Swimming Lessons

Since it's so dreary and dismal outside this week, I decided to relive the summertime fun of swimmimg lessons.  This was Caleb's and Emma's third time around, but the first time for Sarah.

 

Emma loved the diving board, and she looked like she was flying every time she jumped!

As you can see, she wasn't exactly excited in the beginning, but she quickly warmed up to swimming and became quite a little fish...even jumped off the diving board!

Emma loved the diving board, and every jump looked like she was flying!

 What this picture doesn't show is Sarah carefully walking to the edge, and then jumping UP instead of OUT. She landed on her bottom on the board, but miraculously, didn't get hurt and didn't cry. She even managed to get "dropped" off the end of the board by the life guard. Let me tell you, my heart nearly stopped when I saw all that happen through my camera lens...and I didn't even press the button to capture it!

So after that, she stuck to the side of the pool!

  

Caleb became famous for his high cannon balls and his front flips!

Yosemite

 

Well, it may have been two and a half months since our vacation in Yosemite, but at times it still feels like yesterday...and since I didn't make much blog-progress this summer, I figured I'd backtrack a bit to share our fun times! 

By far, our family's most favorite time together is spending it in Yosemite. I can't think of a more perfectly beautiful place on Earth. I admit, I haven't traveled much, but honestly, I know that not much can compare to the beauty of Yosemite, and I know the world agrees with me...because a good portion of them were up in Yosemite with us! Yeah, it was crowded, but that's about the only negative I can list.

Our vacation up there was just picturesque this year. The weather was PERFECT. The drive wasn't so long. The kids got along!! We had a great time every single day.  And it left me with a feeling of peace and love and a heart just overflowing with gratitude not only for the spectacular place God created, but also for the love that abounds in our family. What could make for a more perfect vacation?

Seven years old

How does it happen so fast? Emma turned seven two weeks ago. All summer long she'd been thinking about her party. She had decided on a "tea party without tea" because really, what seven year old acutally likes tea?  So she invited ten friends over and we did crafts, had a dress-up relay, decorated cupcakes, beat the candy out of a pinata, and had a generally fun time.  Of course it was during that extreme-heat weekend, so we moved everything inside, but nonetheless, I think it was a successful party, and her first with friends-only!



At the end of it all, we still went to Chuck E. Cheese for dinner! Guess 7 isn't too old yet.



 The girls were sooo into the dress-up relay. But have you ever done a relay with excited kids before? It just keeps going and going! We couldn't tell who really won, because nobody wanted to stop taking a turn!



Sarah was excited about new Barbies for Emma...
which meant new Barbies for her when Emma was at school!







We made picture frames and I printed out this picture for all the girls to take home.



Father's Day

So this Father's Day past, I asked Chase how he wanted to spend the day.  And was I at all surprised? Nope.  Baseball.  So we all went to our park with the balls, bat, and tee, and had a fun, family game of baseball.  The weather was perfect; the kids were happy; there were no crowds to fight. I have to say, I couldn't have asked for a better afternoon.

Sarah taking a swing....and running the wrong way to first!

Can you feel the love?

Warming up

Sarah, the runner, stole the ball to keep from getting tagged out (but Emma grabbed it from her and got her!)

She's a big girl now...

My baby is no longer a baby.  No more diapers.  No more num-nums (pacifiers - and that's a big deal!).  No more toddler bed. 

Sarah Grace turned 3 last week, and she is proud to tell you that.  I'm not sure how it happened so fast. I tried my hardest to savor each moment. And even though I did, she just kept on growing. She's such a good girl, always saying, "I'm sorry Mommy" and "No thank you" anytime the answer is just no. 

A couple days ago she was playing upstairs with Emma and a friend. Chase and I were downstairs and I commented to him that she had been really whiny since giving up her num nums.  Not a moment later I hear from upstairs, "I not whine!"  I couldn't believe she'd overheard me.

Later that day we were walking home from across the street, her hand in mine, and she looked up and said, "Mommy, you hurt my feelings."  I was taken aback! I told her I was so sorry I hurt her feelings, and asked her how I did it.  "Cuz I don't whine" was her answer. Man, my heart just melted!  I had no idea she could even put those feelings into words.  I think that was when it hit me.  She's a little girl.

But today she played out in the sun and water, even though she has a bit of a cold.  And in the car on the way to dinner, she fell asleep. She slept on my lap through dinner, then some more back at home on my lap once more.  And I couldn't help but smile.  Perhaps there's a smidge of baby-ness left in her after all.  I'll do my best to savor it.

Bunkbeds!

Well, the time has come for bunkbeds. I have mixed feelings about this plan, as already heads have been bumped, but what other solution is there to three growing kids and two small bedrooms? Here's to good times!

Baseball

Caleb's baseball season has begun, and I got my first taste of the tension that can be felt in the stands on Tuesday. His game was much anticipated, as half of his team from the fall plays on the Angels (opposing team) while the rest are with Caleb on the Red Sox (don't even get me started on his team name this year- it almost pains me to cheer for the Red Sox when he plays...but he's out there so I'm over it real fast!)

Anyway, the coaches of both teams are all friends and many of the kids are too, and there had been a bit of trash-talking, so the air was ripe with anticipation. The first two innings passed and nothing. Third inning comes along and Caleb's team scores! We all went crazy.  Fourth passes - no scores. Fifth comes - wouldn't you know it, the Angels get a run. So it was tied 1-1 as they entered the sixth. Little League games generally last six innings or 2 hours. These kids had played their six in 90 minutes, and since it was still tied, they entered the seventh. Still, no score with 12 minutes left. So here they go into the 8th inning. The kids looked tired, but by this time, I think they really wanted to beat them. And man, that's what they set out to do. Caleb's team scored another run! Finally, the Angels are up at their last turn and our pitcher strikes 'em out. One down.  The next batter came up and got two strikes. 

Then all of the sudden, time's up and they call the game.  Yup, one strike and one out away from winning, and the game's done. It was such a let down. All this anticipation of winning, by this point, had built up not just in the kids but in the stands, too, and I can't even describe how it felt to settle with a tie! I've gotta hand it to the kids, though, I think they took it better than the grown-ups!

All in all, it was a great game, and I'm glad they didn't lost. But I sure would've like to have seen the win! Oh well, they'll play again April 15th.  I'll keep ya posted! (P.S. No pictures because I forgot I had my camera until the end of the game. I was all set for the cheering that takes place after a win...but that never happened. There was nothing to take a picture of at this point, hence, no photo.)

It's almost time!

Never ever thought I'd blog about baseball, but I must admit, I miss it! Not just Caleb's games, but Angel games too.  Somehow when baseball is on in the background, it just feels like home. 

Caleb's opening day is on Saturday (pray no rain!) and his team this year is looking great.  Sure hope they play great, too.  I'm excited to watch my little guy (who doesn't always seem so little anymore) develop those skills even further.  The only negative to this year is his team:  Red Sox- How can I cheer for the Angels nemesis?  Guess I'll just have to figure it out!

Down by the Beach

Monday was a day for Chase and me.  Just the two of us doesn't happen too often, but the big kids had school and I had the day off, so Laurie came over to stay with Sarah while Chase rode us down to Newport on his motorcycle.  I have to admit that this time, it was actually fun and not so terrifying.  The last two times I rode it was dark, and I much prefer the daylight (not so cold, either). 

We rode down Jamboree (to avoid the freeway, mom) and hung out at the lookout over Pirates Cove.  I took pictures on  my little camera, but wished I had my big one.  Actually, I held it in my hand and actually took a few shots while we rode through a neighborhood.  It was pretty exciting.

I thought this image was super cool, I kept watching it the whole time we rode!

After awhile, we ate lunch at Ruby's. It was so nice to just spend time together.  It reminds me to do it more often.  It also made me think that someday we might actually have the freedom to do this any weekend we want, without making baby-sitting arrangements.  That made me happy, but at the same time, I started a whole new set of worry that that day will be here too soon.  Chase and I have entered a new stage of parenthood, one that does not require a diaper bag.  It's freeing, but I feel a little twinge of sadness once in a while.  Then that brings me back to the enjoy-each-day-while-it's-here mindset.  And I guess that's the best way to always view life. 

Just a regular Sunday morning

It happens every week, but I always seem to miss it in the whirlwind of racing out the door to make it to church on time.  All three of my children are dressed nicely, in clothes that match, with their hair combed. I know it doesn't sound like much of a feat, but it certainly is.  And here is evidence that they clean up quite nicely!

Here's the "silly" shot.