Mini Camp at the Library

Nelson and Alli started swim lessons again this week. It was a crazy week because it rained every day except Friday. On the days they didn't cancel the class, the kids swam in the light rain or sat on the side of the pool until the heavy rain stopped. Thankfully the sun came out yesterday and they had lots of fun. We even went back last night to swim with Greg.

I had signed Nelson up for a mini camp at the library before this session of swim lessons. I decided to leave him in both. His camp was Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for three and a half hours each day. The theme this week was 'Puppet Show'. There was a professional puppeteer who visited one day. The kids made all sorts of puppets - paper bag puppets, painted hand puppets and sock puppets. When I went to pick Nelson up the first day, Miss Anne told me she thought he was "adorable." She said he was so well behaved and very sweet. She asked if she could take him home with her. I declined because I really like him too. :) On the last day of the camp, the kids split into groups and did puppet shows.
About 30 minutes before the show was to start, Nelson called me and asked me to bring the Star Wars theme music up to the library for his and Matthew's puppet show. It was pretty cute. Nelson narrated the story. Their puppets fought with invisible light-sabers as each boy made sound effects for his own weapon. ~ We are very lucky to have a great library in our neighborhood with such great programs.

Babysitting Baby Ella

A couple of weeks ago, while Andrea and her family went to Sea World with Jena's Girl Scout Troup, we got to keep Baby Ella. She came over early Saturday morning full of smiles. Nelson and Alli immediately started mauling her. She was the best baby all day long. After feeding her rice cereal (I forgot how those little tongues push the food right back out after you put it in) she had tummy time on the living room floor. She would push up and look around and then lay down and rest while she sucked her thumb. (I think little thumb suckers are the cutest!) She played with her little baby toys. Alli even brought out some of her toys that make noise and showed Ella. I think Ella liked the attention. Nelson helped me give her a bottle. He looked very grown up holding her. We went to dinner Saturday night with Greg's parents. Ella slept for most of time. We really enjoyed having her with us for the day. Nelson kept asking me all day long if we could have a cute baby too. I told him no, but we could borrow Ella all we wanted. She is growing up so fast. It won't be long before she is crawling and then running with the rest of the cousins. We love baby Ella!

Beautiful Ballerina Girl

Alli started her first ballet and tap class at the end of February. She had to wait until she was three years old to sign up. She took it at the local recreation center that offers all kinds of classes for young children. Ms. Michelle was her teacher. She was really great with the little girls and they all loved her. The program was called "Kinderdance" and they learned from music created to teach ballet and tap. It was the most fun thing I have ever watched. I had to watch from a window in the door which I was a little bummed about. I know why now, because when anyone goes in, especially mommies, the little ballerina's want to talk. Every time Alli would see me peeking through the window she would show off. It was the ultimate cute. She loved going. You could tell she was trying really hard. She would watch the teacher, but couldn't get her little body to do everything just right. I think once she is able to balance a little better she will do really well. At the end of her 12 week class she had a recital. Our whole family went. All the little girls in her class wore pink. The other classes had different color costumes. She was sooooo cute! (I know, I'm partial.) We are taking the summer off, but hope to start class again in the fall.

FÚTBOL and FOOTBALL

Nelson finished up his second season of soccer in May with the Cobras. He was lucky to be placed on Coach Clay's team last fall for the first time and blessed to be able to play for him again along with all the same boys. It was amazing to see the progress that these 6/7 year old boys made in just a few short months, especially Nelson. He was told by Coach he was the most improved player on the team. We didn't miss a practice (which was twice a week) or a game (which was every Saturday.) We got to know all of the families and boys. I don't know about any other mothers, but when Nelson scored three goals in one game back at the begining of the spring season, I thought my heart would fail. I could barely breathe I was bursting with so much emotion. At the end-of-the-season party Nelson received his second trophy (the whole team gets one.) He has started a little trophy shelf in his room along with his team pictures. Oh, my little boy is growing up.

One of Nelson's many summer activities included a week at football camp. (What summer in Texas would be complete without football camp?) It was actually flag football (I'm not ready for him to get crushed by boys twice his size yet . . . probably won't ever be ready for that.) He got to learn skills and run drills. His coach was the local high school coach who worked really well with the boys. We want him to experience all of the sports he can before he chooses the one or two he wants to play later on. We are lucky to have so many great programs around here.

My Two Little Fishies

We started off the summer with swim lessons at our awesome neighborhood pool. The kids were both so excited to go swimming every day. I wasn't extremely excited myself to don a bathing suit every day, but I actually enjoyed being in the pool with them after their lesson. Nelson was in the "Beginning Youth" group and Alli was in the "Beginning PreSchool" group. I knew Nelson would do well. Grandma Judy has worked with him quite a bit and she felt he was already water safe. He just needed some formal lessons to teach him better skills. He did really well. I was amazed at the progress he made in just 8 short lessons. He even started jumping off the diving board by himself the second week of class. My favorite was watching him jump up and down trying to make the board bounce - it didn't move an inch. I guess you have to be a little bigger. :) He is very comfortable in the water. We think he can be a great swimmer like his Grandma if he wants. ~ Alli, on the other hand, was a question mark. I was worried she wouldn't even get in the pool. She did great from the start though. She had a very sweet, patient teacher named Amanda. She loved jumping and splashing around. Her only hesitation came when asked to put her face/head in the water. (Hmmm . . . she must get that from mommy.) They are both signed up for another session at the end of June. Nelson will move on to the intermediate class and will work on different swimming techniques. Alli will be with Amanda again. ~ Mommy got to try out her new water eyes this summer. It has been really fun not having glasses or contacts to mess with. (It has been almost a year now since lasik surgery. It was one of the best choices I ever made.)