Summer Practice

Summer is right around the corner. We're finally getting some warm temps down here, even with the rainstorm dropping 4-5" of rain on us early in the week. We have some summer plans, but we're not quite there yet. Still another week or so before summer really starts.

Last weekend, we went as a family to the pool in our subdivision. The girls showed off their newly learned skills to James. Cadence learned she can walk (on tiptoes) the full length of the shallow end of the pool and both girls willingly went under water for a moment to show off their ability to do so. The pool is only open on weekends until school is out for the summer, so when it got warm today, we went to one of the splashpads instead. Too bad we couldn't stay too long. Just as we were drying off to go, a friend showed up to play. Oh well. I'm sure we'll see them next week.

Megan got a little spritz and decided she was done. She kept me company instead.

Cadence was soaked in a matter of seconds.

Cadence enjoyed herself, but the real fun was watching Connor as he explored. He'd stand at the edge of the splashpad and scream and laugh loudly, then toddle on in. Every time he got hit with water he'd gasp and tense up, then turn around and do it again:

Swim Lessons and at the Park

Our last swim lesson was yesterday afternoon. I'm sure the girls are going to miss going so regularly to the pool, but I do hope to take them to the wading pool our subdivision has once it's open more. They've both improved by leaps and bounds from their first swim lessons last September. Miss Megan, who wouldn't even put her ears in the water, was finally relaxing and Cadence even managed to float by herself (well, she was holding a boogie board) in the final day.

Both girls had scares in the water. Cadence, while holding the boogie board on her back, at one point lost her grip and went under about a week or two ago. Megan attempted to reach for the floating thing that disperses the chlorine tablets and ended up losing her footing on the step and going in over her head for a few seconds before the teacher was able to get to her (she was just out of my reach and by the time I realized that, the teacher was a step away). However, both girls managed to shake it off and still move forward with swim lessons. A little nervous, but they kept at it.

Learning to swim with their ear toward the water. Originially Cadence would have her back arched and her butt high in the air. Her form has improved drastically.

The only pictures I got of Megan. This is when they attempted to coordinate their arms and legs in the proper technique. Megan never got it down, but she certainly gave it her all.

You can't really tell, but the teacher is actually not touching her. She managed to float on her own, which is huge for her since this was the position she was in when she went under 2 weeks ago.

We also went to the park for a playdate with our new ward. It's so nice to have playdates right down the street from us, rather than having to drive 20 minutes. I am slowly but surely getting to recognize people. In the meantime, the kids are enjoying the regular outings and chances to explore new playgrounds. Connor's a daredevil on the playground, but also knows his limits. So he gives me a few scares, but manages to never really come to any harm. Still... I keep an extra close eye on him.

Connor figured out how to use the slide safely.

He did it repeatedly. Next time, he's wearing a onesie so he doesn't have his bare belly against the slide.

Cadence figured out the monkey bars trying them for months. She was so excited she went back and did it again and again until her arms were too tired to do it anymore (even then she kept trying until I convinced her to rest and try again next time we came).

Keepin' Busy!

My recent blog silence has not been due to nothing to report. It's been due to all the things we've been doing instead. I have found the kids to be much happier when we are out doing things, rather than being cooped up all day, so I have tried to keep them busy for the past couple weeks.

So what have we been doing? A little of this, a little of that. A couple playdates with the members of our new ward, a playdate with members from our old ward, a trip to the strawberry farm for some more strawberries.

The girls just finished their third week of swim lessons. I haven't taken pictures yet. Next week is their last week. I'll be sure to get some then. They're doing very well. Megan is finally laying her head back and putting her ears in the water without a fight. Cadence was doing well. Unfortunately, the one time her teacher let her go so she was on her back with the kickboard by herself, she lost her hold and went under. Now she's too nervous for the teacher to let her go (though she's certainly capable!). However, they're both much more confident in the water and I feel comfortable taking them to the wading pool by myself.

It's going to be especially useful having two independent water-walkers when we go to the wading pool, because Connor has no fear of water. In fact, he loves it! We introduced him to splash pads a week ago and he fell in love. When we went to another park yesterday that had one, I could not keep him out of it! By the time we left, he was soaked. Even when a geyser would suddenly turn on full force and get him in the face, one he recovered from the shock of it, he thought it was wonderful. I have the feeling once we're in the wading pool I'll need to give him my almost full attention.

Our final trip this week was back to Froberg Farms. Unfortunately, our most recent trip was not as bountiful as the first. We waded through muddy rows (thanks to the recent downpour) to try to find any stragglers. We followed the direction of the worker saying nearest the sunflowers had a lot of strawberries, but found most of them already being enjoyed by the bugs. People in another field seemed to be having more luck, but by then I was tired of carrying Connor, so we headed back with our half-bucket of strawberries, picked up some smoked sausage, a fresh cucumber, and two small pies. And later, we picked up a container of whipped cream and had strawberries and cream for dessert. Mmm.

Next week is just as busy! Swim lessons, a trip to the zoo, another park playdate... Summer will be just as exciting, I hope. I have my eye on some gymnastics classes, the playdates should continue, and there's also the summer movie club that has $1 movie tickets for some not-so-new-releases each week.

And in only three months, we go to Silverlake Elementary to meet Cadence's kindergarten teacher!!!

Another Zoo Picture Dump & Run

As a side note... I really need a new camera. My Canon PowerShot is great, but it's also been dropped a couple thousand times and the viewing screen is broken. My birthday's a few months away. Time to start researching for an upgrade. ;-)

But, that's neither here, nor there. We went to the zoo and had another nice morning. Perfect weather for it!

Cadence isn't quite tall enough for the chimp face.

Cadence wanted to take a picture.

Playing ring-around-the-rosie

Riding the carousel (again).

Managed to snag a carousel bench so I could sit.

Loving the "swans"

Connor admiring the ducks.

Oh! And I forgot to post the girls' haircut pictures. In case you didn't notice, last weekend the girls insisted on having their hair cut to be short like mine. I protested because I love playing with their long hair, but they kept asking, so I finally gave in. Here are the shots I posted on Facebook shortly after my haircut and their's.