swim class success

Well, success might be a bit of an overstatement, but after Monday and yesterday, I'm going with it. Yesterday, as I suspected, Josie refused to get in the water at the start of class. When I agreed to sit with her on the top step, she promised to watched her class without crying. But that was all she did... no eye contact with the teachers, no answering questions. And absolutely, positively no smiling.

Thankfully, today was much better. She stayed in the pool the whole time (with me sitting on the top step) and might have even accidentally answered a question or two. She still refused to let her teachers touch her at all, so there was no back float or front glide practicing. But, she did practice kicks on her own and was sad to go home at the end because "it was so fun" (her words, not mine). I'm sure the 80+ degree temps didn't hurt either.

[Although I wouldn't classify Josie as shy per se, situations like this do remind me that she's quite cautious trying new things, and around new adults. I think she got freaked out on the first day of class when (in my opinion) the teachers brought the kids too far into the water and she started to lose her balance. They weren't holding her hands, so I was feeling a bit nervous as well. I think (hope) some pool time during our vacation next week will really help her get more comfortable in the water.]

(Monday and yesterday were definitely both two thumbs down)

all food, all the time

I've had a startling realization: All 3 of my kids (and their whole menagerie of friends) eat more than they did last summer. A lot more. I feel like my whole day is spent making food for them to consume. I've been to the grocery store every single day of summer break so far. And I have another list started for when I go again this evening.

All of this food preparation (and did I mention the laundry?) has left little time for much else. Sprinkle in the twice-daily swim lessons, playdates & preschool, and I feel like my life as I knew it just last week has ended. Don't get me wrong... for now, I'm enjoying the intense amount of kid time. Everyone's having fun; there's definitely a "summer vibe" in the air.

But I absolutely reserve the right to have a change of heart in a few days. I know myself and I'll crack eventually.

happy fathers' day!

Josie: "Happy Fathers' Day!"

Andrew: "Thanks, Josie."

J: "I wasn't talking to you! I was talking to her! Happy Fathers' Day, Mama!"

* * * * *

Happy Fathers' Day to all you stellar, hard-working dads out there!

...and even you slacker, ordinary ones.

someone needs to sign this girl up for a dance class

I just found these two treasures on my phone. The first is from our beach trip a few weeks back and the second is from the Father/Daughter Dance (when it was just getting started and everyone else was standing off to the side of the room being shy).

confession

I have a confession to make. I watched a 2-hour long episode of The Bachelorette last night, but only out of complete desperation. We got rid of our cable about 500 years ago and I just needed to veg out on the couch and watch something. After flipping through the channels (all 11 of them) about a dozen times, the TV got stuck on channel 2. So, you see, I really had no choice in the matter. Fate determined it was Ali, The Bachelorette for me.

Part two of my confession: I have to watch again next week, and probably the week after that, and maybe the week after that...

Seriously, it was the most entertaining thing I've seen on TV in a long time (which isn't really saying much, unfortunately). Not like quality entertaining, more like hilarious, train-wreck entertaining. With lines like, "I'm taking these guys (plural, of course) around the world to see if I can fall in love" and, "I'm here to find my future husband; I just know he's in that room," how could you not love it?

The best part though, by far, was the poor guy (Casey? Does it really even matter?) who freaked Ali out a little with the repetition of his cheesy lines ("I'm here to guard and protect your heart") and his spontaneous little ditties about how he picks her to be one-and-only and will she please pick him? When she told him that she just wanted him to be "cute, fun and genuine" and to lighten up a bit, he went right out and got a tattoo on his arm for her.

He totally chickened out when it was time to show her the tattoo, so that's where the need to watch next week's show comes in. I'm dying to see how awkward the reveal is, if he gets up the nerve to show her.

last day of school, part two

• saying good bye to a couple of great teachers
• packing backpacks with of a whole year's worth of... stuff
• after-school gelato fundraiser (in the rain!)
• Tuesday playdate, like every other Tuesday of the year
• part one found here

wahclella falls

We got a little sneak peek of summer this past weekend, and couldn't resist getting out and enjoying it! We headed east, into the gorge, to Wahclella Falls. I wouldn't believe that's how it was really spelled if the sign wasn't right there.

There is a one-mile hike back to the waterfall from the parking lot... a hike described as "so very easy" by the website linked to above. Maybe for adults, but I'm not sure that's the classification I would use for the 3-and-under set (or the parent who ends up carrying said member of the 3-and-under set). It gets pretty steep on the way in and the way back out. What luck--uphill both ways!

But it's all worth it for the breath-taking scenery. Between the amazing walls of trees up above and the water down below, I wasn't ever quite sure what I should be looking at, at any given moment. Of course I was taking pictures the whole time on the way in (much to the dismay of my son), which was a challenge at times because it was an odd mixture of extreme sun and extreme shade.

I tried to slow the shutter speed way down to achieve that classic blurry look on some of the rushing water. But, with the crazy amount of sun (downright blinding after a long, dreary winter spring), the slowest shutter speed I could use was ~1/30... even with the aperture and ISO on the lowest possible settings. Crazy, I know.

I'm thinking there will probably be more of these "oh so easy" hikes in our future. If nothing else, they're an excellent way to ensure an early bedtime!

My budding photographer!

Cayden at the end of the trail, at the main waterfall. Finally!

goalie practice

Starting in the fall, Cayden's soccer team will use full-size goals and will have a goalie. His sister had a blast helping to get him prepared for that role today at the park.

talking nicely

J: "I can't get this stupid toy to work."

Me: "Josie, that's not a nice word."

J: "Sorry Mommy. I will talk nicely. As soon as I fix this stupid toy."

diaper cake

My new favorite baby shower gift: a diaper cake! I was so sad to see it go, I had to photograph it from every angle.

julia's baby shower

Yesterday, was baby shower day for my brother- and sister-in-law, Joe and Julia. Thankfully, we have some awesome friends who own an awesome restaurant perfectly suited for such an occasion.

Gifts galore!

Matching his and hers burp cloths are a must for the modern family.

This is a quilt my mother-in-law made for BabyJoeJulia (as Josie calls her)... with embroidery from a pillow that her mother made years ago, and lace that her father brought back from India when he was in the military.

As a test to see how many times I can link back to my own blog posts, here is Baby Eli, who was the guest-of-honor at the last family baby shower.

I had to look back and see when Julia's last shower was... one year, five days earlier! Things sure have changed a lot in a year, but seriously, could she be any cuter???

father/daughter dance

(Once Cayden was done making a mockery of my pictures, he helped serve popcorn. For about 2 minutes.)

this picture makes me happy

Summer is on its way. I can feel it in my bones.