Swim Lessons

Summer time is here and the pools are finally opened.

It was our family decision to sign both girls up for swim lessons this summer.
Their first session began the beginning of June and included 8 lessons over a two week period (Monday- Thursday).
The first set of lessons went so well that we signed the girls up for a second set of 8 lessons.

Madison's lessons are an hour long and focus on endurance and refining her swimming skills.
Lillian's lessons are 40 minutes and focus on floating, kicking and other fundamentals.

 Lillian's lessons always begin in the shallow end of the pool. Each child is given a ring (Lillian prefers pink) which they toss into the water and retrieve. Lillian has quite the arm and throws her ring as far out into the water as possible and splashes to get it. She loves being in the water and shows no fear.

Madison's teacher Miss Amy is explaining to the group the repetition of laps they will be swimming for the day.

 Here is Madison (closest to the front) practicing her dolphin kick. She has enjoyed learning Breast stroke and Butterfly.

 At the opposite side of the pool the preschool class is playing a quick game of ring around the rosy to get their bathing suits all wet before heading to the deeper water.

 Lillian loves jumping into the pool and prefers to make a Big splash and go all the way under the water.

 Now it is her turn to practice front floating and her kicks.

 Then back to the wall for kicking.

 In just 8 lessons, Lillian has really come along way with practicing floating and can almost do it on her own.

 Madison is the queen of floating and her favorite stroke is backstroke.

 Swimming seems to be a perfect fit for Madison. She is really comfortable in the water.

 Final jumps to signal the end of the lesson for Lillian.

 Madison's last lap of swim lessons (still working on her dolphin kick) before her final jump in.

The girls have 4 more lessons this week and then will be finished for the summer (Just in time for Baby Button's arrival).
Madison has done so well with her lessons that she has been asked to join the recreational swim team at the pool in the fall. She is really excited. The team practices once a week for an hour and a half and has a  meet once a month against other local pools. Madison is thrilled to have a sport of her own.

Visiting the Zoo with Papa (and Nana)

Friday morning the girls loaded into the car with Nana and Pa (while Mommy headed to the office) for a trip to the zoo. They were quite excited to see the new Tiger exhibit.

Photographer Nana (hence why she is not in any of the pictures) captured the memories of the day.

 Look- the walrus! A favorite for the girls.

A trip to the zoo would not be complete without seeing the elephants and of course, Aunt Ya Ya. The girls were able to see the bathing demo before leaving the zoo and heading towards home for lunch.

They stopped at a new restaurant called The Tamale Place. Madison and Papa had heard about the restaurant on the tv show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and were interested in giving it a try. It was ok but not the best and the family vote was it was a good try but no need to return. 

After lunch, they headed home for nap time. 

A familiar visitor

The girls are always excited when Uncle Who Who comes to town.

We enjoyed a dinner of grilled pork chops and all the summer fixings before playing a few games of Battleship and heading home.

Can't wait for Uncle Who Who's next visit in July.

Dilly Bar

In preparation for our 2012 visit to Disney World, Lillian practiced her ice cream eating tonight with a Dilly Bar from Dairy Queen (thanks for the treats Nana).
OK, so it not quite the same as chocolate mickey ears but she was just as thrilled (as you can see in the pictures).

Total Eat Time: 30 minutes (and she still did not finish).

 Yes the ice cream is dripping down her arm.

 And dripping off her elbow.

Done!

Father's Day Gifts

I am beginning to think that 2011 is going to be the year of crafts.
The girls LOVE making things and ask almost every day to do some kind of craft.
We have been blessed to have so many family birthdays and holidays recently to accommodate their desire to make crafts for loved ones.

The girls can be quite particular about what they want to make.
For Father's day they wanted to make place mats for Papa and Papi and paint their handprints on them.

Here is the result...

They also made cards, S'more characters and coasters.

Happy Father's day to all, we hope its a great day for you.

Nap time for Lillian

Nap time for Lillian has become a bit of challenge, she just does not always believe that a nap should be on the daily agenda (But Mama needs a nap too!).
The compromise has been that she can negotiate a nap on the weekends (usually Sunday).
She makes a deal with Daddy that if she promises to not throw a fit and to behave, she does not have to take a nap.
On several occasions (after negotiate to not take a nap), she has fallen asleep in the midst of a task (middle of the family room floor) and ends of taking a nap anyway.

Today was no different then any other weekend, she did not want to take a nap.
After being sent inside from the backyard for throwing a fit, Lillian informed me that she was not quite ready for a nap. She said this as she was yawning and rubbing her eyes.
I said OK and to let me know when she was ready. I continued dusting upstairs and then noticed that Lillian was no longer sitting on the couch by me, and it was awfully quiet.

This is what I discovered...

Lillian sound asleep in Madison's bed with Madison's beloved white baby and elephant.
2 hours later, Lillian was ready to head back to the backyard for a Do Over.
I guess a nap was not such a bad idea after all.

Locks for Love

The beginning of summer was marked with the much needed appointments for the girls to get their haircut.

We have tried (unsuccessfully) to have Lillian's hair cut in the past... this was her first official haircut. She did a great job.

 She was thrilled to sit in the Big chair, just like Nana (who had to go first to make sure it was safe).

Lillian was even more excited to have full control of the water bottle to spray her hair (and the rest of her body).

 2 Pink combs and Dora were enough to keep Lillian occupied for the majority of her haircut- which was no easy task (45 minutes start to finish with many breaks and lots of help from the audience- Nana, Mommy and Madison)

 Where is my hair?

 Not sure if the sad face is for the haircut or the fact that Dora is over.

 Must have been Dora being over, we have silly faces now :)

 Madison's turn was next (of course Lillian wanted to help comb and wash Sissies hair).

 Madison requested this year to donate her hair (10 inches) to Locks for Love- a charity that makes wigs from donated hair for cancer patients.
Madison was really excited to have a reason to get a hair cut (summer and morning tangles were not enough reason to trim her long locks)

 Half way done...

 Hair for others... Look at the grin.
We are so proud of Madison and her generous heart.

 My how their new summer haircuts make the girls look more grown up.
They are both excited to have short hair for the summer- easier to brush and better for swimming!