Swimming and Snacks

Corbin loves to swim and luckily we have a neighborhood pool very close to us.  So, we hop over a lot.  But, since I’m usually by myself with Corbin I don’t get any pictures.

I purposefully tried to take a few the other day just to record him at this age in the water.  He’s a fish!  His favorite thing to do is just hang out under water or use his goggles and swim under my legs.

Then today I pulled out a classic teacher activity…The M&M sort.  He got a special snack (M&Ms of course) and also got to have fun with numbers and graphing.  This is a win win activity.

Our summer break is quickly ending.  We have a few more things planned and then it’s back to work.

I Need Those Too

Corbin has started to ride his bike really well.  So well, that he took a corner a little fast and had his first fall.  This ensued crying, overdramatic statements of never being fine again, and a little smidge of blood on his knee.

Ok, so after this incident I decided it was time to buy a helmet.  I had planned on doing that, but I was making sure that homeboy was committed to actually riding a bike.

We went to make the big purchase yesterday at Target.  We found a helmet and I was headed down the aisle to check out when I hear, “Mom, I need knee pads.”

What!?!  How do you even know about those.  Who gave you this idea.  You ride a bike WITH training wheels.  Do we need elbow pads and gloves as well?

Apparently, yes we do.  The only knee pads they had came in a pack with elbow pads and gloves.  I did not tell Corbin those came with it, so as far as he knows we only have knee pads.  (People, that’s plenty for now, so let’s keep this information quiet.)

Anyway, Corbin was thrilled because now his knees will not get scraped.  But isn’t that the rite of passage in learning to ride a bike?  Isn’t that the mark of your trials and triumphant? 

Oh well, I guess I’ll be the “good” mom on the block who decks her kid out with a helmet AND knee pads. I have a feeling the gloves and elbow pads won’t be far behind.

This Week

We received a new “pet” for our house, an Ankylosaurus.  I’m still learning the pet care ins and outs for a dinosaur, but overall he’s a pretty pleasant addition to the family.

We went to story time at the library with a craft activity afterwards.  Corbin created a monkey that will spin on a straw.  He loved it….I could have lived with out the monkey twirling on the straw  And that’s the difference between a 4 year old and a 33 year old (if that’s really my age and I’m not saying it is or isn’t…because I really can’t remember!)

Aunt Kati came and stayed with us for a few days.  That was super fun!  We had afternoon ice cream runs, crafting for my library decorations, games, playing, and talking.  We love our Aunt Kati!

Corbin took another step into “maturity”.  Usually, he and I make his bed together.  Thursday morning he rushed to me and was SO excited because he made his own bed.  Bless his heart…what do you to say that hot mess  Well, I praised his effort and told him thanks because he did work really hard and was so proud.  We are stepping in the right direction.

Finally, we ended the week with a play date and pool time.  Tonight we are hosting a BBQ and trying to beat the heat with some water activities and games for the kiddos.

This weekend we are home from the lake and I’m hoping to work on getting my thoughts together to begin planning for the first week of school; to help with this planning process I’ve scheduled a massage….I definitely think it will help kick start those ideas

Play Dates with the Ladies

We had a few play dates that I documented and a few I didn’t have pictures of, but let’s just say Corbin had quite the week with the ladies.

One of the dates was with GG.  She came to watch swimming lessons and then after they played a spirited card game of war.

And to end the week Corbin and I met some friends at the zoo.  Corbin took care of showing Chloe around. It was sweet!

“Let’s go look at the horses!”

“Don’t worry Chloe, I’m an experienced driver.  I’ll help you!”

“There’s the snake; do you see it?”

“See it’s behind glass. I told you it won’t hurt us.”

We have a had a fun-filled busy week.  And we are off to have some more fun at the lake.  I hear that the weekend weather may actually feel like summer *gasp*!

Working At The Car Wash

We have a car wash in our house!  It’s SOO convenient to be able to drive through, get my car nice and clean, and have it dried all for free!

If you would like one too you may contract Corbin and I to build one.  It’s 100% fallible, 100% recyclable, and 100% destructible, but at least I’m a honest and upfront builder

Here is our car wash:

Our cars went through to get washed…

and then they went through the drier.  Corbin did the official count for a 10 second dry.

We had a great time at the car wash!

Friends Forever

I am blessed to have friends from various stages of my life.  But, I have one group of friends since grade school.  We went all the way through high school together, some of us roomed together all through college, and even though we live in different areas now, we can still reconnect in a second.

Yesterday this group had to meet up for a tragic reason.  One of these friends lost their precious baby boy.  So, we reunited for a funeral.  Sad, so sad, but we all have the hope that Jesus provides which helps to know that he is in heaven.

In this tragic time, I also was struck at the fact that even though we all live separate lives in different areas and don’t see each other on a regular bases; when we need each other, we can count on each other to be there.

We know each others history, we know each others personality and quirks.  And we can still pick up where we left off.  We can hug each other and that can mean more than words.  We can say catch phrases or just a random thought that will mean something to us…that will bring back a memory and a smile.

My heart breaks for my dear friend who now has to find a new normal in her life and grapple with the death of her baby boy.  But, I feel so blessed that I have a group of friends, that I’ve known since grade school, to help each other out in all the storms and rainbows of life.

You Did What?

How has your child tried to get out of cleaning their room?  Whining, fit throwing, stubborn refusal, slow compliance….ahh, there are so many tactics that kids use to try getting out of this dreaded chore.

However, I think my child has come up with a new tactic that took me by surprise.  It had me literally in a state of disbelief and shock.

It all started with me saying “I will be happy to turn on your show as soon as your room is cleaned up.  Let me know when you’re ready.”  Then I went to get a Kleenex in the bathroom right by his bedroom.

As I came out of the bathroom Corbin comes out of his room at the same time and shuts his door.  “Well ok, closing the door doesn’t mean you’ve cleaned your room, but we’ll see where this is going,” I thought.

He proceeds to look at me with the biggest, most innocent eyes ever and say “Mom, I can’t clean my room…it’s locked.” 

Silence.  He’s still “innocently” looking at me.  My mind is racing, but my mouth stays quiet (Hallelujah!  Because what I really wanted to say was probably not nice and would have been reactive instead of proactive…blah, blah, blah.  But good for me for being the calm adult).

So instead of saying what I wanted to say, I calmly said “Well, that’s sad. But you still have to clean your room.  How are you going to do that now?”

After his shocking look of horror, he asked if I could unlock it.  (After consulting Daddy by phone at work I found out I needed a tiny flathead screwdriver. I then practiced on an open door to figure it out and felt confident I could open his door.)  But to Corbin, I told him that I had a few things I needed to get done before I got to his door and that he could wait on the stairs while I did those things.  Then I would be available to help.

Of course this was met with, again, a look of abject horror.  After I completed my tasks (folding laundry and putting it all away) I opened his door, he cleaned his room, and we moved on with life.

He has not tried the door locking “trick” again, but oh my heavens I’m worried about what he’ll think of next.  I think his teen years might be challenging…prayers please

Swim Lessons–Private!?!

So, I signed up for another round of swim lessons.  I did it online like I have done several times before. However, this time I tried something new and ended up paying for it – literally!

I wanted to do semi-private lessons this time with Corbin.  That means there are two kids to one instructor.  I asked about these lessons and thought I understood I could sign up just Corbin. 

When we arrived on the day of our new session of swim lessons I was informed that I had to enroll two kids at one time for the semi-private lessons.  What!?!  Well, that stinks.  I had signed up weeks ago and thought someone would have caught this mistake, but nonetheless I was given two options.  Change times to do a group lesson or pay more (lots more) and do private.  So, I opened the checkbook and paid more

Now, on the upside I LOVE the private lessons.  Corbin has one on one attention the lessons focus on skills that he needs.  For example, my child does well in many areas but kicking his legs is not a strong suit.  He always bends his knees and does like a jump kick.  I have repeatedly told him and tried to help him get straight legs, but I have had little luck.

Dallas, his swim instructor, worked with him today, almost the whole entire lesson on this and he’s definitely improving and getting the hang of a straight leg kick.  In swimming this important!  If he had been in a group this attention could not have been given to him.

Bless Dallas, he was patient and a good teacher.  He used a variety of techniques, modeling, and assisting to help Corbin understand.  But, I’m sure it was frustrating to work for 30 minutes on kicking…or maybe it was just me.  I had to stop watching because I felt myself getting frustrated

So all in all, I had an expensive learning experience, but am really pleased with the opportunity.  Now I think we are spoiled though!  I don’t know if I can go back to group lessons after this…uh oh Chris…you might need to budget a little (or a lot) more for swimming lessons!

**These pictures were taken through a window.

4th of July 2014

Corbin and I had a fabulous week hanging at the lake.  Grandma, Corbin, and I got to spend several days there and then Daddy and Grandpa joined us later in the week, after work. 

We played and swam in the lake for hours.  We lounged on the boat and drove around the lake.  We ate delicious amounts of food (think weight gain from homemade ice cream, candy, special adult drinks, and tons of yummy meals) and in general just relaxed and enjoyed the outdoors.

Here are some pictures to show our week at the lake in celebration of July 4th.