My little Fishy

Addie took swimming lessons this summer at the best place I have ever seen. It's called Jan Thomas Swim School. The school is in California, but one of the ladies lives hear in Utah and teaches in her backyard with her staff (they are private lessons) at the end of summer.

They cost about a million dollars.

And they are worth EVERY PENNY. As in, my 3 year old is now swimming, by herself, across the length of the pool. She swims under water until she needs a breath, then she flips onto her back and floats, breaths and flips back under and continues swimming. She as doing this after by the 4th lesson. Swimming on her own after the 2nd.

The 1st lesson, I gotta say I was a doubter. Addie cried nearly the whole time and I thought, "great, I will have the one child that this won't work for." I was wrong!

Coolest thing ever.

At the end of her 10th lesson she got a gold medal for being a champion swimmer...she wore that thing everywhere.

I love that she has learned this skill so soon! If you live in the area you should totally go to her!

catch up

I jumped the gun just a tinch with the Maine photos. I never posted about the 4th of July! It was a good one filled with the usual, parade and fireworks, and flag cake.

Maine Part 3

While in Maine, I realized how unruly Cameron's hair was getting to be. my mom gave him his 1st haircut...



I could just kiss him all day. In fact, I do!

Maine Part 2

I know, I know (Cassie) I am a bad blogger. I have been crazy busy and thinking about re-sizing all of my zillions of Maine pictures has got me stressed. So what do I do? Avoid.

Maine part 2 is all about Popham Beach. My favorite place on earth. I love this beach. And Addie loved it just as much as me. The water was like 75 degrees until the tide came in and cooled it down a bit, still, it was great for swimming. And when the tide came in I rode some serious waves on the boogie board thank-you-very-much. (Me and the other 10 year olds.)

At one point a wave bashed into me, dragged me along the sea floor taking with it my beloved sunglasses and leaving me half naked.

No, seriously. It took "the girls" RIGHT out of my top. I recovered quickly and my sister was the only one lucky enough to witness it. (I'm hoping anyway...)

The other exciting event was the seagull that snatched Addie's peanut butter and jelly right out of her paws after only one bite. Nasty buggers. You have to scarf your food and fast, cuz it could be gone quick.

I love the beach. I hate seagulls.

So besides losing some sunglasses, some lunch and some modesty, it was a success! It is my happy place. I tried to soak it all in so the next time I am laying on the operating table about to have another C-section, I can go back there.

There's no place like home.

PS Apparently I am totally down with mother-daughter matching suits :)

Maine 2011 part 1

The kids and I just got back from a trip to Maine. We spent almost 3 weeks and had a great time. Both the kids were great on the flight there. We were lucky enough to fly direct into Boston. Cameron proved his love by not pooping once, and Addie was entertained with snacks, ipad games, and the portable dvd player. (Kids have it so easy these days!)

The weather was beautiful. Maine is paradise to me. I don't know why more people don't live there. Although if they did, it wouldn't be paradise. We'll just keep it our little secret.

I ate my weight in Amato's Italians, and lobster.

We swam almost daily thanks to my parents fabulous back yard and came home with some sweet tan lines.

Addie had a blast with her cousins!

8 Months and Growing...

This picture is deceiving. He isn't really sitting. He can for about 3 seconds before he falls. This was taken right before he fell and got some bloody gums from the nintendo controller he was holding. I am fairly certain he'll be sitting before kindergarten. (Let's hope)

Babushka dolls

GrandMary and Auntie Stephanie recently went to Russia and today we got a package with some souvenirs. Addie couldn't be more tickled about her babushka doll. I am thinking I am going to keep it in the church bag to be a "special quiet church toy." Heaven knows we are always looking for more of those!

Finished!

I would say the swing set is a success. It's nothing fancy but it does the job. And that's just the kind of folks we are!

SwingSet

This baby is going to (hopefully) provide Addie with hours and hours of entertainment, and me with hours and hours of peace. We ran out of daylight last night, but will finish putting it together tonight...

Dinner

I am so glad I found this food blog. Tonight I am making these gyros, with her homemade pita bread. So yum-O.

http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2009/08/chicken-gyros.html

Family Visits

Heidi came for a visit, and I got to meet her new little one, Andrew. He is 2 months younger than Cameron, but weighs more. It's so funny to see them side by side. Andrew is so chubby, and dark. Cameron is skinny and light. I wish we lived closer so they could grow up together...




And check out this hottie! I love my sister. Everyone should have one.

Monthly Catch Up

We have a thumb sucker. I know I'll pay for it in the end in Ortho bills, but it's too cute. And besides, you can't REALLY stop it.

My mom came for a visit. I love having her here. We had a great time getting pedicures, shopping, and just chatting.


When Grammy comes, she gets me "feeding that baby!" The same thing happened when she came for a visit when Addie was 5 months. So, I started Cameron on cereal. Because c'mon, moms are ALWAYS right. I am hoping to fatten him up a tinch. At his last check up he was 14.14 lbs (25%) and 27inches long (95th %) But that's no surprise, just look at his LONG and LEAN mama! (wishing...)


On another note, I seem to have a slight obsession with aprons. Isn't this one the cutest?



My mom picked up these great letter cards for Addie. She is loving practicing. However, I have to be right next to her supervising because let's be honest, this girl absolutely cannot be trusted with any writing utensil.



Don't believe me? Think I am being dramatic? Check out what she did last week as I (Heaven Forbid) jumped in the shower for 5 minutes.


This precious bub turned 5 months old. I simply cannot get enough of him. Lately, I have heard story after story of people losing their babies, or struggling with infertility. So I am making sure to soak in his sweetness and thank God every day for both of my babies.


Last weekend we woke up to a bunch of snow and having it be April, a snowman just didn't seem right. So Brad and Addie made a snow bunny. What a guy, huh?


And there you have March!