Gymnastics

I've been looking for something PT for Chase to be in this summer...not that he doesn't have mad physical strength already, but he could use some help still with running, jumping, and foot over foot stair climbing.  Not to mention the fact that the child has energy like a nuclear reactor.

So I took him this morning to a trial class at a local gymnastics place.  I talked to the front desk lady beforehand, told her about Chase and asked what class she thought he might fit into best.  She (kind of to my surprise) suggested we try out the 3-4 year old class.  Oh, and she had a sister with Down syndrome and she thought Chase would LOVE it.  Perfect.

So we go.  And although Chase had a good time, I was a little disappointed to admit that it is just a bit over his head.  I mean, he attempted everything that they were doing, and the instructor was very patient with him, and there were only 3 others in the class...but his attention span and general ability to follow directions are just.not.there.  Not yet.

Honestly, I know putting him in the 2-3 year old class would be fine.  He would probably fit in great there.  He'd probably fit in, do fantastic, and have a blast.  But secretly?  I hate that.  I hate admitting that he can't fly with his peers.  I feel like it is admitting defeat.

Bah.  Screw you, Down syndrome.

Little Fish

We have the ghetto pool up and running now, and my little Ian has been in it for the majority of the last 3 days.  Swimming is the first thing he wants to do in the morning and is the last thing he talks about at night (well, that and how he lost Blue Dog, who, BTW has been MIA for 2 days now and we are very close to losing it over here).

Summer break, even though it hasn't officially started yet (I have daycare kids until Friday) is well under way, in Ian's eyes.  Chase even enjoyed his first day of freedom- although his idea of water play is different.  Mainly he is into emptying the kiddie pool or the water table with different sized cups and buckets, often pouring it out over other people's heads or feet.  Keep alert, people.  He WILL get you if you are not paying attention.

Ice cream cones, popsicles on the back porch, sunscreen, funky goggles, warming in the sun, playing in the water until his lips turn blue and his teeth chatter...it is here.  

I promise pictures soon...I've just been out enjoying the moments without the camera (I even got into the pool today- and it was COLD)...because we all know salt water and my clumsiness would not go well together.

Modesty

Now, I am all for being discreet and whatnot, but when my 5 year old, whom I just bathed last night, naked, in a tub of water, demands, "Mom!  Now, don't watch!" while he changes into his bathing suit in the living room, I have to laugh.

Summertime List

Things I want to do this summer:

*Read a lot with all the boys, like all day long.
*Music classes with Mr Nigel on Fridays at the bookstore.
*Library classes
*Swim with the boys, whenever we can.
*Plant wildflowers in my side garden
*Dye Ian's hair with Kool-Aid
*Start gymnastics with Ian and Chase
*Stay on top of piano practicing with Ian
*Potty train Chase (or at least get a good start.  Or get him to pee on the potty successfully.  Once.)
*Eat many popsicles
*Keep up with new friends and old ones
*Run through the sprinkler
*Stay in our bathing suits as much as possible
*Eat lots of garden-fresh veggies
*Catch  up on everyone's doctor and dental visits!!
*Indulge in Sonic Happy Hours and Dollar Ice Cream Cones at least twice a week :)
*Make photo books for Chase (speech therapy!)

I probably have more to add...just trying to keep a record of everything that I think of!  Summer officially starts on Friday this week :)  Woot!

Ian Reads!

My goal this summer is to get Ian up and fiendishly reading.  He is SO close.  He loves being read to, he knows all his letters and sounds, and he is interested in it.  He will point out signs and words that he knows, and he spells out words that he sees in print and asks what they are.  I've worked a little bit with him using flashcards with sight words, and we've read some pre-primer level books together, but today, TODAY was the first time he GOT it.

He read about 10 pages of Hop on Pop, with minimal assistance from me.  He has finally realized that the letters will tell him what the word is, and that when he takes the time to figure them out, it is FUN!  He was so proud of himself.  He kept saying, "I am just SO EXCITED Mom!!  I just can't believe I'm READING!"

Memorial Day

We spent a very wet Memorial Day at the Lake with the Wanek family at their lake house, AKA the Redneck Riviera.  It is this awesome campground-turned-semi-permanent-vacation-home-neighborhood.  It is full of hard sided trailers with attached permanent porches, golf carts, and pontoon boats.

We went up Sunday late afternoon, just in time to make it for dinner and s'mores.  Then we attempted to put the littles to bed (Chase thought it was EXTREME fun to sleep on the futon, and Gavin thought it was torture and abandonment to sleep in the pack-n-play).  Eventually everyone slept, the adults enjoyed beverages and a crackling fire, and we slept peacefully all night long.

Chase and Michael share the love.

It's okay, Chase.  I will let you drive on the next beer run.

Ian wishes that he would lose his teeth so he could be just like Emily.

Not.

Gavin woke up screaming for whatever reason, and wouldn't stop unless I let him play Baby Wrestle Mania in the futon with us.  Thankfully, Bryan has magic powers and eventually got him back to sleep without waking the entire campground up.

The next morning, with coffee in hand, we watched the kids mess around in the yard and on the golf carts.  Pictured below are Chase and Michael backing out of the driveway.  Not pictured is when someone left the keys in the cart and Chase actually driving it into Michael's grandfather, up the steps, and almost through the front porch.  Really.  I didn't see it, but I'm sure I would have had a heart attack.

Hey- am I clear?

I just noticed the possible culprit for the cart/porch incident- I wonder what Chase was drinking in that open container...?  Fermented apple juice maybe?

By the time we got everyone fed, dressed, brushed, and packed, we were able to get on the boat for all of 8 minutes before a torrential downpour landed us inside watching movies for 4 hours.  Next time, we will feed everyone granola bars in their pajamas on the boat before we waste another beautiful morning!  Actually, nothing was wasted- it was good times relaxing with friends.  We just have another excuse to get out there again now :)

Preschool Graduation

Ian had his graduation ceremony last week...I would have posted sooner, but, you know.  3 kids, busy, blah, blah, blah.

He has been at First Presbyterian Preschool for 3 years now- and each year has been even better than the last.  He LOVES it there, and shed quite a few tears on the way home from the farewell picnic on Thursday.

But on to the best part...awfully cute photos:

The theme was "Who Let the Frogs Out?!" and the kids hopped down the aisle one at a time wearing these ridiculous frog visors.  Ian has been into accessories for a while now, and was wearing a washer on a chain around his neck, which flew all over the place, smacking him in the head each time he jumped.  Oh, and he was also chewing gum for the entire ceremony- the jumping, the pledge, the singing, the dancing, the diploma-getting.  Still cute, though.

Who let the frogs out?

All good rappers have star shaped sunglasses.

Lummi sticks make a come-back.

I love that he is young enough to proudly wear a piece of cardboard and an upside-down paper bowl :)

The two best preschool teachers EVER- Miss Beth and Miss Kitty.

The 5 Muskateers at the farewell picnic- Colin, Ian, Ava, Katherine, and Leah.