The Last Day of Swimming

This is our last session for sure until fall.  I figure we will hit the pool somewhere this summer, and we can work on all the skills they have learned.  The key is that I can feel like I can now take them by myself during the day because they are more comfortable in the water.  My mom and dad came for their last day, and my dad was my photographer during Ellie’s session.  So, here it is in picture form:

First swims of the day and getting the belt on

    

Blowing bubbles

Swimming through the hoop and with a kickboard – notice I am not holding onto her for either one!!  (This is major progress.)

    

The backstroke – this is her least favorite because her ears usually get wet.

Playing in the kiddie pool – again, she would not even let go of me when we started this in January!

After swimming, Ellie was able to go spend time with Grandma and Papa DeeDee.  She and Papa played on the trampoline; she even learned to really jump on it!  Grandma and her played on it too.  She convinced Grandma she needed a blankie with tags on it, so Grandma made some for her house.  (I forgot to send one for naps.)  She had her nap there and then joined Madison and I for Madison’s swim lessons.  (In between there, Madison had her last day of preschool; see previous post.)

Madison’s last swim, in pictures:

Waiting for instructions, so excited!

    

working on the backstroke – or ballerina kick!

Swimming with just a kickboard and noodle – no belt this session!  Determination in her eyes

Working on her diving form:

    

Back floating Starfish

Happy swimming, everyone!

Sleepover!

This Sunday we had my nephews, Landen and Cale, over for a sleepover.  I am not sure that is the correct lingo when talking with little boys, but that is what we girls call it!.  My girls were EXCITED!  I have learned as the kids have gotten older, that extra kids around the house is not really that much work because they really entertain each other; so you do less entertaining and get more done. 

They arrived for supper on Sunday – pancakes, sausage links, and eggs.  This is a no fail meal in our family, so I knew they would eat well.  After supper, we called Grandma Ediger to come join the fun.  Jeremy had the idea to take them treasure hunting – aka geocaching.  On the way to the park to find the treasure, Cale said, “I didn’t really want to come to your house, but this is fun.”  I am pretty sure the idea of coming to a house of girls is not too exciting; I am glad we could break through!  We walked through the entire woods – muddy spots and all.  Until we finally spied it hiding under a log!  (Jeremy took a picture on his phone, but I haven’t gotten them on the computer yet…)

We explained the geocaching rule: If you take something, you have to leave something.  Jeremy had brought a little something for everyone to leave, so they all got to pick out their treasure.  Cale picked out a marble; Landen chose a matchbox car; Madison took a (broken) beaded bracelet; and Ellie stuck with the Shrek toy Jeremy had given her to exchange.  (One man’s junk is another man’s treasure, right?) 

We ran on home, jumped in the bathtub (two girls, then two boys), got some drinks, read 4 books (one for each), and settled in on the floor beds. 

The next morning they were up by 7:02; I am not sure if they all woke up then or if Madison woke them.  Either way, they came down and were ready for breakfast.  I got cereal for some, reheated pancakes for others. 

Everyone got dressed for the day.  Then, the big event:  We all walked Cale to school!

I wasn’t sure how long it would take, so we got there plenty early.  This ended up being really good because I forgot to bring Cale’s lunch with us for his field trip.  The little ones and I marched back home.  I left them with Jeremy and ran (literally) back up to the school with the lunch.  I thought it was no big deal since I got it there by the start of the school day.  BUT the school had already called my brother to check on the missing lunch – oh, the incompetent sitter I looked like!  Oh, well, it was all fine.

The rest of the day the kids played with stuffed animals and babies upstairs while I changed the bed sheets and cleaned up floor beds.  Then, they helped make cookies and played play-doh.  Then, we went outside to swing and play on the slide.  It was a beautiful day, so we had lunch on the back deck.  They laid down for a nap a little earlier than normal, so that they would all be up in time to go pick up Cale.  I think Landen was the only one that didn’t sleep, but he did stay up in the room. 

    

We walked back up to the school to pick up Cale and play at the playground.  By the time we were ready to leave, Ben and Steph were set to arrive to pick up the boys.  I think everyone had a great time.  It is good to bond with our boy cousins!

The Garden of Eden

Our yard turned into the Garden of Eden a few nights ago.  It was a hot day – sunshine, humidity.  The girls were excited because I had promised them that they could play in the sandbox with water!  That has been unheard of because it has been too cool to do this.  After naps, I hauled water buckets, sand toys, and two very excited girls out to the sand box.  I was going to sit there and just watch as they played, but the tall grass beckoned me to mow it.  They were content for the entire time, plus the time it took to make supper.  It was great!  Jeremy hosed them down outside, and that is when the magic happened :)  Our own Garden of Eden – where there was no shame… and a few cute little tushes!

   

A few days later, they helped Jeremy plant some flowers.  People ask if I garden or plant flowers.  My answer is a resounding, “No, but Jeremy does.”  It is something that he enjoys doing.  I try to keep things alive once they are planted.  This year, I am going to try to weed the garden more frequently, and maybe even can/freeze something… maybe.  The girls enjoy helping Daddy out in the garden or with the planting projects. 

 

On Monday, the rains came down in waves all day long.  While we were eating a late lunch, it poured.  I really wish that we had finished lunch in time to just send them out to play in the rain, but we were a little slow that day.  Instead, after we finished, I sent them out to play in the puddles before nap time.  This time, they could play in all the puddles except the giant mud puddle in our neighbors driveway.  They had a blast running and jumping in the leftover rain.  They had picked out matching dresses that day, and even though I am not a matchy-matchy person, it was pretty cute to watch them play together in the same outfit.  Here are some of my favorite pictures…

Madison’s chance to shine…

Ellie’s chance to shine…

    

Where you go I will follow…

   

And where you jump, I will jump…

    

Sisters…

    

Their “monster” faces…

I am not sure what it is with puddles and kids and pictures.  I take a lot more pictures while they play in the puddles.  I think it must be the unabashed joy that is displayed as the hop, run, dance, and splash.  If we could bottle that up for a bad day, it would do wonders for the soul.  Maybe just glancing back at the blog will do it for me. 

I hope you all fare well with this crazy weather we have been having.  The rain puddles remind me that good can come from the storms.  I know that others have had more than just rain puddles, and I will continue to pray for towns that are hard hit.  Until next time…

Mother’s Day

This was a two-part celebration.  Part one at my mom’s house, I have few pictures from since I neglected to bring the camera.  My parents bought a trampoline for the grandkids and this was its debut.  The kids loved it – even though 6 of the 10 have one at their house!  I had my timer on my watch running non-stop in 10 minute intervals.  Uncle Ben was Ellie’s choice as her bouncing partner.  Only unfortunate because he has the worst knees of all the siblings, I think.  Oh well, she found a sweet connection with Ben. 

There was sidewalk chalk, sand box creations, swings, playhouse time, basketball games, and conversation throughout the night.  Our family is not perfect, but we have fun together and rejoice with each other at milestones, and there were a number of them this time.  We celebrated three birthdays, mother’s day (5 mothers), and one 10 year anniversary.  There was also food – outside! – because the rain held off all afternoon, and the sun even peeked out toward the end of the night.

The next day (Sunday) I went for a morning walk in a light fog – cool and peaceful.  I came home and received two homemade cards and one store bought one … with very thoughtful words added.  We all had breakfast and headed to church for the morning. 

After church, Maynard and Gloria came over.  Jeremy and Maynard had decided they would take on making lunch for us.  They did a fantastic job!  Jeremy put together steak kabobs.  Maynard brought and prepared a green salad; he also surprised us with a DQ ice cream cake. 

   

It was a delicious and relaxing time.  It is not often my husband cooks for me, and I really appreciated a meal off of that responsibility.  A fantastic present – along with a girls’ night out on Friday I had already cashed in!  I enjoyed all parts of the days’ celebrations. 

   

Family Fun Day

P. Graham Dunn, a local business, had their annual Family Fun Day.  We went last year.  It was a beautiful day, and the kids had a blast.  This year, I was excited to see that the day was happening again.  We rushed over right after we attended Wiggles and Rhymes for Madison at the library.  It was windy, overcast, and quite chilly.  It was not as awesome as last year, but I will blame that on the weather.  They had a bounce house again, but it wasn’t as fun this year for either of my kids.They had an inflatable slide this year.  The idea of it is great, but there was no major enforcer there making the kids wait there turn to slide, and as a result, I feared for the life of my kids.  They (mostly) had fun with it nonetheless.

     

They had face painting again.  This is ALWAYS a hit with my girls!  Madison got a butterfly and a bird.  Ellie got a balloon (kinda..)

         

They had s’mores this year since it was in conjunction with a local camp.  The s’mores were delicious, and the fire kept us warm for a brief moment. 

    

They had the train.  Oh, the train.  Madison absolutely LOVES this thing and would ride for hours if she could.  I had high hopes for Ellie this year.  She said she was excited and was brave.  And she did put on a brave face, that as I look at the second picture, really doesn’t look so brave.  At the farthest point, something happened with another kid (rumor was he fell out but was okay).  The delay with that was enough to make Ellie completely lose it.  The “conductor” began to carry her back.  Jeremy took off jogging.  Someone in a van met him halfway.  She tried, what can I say…  Madison still had a blast!

Overall rating?  I look forward to a better year next year, but still worth the outing this year.