Swimming Lessons

Today Esther finished her first session of swimming lessons. She LOVED it and I had a great time watching her every day. Esther took lessons with four of her friends which was fun for her and for the mommies. I can not believe I have a kid old enough to take swim lessons. I got to feel that parental pride for one of the first times that comes from watching your kid learn and accomplish things. It's amazing. I just love being mom. I was especially proud when Esther went off the diving board. When I say went off the diving board I mean her teacher dropped her off the edge of the diving board and another teacher caught her. But she did do it willlingly and I was proud of her for doing it seeing as she is generally a pretty fearful girl. I asked her if she liked it and she said, "Yes." I asked her if she wanted to do it again and she said, "No." She was so excited to come home and call Daddy and Grandma and tell them about going off the "diamond" board. I loved swimming lessons as a kid and I'm relieved and happy that Esther enjoyed them too!

This was taken on the first day of swimming lessons--Esther and her beau, Brent.

I just had to include this picture of Lucy because it makes me laugh. She is so stoic and funny looking in the Sea World hat (the only hat I can get her to wear).

Esther with a few of her friends and her teachers. The "girl teacher" was Esther's favorite!

Esther experiencing intense shivers after her lesson.

Esther mastering the kickboard with her "girl teacher."

Esther after her last lesson with a sucker and certificate from her teachers.

Could life get any better? In Esther's world suckers and small papers meant for her = pure joy.

Our Daddy Extraordinaire

I have to blog about John today since it's Father's day and he truly is an amazing father and leader of our home. For example, this morning, on Father's day, when Esther woke up at six in the morning (she obviously didn't listen to me last night when I told her not to wake up too early) John quietly took her and went downstairs so I could keep sleeping. I felt really guilty because he is supposed to be the one sleeping in on Father's day but being a heavy sleeper I didn't really notice till it was too late. I did make him breakfast this morning but guess who did the dishes? John. He is such a good husband. He has amazing amounts of patience. If I ever run into a store and he's waiting in the car with the girls he NEVER complains about how long it takes me. He is always having dance parties with the girls, giving them rides on his back, reading them books, playing toys with them, and constantly loving them. John is also a great provider. Every day he gets up early and goes to work to a job he doesn't love but to him that doesn't matter because he puts his family first. He is always happy and upbeat too which makes us all feel pretty good. Thank you John for being our Daddy Extraordinaire!! We love you!!!

Lucy the Busy and Esther the Curious

Last night was comical. We went to my Aunt and Uncle's house in Livermore for my cousin's graduation open house. We always love when we get to spend time with them--it means a lot to have some family out here. I also have to add that my cousin Brooke was Valedictorian and top of her class--she's got a full ride to BYU. We are excited for her and we're going to miss her here. That's not the funny part of course. The open house was outside in the backyard and from the moment we got there I don't think Lucy sat for more than two minutes. Usually when we go anywhere she is glued to my hip, especially when there's a lot of people around she doesn't know. Not last night. She must have gone up and down the patio steps fifteen times and she explored every inch of the yard. She also kept going inside and then outside and stopping by the beautiful fruit display to grab apricots or a handful of grapes. She was BUSY. We had a great time and it was really fun to see my cousins. The second humorous part started as soon as we got in the car. Esther's mouth just started firing the questions and they did not stop until we got home thirty minutes later. Here is a sample of the dialogue.

Esther: Are we going home?
Mommy: Yes
Esther: Why?
Mommy: Because it's bedtime.
Esther: But why is it bedtime?
Mommy: Because it's 8 and way past your bedtime. Hey look there's a cat! (Mommy is anxious to change the subject)
Esther: Where's the cat, I can't see it!
Mommy: Crossing the street.
Esther: Why is it crossing the street?
Mommy: Maybe he's going home.
Esther: Where is his home?
Mommy: Maybe in the bushes, I'm not sure. Look at the cows! (Mommy anxious to change the subject again).

Notice Daddy just kept quiet with his driving.

The last five minutes of the drive John and I were busting up with every question. The very last few were just about some people she saw at the park right by our house.

Esther: Look some people! What are they doing? Where are they going? Are they going to play at the park? Are they going to bed? (it was even more funny because it was a group of older adults)

How can you not laugh? Kids are full time live comedy.

A visit from Bruce

We had a little tradition or legend in my family that whenever you woke up in the morning with a funky hair-do it was said you had a visit from Bruce the hair stylist. I think Jake started the myth because he was always the one to point out the crazy hair, which was usually on my sister or me because we were the girls with the longer messy-prone hair. So this morning when I saw Esther's funky hair I couldn't resist asking if she'd had a visit from Bruce last night. In fact, with Esther being the sweaty type she frequently receives visits from Bruce. He's pretty good!

Silliness

Sometimes my girls just make me laugh. Esther has worn three different outfits today that just made me laugh. Her first one was a light blue striped shirt with her too small camo skirt. Fortunately, she spilled her drink so she had to change. She can't stand the slightest amount of damp on her clothes. Before she made it upstairs to change she decided to do the princess shoes, apron, crazy glasses combo with her Dora purse--very stylish!

Lucy cracks me up always wearing these princess shoes that are twice the size of her feet but she walks with ease. She frequently has her babies close by and if she drops one she shrieks, "BABE BABE BABE," until we pick it up for her.

It's amazing to me how much comedy comes with being a mom. I stopped at a shoe store on Saturday and the whole time I was looking at shoes Esther was saying (LOUDLY), "Mom, you don't need any shoes!" It was funny and could have been embarrassing but the girl had a point. I really did not NEED any shoes but I did have a half-off coupon so who could resist.

There are other times in motherhood when a sense of humor does not come so easily but needs to be there in order to preserve sanity. For example, when I spend an hour cleaning the kitchen floor and an hour later my girls are dropping chewed-up sticky grapes on it because they are a little sour. Or when I spend an hour cleaning out the fridge because a can of nectar spilled in the back that I didn't notice because I was shoving groceries in as fast as I could (I often do things at warp speed when the girls are waiting for lunch, or to go to the park, or just being grumpy).

So... life is funny, and good.