Yesterday we went to the local pool for the first time all summer. At 95 degrees, we were ready for some pool time. Zack swam all by himself, no flotation device, and with goggles, for the first time ever. It was amazing to see how fast he is and how good he really is. His very first comment: "Mom this is so exciting! It's beautiful underwater!!!" And all he was looking at was a cement blue pool.
After two hours in the pool, we went straight to t-ball. Lesson learned, and we'll never do that again. He was so lethargic and pooped out, he couldn't care less about t-ball. He had a hard time hitting the ball, but connected really, really well with the T every time. Lance has been pitching to Zack, so we'll have to go back to the T. After two times at bat, he turned around and said "I give up" and walked straight into my lap. With the heat, I didn't blame him.
So, Grandma's resort is finally open for the season. Which means it is time to fish. Which means I get to trail after Zack all day, constantly bating and untangling the Diego fishing rod, and fighting with him over just how much time he gets on the boat versus how much time Daddy gets alone to REALLY fish. The new boat ran great, and the fish were biting. And biting. And biting. And biting.
Day One of swimming lessons. When I registered Zack, I debated whether to put him in the Beginner or Intermediate Preschool session. He jumps off the dock into the lake with zero reservations, and he's also the kid who, two summers ago at the age of 20 months, ran along the deck of the pool, jumped in, and was rescued by 3 lifeguards. He of course came up laughing at his trick. The mothers in the balcony all screamed and did the Super Gasp, and the lifeguards didn't think it was any too funny. That was my first clue...this kid likes the water. But, I also didn't want to get him into a class too far ahead of him. Well, about 14 seconds into today's class, I realized I was going to have to bump him up a level. This being a beginner class, they weren't blowing bubbles with their face in the water, but were pretending to blow out candles on their finger. Meanwhile, my Crazy Larry is jumping up and down, dunking himself, holding his breath for 3-5 seconds, and popping up, to the huge dismay of the horrified teacher. Yeah...pretending to blow out candles isn't cutting it when he has the whole pool at his disposal. So afterward, I asked him if he would like to do a harder swim class, or if he wanted to continue to blow out candles. Clearly, you know what answered. So all night, I've been hoping, hoping that we can get into the Intermediate class, which has a session right alongside the one he is already in. Especially since he's asked 14,000 times tonight: "When does that harder swimming lesson start?"
First thing this morning, we approach the teacher and ask if he can move up to the next class, which is going on at the same time as the beginner class. She says "oh yeah. No problem. He's obviously a swimmer." Oh, I just swelled with pride. In this Intermediate class he is no longer playing "Simon Says" to put a face or an ear in the water, but is being supported on his front and back, learning to float, and will eventually learn strokes before the class is over. He also got to put his face in and reach for the rings that his teacher held out. Right up the alley of the kid who can hold his breath for 11 seconds in the bathtub. Yeah -- 11 seconds. After the lesson, as I wrap up his chattering teeth and lead him away from the pool he says "I don't want to stop swimming. Going home is boring. I want to swim between the lines. I want to stay swimming. Mom, what time do we have swimming lessons again?"
Zack finished his first full year of preschool at Northland Christian Preschool. We LOVELOVELOVELOVE it there. It is right down the street from our house, he has two amazing teachers, Mrs. Kahara and Mrs. Beth, and was one of only 10 students this year. This year he was 'that kid'...the one who is constantly raising his hand (or just butting in) and telling the teaching 15 stories about nothing - or nothing that has to do with the topic they are currently discussing. For example, this morning, after the Pledge of Allegiance, he raised his hand, then belted out "Mrs. Kahara - a long time ago, my mom and I were at a party and we saw some llamas. They were different colors. they were eating." All in front of the preschool program's crowd. I've apologized profusely to Mrs. K, and he now just interrupts by saying "excuse me...excuse me..." and thinks that makes it all ok.
this one is their Pledge to the Bible. I love how they do this every single morning, and am glad we got it on video so we can practice it over the summer.
So, the rest of the class is singing "Red, white and blue, red, white and blue. These are the colors for me and you." If it looks like Zack is a ventriloquist who has got it severely wrong, it is because he has chosen to sing "dead deer, oh, dead deer." And he ain't whispering it either - and he is a second off, because at the end of the song you hear his final "deer!" All while grabbing his crotch.
Zack and I got to visit Ben for awhile this evening. I think Zack was a little caught off guard by Becky in the bed, because he was pretty shy for awhile. After telling Ben "you'll grow big like me when you eat" and "I have lots to teach you", he didn't care much for him. He told me "i'll hold him tomorrow." Becky got up and walked to the bathroom while we were there. She was pretty surprised when they told her she would be doing that. Apparently they no longer require you to stay in bed 24 hours after the c-section. She had some wonderful jello and is looking forward to real food on Friday. Marcy, Warren and the girls came too, so Becky's room was full of visitors. I think it's crazy that the nursery is closed until 10 pm and the baby has to stay with you. Wow--she looked real tired. These videos of Ben are "pre-scratches." I feel horrible. He was doing that thing where he tried to stuff his fingers in his mouth...well, his gown was covering his fingers. So I asked Becky if she minded if I helped him stick his thumb in his mouth, and then uncovered his hand. Within seconds he had scratched his face. You can really see it in the pictures. Kid has crazy long fingers, and his nails are ready for a manicure. I guess when you get that big, your nails do too.
It may have been below zero, but we were itching to try the sledding hill near our house. With our little old school blue plastic sled, we made 4 runs before we couldn't take it any more. Next time: an inner tube so we can dominate that hill. And slide straight instead of fishtailing all over. We were the only two people there.
The much anticipated Christmas program finally arrived, and our angel was just perfect. As expected, I cried, but I was laughing right along with the tears. (You'll notice the camera a little shaky. Sorry.) Per usual, there's the kid who will someday be featured on America's Funniest HOme Videos, for trying to yell the loudest. Thankfully it isn't ours. He turned slightly shy, kept the same look on his face almost the whole time, and barely sang a word, but sure like banging on the sticks. He looked so cherubic in his little costume, I wanted him to wear it forever.
We LOVE his preschool. I cannot say enough good things about it. His teachers are wonderful, the lessons are great, he loves his friends....I could go on and on. After the program, he took a cookie, and said "I have to...I have...I've got to...." and couldn't spit the words out. He walked up to his preschool teacher, Mrs. Kahara, and handed her the cookie. For MY little Sugar Bug, to give anyone ANYTHING that has even the remotest amount of sugar in it, is huge. So I can tell that he REALLY likes her.
Oh, Grandma...you would have LOVED this program. We wish you were here! He had to double check that Ella had been there, and when I assured him that she was, he said "those lights were blocking my way. I couldn't see Ewwa."
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
This is Zack practicing his favorite song for the Christmas program. His part is to bang two musical sticks together, and he takes it really seriously. The program is December 21st at 6 pm for whoever would like to come and sit there bawling with me. Today at preschool they got measured for their angel costumes. Costumes?! Real, white angel costumes. Oh, man...I am so nervous to go, because I know I am going to CRYCRYCRY like a baby, at my BABY up there singing songs. I cry telling Grandma about some of the things he says while he practices. I cry when I picture me crying.
So Zack was intently making some project at school using markers when I picked him up. He sat there an extra 5 minutes, after everyone had left, because he wasn't finished with it yet. The teachers said he'd been working on it all morning, and was so worried to leave it when they left the room to play, practice their program, or have a snack. When I asked what it was, he said it was Daddy. It kind of looked like him, too. Well, I convinced him to finish it at home, taking along 2 markers. (we do NOT have markers at home. For obvious reasons.) So, we've had lunch, he's coloring at the table, finishing his project, and I dug out the Christmas cookie recipe book to make my list. I had read through ONE recipe, just ONE, when I heard "hey mom, I want to wook wike a cwown." translated: I want to look like a clown. "uh-huh...maybe next Halloween", I answer, distractedly. but something made me look up. A big flash of BLUE caught my eye, and when I looked up, he said it again "I want to wook wike a cwown" and was proudly sporting THIS face:
Then when I tried to wash it off, alternating between laughing at just how MUCH he got on him, and doing the typical mom's response "what were you thinking?!", he started bawling that "Now I won't wook wike a CWOWN!" So I took a picture of his sadness. Or, the Sad Clown.
Then, as he's looking in the mirror, lamenting the loss of his 'costume', I said "hey, Clown...do you know where Zack is?!" So now he's back to being happy, because he think I mistook him for a clown. Happiness is back.
I started my first scrapbook when I was 10 years old. It was the only kind available in the few years, I filled that album with every remnant I acquired: ticket stubs from school dances, photos from this one time, at band camp.
I LOVE to look at photos of things I’ve done in my lifetime.
Retrospection. I believe in it. I highly recommend it. It’s what my magnet boards are all about. The stories. The laughs about “remember that one time?!”
My addictions to scrapbooking, organization, color and design all come together with the creation of Paper Miniskirt’s magnetic photo boards. A new spin on the old corkboard, the magnet board is a contemporary means of organization: stick up a coupon, wedding RSVP, permission slip, candid photos that you think aren’t worthy of frames. Hang it on a nail or a wreath hook, sit it in an easel on a bookcase.
