For those of you who faithfully follow us and wonder why I've been so slow to blog this week....

I just started the same load of towels for the third day in the row. I keep forgetting to move the wash into the dryer and it's too stinky to dry by the time I remember.

That's the kind of week it's been. Good but busy. Crazy busy.

A Wonderfully Sunny Day

Some...

playing in the sand,
snuggling,

checking out the water,

practicing,

cooperative building, (and some observing) :)

surprise soaking,

fishing,

competition,

(a wise wife shows her handsome husband as the winner :) )

playing, lots of playing,

and huge doses of fun.

These Two

I know, it's become a reoccuring theme but some days I want to laugh. Really laugh. And some days I want to cry... Not really. There are a few things I will try before I cry about it, but it is a bit frustrating.

It all started when missy here discovered the freedom of this...
And up.... (no just sliding over on her tummy for this one. Nope, she has to practically stand straight up on top of the rails and jump on over. Practically, as in that's a bit exagerated.)

And over. She thinks she's quite cool.

So tonight, that acrobatic performace gained me these photos.

The box of winter stuff is in a closet in their room. Cara generously raids the closet and hands out the goods.

"Hi, Mama! Don't I look good in Leah's winter boots? Guess where I got them from?!"

"Oh, hiii, Mama, how are you tonight? Do you like my hat? You do not? Why ever not? It is all the rage to wear these in the summer heat. How about mittens? Do you think they look good with my jammies? Now, Mama, why are you getting all hot under the collar? You're not even wearing a hat or mittens. Really, is getting to bed without some fooling around really such a big deal?"

Yes, it is, sweet one, we are both much happier if you get the right amount of sleep!

And so every nap and nighttime is now become a cycle of put to bed, hop out of bed, open up the door and peek down the hallway to see how close Mom may be, throw some things into Cody's bed, hop in with Cody, play until Mom opens the door and.... puts Cara back in bed again. And around and around we go, in and out.

Good thing instances like tonight's dress up make me laugh. :)

need some help?

Molly the Maid at your service ! :)

Rest assured, the upside - down lion mask will not affect her performance in any way.

A Swimming Lesson Update

He's no Michael Phelps... but I'm thinking that's for the best.

Sometime last week I informed him I was no longer going to sit by the edge of the pool. I took the twins along so he knew it was no bluff.
Thankfully my cousin Laura has kids swimming at the same time and sweetly offered to watch the twins when I still needed to walk him to his group and touch his shoulders instead of hold his hand.
The next day he informed me on the way to lessons that I could stay on the bench he could go to his teacher himself. And that was it.

He still locks his knees when he's sincerely trying to bob all the way under but he's NOT crying.
He still puts his face up quickly after getting it wet but he IS doing his glides and floats.

Hooray for Sam!

Yesterday on the way to lessons we had a few things to do and so lots of time to sit in the van and ... anticipate. After we dropped Cara, Cody and Cam off at Gramma's (I value my sanity and 1 hour of swimming lessons + extra little ones does not = huge doses of sanity so I do cave every so often) and we were heading for the pool Sam piped up from the back seat, "Mama, my...heart is.....
My heart is... (his hand is wandering about his chest trying to console the accelerated pattering)
My heart...is... feeling a little nervous. But it's not 'cause I'm scared 'cause I love swimming lessons now!"

I don't know if we would have gotten here if Aunty Shelly wouldn't have practiced with him in the pool at home. Thanks Shelly!

One of those Days

Lots of crying and a bit (or not) of stress. A short visit to snuggle baby Brynlie. And a bit of a crazy evening.

Sam came upstairs to say, "I counted sheep and sang all the songs I know but I just CAN"T go to sleep!" He said he stopped at 100 sheep. So, instead of peacefully slumbering he's mixing up iced tea, sweeping my floor and singing songs in my back ground. "What other jobs do you have for me to do, Mama?"

In the meanwhile. Cara and Cody had a few minutes of cat nap on the way to said snuggles this afternoon and even though they are grouchy and exhausted, they are not sleeping yet. Cara has perfected the art of flipping into Cody's crib and then out of that to run around the room. I know, I should count my blessings, my mom says I already climbed out of my crib at 9 months, but really, it was easier when she stayed put! How come it's so much harder to get back in? "Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama...." at the door. :)

A Great Uncle

Thankfully for Sam, Uncle Jeff's imagination matches his own!

They played some baseball in the house, no balls, no bats, complete with (mostly Sam's) play by play action.

I had to take video but I don't think I caught Sam's self strike outs. "He misses, he misses again, strike three, he's outta there! or that's outta the park." Or something like that.

Mostly he made sure he got to first base (the couch) but a few times Uncle J caught a fly ball and tagged him out as he slid and jumped the living room obstacle course. As soon as the status (safe or tied to the runner or out) was determined he would head back to the pitcher's mound because in all good baseball you get three outs before you switch teams.

Sometimes the swing came before the pitch. :)
But it was great fun!

Thanks, Jeff, I'm not sure either Steve or I would have had the patience to pull that off for as long as you did!