Young Einstein Science

Our friend who offers Young Einstein Science "camps" during the school year (one day a week) is offering week-long Y.E.S. Camps this summer.  Today concluded the first week and Thomas loved every day of it.  Thursday morning he was disappointed when I told him we had the entire day free (of camps).  He said he wishes Science Camp was every day.  Lucky for him, he'll be enjoying another week of it next week!

swimming!

I am so proud of this little boy!  He has come such a long way during this swim lesson session.  Today he was beaming with confidence and excited about his swim lessons.  These changes always seem to happen so quickly, like a flip of the switch.  Last year's swim lessons at a different pool were slow to progress and painful to watch.  Thomas was so uncomfortable in that environment (I think it was more than just the water).  This new aquatic center has been a very good thing for our kids.  Both are doing great and loving it!

Meredith, heading to the pool

We don't know where she gets her fashion sense, but it's certainly not from either of us. 

Welcome Summer!

This afternoon we hosted an Ice Cream Social to kick off the first day of summer!  We invited our playgroup friends to join us at one of our favorite parks a few miles inland.  I chose this park because of the amenities - clean restrooms, drinking fountains, grass fields, covered playgrounds, sand pits, picnic tables, lots of off-street parking... but most specifically, for the spraygrounds.  I envisioned the kids happily eating ice cream cones and splashing in the water all afternoon.  But unfortunately, we arrived to find the park's sprayground is currently undergoing maintenance.  On the first day of summer, you ask?  Yes!  Crazy timing and as luck would have it, the afternoon was pretty warm.  All our playgroup friends showed up in their swimsuits ready to play in the water, too.  However, leave it to myself and several other moms who always have sand toys, balls, sidewalk chalk, etc. in our trunks to save the afternoon.  And, of course, once the ice cream came out, all the kids forgot about the spraygrounds anyway.  It was a great first day of summer -- complete with chocolate syrup, sprinkles, gummy bears, brownie bites, whipped topping, bananas and ice cream (and cones, of course)! 

Happy Father's Day -- from the San Diego County Fair!

This is their thing: When the three of them come across one of these Footsie Wootsie massage chairs, they all get on it.  Together.  The massage is 25 cents for about one minute of massage.  I'm pretty sure we could "splurge" and everyone could have their own chair/massage, but it's the challenge of figuring out how to get all three of them on it at once that they seem to enjoy the most.  I just watch.  And take photos. 

kung fu party

Thomas' pal Torin celebrated his 6th birthday this afternoon with a karate / Kung Fu Panda -inspired party.  He couldn't decide afterwards which part of the party was his favorite, but the two things that stuck out in my mind were the cutting of the cake with a samurai sword and watching the birthday boy break a wood board with his hand.  Very fun!  And very much welcomed after several consecutive weekends of princess parties...

last day of preschool

  ice cream after dinner to celebrate! ~ with Miss Stephanie



 her preschool class sharing a last special snack

Ms. Robin

Meredith waited and watched for a full year as Thomas attended the preschool up the street from our house.  She was ready way back then so when she started preschool last Fall, she was overjoyed and a constant source of smiles, hugs, and easily made friends with everyone.  She's formed special relationships with both of her teachers, Miss Stephanie and Ms. Robin, as well as the preschool director, the Lunch Bunch administrator, and Michelle in the front office.  She's very much loved at this preschool. 

Today was her last day of preschool and although there are a lot of sad things about that, she won't have to wait until August to return for her last year of preschool.  Beginning Monday she'll attend a summer camp at her preschool that runs the last two weeks of June (MWF, half days).  In August she'll return for another two week session early in the month before the new year of preschool begins.  I didn't want to pull her out all summer because she'd really miss school, but I also wanted to allow for plenty of simple, fun summer activites and free days for us all.  It's going to be a great summer!!

sleepover



The kids have talked about having "sleepovers" in each other's rooms but someone always changes their mind or it's a school night or some other reason comes up that prohibits it from happening.  Last night they talked again about having a sleepover in Thomas' room and this time they actually did!  There was a lot of chatting for at least 45 minutes before Meredith dosed off.  Thomas was up a little bit longer but fell asleep soon after.  This morning we asked them about their sleepover.  Both kids gave it a "two thumbs up, WAY UP!" and want to do it again sometime.  Thomas said he read her a book, then they both read their own books, there was a lot of chatting (they were talking about days of the week when I checked in a half an hour after they went to bed) before they both drifted off.  So fun!  

We're nuts about pistachios!

last day of Kindergarten

Lots of fun stuff happening this week for Thomas as Kindergarten comes to a close.  I think that was the fastest 10 months of my life.  He's excited and looking forward to being a First Grader when school begins again.  He's expressed concern over the longer day and eating lunch at school, but I think when August 30th comes along he'll be ready and even more excited for the school year to start.  Until then, we're all looking forward to a fun-filled summer!

mad libs

I picked up a mad libs book yesterday in anticipation of our roadtrip back to Oregon in three weeks.  I thought this would be a fun activity for the road that would keep the kids engaged for periods of time.  However, I left it on the counter and Meredith asked what it is so we brought it out and started using it last night.  All four of us took turns coming up with words to fill in the blanks and Thomas or I would write them down.  Once we were finished, Thomas (then Mike) read the story aloud to us.  The kids love it and are coming up with some really great adjectives, verbs, country names, animals, objects, etc.  Thomas has been reading the same stories to us over and over.  This has been the best $1 we've spent all week.

sibling love

Late this afternoon we joined a friend and her two children at the San Diego Botanic Garden.  It's such a fun place for the kids to explore.  Miles of trails, water features, lookout towers, bridges, stairs and the two children's gardens with interactive exhibits make this a special place to visit.  We all had a great time today.  Upon leaving the garden Meredith tripped and scraped up her knees and hands.  When we got home she rested on the sofa while Thomas read a couple of books to her.  It was the sweetest thing.  He says he doesn't like to see her sad so when she is he wants to make her smile or laugh.  I told him if there was an award for the best brother ever, he'd get it.  His response: If there was an award for the best sister ever, Meredith would get it. 

little yogi

This morning Meredith joined me for a Family Yoga class at a local studio.  She was the youngest child there today but by far the best one!  This little girl never fails to impress me with her natural athleticism, focus, maturity and overall strength.  I've taken many yoga classes of all types over the years but this one today was definitely one of my favorites, ever.  It was a joy to share this with her.

Note: I did not paint her fingernails black.  She "painted" them with a black marker this morning.  A black marker that refuses to be removed... 

the fort

Thomas has been sleeping in his fort every single night for about a week now.  He claims it is more comfortable.  Judging by how much later he sleeps in every morning, I have no doubt that it is. 

Meredith at Open Gym

Kindergarten

Kindergarten is quickly coming to an end.  It's been such a fantastic year for Thomas.  He's loved it more than I could have imagined.  He tells me he loves Mrs. Fearn and he's always so proud to tell people where he goes to school.  He loves all the fun stuff they do as well as all the academic stuff.  He loves being a Little Buddy to his Big Buddy every Thursday morning.  He loves working on computers in the computer lab.  He loves checking out books from the library and listening to stories in the library's reading circle.  He loves experiencing the other Kindergarten teachers when they make their weekly rotations to learn about science, art and social studies.  He loves going to the music room or having the music teacher come to his classroom.  He loves to bring things in the Sharing Sack when it's his turn.  He loves the school's special Kinderate program twice a week (today was the last one).  One week from tomorrow will be his last day in Kindergarten.  I sure hope he loves First Grade just as much!      

little swimmers

The kids, esp. Meredith, are enjoying their weekly swim lessons.  They've made great improvements in the short four weeks since they started at this new aquatic center in town.  I love seeing their proud faces when they do something new or better than before.  And their confidence level in the water has definitely increased, too.  Meredith excitedly asks when the next lessons will be and both kids want to spend as much time as possible in the play area of the pool before and after their lessons.  It's fun to watch their enjoyment grow!

running kids

Today is National Running Day so the whole family did some running today!  Thomas and Meredith did theirs at the park this afternoon.  I suggested they wear shorts and a t-shirt since it was sunny and warm.  They have seen both of us go out for a run so many times that they know about all the "other" stuff that is involved when we run.  They wanted to pack a little Gatorade, chew gum while we ran, bring the half-empty package of Shot Blocks they've been eyeing (looks like a gummy candy) and wanted to wear their sweat wristbands so they could wipe the sweat off their brow as they ran.  They were so funny about the whole thing.  Our time was limited since it was before swim lessons, but Thomas ran a full mile and Meredith ran about half a mile total.