Swimming!

When I think of summer I think of swimming, swimming, and even more swimming. Well let's just say my kids are probably going to think the same thing.  We have started off the summer by a trip to the pool almost every day. As I mentioned the kids are in swim lessons during the week. We then hang out at the pool for a few hours after since my kids can't seem to get enough of the water. They have improved remarkably and I am so very proud of them. Whitaker can jump in and kick to me a few feet now and Mae can breath while kicking.

Here are photos from the first day of swim lessons and the first day of swim lessons the second week. As you can see from the first set Whitaker stopped to eat the first time. I think the first time he only participated maybe 8 minutes total. Since then he swims the whole time and semi listens to instructions! Mae always seems to need to use the bathroom but oh well!

Photos from the second week of swim lessons. 

Playing Catchup

In case you were wondering we are still without AC and the basement is still  uninhabitable but in the meantime we are trying to forget about the current state of our living situation and keep on living. Mae has been out of school for over two weeks and it is great to have her around all day, albeit, a little more exhausting taking both kids everywhere. I forgot how easy it was to take only one kid to the grocery store or to the bank or to the post office or to run any errand. 

Over the last two weeks, we have spent a fair amount of our time at the pool. My parents still belong to our childhood pool so we have been working on our swimming a fair amount. I also put the kids in swim lessons all last week and we are doing it again this week.  It is everyday for a half hour. I am committed to both the kids learning to really swim this summer and I am hoping with going every single day for two weeks we will see some real difference. I have already seen a difference in one week. 

Mae also had her last dance class, where they got their costume for their recital, which is coming up this weekend. Here is Mae in her costume. 

We also went to the zoo. We got to see the baby panda for over 30 minutes. Even though animals in glass cages doesn't make me feel good this was so cute I couldn't resist being excited to see the little guy. 

We also hit up this really cool trampoline place one day when it was raining. 

Mae got her first manicure and pedicure.

And as I said we have been at the pool almost every day! 

Smelly Boys

The other morning I woke up at 5 am to go do a track workout. As I was getting ready Mae came out of her room at 5:06. Unacceptable to be awake at the hour if you are younger then 30. Instead of trying to convince her to go back to her bed, I picked her up and put her in our bed next to Pearson.

Me: Mae, lay down and cuddle with Daddy. It is too early to be up and you need to go back to bed. 
Mae: I don't want to sleep with Daddy he smells bad. 
Me: Oh that might be true but you are too young to be worried about those thing. 

Hopefully she thinks boys smell bad when she is 16.

CURSED

I was planning on sitting down and writing a post about what the first week and half has been like without Mae at school. If you really wanted to know, it has been awesome (and exhausting!) but I will write about it hopefully by tomorrow. Instead I am going to tell you about the cursed house we are renting. Yet again something has broken and this time it is the AC. We have had the AC running for 24 hours now and it is almost 80 degrees in here. This place is cursed. And I am just thoroughly annoyed, stressed out, and most importantly HOT. 

Whitaker's Birthday Day

Just wanted to recap how we spent our big little dude's birthday. It was filled with lots of presents, smiles from the birthday boy and love. When we asked Whit what type of party he wanted for his birthday and who he wanted to be there, he rolled off our family and our neighbors. That is all. So instead of throwing a big shindig we decided to adhere to his wishes and keep his guest list to those he wanted. 

We started the morning off with presents from Grandma C and us. Then our neighbors and family came over for a BBQ and a water balloon fight. All in all, it was all about the birthday boy, which is the way it should be. 

Opening up a bug book and bug stuff from Grandma C. She really knows what he is into. 

Sitting outside in the morning waiting for us to give him his present. 

A BIKE! (And this is the only time he has ridden it. He really has no interest in being on it). 

Mae has definitely ridden the bike more then Whit. 

Mae and Cassidy

Will sporting tattoos. These were a gift from Grandma C and everyone wanted some. 

The kids sans Mae. 

You think he has to go to the bathroom. 

Boy Cousins

The crew again sans Mae. 

Mae finally in the photo. She was absent because she forgot to put on her bathing suit. 

Water Balloons. 

Cake! 

Making a wish. 

My parents got Whit his very own set of golf clubs and this adorable golf hat! 

Whitaker telling the rules of using his clubs. 

THREE!!

Whitaker turned three today. THREE!!! Wowzers. I feel like a blink ago he was being put into my arms…then a blink ago he turned one, then turned two…

My Dearest Whitaker,

You are such a unique, energetic, curious, pedal to the metal, humorous, stubborn, confident, manly and loving boy. You have given me the opportunity to fall in love all over again with a boy and have taught me some valuable lessons in patience. I love you to the moon and back and thank my lucky stars that you entered our lives three years ago. I couldn't imagine a world without you. Thank you for being my son.

Love always, Your Mom