Fun with the RI Family

We have returned from our tour of the Rhode Island branch of the family. We haven't visited there in a few years so we were excited for the visit. We left early in the morning from DC and drove up to RI. The kids were really great during the ride. Once we were there, Erin and her cousin Rylie ran off like two peas in a pod. They dumped their Little Pets on the floor, synced their DS and pulled out all the Disney Princesses. It was great to watch. Jeffrey tried to join in and got pushed aside somewhat, but he wouldn't be turned away. He and Cousin Avery played Cars and watched Toy Story 2 again and again.



On Friday we drove into Boston. I haven't been back there in quite a long time and was excited to show the kids part of where I grew up. We ate at Quincy Market (but I couldn't find any kielbasa on a stick), walked part of the Freedom Trail and wandered through Boston Common and Gardens. I even took the kids (and Tom) on their first swan boat ride.


Once we got back to RI, Jeffrey proceeded to get ill all over Aunt Robyn's floor. Poor kiddo. We had a nice dinner then went to a nearby inlet to look for starfish and crabs. Saturday morning the troops headed out to a farmer's market while Jeffrey and I hung out to make sure he was feeling better. That afternoon Uncle Craig came down from Boston for a visit and we all headed to the beach. The kids loved being at the beach. Both of them just ran into the water, dug in the sand and searched for shells and critters.



Sunday morning the kids gave Uncle Tom and Uncle Craig beautiful makeovers. They've never looked more dapper. It was a gorgeous morning so we headed out for a nature hike and then spent the afternoon at the beach again.



Monday morning arrived and it was time to pack up to head to Grandma and Grandpa's. We had a great time and both kids were sad to leave their cousins. It was wonderful to see them really playing together, using their great imaginations to save princesses, dress up Uncles and take care of pets. I can't wait until we all get together again to see what they come up with next.

Growing from fish to dolphins

That's what we call 'em now. Dolphins. Both Erin and Jeffrey are water obsessed this summer. They had lessons in June, and we hit the outdoor pool twice during the month, and the lake at least 3 times. Then this past week they had a mini swimming-camp. Really it was just 4 straight days of lessons.

Watching them, especially Erin, make huge strides in being comfortable in the water was so much fun. Erin progressed so far. In the beginning of June she was terrified to get her hair wet. We added some magic goggles (kind of like Dumbo's magic feather) and that made a lot of difference. She also had a great teacher in June who really helped her get over her fears of going under the water and getting her hair wet.

This past week she decided she was ready to try some new skills. There was a bigger boy in class who already could swim to the far end of the small pool and back. That was just what she needed. By the end of the 4th lesson Erin was "swimming" almost all the way across the pool, working on diving to the bottom to retrieve rings, and jumping into the deep end (10 ft. mark).

Jeffrey keeps progressing. He's working really hard on his freestyle stroke...we call it Ice Cream scoops. He's perfectly capable of jumping into the deep end of the pool and getting to the side all on his own. He has also been practicing his "pizza pulls" (kind of like a modified breast stroke) to get to the bottom of the pool and get dive sticks and rings.

We're getting ready for our trip to grandma and grandpa's next week. Since they have a pool we can show off all our new tricks. Until then here are a few videos to whet your appetite.

Thanks Robyn

Hi there....stealing Robyn's idea to brighten up the Blog. Hope you like it :)

30 Really Rough Minutes

I haven't had to deal with this for a while. At least not to this length. But today I was met with the mega-tantrum. A fit that lasted close to 20 minutes. What makes it even better? We were at an indoor pool. Just think about the echos. I'm pretty certain that people in Honolulu could hear the antics.

So this week we are doing a swim camp type of thing. The kids have 30 minute lessons Mon-Thurs. Jeffrey has been taking lessons since February, but only once a week. But July is busy, so I decided we'd do a condensed version. Yesterday was the first class with the new teacher. Jeff always tests the bounds with the new teacher (he's had 4 since February). He decided he was just going to do his own thing, and not really listen to the teacher. The guy got Jeff to do a few things, but really Jeff just wanted to play his "sit on the bottom of the pool" game. (Erin on the other hand went from being nervous getting her hair wet to jumping feet first into the deep end of the pool and paddling to the side on her own).

When we got to the pool today we had the usual talk...

"OK. Now you NEED to listen to your teacher. He's trying to show you some new things. I want you to listen to him and try them."

"OK mommy"

Now here is where mommy made the fatal mis-step. I let the kids get into the pool 5 minutes before class started. I explained to Jeff that he needed to stay ON the steps or at least within reach of the side of the pool. After two warnings about I told Jeff he needed to get out of the pool. I counted him down and that was when chaos erupted.

He threw his body stiff as aboard. I had to pull him out of the pool and sit him in the chair (getting myself pretty soaked in the process). He screamed as if I had just thrown his precious blankie on the fire. He continued to do this for 15 minutes. I explained to him that when he showed me he could calm down, I would let him get in the pool and join the lesson (which Erin was participating in).

"I WANT TO CALM DOWN" he continued to scream. Without calming down. I explained that he needed to SHOW me he was calm.

Once he realized that I wasn't giving in he starting with "YOU"RE NOT MY FRIEND" "NO ONE'S MY BUDDY"

And then the hitting started. At that point he was removed to the locker room, stripped of his swim suit (at which point he pulled my hair) and reclothed in his shirt/shorts.

He spent the next 10 minutes of Erin's lesson sulking (but at least not screaming) in a chair poolside. I cheered as Erin jumped again into the deep end, dove down to get a ring from the bottom of the pool, and swam about 20 feet only grabbing the teacher once. Remember in June she wouldn't get her hair wet.

So while I wanted desperately to hide. To become invisible. To make my loud, rude and unruly kid evaporate (at least until the fit was done) we both seemed to survive. I feel badly for all the other people trying to accomplish something within a 10 mile radius having to listen to "YOU"RE NOT MY FRIEND" continuously. Still I stood my ground. At the end of class his teacher came to him and said he hopes Jeff can join them tomorrow. And that he wouldn't put up with not listening either, just like mommy.

We'll just see what happens tomorrow.

Happy 4th!!!

We spent a fun 4th weekend here in the "ville. Daddy had work off on Friday so some friends of his (from work) came to visit for the afternoon. We hung out on the deck, went for a swim at the lake and even played on the Wii for a bit. It was just a good ole' relaxing day.

Friday night Noni, Grandpa, Uncle Jon and Oma arrived for the weekend. Since Noni was preaching at our church on Sunday they came for the 4th too. Saturday morning we all headed into over to Main Street for the annual 4th of July parade. Erin had been talking all week about hoping to see her friend Brandon there. I had intended to call his mom and try to make some plans to meet, but it just didn't happen. As fate would have it, as we drove into the parking lot, there were Brandon's parents pulling chairs out of the car. Erin was soooooo excited. She jumped out of the van and ran across the parking lot (once mommy held her hand) to give Brandon a proper tackle. For the rest of the morning they were inseparable.


The parade was great. The kids got their usual fill of candy thrown out of fire engines, from tractors and antique cars. They got to wave at Miss. Greene, and even Lil' Miss and Mr. Greene. They got little flags from a group of veterans, and Erin got a ruler with all the presidents pictured on it.


The rest of the afternoon we spent on the deck. The kids played PlayDough with Oma for hours. Noni, Grandpa, Daddy and I played some dominoes. Uncle Jon wandered from activity to activity (and fixed mommy's computer program). We had smoked chicken, pasta salad, corn on the cob and some potatoes from the smoker too.


Once it got dark we took a few sparklers out to the side lawn for some sparkler fun. Then we walked down to the lake for the annual "lake" fireworks show. As usual for a small community show, they did a great job. Unfortunately we got separated from Jeffrey and daddy (when Jeff needed an emergency potty break) and didn't get to watch the fireworks with them.

Sunday was rainy. We lunched at the local wing place after church. Then played some board games while the kids watched Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. Before everyone headed home we celebrated Uncle Jon's birthday (2 days early).

It was a great weekend to see some family and special friends.

Butterflies, Roses and Shrimps

We spent Father's Day weekend in MD with Noni, Grandpa, Jon and Oma. Drove up on Friday night and back home Sunday afternoon. I'd wanted to do a bunch of outside things on Saturday morning but of course it rained. By mid-afternoon the sun made an appearance and we decided to go over to a local botanical garden to see the roses in bloom. They also have a butterfly house that we've visited a few times and the kids really enjoy.

Even since Jeffrey's bee sting he's been terrified by any kind of insect. There were lots of bugs at the garden...including plenty of bees. He tried to stay calm, but really didn't enjoy the roses. Erin loved going around and smelling all the different roses. They also had found all the fountains where they could splash in the water.



The 3 of us visited the butterfly house with Noni. The butterflies were super active. Erin wanted so badly for one to land on her. As usual, they went right for Noni. Erin would sit super still waiting for a special visitor or holding her hand near one on a rock. Jeffrey got a few visitors. One actually landed on his head (and amazingly he didn't freak out). Just as we were about to leave, Erin finally caught one on her shoe. Totally made her day.




After butterflies we drove over to Bethesda for dinner at Joe's Crab Shack. Grandpa loves their fish and chips and Tom and I were certainly willing to indulge in some seafood. They were super busy when we got there (at about 4:45 PM). We were seated outside near a little lake. It was the best place to sit. The kids could be a little loud, and eventually there was a band that set up just outside the restaurant. The atmosphere was really great. Tom and I both got steam pots that had crab and shrimp or clams, potatoes, corn and sausage. Really good. Jeffrey ordered a pizza and inhaled it, then ate 3 of Uncle Jon's fried shrimp and 3 of my steamed shrimp. I tried to convince him to order the kids shrimp plate to start, but he claimed he didn't like shrimp. Apparently he forgot.

As a great ending to the evening, Tom took the kids out to the band in front of the restaurant to dance. They had a great time. Then Grandpa drove them all home, while Tom, Jon and I walked around for a bit and caught a late showing of Angles and Demons.

Sunday morning, we had a nice breakfast together. The kids played in the back yard with Uncle Jon and daddy for a while. After a fun morning we had to get back to VA for a rehearsal later that night.