Swimming Lessons

For the past two weeks, Chloe has been taking swimming lessons at the local city pool.  She is our little water girl- half fish, we're pretty sure- and has been begging to take swimming lessons for months and months.  She has been thrilled that every morning for 2 weeks she gets to go play in the water.  This is her first swimming lesson ever and is doing pretty well- she has absolutely no fear!  There isn't a part of the lesson that she doesn't like, but I think her favorite is jumping into the pool. 

For the first day of lessons, she was the only one in her class.  Wahoo!  Private lessons!  The next day, another little girl joined her class and that has been fun for her too. 

I love this picture- look at that form!  We are fairly sure that she will always be obsessed with water and swimming and I will be shocked if she is not in some water sport in high school. 

Mitch wishes he could get in the pool too, but is content to play in the lockers while Chloe showers afterwards.  We're hoping that this trend of hiding in lockers doesn't carry over to junior high and high school..... with his size, you'd think he would be the one picking on the weak ones and stealing the lunch money, but if he follows after his dad, he may spend many an afternoon crouched in a tight space......

Pregnant Belly Art

Yesterday morning, Chloe had her notebook and pen out and was drawing pictures of people.  She made a very cute little sketch of Mitchell, and upon seeing it, I requested that she draw a picture of me, pregnant (just curious to see how I look to her with my belly).  Well, apparently, that is all she sees when she looks at me- my belly.  Below is "Mom" by Chloe- just one big baby belly.

(I wonder if this is how everyone sees me??)

Boys & Frogs

What is it with boys and frogs?  For the past few years, Ben has been obsessed with catching frogs and letting the kids play with them.  This past weekend, he took Chloe down to our neighborhood pond to catch fish, but when they had no luck, they tried their hand at catching frogs and caught a huge bullfrog!  They met Mitch and I at the nearby park for dinner and after eating, Mitch played with the frog.  He had no fear and was obsessed with poking its eyes.  It was pretty funny.  As the video clip shows, he also desperately wanted to kiss the frog (his mean mom wouldn't let him).

Frogs and snails and puppy dog tails- that's what little boys are made of!

Preschool Graduation

Chloe graduated from preschool 2 weeks ago, although since she is only 4, she will be going back to this same preschool next year for round 2.  But we are still proud of her for all of the hard work she has done this year and the maturity that she has gained.  She has really grown up this past year and preschool was one of the big reasons for that.

They had an end of the year celebration/graduation ceremony at our local Super Jump.  Chloe loved the inflatable toys and huge slide.

Here she is going down the slide with her teacher and a few friends.

Mitch found a ball game and played there most of the time.

After playing hard, the kids got together and sang the parents a few of the songs they have learned the past year.  It was so cute.

Here is Chloe with her fabulous teacher Miss Cindy.  Chloe adores her and I'm so glad she will get to go back next year to her class.  Her teacher made each of the kids a Graduation Certificate and then wrote each child a personalized message on the back.  I will share what she wrote about Chloe because she captured her perfectly!

"Chloe is a joy to have around!  She is always in the middle of a crowd, easily engaging with every personality, both boys and girls.  I enjoy seeing her mothering instincts and its fun to see her take charge-personality that the other kids are happy to follow.  Chloe has become more confident in getting in front of a group.  Its been a long time since I've seen her adorable "hands-covering-her-face" when the spotlight is on her.  She loves to take part in all of our varied activities and works hard at everything, from tracing letters to painting and crafts.  It will be great having Chloe in preschool again next year!  I love you Chloe!!"

We love Chloe too and are so proud of her!

The ended the party with pizza and cake.  Chloe can't wait until September when she gets to go back to preschool again!

Summer Time!

With some warm summer weather finally here, we have been enjoying every minute that we can!  Here are some of our favorite summer activities so far.

We bought this little double camping chair at a garage sale this year and the kids love it.  It has been put to good use eating ice cream cones on hot afternoons on the porch.

Last year's purchase of the $10 wading pool is still a hit this year and the kids can entertain themselves in it for quite some time.

Here they are in it almost exactly one year ago, last June.

A pool is a perfect place to enjoy a sticky popcicle.

We have been eating watermelons like crazy the past few months.   Chloe picks out the melon, and Mitch verifies that it is a good one.

Yep Dad, it passes!

The kids love the local sprinkler park.  Thank goodness Mitchell is walking or this would not have been as fun of an activity.

We have also enjoyed going on bike rides as a family.  Chloe can finally ride her own bike this year and that has been so fun.  Mitch is now the lone man in the bike trailer and loves it.  Just don't tell him his sister's hand-me-down bike helmet has pink flowers all over it.... I suspect from the look on his face he already knows!