Vacation Bible School

The older 2 kiddos are in vacation bible school this week. What a great program! Every day they come home all excited, can't wait to go back the next day. Gotta love that! They seem to be learning some good concepts, though they refrain from telling me too much, because I am supposed to 'wait until Sunday, mom!'

Luke is having an interesting week. He got to spend Monday with Ms. Carly and 4 other toddlers, Tuesday with Ms. Carly all to himself, today with my wonderful neighbor across the street, tomorrow he gets me all to himself and then Friday with GRAM, who he can't get enough of. Luke really loves one-on-one time, since he rarely gets it. I am excited to have individual time with him, because he gets the opportunity to talk, uninterrupted. It's very cute to see what a little chatterbox he turns into!

Car Conversations

The car (really SUV) is the location of many interesting conversations between the children. Here is a snippet:

Cooper: Mommy, where is my pencil?

Natalie: Cooper shot me with his pencil.

Cooper: No, I did not!

Natalie: Mommy, Cooper shot me with his pencil.

Cooper: I did not Mommy! What are you talking about Natalie?

Natalie: You. Shot. Me. With your pencil.

Cooper: No, I did NOT. When?

Natalie: You shot me with your pencil when we were playing doctor. You know, like how a doctor gives a shot?

Cooper: Oh, yea, I did. So?

Natalie: Mommy, Cooper's pencil is in the other car. What is 9 + 8?

(She is Queen of Random!)



Here's what happens when Luke tries to get in on all the talking:

Luke: La-li tha her thu!

Natalie: Be quiet LUKE.

Luke: Mommy! Mommy! Mommmm-mee!
LA-LI THA HER THU!!!

Natalie: Nu-uh mommy.

Luke: Mommy, La-li thuck her thumb!! Top it, La-li!!

Natalie: Luke, you're not the boss of me!

(Luke loves to tattle on Natalie about sucking her thumb.)
Yes, we are working on ceasing this habit, but it is difficult. That will be another post some day, I'm sure.

Happy Father's Day 2008

Happy Father's Day, John! You are the most awesome father that I could hope for these children! You are hands-on and 100% committed to being involved in their development and lives. You don't mind being a jungle gym for them to climb on, a lifeguard for them to swim to, a doctor to bandage their wounds, a handyman to build things with, a coach to cheer them on in their sports and so many other roles. I am so fortunate to have such a wonderful and caring husband who loves our children with all his heart. Thank you for being the great dad that you are!

The first picture is at Cabela's (isn't that where you celebrate Father's Day?). I thought the yaks in the background was a nice touch!


The bottom picture was actually taken Saturday night, because Cooper wanted 'big cookie' for dessert!

Fishing at Pa-pa and Weezie's

We went out to my dad's today to celebrate Father's Day early. The kids LOVE it out there. They have a huge pond with lots of fish, frogs, turtle, ducks and geese. So many fun things to see and feed! We brought 3 little fishing poles and set out to catch some swimming critters. It is quite cute to see the 2 year old reel in a fish only slightly bigger than his hand. Cooper was a pro this time, reeling in fish after fish after fish. He was not a big fan of actually holding the fish, only if he held it by the string. Natalie caught a few and decided she was all done and just wanted to play with Weezie, inside. The fish were good sports, they played the game of jumping on the line within a minute of each time the kids would drop it into the water. After the fishing expedition, Pa-pa and the boys set out for a tour around the pond in the golf cart. Natalie entertained Weezie with her backpack and all its wonderful contents.

Once it started raining, the kids kind of went nuts, running around the house making all sorts of noise. The kind of noise where you start counting kids, because surely 3 kids could not make that much noise??

Story time at The Ballpark

We went to story time at the Ballpark today. They have it once a month, but we only go every other month, if that. It is quite an undertaking: packing the lunch, remembering the 2 for 1 coupon, getting there on time all the while coaching the kids on behaving and listening.

The storyteller, Ms. Anna, is very patient and encourages the kids to talk and answer her questions about baseball. Cooper and Natalie did great... Luke, well, we need some more practice on attending story times. That boy just can't sit still! Thank goodness there was a place for him to run around without bothering anyone or being out of my sight. After the story, the kids all do a craft. Crafts. Have I ranted about crafts before? I guess I missed the class in college (Kid's Crafts 101?) that taught you how to glue stuff together perfectly, tie things in perfect knots, wrap things tightly, manipulate glue sticks, etc. Crafts can make me feel so inept as a mother. Trying to make a Curious George out of foam, pipe cleaners and a glue stick was quite a challenge today. Especially when all three children are positive they do not need any of my help, but scream when it falls into 9 pieces... here's the finished product:

After that, we enjoyed a picnic lunch on the Home Run Porch!

Pump It Up

My kids love to jump. I mean really, they love to jump. I guess coming from my gene pool, that is kind of an understood quality.

We went to a birthday party earlier in the week where all they did was ... JUMP! Luke cannot quit talking about this place, Pump it up and all about how he shot "baa-ket-ball-all-day-long" in a basketball jump house. Luke stayed in that particular one the entire time until I fetched him out to eat cupcakes. Cooper on the other hand likes to try the whole assortment of activities. He did the boxing ring, the monster slide, the various obstacle courses and, of course, the basketball. He is my true athlete, in that he loves all things physical. Now with Natalie, she'll tolerate running around and jumping for only so long, then it is time to hang on mommy and whine, 'I-want-to-go-home! I want-to-go-home!' until I redirect her or give in to the crying and go home. (That's how she gets her nickname, No-Fun-Natalie.) Overall, it was one of the most stress-free parties that I have taken all 3 kids to AND they all took great 2 and 3 hour naps!

Swim Lessons

Tomorrow we finish the last of a 2 week session of swim lessons. Thank goodness! I ready to be all done with taking Natalie and Cooper to lessons at 8:45a.m., then Luke at 5:45 p.m.

Cooper and Natalie have really learned a lot and I really like their teacher. Cooper can swim SO good with her, so I know he has the skills. Natalie has improved tremendously and grown in her confidence in swimming. Also, Natalie can float on her back, I think it is the cutest thing!

The lesson with Luke is a parent/child class, so that means that I end up getting wet. Not just a little wet... completely soaked. Hair and all. I don't know what misconception I was under the first day, thinking I would not get my hair wet; I guess I forgot it was Luke I was taking into the water. He made sure in the first 3 minutes that I was completely covered with water splashes. As if I wasn't wet enough, the teacher comes over and tells me to practice 'bobbers' with Luke. She might as well call them 'dunkers', because BOTH of us are supposed to go completely under the water. Not a problem, since my hair is already saturated! I think we might have to 'forget' about the last class tomorrow and go to SWIM THURSDAY instead!!!

A Few of My Favorite Pictures

I love taking pictures!

Graduation!

I went to my first (of many, I'm sure) graduation program. Yes, my oldest graduated from preschool! It is pretty cute seeing a bunch of 5 year olds parade around in little graduation caps, sing a few songs and receive diplomas. Then getting to sit and watch a 15 minute tear-jerker of a video/slide show of these kids since they started the school. (Cooper has gone there since he was 10 months old.) Lots of sniffles and boxes of Kleenex passed around between the moms, especially those of us who are rookies to the whole graduation thing. I'm sure by the time Luke graduates I'll be doing a dance in the aisle.

Let the Swimming Begin!

The swimming has officially commenced! Though our neighborhood pool is not open yet, we have been swimming twice this weeekend. Once at my brother-in-law's house and today at one of John's friend's house. Lots of fun! These children of mine are born swimmers (OK, really the credit goes to John). They just have that 'gene' for not being afraid of the water and just wanting to JUMP in. Even Luke, he was hopping in before he was one year old. Now that he is 2 1/2, he is fearless! He doesn't mind drinking half the pool water, as long as he gets to jump off the diving board again. Cooper is to the point of not needing any assistance. He can tool around and get where he wants to go; it may be slow, but he'll get there. I think Natalie could swim really good if she wanted to, but she prefers to let everyone catch her, hold her and help her to the side.

All 3 kiddos are starting swim lessons tomorrow, for a 2 week session to learn some new skills to practice all summer. Let's hope the swim instructors are ready for them!