Someday, I know I will regret that, so when we return in May (for Zack's graduation and Memorial Day) I will make sure to take pictures.

In the afternoon I had my eye appointment with Dr. Cummings. He is the best eye doctor I have ever been to, and I have visited a lot. I have been wearing glasses since I was in 4th grade. He knows my family eye history (which is scary) and still treats my grandpa. Happily, my eyes have not changed since I married Andy. Yea! I got amazing contacts and way cute glasses. (They made our glasses in 20 minutes after our appointments.) Plus, he still feels the need to give me a discount. I guess because I travel so far every year to visit him, I am not sure, though. We discussed our concern about Anneke crossing her eyes and not being able to see pictures from a distance. Darin said, "Well, put her in the chair and let's see." Even for her age she is slightly far sighted, but not enough to correct, yet. That was both scary and happy. I may be weird, but as long as I can I will go see Dr. Cummings. Seriously, I have never been treated better.

Monday night we had dinner with Andy's brother Jeff and his wife Jamie. Then tried to head home, but had lost the keys. Andy hadn't checked all his pockets. They were in his back pocket. So, after 15 minutes of frantic search we got on our way. Yea! (Tomorrow I will blog about Spring Break and hopefully get back to normal posts thereafter.)