My Tadpole is a Minnow...

and my Jellyfish is a Shark.  We have enjoyed, tired of, and passed swimming lessons.  It was only two weeks long but sometimes it seemed to go on forever.  I think even the kids were tired of it all.  Lane learned how to dive and is great at swimming the freestyle stroke--with his face in the water.  (He doesn't take after his mother.  I've always hated putting my face in the water and still do.)  Paige has perfected jumping in and going under.  She'll plug her nose while she stands on the side of the pool and then lets go before she hits the water.  They both have jumped off the low dive and Lane has jumped off the high dive.  Dad keeps bugging him to do it over and over again. I told Lane to say, "I'll do it if you do it."  That seemed to keep Dad quiet.  It's been great to have the apartment pool here because they have become so comfortable around the water (Dad, I still keep a really close eye on them).  And it's made them better swimmers to boot.  I can't complain, it's been fun for me too.  Here is one of my favorite swimming photos.

My Tadpole, Jellyfish, and Shark (the Minnow is taking the picture).

We did it!

Or more accurately, she did it.  Paige got her ears pierced.  Or as she says, "polished".  We were in the mall and she said she wanted to do it but not that night.  She "promised" that she would do it tomorrow and I thought she'd probably forget all about it or chicken out.  The next morning she woke up so excited, it was the special day to get her ears polished.  Now she asks me if she is so pretty.  I tell her that I've always thought she was pretty even without earrings. She says, "No, I'm prettier now."  We went swimming and she had to keep asking if they were still in.  She was so excited to go to church today to show them off.  Too bad we didn't get to go (the vertigo has returned for no apparent reason).  Anyways, here are some pictures of a pretty girl who was already pretty regardless of what was in her ears.  

Nice, simple gold post.  She picked it out and I definitely approve.

Career Choices

Lane announced at dinner tonight that he would like to make and sell "Lane's Homemade Mouth Relish".  Yes, you guess right...He would chew the pickles for you then spit them back into the jar.  Any orders?

I'm Trying...

Those who know me well, know that I'm not a very good "girl mom".  I might even add to that that Paige is not a very good "girly girl".  She must take after me-- once again.  Let me explain.  Paige has beautiful long hair but she rarely lets me do anything with it.  She just wants it "plain down".  Brushing it has become a chore.  I've never let this bother me too much because I really wouldn't know what to do with it.  But now that Paige will be starting kindergarten, I would like her teacher to be able to see her face.  A cute face at that.  So I've found a couple of websites that are aimed at helping me be a little better at this.  I'll list them in my sidebar--I'll be referencing them more often (if I have my way).  Below is a picture of my very first french-braid.  I now know why they call it a french-braid.  I was wishing I knew french so the bad words I wanted to say the kids wouldn't understand.  

(Kim, I knew you'd appreciate this.)

What world do you live in?

My lack of posting on my blog can be blamed on Webkinz World.  I think I mentioned that Paige got Webkinz for her birthday.  Well, I have enter this twilight zone were nothing matters but  kinzcash (money that buys these internet animals clothes, food, toys, and everything you can imagine).  We are saving our money for a pool to put in Bubble Heart and Lucky's backyard. Which means that I spend my evenings playing Webkinz games to earn this fake cash.  If only life were so easy.  Paige has enjoyed her pets and I have enjoyed feeling like I haven't striped her of her childhood by denying her a real pet.  I'm know she still wants a real pet because she came up to me and told me that she was tired of pretending that she was a cat and actually wanted a real one.  Well, my break time is up.  I need to get back to playing for kinzcash.  Until next month.   

Singing in the rain...

It's a little late, but happy 4th of July.  We spent our 4th of July like we do almost every year, just in a new town or state.  I spend a whole week trying to talk Blake into participating in a crazy people infested holiday where you have to wait in traffic for longer than humanly possible (especially for Blake).  Only to then be rewarded with 15-20 minutes of awe-inspiring flashes of light to which everyone has to say "ahhhhh...".   And then it's time to get back in the car and wait in traffic for longer than humanly possible (and complain about other peoples bad driving).  This year was a little more exciting than our previous years.  2006- Albany, NY- too far away to actually see much and could barely hear the big BOOMS.  (The "booms" are half the fun).  2007- Albany, again- On top of the Albany Med. parking garage with teenagers blowing smoke in our faces and explaining to the kids that we don't say "those kind of words".  Here is 2008- West Virginia- Forecast predicts thunderstorms. More like torrential downpour, can't see the car in front of you, hydroplaning on the freeway type of thunderstorm.  I say to Blake "Let's just go see the chaos and see how bad it is", followed by "I'm so sorry I made you drive through this," while I try to relax my white-knuckled grip on the door.  Blake is such a sport because he knows that there are very few things that I enjoy in this world more than fireworks. They are what summer is all about.  I could take the time now and go all patriotic on you but I won't.  I love my country and the freedoms I enjoy.  I am so grateful for our soldiers (my father was one) and I pray for peace. Look I just got patriotic on you.  Anyway, the drive out there turned out to be productive. After we sat in the rainy car for 45 mins. (discussing or cussing at each other) we unloaded and found a place to sit under our umbrellas.  The rain eased up enough that it wasn't too miserable.  The orchestra played beautifully (after the threat of electrocution passed).  And the fireworks were great including the ashes falling in our eyes.  We were close enough to hear and feel the "boom".  I commented to Blake how perfect it was that the rain stop raining during the fireworks and right when we got back to the car to go home it started up again.  Lane told me the next day that he prayed that it would stop raining for the fireworks.  I was so proud of him. Not only for praying, but for having the faith that it would stop raining.  He saved my firework night.  I'm glad that my children have opportunities for their testimonies to grow.  And that with all our imperfections as parents, there are some good things that they have learned from Blake and I.  I don't think this blog entry would be complete without a couple pictures of umbrellas.  You won't be able to tell who is sitting under them but trust me that they are our two kids.

Paige took this picture so it's a little short on head room.

Envy-One of the 7 Deadly Sins?

Blake and I have been saving our money and looking forward to a special family car.  Our GMC Acadia.  Then one morning we walked outside and there it was sitting in front of our house. Unfortunately, it was our neighbor's brand new car with dealer plates still on it.  It is a beauty to behold.  I'll walk out there just to pretend it is mine.  And then I get in my Pontiac and drive into the sunset dreaming.