Swim Lessons

In preparation for summer and for our water-oriented Zwahlen family reunion next week, we put Abby and Sam in swim lessons.  They go for 30 minutes a night for 2 weeks.  I am grateful we are halfway through because bedtime is a little later and I'm tired at the end of the day. :)  But they have both improved so much!  Abby will now put her face (but not her whole head) in the water and Sam dunks his whole body at every opportunity, even if it means he has to create his own opportunity.  He had me laughing so hard on Friday as he kept dunking his head and coming up grinning.  It's funny because they stick together and always sit together on the wall.  Sam is the first volunteer for any new activity and Abby reigns him in every time he isn't listening or following directions, which has slowly gotten less often, though it still keeps her busy.

Sam after one of his head dunks.

 Never one to be left out of the fun.

Building a Boat

Abby's last homework assignment was to build a boat.  We did some reading and video-watching online and Abby came up with her plan, which she eagerly wrote down.  The one thing she didn't plan on was Sam as her helper/commentator/entertainment while she built.  I discovered how hard it will be for me to let her do a project without interjecting too much.  Of course, I did the hot glue (but exactly where she told me to put the dot) and the cutting of the heavier plastic (again, following her exact line), but I have got to say it was tough for my toeing-the-line-on-perfectionist self when it comes to projects and schoolwork.  

Abby built a great boat with a propeller and a sail and even filled the 14 seats with Lego figures and their pets and accessories.  She was so excited after school to tell me that her boat floated the whole time.  I was so proud of her for the couple of hours she spent researching, planning, building, and decorating The Abby Express.  She's such a good girl.

By the way, each Lego figure represented someone she loves.  She, of course, was the captain, Lydia was the co-captain, and Sam was the propeller operator.  

Father's Day, Part 2

The kids were excited all week to celebrate Father's Day with Roy.  We did some shopping on Monday and the kids picked out great gifts for him (to use with them, of course).  Sam got this launching water balls, Lydia a light-up purple bouncy ball, and Abby got him Mambas, his favorite candy, and made a magnet that says "Dad, You Rock!".  I was impressed they all kept their gifts a secret for the week.  All three kids also drew pictures, tried to spoil him, and showered him with extra attention.  They sure are lucky to have a great dad!

Lydia was so excited about the purple ball that she brought it to church (Roy has meetings before we get there) to give it to him in this bright striped gift bag.  The ball also happened to bounce across the aisle and into another row in the middle of the meeting, lighting up as it bounced...you can imagine our reactions of both embarrassment and laughter.

And Finally Do What Frozen Things Do In Summer!

You're welcome for getting Olaf singing in your head.

My friend sent me this recipe for snow in the summer.  It's super easy and the kids loved it.  We got epsom salt, added some glitter for fun, and froze it.  Then the kids got to play with their figures in cold "snow".  It was so fun, especially because it was during our super hot week and we needed fun indoor things to do after school.    

Pretty Ideas

Lydia is at that awkward stage of not wanting to nap, but still needing the sleep.  If she sleeps too long in the afternoon, she is a frequent visitor/yeller-down-the-stairs after bedtime.  If she weren't so stinkin' cute and funny, I would be more frustrated.  She is a really good independent play kid too so she'll stay in her room for an hour and then play downstairs after napping attempts have been made.  The other day, she came scooting down the stairs a bit before her hour was up with a very shiny, sparkly face.  She had somehow found Abby's lip gloss and decorated her face, cheeks, neck, and stomach.  "Mommy, look!  I'm so pretty!"  Earlier that morning she took a can of febreeze out of the bathroom and sprayed all over the basement so it would smell pretty.  And it still smells pretty 4 days later.  Lydia is a very grateful kid.  Many times each day, she will hug and kiss me and then say, "Thanks, mama!"

Sam has shocked me recently with his interest in learning and doing homework.  I ordered a 320 page workbook to do over the summer.  He already started it and is nearly done.  He loves learning and is so excited about doing homework like Abby.  Sam is also my little chef.  He gets so excited when it's a day we are going to make something in the mixer.  He adds everything in and then dances to the whir of the mixer.  Makes me smile every time.

Abby still has 7 days of school left.  She's excited to be able to say she's a 1st grader.  She impresses me with her love of reading.  We've been reading chapter book after chapter book (Matilda, Mercy Watson books, Pippi Longstocking, Ramona Quimby age 8, and now Ramona & Beezus).  Just this week, she decided to start reading in bed with a flashlight after we are done reading for the night.  I wasn't sure how much she was retaining until she was able to retell parts of the story and even quote parts of the dialogue.  It's so fun to see her really take off with reading!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to Daddy/Roy Zwahlen/Stinkypants and all the other names we affectionately call you.  We love you,

Picture Post

Last year, Roy brought home two extra shirts from his company's convention and the kids, especially Sam, love to wear them as pajamas.  In fact, Sam has now acquired both shirts and calls them his tent shirts.  The other morning he was crying because he was stuck in his shirt.  If you look closely, you can see that his head is through the arm hole and his legs are through the neck hole.

On Fridays we do a family movie night during dinner.  It has become one of my favorite traditions.  Last Friday we each made our own pizza.  The kids love creating their own designs.

Lydia insisted on wearing Abby's backpack after school yesterday.  She was so cute trotting to the car with a backpack half her size.