Still Swimming!!!

Both kids have kept up with the swimming lessons we started last year. Jeff has taken them pretty regularly throughout the year. Erin has not had quite as many months (chose gymnastics one session) as he's had, but they're both still blooming as swimmers. I can't believe that at this point last year, Erin was terrified to get her face and hair wet. Now she's swimming 25 yards at a time and working on actually developing her strokes. She tries to remember every step. I'd never realized how complicated swimming actually is. There's the kicks (straight legs), the arms, the breathing. Erin's working on breathing to the side.

Jeffrey is progressing as well, but not quite as quickly. His favorite part of lesson time is diving after the dive sticks. He's been able to retrieve sticks from about 7 feet down!!! When he puts his mind to the swimming he's really great at it. He's just tends to concentrate so hard on step 4, that he forgets about steps 1-3. Natural for his age though, so we're not worried. Our ultimate goal of knowing he'll be "OK" if he accidentally falls into a pool or lake are well on their way to being quieted. Of course I'll still watch him like a hawk.

They were tested recently, and both kids are at at level 4 meaning they are developing their strokes, but are capable of "swimming" completely on their own. Erin's biggest recent achievement is her interest in learning how to dive. She's had a couple of beauties already. Jeffrey's newest thing is being willing to try swimming on his back. He's never, ever, liked being on his back. He even started sleeping on his tummy by the time he was 4 months old. So last week he decided he'd give the back stroke a try. And he was able to work with his instructor to get an entire lap done. I was so proud of him for trying.

We'll keep swimming through April, but probably take May off. There's just a few too many things going on in May. Since we've got a family membership to the gym, we can use the pool as a family anytime we want during family hours. I'm looking forward to a summer of fun at the pool and the lake. Maybe we'll even get in a quick trip to the ocean!!!

It's Official - he's growing up

I registered Jeffrey for Kindergarten today.  One of our friends commented on Facebook that she remembers when he was smaller than a puppy.  Yep.  Honestly sometimes it feels like that could have just been yesterday.  Other days I struggle to remember the little bald guy army crawling across the floor trying to grab Drake's tail.

He's been "ready" for Kindergarten for a while.  Since it's at the same school Erin goes to, the building and people are familiar to him.  So when we showed up to register for school there was no awkwardness.  He just walked right in.  While I filled out the bazillion forms and wrote out his entire name maybe 25 times he scoped out the scene in the cafeteria.  As I was finalizing the papers with one of the administrators, Erin's kindergarten teacher tapped me on the shoulder.

"I've got Jeffrey.  We'll be back in a few."

Off he hopped, holding on to Miss. S's hand.  A few minutes later she came back to get me.  I'd had some fears that he would try and show off by being silly with her.  He'd try and tell her purple was orange because -- hey wouldn't that be funny?  Apparently not.  He chose showing off by acing every question she asked, and even sounded out a few words for her.  We got a few minutes to talk about his learning style - that he responds so well to positive reinforcement.  And how he can shut down if he feels he's disappointed someone.  She raved about him.  Said he's definitely ready for school.  We're crossing our fingers that she's still going to be at the school next year, because she'd be the best teacher for him. 

I really am amazed at how much he's grown in the last year.  He loves reading and is willing to sound out words.  He gets excited about learning.  My little army crawling guy will be heading off to Kindergarten in just a few short months.  Sniff Sniff.

Oh yeah, and by the way.  He's officially taller than his 1st grade sister.  And towered over most of the kids at registration too.  So growing up physically too!!

Flashback to My Playground Days

I have very vivid memories of jump roping during recess in Elementary school.  I went through a jump rope phase when I was about Erin's age.  Maybe a little older.  I remember jumping at school, and on the sidewalk in front of our house.  I'd try jumping forwards and backwards.  Jump at different speeds etc..  I loved it.

Erin's school has done a jump rope for heart the last two years.  It's a fundraiser for the Heart Association and the kids get to practice during PE class.  The more money the kids raise, the sillier things the PE teacher will do.  So far Mr. B has spent the night on the roof of the school, worn a Mohawk,  and the kids are currently working on earning enough money to duct tape Mr. B to the walls of the cafeteria during all three lunch sessions. 

So Erin has been practicing her jump roping at home a lot.  We have a old rope that she got as a goody bag, or something from Easter.  Honestly we're not certain where it came from exactly.  She spent a large amount of the weekend trying to "beat her record" which I think stands somewhere around 45ish right now. 

She's also taken the opportunity to practice her math skills.  I mean what could be more fun than jumping and doing math!!!  She likes to count her jumps, but can't just count by ones.  First she counts by ones.  Then asks me to help her count by twos (she gets to 12 just fine and then the counting/jumping combo get too tricky).  She moves on to 5s and then 10s.  So while I'm making dinner I'll hear "45 mom!!!  By 5s"  or "23...1s!!"  On rare occasions it's "10 by 10s" in a sad voice.  This morning she asked me to teach her to count by 4s.  I tried to explain it, but honestly, math was never my strong suit.

I love seeing her get so excited about something I remember so fondly as a child.  I look forward to each dinner prep time and hearing my next "Hey mom - my record!!!  55 by 5s!!!!"

A New Hope

The battle between the Rebel Alliance and the evil Empire surges on in the family living room.  Luke and Leia valiantly take on the sinister Darth "Daddius".  Complete with newly invented Reindeer and Tree bombs, this next installation of the epic Saga is not to be missed.

Really Rosie

For the past few months Erin has been involved with a theater workshop. It was run by the same people who direct the plays we generally do, but was almost entirely participant driven. They worked on a short play called "Really Rosie". Erin was Buttermilk The Cat. She loved the roll and got to crawl around on the stage and meow and rub Rosie's ankles.

The kids got to learn a lot about producing a play. They talked about costuming and set design. They did much of the blocking and choreography themselves. They learned about publicity and got to design a poster for the play.

This was the first thing that Erin's done that we haven't been involved in. She thought that was just the coolest thing. She walked into each rehearsal just like she hops on the bus every morning, without looking back at mommy. Then I'd get some of the low-down on the ride back home. She taught me some of the dances (in the living room of course) and let me help her learn her lines.

 

 

It was a very special experience Sunday though, to attend a show and be able to watch her from the audience. Usually we're with her on stage, or peering from backstage. So we don't really get to watch her. This was the first time we just sat back, relaxed (except for the first few moments, when mommy realized Erin was wearing the wrong costume) and enjoyed the show. It was fantastic!!!!

My little girl certainly is growing up.

Wacky Tackies

Both the kids had Wacky Tacky days last week.  They were very excited to be able to dress up silly for rehearsal (for Erin) and school (for Jeff).  Let me tell you though, it's much easier to wacky tacky up my girl than the boy.  First things first, the selection of clothing is much greater, especially since 90% of what he wears is solid or wide stripes.  Secondly, she's got hair, he just got his cut.  Lastly, the boy is very picky about his appearance, and especially how things feel.

Erin went all wacky for her rehearsal.  We layered polka dotted leggings with some blue plaid pants, a printed undershirt and with a striped T.  She loved looking all silly.  She wanted her hair in lots of pony tails, so I think we got 6 in there all together.  She happily bounced into rehearsal sufficiently tacky.  I'd forgotten all about the wacky/tacky though when we headed into Target after rehearsal.  She certainly got some smiles from the folks around.

She had so much fun when she got herself dressed for school on Tuesday she had on much the same outfit.  I "almost" let her go to school like that, but figured I might give her a warning first.  "It's not wacky-tacky day at school.  You can wear that if you want, I'm just letting you know."  She opted to tone it down a little. 

Jeffrey is a little more complicated.  He's got on a tie-dyed shirt  - backwards - under his red flannel.  We've got pants on backwards, which you couldn't really tell.  Then mismatched socks and shoes.  All Tuesday long, he kept telling me that he was going to let me make his hair spiky for Wacky Tacky day.  That's our running joke.  He's very particular about his hair and HATES it when it's in the slightest bit spiky.  The stylists always tease him when they're cutting it, that they might leave it spiky for him.  He generally gets somewhat angry and explains that "I like it flat."  So I was so excited that he was going to let me spike it.  But Wednesday morning brought about a change in heart.  No spiky hair :(  He did humor me and put his had on sideways, but really, that was just to humor me.  It got turned straight almost immediately.

So there we have my silly willies.  My wacky tackies.  Don't you just wanna hug em!!!!