Family pictures

We had some family pictures taken last month. Here is a sampling. I'm super excited at how they turned out. It's so nice to have professional pictures. JCPenney portrait studio just doesn't cut it. I just cherish the last photos Sharon did of the kids, as well as the pictures I have of Belle by Jessica Strickland. It's great to have nice pictures of all of us.

Belle's last day of school

Last week was Belle's last day of school. A little overwhelming to think that it could be her last day of school ever. Well thats exaggerating a little. But she may never go to public school. Who knows, one year at a time.

Instead of a closing program they just let the parents come spend the day with the kids. We went around to different stations and played games. The theme was "Day at the Beach". We had fun and I held it together the whole time. Although I got a little teary when the teachers started to cry. =(









Belle and her teachers Miss Mary and Miss Cathi.




And here are a couple of Ethan and friends Titus and Clayton. Ethan loves "bay bays".

Two Little Fishies

This is our last week of swim lessons. I do believe Ethan will be really sad to see the end. Every week he'll come out of the pool with his teeth chattering "pppppooooll fffuuunn"

I've seen good progress with both kids. Belle still doesn't have the confidence to go swimming on her own. Ethan would love to swim on his own, but would probably sink at this point. His teacher is constantly telling Nic how well he's doing and how she doesn't often see kids his age swimming so well. She could totally be stroking our egos or something, who knows. Today they even let Ethan hang onto the edge and kick off the wall. Something about the way he threw his arms up after he kicked off was impressive. Like he already knew to get into the swim position after kicking off the wall. I don't know, maybe swimming will be Ethan's thing. Although I imagine anything physical will be his thing.

Belle is doing good kicking off the wall and swimming to her teacher under water. They have also been practicing their floating. She's pretty good at going from a front float to a back float.

Neither kid will probably be ditching the floaties this year.

Goal!!!

Belle is in her first year of soccer. I am secretly hoping it's her last. I haven't really been digging the sitting out in the cold and rain for practices and games 2 days a week.

Last Saturday was pretty bearable and really the kids played good. I think they are starting to get the concept. Belle even scored a goal. Well she kicked it towards the goal, the other team tried to get it out but inadvertently kicked it in. Still gonna claim it though.

Such intensity. ha ha

Ethan at 2.5yrs

Something happened last month. My baby seemed to grow up over night. All the sudden I see a big kid emerging. Ethan turned 2.5 back on April 2nd. Here is an update on what Mr. Ethan is up to.

Just in this last month I have noticed so many changes in him. For one, the boy is SO ready to potty train. He wakes up dry from naps most of the time. He'll tell me that he needs a diaper change. And is over all interested in the potty. He really gets excited when sissy lets him flush the toilet for her. =) So as soon as I get Sara's "Potty Training in Less than a Day" book and my peeing doll back, we're potty training this child. I'm ready!

Ethan has also surprised me by being able to recognize about 50% of his letters. I'm guessing that is from our time on Starfall.com while sissy is at school. He'll also sing the ABC song and try to count, albeit he gets about 50% of that right too. Oh and if you ask him a color, it's always green. =) Although just this week, he's been getting blue right along with his usual black and white correct.

Ethan has also started swim lessons with daddy. He's a natural. For real, the instructor said so. The instructor predicts Ethan will be swimming on his own by next summer. Something about he's got good form with his kicks. And I imagine the fact that he's fearless helps. All the other kids in the class are clinging to their parents. Ethan is the only one trying to get Nic to let go of him. He's got all the fundamentals down, except he refuses to blow bubbles in the water or hold his breath.

Ethan spends most of his days playing with Belle. And they really do play well most of the time. He can play dolls with the best of them. Although Ethan has a new fascination with dragons. Probably from the movie "How to Train Your Dragon" that we've watched a zillion times. A lot of his time is also spent climbing on everything in this house. He tries to find new heights from which to jump.

While Ethan is 100% boy, he's also 100% Momma's boy. And I'm just fine with that.