Smiling Mom

Text Mes­sage:

Me: Nonnie’s dead.

Him: Call me!

Me: Never mind. Damn hams­ter is still alive

Him: Uhhh. Big Difference!!!!

Me: Ya. You wouldn’t have got­ten a text for that. Duh!!

Him: Dork.

Him: I was all excited.

(about the hams­ter, not about my mom…let’s cla­rify.)

Me: Me too I poked it and she didn’t res­pond.  I think she’s on her way out though.  Cros­sing fingers.

Things get a little tricky when your son names his hams­ter after your mom!

Ima­gine my sur­prise today when my dar­ling four year old son says to my impres­sio­na­ble two year old daugh­ter, “See that eClaire?  That’s out­fit is sexy.  It’s SO sexy!”

?????? Um, ok.…

I actually disa­gree!!    I believe this is sexy.  Oh and so is this.  And oddly, this as well…

But my first link is sexy enough to be revi­si­ted here.

Huh?  Don’t you agree!  SEXY!!!

Since both of our chil­dren were under a year we’ve have them par­ti­ci­pa­ting in once a week swim les­sons.  A year ago when Hubby hurt his shoul­der, all our swim­ming fun came to an end.

Having kids close together in age has so many pros, but in the case of swim lessons…not so much.  Two swim­ming babies equals the need for two parents to manage.  With one parent down for the count, we chose to take a break.

This past sum­mer we spent many hours in or around water.  It took us no time to rea­lize that our much enjo­yed break from les­sons has put our kids behind the curve in the pool.  It still requi­res two focu­sed parents to swim with our 4 and 2 1/2 year old at all times.  BC, at this point, should be a bit more inde­pen­dent than he is.  With his per­so­na­lity, deter­mi­na­tion, and drive, he has poten­tial of being a great swim­mer in no time at all.  Yet he’s not.

Recently BC’s deve­lo­ped some pretty bad habits such as his intense love for the doggy-paddle. (Head up, bent arms, feet kic­king below the water) And although this new found skill helps him get to the side of the pool in an emer­gency, it’s the antithe­sis of how he should be swimming.

In addi­tion to BC’s new found love for the paddle, eClaire has taken this year to step out of her fear­ful shell that she once lived in and now is out­going, exci­ted, and con­fi­dent in and around the water.  She kicks with ease to the side of any pool.  Her tech­ni­que looks good and she has shown more pas­sion for swim­ming than any other sport or acti­vity thus far.

Armed with this know­ledge we took the step of calling up our local swim club.  Their fall swim les­sons are already in full swing, but for­tu­na­tely for us, their hap­pe­ned to be two spots open for my kids at the per­fect time on the per­fect day!  Hurray!!

Star­ting this week, our kids res­tart their swim­ming edu­ca­tion and both Hubby and I can breathe a sigh of relief kno­wing that our chil­dren are once again lear­ning the skills nee­ded to become water safe.

We had the oppor­tu­nity to tag along with my dad to his ins­ti­tu­tes in Indian Wells, Cali­for­nia.  His team an he have a power­ful mes­sage they are sha­ring with teachers and prin­ci­pals throughout the country.  Their mes­sage of No Excu­ses, and the notion that not only every child CAN learn, but should be lear­ning.  And it’s our (the schools) job to make that hap­pen.  Power­ful.  Like, change the face of edu­ca­tion power­ful.  I atten­ded a few ses­sions and now feel more of a sense of urgency to get back out to the school site and make chan­ges hap­pen… more on that later.

For now, some pictures.

eClaire han­ging with Aun­tie Ali.

Cou­sin Mika, ham­ming it up.

Cou­sin CJ and BC.  BC’s all, “AAYYY!”

But the majo­rity of our time was spent sit­ting just like this in the pool, avoi­ding the 110 degree heat.  Gotta love vacation!