Pool

We've spent a lot of time in our bathing suits this summer. Between the pool and the lake, the kids have become masters of the water. 

The best thing that happened to Warner for swimming was last summer, when I forgot his puddle jumper at the lake after July 4th. Without the assistance of floaties back at our neighborhood pool, he realized he could touch in the shallow end and developed a confidence in the water he otherwise wouldn't have found. I probably wouldn't have suggested he swim without assistance last summer either, but it just sort of happened and I'm happy it did.

This summer he has completely mastered swimming. Well, for a four year-old. He can swim the entire length of the pool by himself, retrieve toys from the bottom of the pool, and is working on diving. He can even have underwater tea parties with me but I'm guessing that won't last long since it's not a very masculine thing to do. I loved underwater tea parties as a kid. They were right up there with Marco/Polo. Remember that game? I can't wait to teach my kids that one too.

Maren still wears her puddle jumper in the big pool but is a free woman in the baby pool (which she enjoys immensely). We've practiced swimming in the big pool without her floaties, but just on the steps so far. She's not tall enough to touch bottom so I'm guessing we'll be working harder on swimming next summer when she's grown a bit more.

My sweet girl is rough and tumble and completely girly all at the same time. So while she insists on wearing matching bathing suits and hats and having her hair pulled back while at the pool, she can also do a mean cannonball. She has no fear in life, and water is no different. 

We're so blessed to have a pool in our neighborhood and have certainly gotten our money's worth for the small association dues we pay! I told Kevin once about how great the kids were getting at swimming and he said "well anyone will be good at something they do for ten hours each day!" Funny, but practically true. We've spent plenty of days from 10am until 4pm at the pool this summer.

Generally we pack a lunch and/or snacks for pool days, and of course the kids insist on keeping to our typical routine with each visit. We have to put our things at the same table and chairs, pack the same food, eat and swim at a certain time, etc. The kids love eating lunch picnic-style on the ground and if I bring Pirate's Booty for a snack you'd think I'd given each of them a million dollars. It's the small things in life, I suppose.

Unfortunately with Labor Day coming up our pool days are numbered. It's been a fun summer and I'm excited to see what next summer brings for my little fish.

Fair

I am really behind on my blogging. We went to the Boone County fair two weeks ago. Better late than never, right?

The kids love the rides at the fair. It puzzles me how the little rides that go in circles can still be entertaining for our 3 and almost 5 year-olds, but they could ride them for hours (and did!).

This year's new development was Warner's interest in the games. Again, puzzling why a little stuffed animal prize is so enticing to children, but my kids would have played every game there if we allowed them.

They played a fishing game and each chose a prize: fish for Warner and a carrot for Maren. What's funny is Maren hates carrots. Go figure.

Kevin and I rode a few rides with the kids including the carousel and a "big kid" ride that went in circles, over bumps, really fast. I laughed the whole time. I love rides (mystery solved as to why our kids love them too).

The kids each got to chose a treat. For Maren it was cotton candy, and for Warner a carmel apple. We watched the horse show while they ate. The kids loved watching the horses and riders. In fact, after they finished their food we suggested they ride a few more rides, to which Warner replied: "but we need to stay and finish watching the horse show!".

We stayed entirely too late but the kids were being so good and having such a great time. It was past dark by the time we left, but worth the late bedtime.

Zoo

We took a trip to the Zoo with Aunt Leslie, Abby, and Ashley this week and had a blast. I think we've gone to the Zoo together each summer since the kids were born, but this was definitely our best trip yet. We arrived around 10:30 and left at 4:30 so to say we sufficiently wore out my children would be an understatement. Both were asleep two minutes after getting in the car to drive home.

The "Zoo Olympics" were going on and we got to catch a few of the "events" including the cougar long jump and sea lion volleyball. The kids also each fed the giraffes.

There is also a new turtle exhibit where you can touch Galapagos turtles. Very cool.

We had a great trip with great cousins (and Aunt). Thanks, Whitakers!

 

 

Gardening Woes

I can hardly call myself a gardener. I don't love playing in the dirt, don't pour over gardening magazines or blogs, and Kevin has to remind me to water/weed/tend to my garden constantly. And it's really an eyesore in our backyard for about 10 months out of the year. In fact last winter we tried composting, so in addition to the large pile of dirt that I see straight out my kitchen window every day, I also got to peer upon leftover kitchen scraps while doing the dishes. Awesome.

It's not that I don't enjoy having a garden, because I really do. I absolutely love the idea of a garden, and there are a few choice moments each summer that keep me planting again each spring. Moments like watching the kids run to the edge of the garden (days after planting) to see if anything is growing. Moments like Warner bringing his little wheelbarrow up the hill, full of cherry tomatoes that he has picked. Moments when the kids pick green beans with me, yelling "I found a BIG one, Mommy!".

This summer has been the worst yet for my poor little garden. We've had NO rain and I've been terrible at watering. And then there's the animal situation. The fence around our garden has ceased to keep critters out, so although our woodland friends are well-fed, my family has not enjoyed much food from our garden. Why even bother? I'm pretty sure buying produce at Kroger is a very nice alternative.

Last night the kids and I gathered the few green beans and tomatoes that our garden has produced over the past week or so. Warner and Maren picked nearly all the vegetables, broke the beans, and washed everything themselves. As we sat down to dinner and Kevin asked the kids if the green beans were good, they both said enthusiastically: "Oh yeah. These are the best ever".

So it looks like I'll be planting a garden again next year.

Family Pictures

My friend Katie (Kathryn Marie Photography) took our family pictures at Ault Park a few weeks ago. She did our family photos last year around this time so I'm not sure why I didn't learn that summer isn't the best time to ensure non-sweaty-looking-pictures. Despite the heat we had a blast and have some wonderful pictures to show for it!

 

 

  

Of course now I have to choose which ones to print for frames. I'm thinking I don't have enough frames for all of the cuteness Katie captured.  

Happy Birthday, Princess Maren

We celebrated Maren's 3rd birthday last week at the condo. The birthday girl requested all things Princess, along with pink and purple. The outcome: a pink and purple princess cake.

I was so excited to make this cake for Maren since I remember having one myself as a little girl. I studied up on how to assemble the cake by watching a video on YouTube and was all set until my second batch of icing came out too runny and the cake wasn't tall enough for the princess's freakishly long legs. After a few panicked moments, a lot of time in the fridge and freezer (for the cake, not me!), and a lot of luck, the cake turned out great.

I'm sure Maren wouldn't have minded if the cake wasn't perfect, but us mothers want things just right for our little princesses. She was very excited about the end result and also approved of the pink streamers and pink and purple balloons for decorations. Although she did point out the white balloons I included, telling me she just wanted pink and purple. Whew. This girl knows what she wants.

The party was small, with Kevin's parents, his sister and her family, and my parents there. Maren was delighted to see her family and when everyone arrived she exclaimed "It's my birthday party today! Happy birthday to ME!"

The birthday girl opened a ton of presents, mostly revolving around the princess/dress-up theme. Here she is getting dressed up as Princess Belle:

Kevin and I got Maren a ballet leotard and shoes so she can start dance this fall. Although I'm pretty sure she's going to be disappointed if she can't wear a tiara to dance class.

Happy birthday, Maren!