Randoms...

Just a few random thoughts from the week --

1. We've had a blast this week. It's our official first week of summer break with no real obligations except to play, explore, and have a blast. Monday we went to the Science Center, Tuesday we went to the zoo, Wednesday we went to Adventureland, and today we went to the pool. Swimming turned out to be especially fun today! We ended up meeting up with so many friends -- the Burkles (Ben, Michelle and Tessa), the Laundervilles (Michelle, Nicholas and Caden) and the Harris' (Danyel, Walker and Ryan). The water was freezing, but man, they had a blast! In fact, they had so much fun, we just may go back again tomorrow. What a charmed life Katherine and Caleb lead! LOL!

2. After talking to Danyel (and watching practice again tonight), I am much more comfortable with the competitive gymnastics thing. Tonight there were 7 girls in the class, and one more that I know of -- she's a little girl from Katherine's last class who is on vacation this week. Katherine is all about hard core gymnastics training versus the "fun" recreational side. She's fine with strength training, the endless drills, the form of it all... To her, getting better is fun, not doing random tricks that look horrible. From what I know, at least half the class (2 that I knew previously, and the other 2 from moms that I was talking to tonight) is going into first grade in the fall, so they're a whole year older that Katherine. Danyel has convinced me that age is irrelevant from now on, so I'm trying to put it out of my mind.

3. A tornado warning sent us to the basement about 45 minutes ago, and we just returned. Thankfully, we managed to move both kids and not wake them up! I'm sure they were so tuckered out from swimming, running a few errands, and two full hours of gymnastics that NOTHING would have woken them!

4. Katherine has an amazing memory. Sometimes, she'll say something from ages ago (2+ years) and remember it in great detail, as if it happened last week. Matt and I just look at each other in amazement. Anyway, since she can belt out the Greek alphabet like a little sorority girl, I decided to teach her something useful -- the state song. Everyone remember this from grade school? It's the catchy little tune that goes through all 50 states in alphabetical order. She had it memorized in less than a day, and now belts it out loud and proud.

Why is this noteworthy you ask??? Guess who else is now singing the song? Nope, not Matt... LOL!! Caleb. He can get through most of it by himself -- all of it with help. I was shocked! He's never heard the names of most of the states, but low and behold, put them to a cute little tune and he can sing them all! For a 2.5 year old -- that's pretty good!

5. Matt is leaving Sunday for a conference in Houston. He'll be gone until Thursday night, so next week it's just the kiddos and I. So I'm trying to think of something especially fun that we can do. If anyone has ideas, PLEASE let me know!

I'm off to bed! We're in the middle of a thunderstorm, and there's nothing more relaxing and cozy than listening to the rain... Gotta love it!