Pool's Open!

We spent a lot of time at the pool last summer, when I was very pregnant with Abigail and very hot and uncomfortable. Some days, the pool was the only thing that made this cranky mama happy.

I think Abigail likes it just as much as I do.

She tries to leap directly from the Solarveil and into the pool.

Betsy is finally tall enough to stand (on tiptoe) in the shallow end! Last summer she could swim a few yards by herself. She's said that she wants to be able to swim all by herself this summer. Sounds like a good goal to me.

I like tiny Abigail with giant Matthew. Betsy picked out the pink tutu swimsuit for her, by the way. I think it's pretty cute.

Biking with Betsy

Guest blogging today is Matthew.
Today's awesome bike riding adventure by the numbers

8.6 miles ridden
100s of tadpoles, so many they churned the water when we walked close to the edge of the pond
2 water snakes in the same pond
1 snake on the path
2 blue dragonflies
2 downed trees to navigate around
2 fantastic stories from Betsy while riding
1st muddy back of the season


Betsy's stories:
1. How she saved a mouse cast adrift in a puddle with a rope from her pocket as we rode by.
2. The frog who grabbed the seed with a fly on it from her handlebars as we rode past.

Random Photo of the Week

An excellent thing to do on a hot afternoon.

Ten Loves (#7: Discovering the Sweetness)

In honor of the last ten days until (or somewhat soon after) graduation, ten things for which I am super thankful.

#1: Family
#2: Doodling
#3: The Farmers' Market
#4: Thursday Afternoon Playdates
#5: Graduation Bingo
#6: Party Preparation

#7: Discovering the Sweetness

Yesterday I watched my baby make a great discovery. I offered Abigail a little white rose to sniff. At first she thought it might be food (everything is food to her), but her face lit up as she breathed that thick, sweet smell. She grinned at me, and leaned further into the rose to inhale again. I think this may have been the first time she ever smelled a rose. Can you imagine experiencing something so wonderful?

Of course, I did experience it decades ago, and I don't remember it. But judging from her reaction, it was something like how I might react to seeing Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon today. "Wow--can you believe this--what an amazing world we live in!"

It really is one of the best things about parenting, watching one's children discover the beauty and sweetness in the world, and falling in love with it all over again yourself.

Thoughts on the Last Day of Preschool

By Betsy, transcribed by Becca

I'm sad that we have to leave, because it's the best preschool of all. And if anyone comes to it with me and N to Vacation Bible School, come to this school. It's my favorite, favorite school in the whole entire world.

I love my teachers Mrs. O and Mrs. D because they taught us about dinosaurs and when dinosaurs drink soda they die and then they leave their whole bones attached. I love them so much that I feel like I'm gonna cry but I'm not going to cry.

On S's birthday we had cupcakes and on the last day of preschool we celebrated the school because of having popsicles for the snack at the 3-year-old class, because it's for 4-year-old Betsy.

We drawed with chalk. We took a class picture. We painted with car wheels and we painted with marbles and we painted with bottles and we painted with books (we just flipped over the book two times and three times and four times).

My favorite toys were cars, and princesses, and kitchen, everything. When we went up to chapel and sang "This Little Light of Mine" today, a grown-up used a real candle. I like "Wake Up Warm Up" so much that I jump so wide. I love my mommy. Mrs. O and Mrs. D, I'm glad that it's the last day of school because I want to be in the 4-year-old class and I can still visit Mrs. O and Mrs. D because I can go to their house.

Summer Plans

Well, the good news is that I found the post that had disappeared nearly two weeks ago, the one about Thursday Afternoon Playdates. Unfortunately it re-posted as if it were written today. Annoying. Sorry if you got it twice.

Anyway.

Today being the penultimate day of preschool, with my first full summer as a stay-at-home mom approaching, I feel like I should have some plan of action.

And I have virtually no plans.

Most of my stay-at-home-parent friends think this is crazy talk, and I admit it's a little daunting, all that unstructured time that might be filled with such activities as whining and sibling rivalry. I guess, after many busy months, I'm just ready to not have to do anything.

Now there are lots of things I want to do, like:
fruit picking
traveling to visit friends
exploring Portland, Maine
finding the magic laundry elves
swimming at the pool
swimming at the beach
going for walks after dinner
finally getting the house picked up
working in the garden
visiting some local Civil War sites for the 150th
walking to the library
fixing the sewing machine
volunteering with the big girl
learning to make jam
and much more!

If I can be creative with finances, I think I'm only limited by what I can sanely do with the kids.

Ten Loves (#4: Thursday Afternoon Playdates)

For the last ten days until graduation, ten things for which I am super thankful.

#1: Family

#2: Doodling

#3: The Farmers' Market

#4: Thursday Afternoon Playdates

I really do have the best job in the world. Just look at what I get to do with these beautiful friends the Ni family, nearly every Thursday afternoon.