Swimming Lessons

Day 3 of swimming lessons, today...and each day Avery does a little better :) She's having a hard time getting used to trusting her "boy" teachers. She doesn't have a girl teacher, which she says she wants. Her teachers and I are trying not to push her too hard, as she is doing some of the techniques they want her to do and she is the youngest in her class (all of the others are around 4 yrs. old). Avery is just a bit scared of her male teachers! I suppose it would be hard at the age of 2 to trust a stranger to keep you afloat. She wants to go back every day, so that is something! And she's staying in the water, so that is another something!
So, we are taking it one day at a time, and thank goodness I'm lucky enough to be able to watch her progress.
Bryton, on the other hand, is loving his every day lessons! He's a regular fish these days, and I'm very proud of him!

Drinking and Driving

The kids and I were out and about, seeing our favorite "little people" in our immediate family yesterday. I usually have something I'm drinking in the truck w/ me...coffee, water, or pop. Yesterday morning it was coffee and Bryton says to me, "Mom, you aren't supposed to drink and drive!" I had to giggle at that, 'cause he was very serious...and this is the first time he's paid attention to me drinking something in the truck. So, for a full 1/2 hr., we discussed the true meaning of this phrase. He has little radar ears, so he must have picked it up at school or from TV. Avery didn't talk much while Bryton and I discussed this, but I know she was listening...so, it will be interesting to hear what eventually comes out of her mouth on this subject :)

Coming Out of His Shell...

Summer park programs have begun, and tball is the first on the list! Bryton has been SO EXCITED for this to start! He misses his little "buds" from school, so I think that is the main reason he is looking forward to this morning's lesson. When discussing it w/ his sister, she asked, "I be the cheerweada (cheerleader)?!" "Yes," Bryton replies, in his most exasperated voice. Then he adds, "but don't yell so loud, 'cause we can't concentrate when you do that." Wow, tball must be serious stuff his year!
I was saying that Bryton misses his classmates, whom he hasn't seen now for 1 whole week. We saw one at a graduation party this past weekend, and he and Bryton ran to each other and hugged so hard that they knocked each other over! And then in church on Sunday morning, Bryton decided to give a "high five" to another buddy of his, while he was walking in front of me in the communion line!
Bryton seems to know every kid's name in town, who is between the ages of 4-6! When we are out and about, he'll call kids by name...and I always ask "are you sure that is his/her name?!" Maybe he'll grow up and be in HR, like his Mommy...since he's doing well remembering names and faces, and he is becoming quite the little social bee :)

This Week's Favorites

American Fare Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets - K-Mart and Farm-N-Fleet sell these in tubs (thanx Gma Engle!).
Capri Sun - the kids don't blurp juice out the straw of these like they do w/ juice box's.
Palmolive - this dishsoap smell reminds me of Gma Joyce's house, when I was a kid :)
Suave Jumpin' Berry Tear Free Kid's Body Wash - the kids like it 'cause its blue. I like it 'cause it smells good and it doesn't dry out their skin.
Wal-Mart's "Home" Department - this store annoys me, but I am impressed with the new home decorating lines they've got out for bed and bath.

Summer Break has Begun

This morning the kids and I must have known it was our first official "no school" morning! I woke to a very loud "Ha-Choooo!", looked at the clock which read 8:45 a.m. (wow!), and went downstairs to find Bryton quietly playing with Lego's! I couldn't believe I'd slept 'til 8:45, and when I asked Bryton how long he'd been up, he replied "a couple of hours!" I then asked him why he didn't wake me up and he said "cause I like being up by myself!" I hadn't even heard him get up, and I honestly don't think he'd been up long after looking at his tired eyes (despite the fact that he said he'd been up a couple of hrs.!) Avery ended up sleeping past 9 AM, which is also a new record!

So Excited!!!

I purchased a new washer and dryer, and had them delivered this A.M.!!! Yippee! I'm excited to use them for the first time. They aren't fancy smancy by any means...but they are to me! I've been using ancient ones for a very long time, so my new Maytag beauties will probably be like heaven when I use them. I am the laundry queen...so it is a very monumental day for me!

My Little Escape Artist...

Jake has figured out how to get out of the outside dog kennel. We figured this out a couple of months ago, when he and Bailey were mysteriously roaming around in the backyard one afternoon. Since then, we rig it so that it is "locked" when they are in there. However, he's figured out how to get out regardless of the "lock!" Stinker. So...now we've got to figure out another method. They need to stay in the outside kennel when I want them in there, on these nice Spring days :)