10 today

Hmmm, what to blog about. At first I thought, "we haven't really been up to much" but then I realized, that's so not true. I feel like we've been go, go, go for the past couple of weeks. Doing what? I really can't say. But we have been busy. So much so, I'm actually going to try for a 10 on Thursday post :)

1. The kids started swimming lessons about 2 weeks ago and are doing great. It's such a dramatic change from last year. I remember last year signing them up and making, no forcing, them to go to the first two or three classes. It was a total disaster. I guess they just weren't ready. This year, it's a totally different story. I've really seen a big increase in Miss C's confidence over the past year or so and I'm really proud of her. That of course trickles down to her little brother. He pretty much will do anything as long as she is involved. My goal this year is to get Miss C off the life vest and swimming on her own. I think she can do it. Little J, he's probably still a little too young, but I bet he gets pretty close by the end of the summer. He's already getting the idea of the crawl stroke and is pretty fearless for a 3 year old in the water.

2. The pool opened the weekend of May 15th (weekends only) and we've been probably 5 or 6 times already. The kids love it and I suspect we are going to be poolside just about all summer long. That's fine with me! Miss C will now slide down the "big slide" all by herself. I wish I had a picture of it, but I'm a little scared to take the camera to the pool. This would be a great time to get a little point and shoot for such occasions. Anyway, we wait at the bottom for her just in case, but she has started to not need our help. It's kind of funny because she already has the eye roll and the, "but daaaaaaaaad, I don't need your help!". I guess put us in the category of lame parents who just get in the way.

3. Miss C also jumps off the side of the pool into the deep end all by herself. She can swim well with the life vest and is comfortable going under water. Little J will jump off the side, but still prefers that we catch him.

4. A couple of weeks ago I took Little J out for a mini photo shoot for his 3rd birthday. It was spur of the moment and the cooperation was a little lacking. Of course I pulled out all the bribes, but they don't seem to have the same effectiveness as they do with Miss C. I'm going to have to find a new tactic. But I'm happy with the ones that I did get. They are just so him.

This is so typical him with his hands on his hips. Little stinker. This is the pose right before you are going to be blasted with lasers like the enemy you are. Isn't that nice?!
Can you tell he is sooooo over this?! Sadly, this was about 5-10 minutes into the whole thing too.
5. It looks like Little J might have picked up an imaginary friend. I think Miss C was about the same age when she picked up Consurey (or however you spell it). I'm not sure if it will stick or not, but last night he was talking about his brother. His brothers name is Abley (pronounced Ah-blei). Why do my kids always pick these names that no one knows how to spell? Anyway, he is apparently 5 years old and goes to school. He also wasn't feeling well last night and had to go to the doctor and get a shot. The shot was of course orange in color. I hope he sticks around for awhile because he seems like a nice kid. I love that they both have the imagination to have imaginary friends!

6. I just checked a friend's blog and she has a shiny new look. I'm so jealous! I need to do something about this blog. I'm tired of complaining about it and saying I'm going to do something about it. Just sh*t or get off the pot already. I just don't think it suits me anymore. Plus the pictures on her look like crap-ola. Nothing at all how they look in print or how they look on the computer after I edit them. I suspect it's a color space issue, but talking color space is like talking greek to me. I just don't get it.

7. Miss C went to a birthday party last week (her first drop off party--and let me tell you, I can get used to that idea!) and needed to wear her "best" dress. After searching her closet, she selected this one. This dress is almost 30 years old and I wore it when I was about her age. The elastic looping for the buttons in the back is a little shot and it did "yellow" a little, but otherwise, it's in great shape. I had to get a few pictures of her in it. I only wish that I had pictures of me wearing it too. Maybe if it survives the next 30 years, we can have pictures of her little girl wearing it.

8. Miss C "graduates" from pre-k next Thursday. She won't be attending kindergarden in the fall due to her birthday, but it's still an exciting time. I think next year when she graduates T-K it will be a lot harder. But for now, I'm happy to have her stay little for a little while longer.

9. Little J and Miss C will be attending a couple of camps this summer. I'm a little nervous about sending Little J. He wants so badly to go to school and the summer camp will be a good introduction, but I'm a little worried about how he is going to do. I'm sure it will be fine and I'm glad he will have a few little week long introductions before he stars in the fall.

10. We had Little J's birthday party two weekends ago and it was a huge success. I'll try to motivate and get some pictures up soon!