The Iron Bridge

So this weekend we found out at the last minute that my cousin Anne and her kids were going to be in Highlands! Sometimes when things happen at the last minute they are easier to put together then planning for weeks in advance, am I right? At any rate, the plan was to meet them in Highlands and the drive to some iron bridge place for a picnic. All James wanted to do was climb the big rocks, so he did:



He also found some tadpoles.



I think Andy was confused between Grandma's lake and the river. He just wanted to do a "big jump" It was hard finding a safe place, but we did find one.





Aunt K (we decided to call her Ra-Ra from now on. Less confusing) brought fried chicken. Andy was given a leg and didn't know what to do with it. Ya know, we don't eat meat at home any more! He figured it out.



Here is Cousin Anne with her girls. You tell them to "strike a pose" and they do.



A nice family picture:



See ya next year, cuz!

Swim Lessons 2011

Lots of stuff happened last week, but the only took pictures of one thing. Swim lessons! Again, Ms. Kip, who James, Andy, AND I LOVE came to our pool to give swim lessons. I had Andy and Mattie go for 30 minutes, then James and John for 30 minutes. This seemed to go pretty well, except that our pool in June is really too cold. I knew it was too cold for me, but I really expected Ms. Kip and the kids to hang. Ms. Kip did ok, but the kids turned kind of blue and their teeth kept chattering. The way Ms. Kip decided to solve that problem was to have each kid have a 15 minute private lesson. When they started shaking, it was time for the next kid. This worked well.

Andy had his first swim lessons this year! He was so excited Ms. Kip came to his pool. Andy is still a little young to really swim so Ms. Kip focused on safety. Things like being able to fall off the steps and get back on. Unbeknownst to Ms. Kip, we had actually accidentally practiced this move the day before and Andy did great. Oh well. Usually they would start on the steps:



Then they would practice "strong arms"



Then some kicking. Look at that form!



If they are good, they get to jump in. You might be able to detect the chill here...



When James's turn came he was ready!



Oh, maybe not!



James did well on his tummy:



Or his back!

More parade

My mom requested a video. You can clearly see the difference between Andy and the other party goers. The cymbals were requested by the birthday boy when learning of his parade party.

Everyone loves a parade (party).

So, Andy, my second child, turned three yesterday. And again, I know most people sob and say, has it already been three years, but trust me, I know it has been THREE years!

At any rate, last year, I really did try to have a party for him. But with two kids so close in age, it is really difficult to determine what James likes and what Andy likes. James just really likes EVERYTHING. Especially birthdays. Andy, is less...obvious. I mean, he is pretty obvious what he does NOT like, but we are not always sure what he likes. So, in thinking for a party, we did want to do something special for Andy. We thought and thought and thought about this. And then one night, all of a sudden it came to me, we should have a parade! And we did. Again, don't get me wrong. James likes music, marching, and parades, but in all fairness, so does Andy. So we threw him a parade party.

We had it at a local park and although it did not rain during the party, it rained a lot the night before. We got there early to dry everything off. Here is James doing his part. Look how smart he is! I am totally sending this in with our multiage classroom application next year!



Andy dried things off for awhile, but I guess decided that now that he is three, he is old enough to "do the pool". So, it is ok with us Ms. Jenny if they "do the pool".



Since this was Andy's party, we served all of his favorite foods: juice boxes, yogurt raisens, watermelon, and BBQ chips. Actually he doesn't care for watermelon, but Jamed LOVES it and so Andy said he did. Oops!



Since this was a parade party, I had all the kids made flags to wave. Here is James:



And Andy.



And now for the actual parade. We had some music, the flags, some musical instruments and marched up and down the road. Now, this was the first parade party I have ever host, and might be the first EVER, but for future reference, we should have praticed or had lessons. Apparently not everyone constantly marches around their house like we do!



Andy's favorite part was the cake. Not sure if it was everyone singing to him, or the actual cupcakes, but he did like both.



Then we did our traditional gift exchange.



And then all the kids played with their gifts. It is like another activity...I am really not sure why the gift exchange hasn't caught on!



Andy had a great time and he is ready for his party again. Um, it might be awhile!