Just Swimming

This afternoon we got the call that the pool at Mimi and Pa's house was open and the water was warm!  After a few chores and errands, we packed a swimming bag and headed over for a dip.  The water felt great!

Nat and Ben are such different kids in personality and the way they interact with the world.  And their opinions on swimming and the pool continue in the same thread.  Nat has been a water bug from the start.  Fearless in the pool as she is in pretty much every other area of life.  Ben, however, is much more cautious, content to sit on the side of the pool and splash his feet a little, or walk a safe distance from the edge of the water just watching the mayhem happening inside.

It proves an interesting challenge being the only one supervising them both near the water.  Nat does a great job on her own and no longer needs hands on attention other than just wanting someone to play in the water with her.

She was a little bummed at having to wear her life jacket after not having worn one at swim lessons, but pretty quickly got over it and didn't complain again once she got in the water.

I bought Ben's swimsuit a pretty long while ago, and haven't given it much thought since.  But seeing it on Ben for the first time today, I could not stop thinking that his top makes him look just like a Priest.  

post swim snack time

once Ben got out of his life jacket, there was no way he was going back in it...and I just loved the face he gave me every time I tried to encourage him back into the water

Family Sunday

Yesterday was a beautiful day, and it was one of the rare weekend days when we didn't have plans. So all four of us headed out together for some play time at the elementary school playground, and then dinner and ice cream.

my boys

Ben doesn't always like how cold ice cream is

sweet Natalie being so careful with her "blue goo" ice cream

Wednesday

On the heels of our at-home Tuesday, we decided that Wednesday would be an out all day kind of day.  Natalie had gymnastics this morning, and from there we headed directly to the zoo.  The forecast called for rain all day, and we did have just a few little sprinkles, but it made for a perfect zoo day....there was no one there except a few school groups, but they headed out pretty early, and then we pretty much had the place to ourselves.

my buddy while Nat does gymnastics

we got to see the new baby giraffe at the zoo, and oh my is she cute!

we watched the giraffes for a long time today; they were all out and really active

we were the first ones in line for the train, and pretty much the whole thing was empty,

so we got to ride in the caboose on our first ride, for our second trip we chose a seat near the front

cotton candy

and an Icee for a treat

carousel ride

fun day with two of my favorite people

Tuesday

It has been a whirlwind of a past two weeks...and I can't really think of what exactly it is that we've been doing in between the weekends.  Anyway, this week is finally a week with not a lot going on and yesterday we did absolutely nothing.  Or, nothing that involved leaving the house, anyway.  We caught up on chores, watched more TV than I would normally allow, and both kids took naps.  It was fantastic.

breakfast on the deck

Ben sporting his new summer buzz but...I couldn't believe how blonde he was under the longer hair

watching Frozen 

Ben found a cozy spot on the arm of the couch...

he also loves Frozen

After a day of catching up around the house, I was given the evening off.  For Mother's Day, Eric & the kids gave me a shopping trip.  I had a leisurely dinner on my own, browsed the racks at a few stores, and bought a pint of ice cream on the way home that I enjoyed during the Dancing with the Stars finale.  I didn't cook, do dishes, or have bed time duties.  It was a wonderfully relaxing night!

Glenwood Gardens

Another day, another park.  This time a charming little place that we put on our list of places to visit this summer after finding it in the park book that accompanied our annual park pass (with the $10 purchase of a park pass, it grants you access to all the parks in the county for the year)...so, today we headed off for Glenwood Gardens.  Natalie had a hard time wrapping her head around the existence of a park without a playground, but instantly fell in love with this adorable place to the point that we bought a second pass for this park.  Turns out our pass gets us into the park, but the main feature of the park, the series of gardens, has a separate entry fee.  Anyway, check it out:

how awesome is that tree house?

It was totally age appropriate, even for Ben, and it was not at all crowded.

Ben loved discovering all the animals hidden around the tree house.

train exhibit

fairy garden

swinging bridge

we played here forever

running back and forth, making it jump and sway

Nat was the biggest fan.

exploring the Wizard's Garden

watching trains

not much action in the butterfly garden since there aren't flowers yet

lunch break by the fountain

operating the trains from inside the train station

There are also daily "classes" 15 or so minutes in duration, perfect for short little attention spans.  The park ranger told me they are geared toward whatever age group shows up at the start time, but that there is a weekly theme to them.  We missed today's class because we had pokey eaters.  In addition to all the fun above, we sat on a stepping stone bridge and watched some tadpoles and little fish swim around, checked out the vegetable garden, and played in a little play house.  Needless to say, I now have two worn out munchkins.  It was a good day!  And, to anybody local, I highly recommend this place for little ones!

Flying Piglets

Once again this year, Natalie participated in the kids' race at the Flying Pig weekend festivities.  Last year our budding endurance athlete talked a big game right up until her feet reached the starting line, and then she froze up, melted down, and had to be dragged pretty much the entire way.

But not this year!  This year, she walked up to the start line, but did get a little sheepish when I had to leave her to head down the course to the finish line with Ben.  I gave her instructions on what to do, had her in my sights the entire time, and only left her side when she was the next kid in line.  And then watched disgustedly as for the next two heats parents shoved their kids ahead of her as she waited so patiently.  And then she took off!  And came barreling down the race way, until about 10 feet to the end when she couldn't find me and she froze up.

But she made it, and boy was she proud of herself!  She talked about her big race, and how she even passed some kids, all the way home!

pre-race

The main event...

(with clipped video since I didn't know when she was going to take off)

How great is it that she dissed that guy's high five at the end?

she was very excited about receiving her finisher's medal

post-race lunch on Serpentine Wall watching boats on the river

Ben was a trooper watching Big Sis

Next year Ben will be old enough to run if he wants!