This is the first time all day that I've a chance to sit down for more than 2 minutes. It's been one of those crazy, jam packed, fun filled summer days that absolutely wear me out!
Katherine and Caleb are in swimming lessons this week, and LOVE them! If they could go every day of the summer, they'd be all for it! I have them signed for "private" swimming lessons at a house a few miles from home. The lessons and teachers are good, but the house.... not so much. They have 5 big dogs and let's just say that with the heat and humidity we've been having, the smell can get pretty overwhelming. Totally gross. Oh, and I'm sure the dogs are in the pool every chance they get. Disgusting.
This will be the last year for this type of set up. We've been thinking of joining a local country club for a while now, and decided against it this year because Andrew is a little fire-cracker. He's full of energy, trying to keep up with Katherine and Caleb, and most days a total gong-show. It's just not a good scenario. The country club can wait. We'll join in time for next summer when Andrew is a year older, and Katherine and Caleb are a little more self-sufficient. Until then, we're swimming with the dogs! LOL.
After swimming lessons, we rushed home, changed clothes and headed downtown. Katherine had an art class at 10:30, so while she was there, I took the boys to a rose garden by the art center (it's the same place I took the pictures for our Christmas card). The boys had a blast. We walked around for almost two hours, enjoying the morning. All the while, Andrew walked at my side and held my hand. Several times, I looked over to find Caleb holding his other hand. So sweet! It was definitely one of those moments that I wish time could stand still... They boys threw rocks into the water, chased butterflies, picked me some "beautiful flowers" aka - dandelions, and discovered a super exciting pile of poop.... which Caleb insisted was much too big for a deer. It had to belong to something much larger like a buffalo or bear! LOL.
After we picked Katherine up from her art class, we stopped by my parent's house and had Morgan come over for a play date. On the way home, we picked up lunch and they had a little picnic on the deck.
From 3 - 4:30 Katherine had gymnastics. She's doing so well. She's getting stronger, more confident, and her form is improving each day. On Monday, she was ridiculously close to getting her kip which is a HUGE deal, but just didn't quite get over the bar. But wow.... she's close. One quick note... at most gyms around the country, (including the site I attached for those of you who don't know what a kip is), they use various training aides to help the kids "feel" the motion and help them get over the bar. At Chow's... that just doesn't happen. They don't use gimmicky aides to help the kids. The theory is that if the gymnast isn't strong enough, she shouldn't be attempting the skill. Therefore, no aides of any kind are necessary. And down the line it makes perfect sense. Our girls don't show up at meets with bandages all over their arms, hands, legs and feet. No - they've endured more conditioning than you'd ever believe, and as a result don't suffer injuries like other gymnasts. So, when she finally gets over the bar with straight arms, I'll be the first to report it. Until then, she'll keep trying to muscle herself over that bar!
So.... on the way home from gymnastics, Andrew fell asleep. I carried him in the house, and put him in bed. He slept until 7:30 and then woke up super crabby. The poor kid was starving. I fed him and he downed the grill cheese like he'd never seen food before. Katherine had a birthday party at 6 at a neighbor's house, and Caleb and I just played together. It was so nice to spend some good one-on-one time with him. I bought the kids a super cool magnetic ball set that we played with for well over an hour. We built all sorts of structures and conducted experiments with magnets.
It was a great day with the kids. All we did was play and spend time together. This is what life is all about. Oh, and if you're wondering where Matt was in all this... he's in Canada on a business trip! We miss him, but will see him on Friday when he returns home for the weekend! Woo-hoo!
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