Happy Birthday Papa!

We love you!!!

(The big SIX - 0 next year!)

We hope you loved the cookies, coffee and card!

Spring!

Saturday, 3-20-10

It was one of the most amazing first days of Spring!

I would swear that it reached 70 degrees in the afternoon.

While Zach was taking his nap, Elissa made this little chaise (with a bit of help from mom) and spent the afternoon there coloring in this little book she got at a birthday party the night before. She just looked so grown up and princess-like. :-) I was amazed at how quiet she was and content just sitting out there by herself. That is so not her. She is growing up!

Bring on Spring!!

Why are you wet??

Thursday, 3-18-10

I'm sure people were thinking as I walked out of the Y fully clothed, but soaking wet.

The kids had swimming lessons tonight. Before class they were playing in the shallow pool walking and jumping around. Nana came to watch, so when Zach's class started she took him to his lesson while I stayed with Elissa.

Pretty soon Nana is calling me from across the way telling me that Zach is not behaving in class. He is jumping into the water when it is not his turn and maybe I should come over so I can keep him in line. :-) He finished up class and so we went to meet Nana and Elissa. But not before he jumped into the shallow pool again and "swam" across. They were closing the pool for swim lessons and he was being stubborn about getting out.

He got out and said he wanted to go sit "in" the hot tub (they know that they can only sit on the top step) that was just in front of us, so I said ok. I was talking to Nana and telling Elissa that she needed to come over for her swim lessons. Then Nana said, "I don't see Zach."

I looked at the back end of the hot tub and there is Zach in the middle with his face just above the water trying to do the doggy paddle to keep his face out of the water. I run over there and think for 2 seconds.....what am I going to do? I can't reach him. I don't see anyone in a bathing suit close to pull him out and no life guard. I have to jump in.

So, fully clothed, I jumped in and saved my little boy.

I'm not sure if he knew he needed saving. He thought he was swimmin'. Though when I picture his little face just barely above the water I see a bit of panic on it.

Of course the life guards are there after the fact offering me towels and apologizing for not being there. Then I see a lady with her daughter just sitting in the hot tub and she apologizes for not seeing Zach. And I'm trying not to cry.

I should have known with the evening we were having. He kept on jumping into the water by himself. He must be feeling really confident since he is now in swim lessons. He thinks he can swim.

So what do I do now? I have no other clothes. So Nana stays with Elissa for her lesson and Zach and I head out of the Y - trailing water throughout the place and getting questioning looks - we get in the car and drive home.

Thankfully Zach is not traumatized by it and afraid of the water. He wanted to take a bath when we got home. :-)  Mommy......just a little.

I can swim!

Well, Zach can't exactly swim yet but he is super excited to be taking swim lessons. Elissa started in January and I told him that he could start swim lessons when he turned 3. It was a long time coming, but the day finally arrived when he had his first lesson.

He is taking lessons at the Y and his teacher's name is Kelsey. He loves it and is always very excited about his accomplishments. Just ask him, he'll tell you all about it. :-)

Aaaaa Woooooo Oooooo!

Sunday-Tuesday, 2/28 - 3/2/10

That is the call at Great Wolf Lodge to open the water park. :-)

What a super fun time!!

This was our 2nd time there. Last time Elissa was 4yrs and Zach was 1 1/2yrs. Last time we went for Elissa's birthday and this time we went for Zach and my birthday. Last time Elissa wasn't tall enough for the tube rides, this time she was. Last time Zach didn't leave the toddler area and this time he was going down the red and yellow slides. Last time we didn't think Elissa was old enough for Magic Quest, this time she was. Last time we had so much family fun and this time we had just as much - maybe even more!

Though Elissa was tall enough to go on the tube rides, she didn't want to. Daddy got her to go on the double clear tubes and she was scared to death. Then Grandma, Papa and I talked her into going on the newer river ride because we had gone on it and knew that there was nothing scary about the ride. Well she went down and was scared to tears again and then would absolutely NOT go on any more tube rides. :-( BUT she loved going on the red and yellow slides and playing in the activity pool and wave pool.

Now Zach, on the other hand, is our little dare devil. Darin took him over to the red and yellow slides and down he went and then right back up again. Round and round he would go. :-) He is a super talkative guy, but as soon as he was in the water park he would just go play and swim and go down slides and we didn't hear much from him. He knew one of us was following him and he would just go where ever his little heart desired.

Grandma and Papa came for one night, which made it extra fun! The kids love playing with them and Darin & I were able to go down a couple of tube rides together. We were going to go hang out by ourselves that evening, but we were just exhausted having just come from Zach's birthday party the night before. It was an early night for all.

Here are a few picture highlights!

A Bouncy B-Day!

Saturday, 2-27-10

The day finally came to celebrate Zach's 3rd birthday! He had picked his Lightning McQueen theme months before and asked alot if it was his birthday yet. When he did finally turn 3 he would ask, "Am I real 3?" Then when I said yes, he wanted to know if he was going to go to swim lessons. Elissa has been taking them since January and I told him that he would take them when he was 3. He had a few break downs when he had to wait a week.

So we had a bouncy house party! Not a novel idea, but a sure hit with the kids. :-)

I think Zach thoroughly enjoyed turning 3!

And so did everyone else!

 

 

 Families having fun.....

Grandparents having fun....

Even Taylor had fun. :-)

 

Well, Zach was upset once.....

 His face cracks me up! LOL!

Thank you everyone for making it such a great party!

Happy Day!

Friday, 2-26-10

My birthday was Saturday, but we were celebrating Zach's birthday with his friends and family that day, so I spent Friday celebrating my birthday. :-)

A few of my friends (Kirstin, Renee & Amalea) and I went shopping at Bell Square. Thank you Nana for watching the kids!! We met at 10am and of course started with coffee and even better it was free (card for a free b-day drink) - YUM! Then we just walked around and mostly window shopped. I was all ready to buy a new duvet set, but I'm having the hardest time finding one that I love.

Then we had lunch at PF Changs - Yum, Yum, Yum!

Unfortunately soon after lunch it was time to head back home and pick up kiddos, but not before we got my new obsession (thank you Amy Jo) - Sparkling Pomegranate Lemonade at Nordstrom's cafe.

Spending time with my friends is a perfect way to celebrate my birthday!

Then I hurried home to go pick up our babysitter, Rachel, to watch the kids for the evening. :-)

I met Darin down at Kent Station for the evening. We had a drink at Dukes. Then we went to Roadrunner sports to get me new running/workout shoes! Here are my pretty new shoes which I hope will help me be more motivated and faster and have more endurance.....now those are some shoes! hee, hee :-)

After that we had dinner at The Ram....my favorite - appetizers! Then a "death by chocolate" chocolate cake for dessert. YUM!!

It was a GREAT birthday celebration day!!