I've told all three kids that the summer before Kindergarten, they will become a swimmer. This time is here for Noah. Three weeks ago, he was screaming at the thought taking off his floaties. Now, he's doing this:
Wow, has he come a long way. We still have to watch him like a hawk, but he's doing so well. We are super proud of him. He hasn't even worn his floaties for over a week. We think it's time to toss them. We were at the old pool because the new one was too crowded. It's nice to have two to pick from.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Dynamic Duo
With a lot of downtime this summer, these boys sometimes play for hours and hours. Ben got Noah into superheroes years ago. Then, it seemed Ben was kind of outgrowing it. He trading dressing up like superheroes to reading books about superheroes. Now, Noah is getting him to dress up again. Not that Ben needs a lot of convincing.
I love that my boys are great friends.
I love that my boys are great friends.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Around Our House
Here's what has been going on in our house the past week, in addition to David's birthday and Father's Day. And I wonder why I have no time to post anything...
Emily went to piano camp for 3 days. On the last day, we get to join them for making piano cakes. Making and eating! :)
Here are all the piano girls...
-----------------------
We've gone to our new pool every day. Sometimes, twice a day. It's all about hanging out with friends and having fun.
-----------------------
We've been going to the movies every week. Our theater does a nice deal of summer movies, 10 for $7. They are older and stuff we've already seen, but popcorn and a movie is never rejected by my kids.
We were watching a movie about an alien coming to Earth. He lands and he's at a 7-eleven. I chuckle.
Ben whispers to me: What is that?
Me: It's a convenience store.
Ben: What's a convenience store?
Me: It's were you go and get snacks and things.
Ben: Oh, cool.
He's 8 1/2. How does he not know what a convenience store is? I try to plan ahead. We bring water and snacks where ever we go, so we are not tempted to stop somewhere for overpriced snacks. Has he really never been inside a convenience store? His Papa used to own one for Pete's sake. I was there every day, but that was before Ben. Then, I remembered, he goes to one every year! We drive to California and we stop at the last spot for gas before you hit the California state line and gas jumps up $1 a gallon. So, we always stop at this Chevron to use the restroom and fill up on gas in Quartzsite, Arizona. But, we never buy anything. I guess it isn't too memorable.
Whew...my kids aren't that deprived. One convenience store a year!
-----------------------
Emily tried to teach Noah some yoga and gymnastics. My kids spend most of their days in pajamas unless we go somewhere, which isn't often. I filled up my gas tank after our Memorial Day camping trip on May 27th, and it's just getting to 1/4 of a tank over 3 weeks later. I like that!
She's demonstrating.
She's assisting. It was a fail, but God love him for trying!
-------------------
My best friend Pam and her sister, Katie, came up with Katie's new baby, Keegan.
He is quite possibly the cutest baby ever.
Emily was smitten.
Noah thought he was great.
Ben, well, Ben didn't want to hold him. I think he was too little.
This picture makes me laugh. I think this baby is loved by many!
Noah said he wants to be a Daddy one day. Emily said maybe she'll be a Mommy. Ben said I dunno.
-------------------
We head camping again in 4 days. This time to a cabin. A very rough cabin as in bring your own towel. But, hey, it has a shower and flushing toilet! We are going with a great group of friends from Phoenix. Then, we go camping again the following weekend. This time in a tent, but the campsite has flushing toilets. I feel like these next 2 trips will be luxurious compared to what we are used to!
Then, in less than 3 weeks, we head on our 15 day adventure to Idaho, Banff and Vancouver! The summer is flying by.
Emily went to piano camp for 3 days. On the last day, we get to join them for making piano cakes. Making and eating! :)
Here are all the piano girls...
-----------------------
We've gone to our new pool every day. Sometimes, twice a day. It's all about hanging out with friends and having fun.
-----------------------
We've been going to the movies every week. Our theater does a nice deal of summer movies, 10 for $7. They are older and stuff we've already seen, but popcorn and a movie is never rejected by my kids.
We were watching a movie about an alien coming to Earth. He lands and he's at a 7-eleven. I chuckle.
Ben whispers to me: What is that?
Me: It's a convenience store.
Ben: What's a convenience store?
Me: It's were you go and get snacks and things.
Ben: Oh, cool.
He's 8 1/2. How does he not know what a convenience store is? I try to plan ahead. We bring water and snacks where ever we go, so we are not tempted to stop somewhere for overpriced snacks. Has he really never been inside a convenience store? His Papa used to own one for Pete's sake. I was there every day, but that was before Ben. Then, I remembered, he goes to one every year! We drive to California and we stop at the last spot for gas before you hit the California state line and gas jumps up $1 a gallon. So, we always stop at this Chevron to use the restroom and fill up on gas in Quartzsite, Arizona. But, we never buy anything. I guess it isn't too memorable.
Whew...my kids aren't that deprived. One convenience store a year!
-----------------------
Emily tried to teach Noah some yoga and gymnastics. My kids spend most of their days in pajamas unless we go somewhere, which isn't often. I filled up my gas tank after our Memorial Day camping trip on May 27th, and it's just getting to 1/4 of a tank over 3 weeks later. I like that!
She's demonstrating.
She's assisting. It was a fail, but God love him for trying!
-------------------
My best friend Pam and her sister, Katie, came up with Katie's new baby, Keegan.
He is quite possibly the cutest baby ever.
Emily was smitten.
Noah thought he was great.
Ben, well, Ben didn't want to hold him. I think he was too little.
This picture makes me laugh. I think this baby is loved by many!
Noah said he wants to be a Daddy one day. Emily said maybe she'll be a Mommy. Ben said I dunno.
-------------------
We head camping again in 4 days. This time to a cabin. A very rough cabin as in bring your own towel. But, hey, it has a shower and flushing toilet! We are going with a great group of friends from Phoenix. Then, we go camping again the following weekend. This time in a tent, but the campsite has flushing toilets. I feel like these next 2 trips will be luxurious compared to what we are used to!
Then, in less than 3 weeks, we head on our 15 day adventure to Idaho, Banff and Vancouver! The summer is flying by.
Monday, June 16, 2014
A Birthday and Father's Day
Father's Day was super early this year. I usually have about 10 days in between David's Birthday and Father's Day. This year, it was all within 4 days. And then he joked, that I got it over with quick and don't have to make him feel special for anther year!
First up was his 43rd birthday. The kids gave him a card, and we got him a few gifts. Shoes. Actually, that's it. He got 2 pairs of shoes. Then, Noah cried that he wanted to give him something. So, I grabbed the lantern we had just bought at Walmart and put it in a bag. Noah was happy. David acted happy. That's what Dad's do, right?
We went to the pool. Then, we went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. David HATES to be called out and sung at a restaurant on his birthday. But, Emily really wanted them to. Meaning, Emily really wanted the free dessert. So, I slipped the waiter a note. David wouldn't get on the saddle when they came over, but Emily and Noah gladly did.
We made him a cake.
And sang happy birthday...
Then, came Father's Day. We always go to the pool on Father's Day. And we always get this same photo.
One year, I'll have to put them together in a collage.
Then, I made David his absolute favorite meal. Lasanga. I only make it once a year.
And, we hung out at home and didn't do a whole lot. Exactly what we like!
Now, I'm off the hook for a year.
First up was his 43rd birthday. The kids gave him a card, and we got him a few gifts. Shoes. Actually, that's it. He got 2 pairs of shoes. Then, Noah cried that he wanted to give him something. So, I grabbed the lantern we had just bought at Walmart and put it in a bag. Noah was happy. David acted happy. That's what Dad's do, right?
We went to the pool. Then, we went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. David HATES to be called out and sung at a restaurant on his birthday. But, Emily really wanted them to. Meaning, Emily really wanted the free dessert. So, I slipped the waiter a note. David wouldn't get on the saddle when they came over, but Emily and Noah gladly did.
We made him a cake.
And sang happy birthday...
Then, came Father's Day. We always go to the pool on Father's Day. And we always get this same photo.
One year, I'll have to put them together in a collage.
Then, I made David his absolute favorite meal. Lasanga. I only make it once a year.
And, we hung out at home and didn't do a whole lot. Exactly what we like!
Now, I'm off the hook for a year.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Surfing, Slides and Two for Two
I've been having numerous complaints about photos not loading since I started using Flickr as my picture upload site. I ran out of room on photobucket, so I switched. Well, I'm back at photobucket now (under a new identity). :) It may take a few posts, so that flickr pictures aren't coming up at all on the main page and then hopefully, it won't crash your ipads and iphones anymore! I don't want to upset my loyal fans. All four of you! HA!
We've been going to church. It's the right time for us. The last time we tried church, I was in the lobby with Ben after 10 minutes. I wasn't getting anything out of it. Then, Noah came along. First he was sick for almost his entire first year of life, so I certainly wasn't going to put him in a childcare setting. Then, he wouldn't leave mine or David's side. He's grown a lot this year in preschool, and he's finally ready. We are finally ready.
We are going on Saturday nights typically because it's just easier for us. This is a really fun church and they had a beach blast last weekend. Lots of huge inflatable slides and stuff. Emily and Ben had fun. Noah tried climbing the ladder, found it too difficult and opted only for the bounce house. To each his own. You can see Noah trying to get up the ladder in this pic of Ben.
And they had this really cool surf simulation ride. The kids had a blast and did it about 10 times. We watched a few kids who wiped out and landed hard on the surf board, so we told the kids to really jump if they felt they were losing their balance. Luckily, they did fine. Emily may have a career as a surfer.
Emily lost a tooth on Sunday. Then, she lost another tooth on Monday. Geez, the tooth fairy is going broke!
The summer is going well. The kids are behaving and fighting is at a minimum. We are keeping up with our worksheets, reading and journals. I don't do it everyday, but probably four times a week. Right now, Emily is at piano camp and that's about all she can handle a day. The kids definitely enjoy being lazy sometimes. Well, who doesn't?
(Wow, just previewed this and those are some large pictures. If I can figure out how to make them a little smaller, I will. If not, well, you get the up close and personal view!)
We've been going to church. It's the right time for us. The last time we tried church, I was in the lobby with Ben after 10 minutes. I wasn't getting anything out of it. Then, Noah came along. First he was sick for almost his entire first year of life, so I certainly wasn't going to put him in a childcare setting. Then, he wouldn't leave mine or David's side. He's grown a lot this year in preschool, and he's finally ready. We are finally ready.
We are going on Saturday nights typically because it's just easier for us. This is a really fun church and they had a beach blast last weekend. Lots of huge inflatable slides and stuff. Emily and Ben had fun. Noah tried climbing the ladder, found it too difficult and opted only for the bounce house. To each his own. You can see Noah trying to get up the ladder in this pic of Ben.
And they had this really cool surf simulation ride. The kids had a blast and did it about 10 times. We watched a few kids who wiped out and landed hard on the surf board, so we told the kids to really jump if they felt they were losing their balance. Luckily, they did fine. Emily may have a career as a surfer.
Emily lost a tooth on Sunday. Then, she lost another tooth on Monday. Geez, the tooth fairy is going broke!
The summer is going well. The kids are behaving and fighting is at a minimum. We are keeping up with our worksheets, reading and journals. I don't do it everyday, but probably four times a week. Right now, Emily is at piano camp and that's about all she can handle a day. The kids definitely enjoy being lazy sometimes. Well, who doesn't?
(Wow, just previewed this and those are some large pictures. If I can figure out how to make them a little smaller, I will. If not, well, you get the up close and personal view!)
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Fish
Our new pool opened the other day. Oh we are thrilled! We've waited 7 years for this pool. We had our dinky one, and there was always talks of this new pool and fitness center. Well, the market tanked and yadda, yadda, yadda. The good news is, it's here and it's AWESOMENESS!
We are having lap races. Ben is flexing his muscles here because he beat me.
And when I say beat me, we took off, I swam the length of the pool and he got out and ran to the other end and jumped in. I imagine it won't be too many years before he can actually beat me. David and I raced too. I taught Ben the backstroke and breast stroke. It was a blast.
Noah is getting more and more comfortable in the water and is becoming a little fish. I think I may have just found my new favorite exercise. The pool will be open year round and heated, but I don't think I'll be swimming in the middle of winter. There is a nice hot tub too.
We were at the pool every night anyway during the summer. This just makes it more fun!
We are having lap races. Ben is flexing his muscles here because he beat me.
And when I say beat me, we took off, I swam the length of the pool and he got out and ran to the other end and jumped in. I imagine it won't be too many years before he can actually beat me. David and I raced too. I taught Ben the backstroke and breast stroke. It was a blast.
Noah is getting more and more comfortable in the water and is becoming a little fish. I think I may have just found my new favorite exercise. The pool will be open year round and heated, but I don't think I'll be swimming in the middle of winter. There is a nice hot tub too.
We were at the pool every night anyway during the summer. This just makes it more fun!
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Summer, So Far, So Good
We are 2 weeks into summer, and it's going well so far. We are settling into a groove, and I've only wanted to cry a handful of times. See, my kids used to never fight. Nobody fights with Ben. He's just too easy going and too himself to bother anybody. But, Noah has come into his own this past year and him and Emily have this little squabbles. She likes to pick on him and he likes to scream about it. Then, I yell and cry and it's oh so much fun.
We've taken things away and that works a little. Now, I've threatened them with bodily harm and that seems to work way better than taking away the tablet for a day.
We spent an afternoon at our little children's museum. We had never been, and my kids had a blast.
Here's Ben building a robot out of recycled materials. He named him Alfred after the butler in the Batman.
Noah loved this table. It moved this around with air and he thought that was awesome.
Emily LOVED this snap circuit set. We left and she said she'd rather have that than a Nintedo DS for her birthday. I had never really seen a snap circuit set, but you assemble things according to different designs and different things will happen, like a light bulb will light up or the fan will run or you will get a door chime to play. It's pretty cool.
Our new gym opened. It's 24 hours now and has great equipment. Dakri and I went early one morning. And by early, I mean I had to set my alarm and she was here to get me at 6:55. Not my cup of tea. Then, this happened....
I'm on the elliptical machine and there are these tiny peek a boo windows up top and I had to deal with this for 15 minutes. Not fun! I decided that was my sign that I shouldn't go back that early. :)
Ben went to a birthday party and they had a zipline. How fun is that????
And we've been at the pool every day. I told Noah that this summer he will become a swimmer. All of our kids officially lose the floaties the summer before Kindergarten. He's old enough and doesn't need them. Last week, he was crying. Literally, crying so hard he was shaking because he feared he would drown. This week, he seems to have gotten over that fear and is swimming around.
He spent 30 minutes swimming around to people and going from the stairs to the side of the pool yesterday. This means, I can't gab with my friends and play on my phone while my kids swim. I actually have to watch him. He can stand in the shallow end, so I think he feels comfort knowing he can just stand up if he gets in trouble. He's doing great and we are so proud of him.
Our new big pool opened today. Finally. It was supposed to open a month ago. We haven't been yet, but are super excited to go. It'll be a nice change of pace and just what we need this summer.
We've taken things away and that works a little. Now, I've threatened them with bodily harm and that seems to work way better than taking away the tablet for a day.
We spent an afternoon at our little children's museum. We had never been, and my kids had a blast.
Here's Ben building a robot out of recycled materials. He named him Alfred after the butler in the Batman.
Noah loved this table. It moved this around with air and he thought that was awesome.
Emily LOVED this snap circuit set. We left and she said she'd rather have that than a Nintedo DS for her birthday. I had never really seen a snap circuit set, but you assemble things according to different designs and different things will happen, like a light bulb will light up or the fan will run or you will get a door chime to play. It's pretty cool.
Our new gym opened. It's 24 hours now and has great equipment. Dakri and I went early one morning. And by early, I mean I had to set my alarm and she was here to get me at 6:55. Not my cup of tea. Then, this happened....
I'm on the elliptical machine and there are these tiny peek a boo windows up top and I had to deal with this for 15 minutes. Not fun! I decided that was my sign that I shouldn't go back that early. :)
Ben went to a birthday party and they had a zipline. How fun is that????
And we've been at the pool every day. I told Noah that this summer he will become a swimmer. All of our kids officially lose the floaties the summer before Kindergarten. He's old enough and doesn't need them. Last week, he was crying. Literally, crying so hard he was shaking because he feared he would drown. This week, he seems to have gotten over that fear and is swimming around.
He spent 30 minutes swimming around to people and going from the stairs to the side of the pool yesterday. This means, I can't gab with my friends and play on my phone while my kids swim. I actually have to watch him. He can stand in the shallow end, so I think he feels comfort knowing he can just stand up if he gets in trouble. He's doing great and we are so proud of him.
Our new big pool opened today. Finally. It was supposed to open a month ago. We haven't been yet, but are super excited to go. It'll be a nice change of pace and just what we need this summer.
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