Here Fishy, Fishy...

 The first day was over 100 degrees. At that moment, sitting on the bleachers, holding a hot screaming baby and listening over the echoing water Kaiden and his cousin Hailee having a crying/screaming contest, I seriously questioned my thinking in putting him in swim lessons. Luckily, I had Heather and Heidi there to keep me company, and we laughed off our screaming children. Thankfully about 10 minutes into it, I think Kaiden realized that a boy is no match for a little girls lungs and let Hailee win the contest. He calmed down and made attempts to do what the teacher was asking, and a couple of minutes later so did Hailee. After that, they both did great. The next two weeks the temperature dropped and aside from a very friendly flying HUGE beetle that conveniently showed up everyday during the time we were there ( I think he had the hots for Heather, who was openly terrified of him) watching from the stands wasn't so bad. They both had their moments of hesitation and only once did we have another sob fest (the last day go figure) but all in all they did great. Much to my and Heather's surprise the both passed! On to level 2 next year! (this should be interesting)

Getting his certificate saying he passed Level 1

All the little fishies... Derek, Hailee, Kaiden and Tyler (check out Tyler showing some leg!)

Ha! This was a "deal" we worked out after the first day of swim lessons. He has been wanting this truck for months and constantly had been trying to figure out a way to convince me he should get it. So we made a paper chain, one for every day of swim lessons. At the top there was a picture of this truck. I told him each day that he did good at swim lessons he could cut a chain off, and the last day we would go get his truck. Every day after swim lessons he would greet me with a huge grin and say " I did good mommy! Now we can get my Piston Cup truck?" (It's really the Dinoco trailer- but try telling him that!) When I would remind him that he had to cut off his chains, he then would say " Oh, then lets cut off two chains, then all the chains and then we can get my Piston Cup truck?" Everyday. Each swim lesson ended with this conversation! When the day finally came, I thought he was going to pop a blood vessel because of how excited he was! We went to Target right after and he and his truck and his matching mack truck that he already had have been inseparable. 

First Fourth, Freedom and Fireworks!

Yes, I do realize that I am posting this over a month after it actually happened. What can I say? I have been busy! But hey, I am making an effort!  

 Well, this was Dylan's first 4th of July! From what I could tell, he seemed to really enjoy himself! He held on (and chewed) his little american flag, went swimming for the first time at Grandma and Grandpa Dow's and was mesmerized by the fireworks at Aunt Brooke and Uncle Bryan's house. 

 Kaiden's favorite part was the La Verne parade that we go to every year. He loves to watch all the cars and what can only be loosely referred to as "floats". Although he unfortunately missed the beginning with the entourage of Police motorcycles and the fire trucks. I am pretty sure that he would have been thrilled about that, but we were late...as usual. I thought he would get a bigger kick out fireworks this year. We went and bought him some sparklers and little things that he could do on his own, but he was a little apprehensive. He has been doing that lately- things that he couldn't wait to get his hands on last year, he all of the sudden has become very cautious and fearful. He actually asked around 10 p.m. if we could go home. In his defense though, it was a really long day! We will see how he is next year...maybe we will get to the parade on time next year! I wouldn't place any bets on that last one though!

Kaiden got some patriotic war paint compliments of Mike Kessler...