Sun in Seattle and Swim Lessons

The sun is shining in Seattle! It's a beautiful first day of summer, with temperatures expected to reach the 80's! For my dear friends in Texas, I understand this is a cool spring day for you all (oops sorry, for ya'll) , but this is the height of hot sunny days for us! I've read posts from Gina and Arlene about the heat and I wilt just thinking about it! Remember you all have a cool place to visit whenever the heat gets too hot.

We're a week into swimming lessons for the three girls. They all love the water and can really swim like little tadpoles. Sasha was slow to catch on, but is now swimming the length of the pool and can do a variety of strokes. Lily just jumped in and hasn't stopped paddling since. Chloe, who is 4 now, is really a riot in the pool. She's fairly plump, which makes for a super swimmer. She truly does float!

Like most things Chloe does, she swims with passion. She puts her face in the water, starts kicking her feet, and just keeps going. She has to be reminded to come up for air! Her swim teacher talks to her as she goes down the pool lane and you can hear her saying "Breathe, Chloe! Breathe!" So she pops her face up for about 1/2 a second, gulps in some air, and goes back to it.

I like this about her. I like her determined personality and her persistent drive. Someone I live with may say that she's a lot like me. . . and I'd take it as a compliment if he did! She is a stubborn little thing. She wants her own way and works hard to get it. If you resist her she fights or cries, or both. (I'm pretty sure I'm talking about Chloe here. . .) But then she offers up the most incredible kisses and hugs, and has a longing for "snuggles" that surpasses even her longing to get her own way. If Chloe doesn't get her one on one holding, snuggling, talking time she really is a mess. You'd think being one of five that it may be hard for her to get that one on one time, but she certainly makes sure she does not get overlooked or left out. Her middle child personality has not left her "invisible" as some middle kids are called. Rather she has claimed her place and reminds us all pretty consistently that she is here to be adored. And she is.

Lemonade Stand

Do any of you remember the days before kids when you envisioned parenting as idyllic days of lemonade stands and children with general good will to all mankind? So perhaps I read too much as a child. Stories like The Little Princess and The Secret Garden left me discontent, even as a child, for what childhood could have been. Should have been.

And now I parent 5 kids, and I really do believe in the innocence of childhood. What I've come to discover, however, is that innocence does not equal goodness or mild manneredness or inherent other-centeredness. In some ways, innocence just means that my children think they are the first ones to do the thing (good or bad) that they are about to do!

Sasha and Lily bugged me and bugged me until I finally gave in and let them have a lemonade stand. I tried to put it off until Papa got home with the excuse that they needed him to carry the little table down the driveway. Oh me of little faith! 3 minutes later the girls had mixed lemonade, found cups, got a money cup, and pulled the table down the drive. They made name-tags for themselves and a sign asking 10 cents a cup. Good deal if you ask me!

What made this moment cute beyond words and heart-touching in a way worth blogging is this: Sasha and Lily had a second money cup set out with these words written on it: Fore Pore pepole. (Okay, now is not the time to comment on my teaching abilities.) They had decided to give part of their proceeds to a charity organization. Needless to say, everyone who stopped gave over and above the requested 10 cents.

When a customer asked who they money was going to, Sasha decided that Children's Hospital was a worthy recipient of their efforts. Our nephew was recently in Children's for a surgery and ever since then the hospital has taken on mythic proportions in our home. They ALL want to go now! It's like the Madeline story, "Boo hoo! We want our appendix out too!"

I have great kids. They have tender hearts and loving spirits. Their creativity and love of life inspires me to put down the vacuum and enjoy the lemonade!

Yard Work

Isaac loves to be outdoors. More than anything, he likes to be outdoors with his Papa!
He discovered the wheelbarrow this spring, and much like prehistoric man with his discovery of the wheel, Isaac is thrilled with himself!

Here he is helping Mike build a fence. Our backyard was fenced, but the front was open. Now the entire yard is connected and completely enclosed. This gives the kiddos lots more space to play and allows us not to annoy our backyard nazi-neighbor as much as we (allegedly) have been.

Isaac discovered the wheelbarrow and I discovered something I have long suspected: I have always believed that my husband loathed and despised yard work. However, he has always denied this to be true. It only took 15 years of marriage and owning 3 houses before he finally confessed to the truth I have always known: He Hates Yardwork!

That fact is what makes my fence even more special to me! This and a maple tree are what I asked for Mother's Day, and I got them both! Mike didn't believe that I really wanted a fence instead of a massage or jewelry. Those of you who know me may find this equally difficult to take in. . . but it's true!