Swimming Lessons - Week 1

Colista and I are taking the troops to swimming lessons again this year.  I have been taking Owen with me and Chase and she has her 6.  

On the first day they just had a play day for our little ones so they could get used to the water.  Chase loves it! 

We go to lessons at 11:00 so when we are done around 12:00 it is perfect timing for a picnic lunch at the park everyday! 

...and after leaving the park it is perfect timing for a nap!  The sun, water and park are just enough to wear my little guy out!

On the 2nd day we learned a little bit.  Chase sat on the edge of the pool and kicked his feet.  He learned to go in from the edge on his tummy and listened really good to instructions.  He also laid on his belly on a kick board and kicked his feet! Proud Mommy!  

Grandma stopped at the park after she got off work to see everyone.  All the kids were shouting her name when she got there. 

 

On day 3 Josh came with us to see Chase do his things and take pictures.  Chase showed him all kinds of tricks.  He listened really well and would remember if he got out that he had to go back in on his tummy.  We are both so impressed with how well he listens and follows directions already!

Since Josh was there I was able to go snap a picture or two of the other kids. 

This was the cutest part of the day Josh was there - Chase was "watering" the baby to help it grow.  : )  So cute!

Liam is quite the little helper with Chase at the park.  He is very responsible with him and helps him go where he wants to go and get up and down off of things.  I love it..and Chase likes it too, I'm pretty sure! 

Eden looked absolutely adorable this day! 

Before we go into the pool they have the kids take showers.  By the 4th day Chase had gotten used to it and expects it before we get in the pool.  He also is good about giving me his binky so we can go swimming.  I've been telling him we can't take it to the pool with us and he is learning!  They have big flower pots around the pool and this day all Chase was interested in doing was taking the toy watering can full of chlorine water and watering the flowers and running around the pool.  This was cute the first few times but then it got frustrating.  He wouldn't listen to me at all that day so we ended up leaving class about 5 minutes early and I stressed to him that he wasn't allowed to act that way and told him to be better the next day.

On the 5th day he was back to being awesome!  I got him to jump to me off the side of the pool..and then that was all he wanted to do!  He would jump in (sometimes going under and coming back up smiling) and then he would kick his feet and "swim" back to the side and he would climb out and want to do it all again.  I'm hoping Josh can come one more time to catch this on video - but if not it is still a fun memory for me!  I'm having fun with him so far : )

Father's Day

Josh woke up to a card from me and a card from Chase.  I had also done this little project for him.  It is his and Chase's shoes and it says following in my Daddy's shoes.  Nothing big - but cute!  We went to church first thing that day.  Chase was really good at church this time.  He was being a big sweetheart.  He kept giving Josh hugs (actually squeezing him tight and then pulling back and looking at him all sweet and then squeezing him again - he did this over and over again) and giving him Eskimo kisses.  Josh started doing it to him and then he caught on and would wiggle his little nose against Josh's.  It was super adorable and so precious to watch...especially on Father's day.  

After church we stopped by Mom and Dad's to give Dad his gift.  We got him a rotisserie for his grill.  We wanted to give it to him in the morning so he could use it that day if he wanted. 

Josh wanted a fishing pole for Father's day and he wanted to pick it out himself so we went to town and picked one out.  He is pretty excited about it.  I don't really know when he'll go fishing or who with but he is happy so I am too. 

Josh never picks up the camera and takes a picture of anything unless I ask him to - but he actually laid out his stuff and took a picture of it himself...so I think he was excited. Haha! 

We all got together for a cookout at Mom and Dad's in the evening. 

These 4 guys are some pretty awesome Dad's!  Love them!

Dad did a pork loin on the new rotisserie and we all made up some sides to go with.  It was a yummy meal for some deserving guys! 

The love Josh has for Chase is amazing to me ...and I'm so excited to see him fall in love with our next baby.  He is a great Daddy and I couldn't ask for anything more.  Couldn't live without this guy!

Shower (literally)

Last Saturday was a shower for John and Lacy's upcoming wedding.  It was held at the Schmitz's house and was quite an event.  Unfortunately - it had to rain and "spoil" all the outdoor fun...but they had plenty of covered space for us all and it was still a nice time.  (picture above is Chase carrying around Grandpa's beer and trying to get it open...haha)

Chase became pretty friendly with the other kids there.  At one point he squeeled with excitement like he does sometimes and got EVERYONES attention.  He loves to be the center of attention - that's for sure!

Mom and Dad went in on a gift for them with Josh and I.  We got them a little Weber grill, some charcoal, lighter fluid and matches.  Should be a fun/useful present for them.  It was fun to see a lot of familiar faces and chit chat a while.  Chase got crabby before we were really ready to leave...but that is part of being a parent I suppose so we left on Chase time. 

By the way - this covered deck wraps around three sides of their house...very dreamy.  Maybe someday I should have such awesomeness. 

Smart Tiny

Well the video won't work...I've been trying for a few weeks now.  Darn it!  It's so cute too.  Anyways - I will tell you what it is.  It is of our genius baby, of course!  He is showing off all the body parts he knows.  He knows hair, nose, eyes, ears, teeth, belly, toes, and fingers.  He also waved bye bye and blew kisses in the video.  Just imagine a really adorable little guy smiling and doing all these things!  : )

Girls Night Out

Colista randomly texted Mom, Vanessa and I and said she had to run to town to look for a swimsuit and get some Father's Day stuff.  It was last minute so she said she didn't really expect any of us to be able to go.  Turned out we ALL wanted to go...and we didn't even end up with any kids with us so it was girls night out!  We went to Burlington and hit up Kohls and Target and had supper at Carlos O' Kelly's.  It was long overdue for us to do this..so I'm glad it worked out.  Always fun when we get together just us girls!

Poolside

We went and spent the day at Amy's in and out of the pool on Friday.  It was beautiful out and the boys had fun.  Her granddaughter is just a little older than Chase and she gets in there with her floaty on and kicks her feet to move all around the pool - she has had some practice!  Maybe by the end of summer we can have our little guy that practiced up too. 

Outside Fun

We played outside one day last week while Josh mowed the yard.  Chase still wouldn't get IN his little pool..but had a lot of fun spraying the hose and splashing in the water anyways. 

Owen had got him pretty wet and his little lip started quivering - so I wrapped him up in a towel and snuggled him a minute.  Then he wouldn't let me take it off or put him down!  I didn't mind the snuggles one bit!  : )

We brought a simple lunch out to the picnic table.  Makes it seem more fun I think. 

Getting out in the sun definitely wore them out - they were both zonked with their mouths WIDE open before we knew it!  Oh nap time - how great you are!

Read To Me

I didn't get a picture of the exact moment - but I was watching Chase and Owen (without them knowing).  Chase's favorite book is "Goodnight Moon".  When he wants someone to read it to him he takes it to them and says "Moo" (aka moon).  I watched him take it off his bookshelf, take it to Owen, say "moo" and sit down on the floor right next to him and wait for him to read it to him.  Owen can't read that advanced quite yet - but I thought it was precious that Chase thinks anyone at any size can read to him.  Owen was cute too and just looked at it with him and then had him help find a different book that he could read better.  Sweet moments! 

Spoiled

When we are over at Ruth's, Chase takes her some shoes and grabs her hand and says "go go go".  He does this to many people at many places trying to get someone to take him outside.  Ruth will take him out and let him lead the way.  Sometimes he will "walk her" a few blocks.  He is funny to watch because he will stomp his feet like he is really on a mission with places to go.  Haha : )  Cutie pie!

Wanna Be

We went to get our car looked at last week at T.O. Haas and the whole time Chase just sat in a chair next to Owen.  He wants so bad to be a big boy!  He is growing up far too fast!