Swim Lessons: Progress Made

We went to our last swim lesson with Mrs. Cathy this past Saturday. Jude did okay but he still wasn't overly thrilled to be there. On the way over to Cathy's house he says to me "mommy, I'm going to go under water, use my arms and kick and I'm gonna like it!" I was optomistic and do believe he meant every word. He really did swim his little heart out until he just got tired! Such a cute kid! He did make some mad progress from lesson one to lesson four and I have no doubt he'll only improve as the summer goes on.
To recap, at the first lesson he didn't want to leave the ledge and wasn't about to go under water! By the second lesson, much improvement but still scared!

{{videos from the second lesson}}

Joel's turn?!

As you can tell from the pieces you see of Joel in the videos, he is NOT scared at all. LOL. I've been kind of wondering lately if Jude might have regressed last summer after not having a "big pool" to swim in?? We were staying at my Grandma's while our house was being built so he didn't play near as much in a "big pool"...he mainly just splashed around in his blow up pool in the backyard. Jon and I were totally fine with that because he and Joel had both had tubes put in. He's also the youngest in the lesson. Ryder, Reed & Brady are all 5 years old and swim pretty well already! I'm sure all of the elements combined offer an intense environment for Jude. 

We leave for California this Saturday and Cathy's schedule is full this week so we're holding off lessons for a while. I'm not sure if it's the best idea but we don't really have another option so...I will definintely continue to work with him in the meantime...after all, I was a swimmer! ;-) I pray he loves the beach and just has fun with the water in California!! ♥♥♥

{{Fourth (last) Lesson}}

Joel enjoying his "laid back" afternoon in the pool while Jude learns to swim



Favorite New iPhone Picture App - Collect

Hello, my name is Brooke and I'm a picture whore. Haha. No, but seriously...I can't stop taking pictures!! I contribute it to not having many pictures of my dad. He passed away my senior year of high school and we really have very few pictures to reflect back with. Hence, I take probably an average of 2-3 pics a day. It's gotten to the point that when I take out my phone, Joel just automatically says "Cheese!" and flashes me a quick smile. Hahaha! Love that kid!
Obviously, being so obsessed with capturing moments, I love all the fun stuff the iPhone has to offer! It really has a pretty decent camera! Outside of the fun apps that let you edit photos, I've found a new one called "Collect" that I've really been enjoying! If you search the app store for Collect, it pulls right up and it's free! It's super user-friendly, too.  It looks like this...

 It stores a picture of your choice every day! You can actually do as many pics/day as you want but only one is displayed in your calendar. It looks like this at a glance when you open it...

click on the day and this pops up...

You can choose a pic from your album or you can take a pic. Then you can enter whatever details you want.

Once you save your pic, it's stored in your calendar! You can scroll thru the pics like a slide-show and have a snap-shot idea of what happened during the week, month, etc. AND, the app even has the option to set an alarm! I have a text message type alarm that pops up daily at 6pm that reminds me to update my calendar with a daily pic. Some might say it's furthering an annoying addiction. I say...awesome!!

Note: There's also another app called Project365 that's very similiar and fun. I've kind of been playing with it and Collect. I like Collect better but you may prefer Project365...They're both free! :)

Swim Lessons for Jude Bug

Jude does great putting his head under water at home in the backyard (blow up) pool and while playing in the bath tub. He's also been to the public and neighborhood pools/splash park with no problems, ofcourse keeping in the shallow end. I wasn't nervous that he would be scared to start swim lessons. Especially with his good buddy & neighbor, Ryder, there!
We hired Cathy, a swim coach with 15 years under her belt in private lessons, to teach Jude, Ryder and 2 other twin boys that the Dilley's know 3 times a week. They had their first swim lesson last night. To say it went well for Jude would be stretching the truth, haha. We showed up at Tricia's house (Dilley's friend) and met her two twin sons, Reed and Brady, and then all 4 boys played a little in the pool until Mrs. Cathy arrived! Jude was excited to get in the pool! The lesson began...
The twins went first and were SO good! They live with a pool so I suppose they have that advantage but really, they were swimming! Next Ryder was up...another great swimmer! I had to remind myself they are all 2 years older than Jude in that moment. When Cathy called Jude out to the deeper water, It was immediately evident he was scared. She started with a game and he started smiling again but it quickly faded when the lessons started. Cathy was great! She was patient and pressed on! I tried staying out of view for some of the lesson but not sure if it helped or not?? He did go under water several times but the nerves took over and he stayed tensed leaving it far from a "swim" lesson and left it more of a "let's calm down in deep waters" lesson.
I talked to Cathy once things wrapped and she assured me it's totally normal for his age. I hope so! The next lesson is Saturday at 11:30. Praying it's a better time for sweet Jude bug!

Mrs Cathy helping Jude with his goggles and calming him down

Learning how to "look at the bottom of the pool" and kick 

Potty Training, Round 2: JOEL

Jude was so easy to potty train! He was in full-time "underoos" by age 2 1/2, even thru the night! He totally spoiled us! He just really didn't like to be wet or dirty. He still always asks for a napkin with his meal and shows me his hands when they're sticky, etc so I can wipe them off immediately(even mid-meal). With help from his super sweet daycare teachers during the day and Jon and I working with him at home, he learned fairly quickly!!

Joel has been showing a large amount of interest in using the potty "like his big brother" lately so we thought it would be a perfect time to to start the process full force while Jude was out of town (staying with Grumpa & Mimi). I do call it a successful "starter week!" We were able to really spend some one on one time with him that we aren't always able to do when we have both boys fighting for attention. He really only had 3 at home accidents...and they were all within a 2 hour span. Ha! Outside of that he did wonderful! He had one "recess" accident at school and another right as I picked him up in the afternoon. Mind you, we were taking him to the bathroom atleast once an hour and watching him like a hawk!

When Jude arrived back home, things stayed positive! Jude was happy to show Joel how to be a "big boy" and use the potty and Joel was cooperative to "pee-pee for a treat!" 80% of the time and we worked to make it happen anyways the other 20% of the time. The biggest obstacle was and still remains to be morning potty time! He just does not like to go straight from the bed to the potty! Once he's there and goes, life is back to good. Until that point, there are tears! *sigh* Every. Single. Morning!

We are now in the home stretch of our second full week with Joel and I'm so so proud of him! He makes it throughout the day at school and has asked several times now "I go potty, mommy!" and has made it to the toilet without an accident!  I'm hopeful that we won't be needing to haul around a diaper bag much longer! Maybe...just maybe...we can even be successful in eliminating a "carry all" by our Cali trip?! Okay... I know I may be asking alot with that one. Hehe. A momma can dream! I'm not ruling it out though! Yay for super smart boys!!

I will end with a quick pic & story... can you tell me what's wrong with this picture?! I met up with several girlfriends for dinner at Mama's pizza this past Monday. Joel politely taps me on the shoulder, I turn to him...

Joel: mommy, I have treat?!

Me: What for?

Joel: I pee-pee'd!

Me: Huh? You need to go?! Let's go! (I start to take him out of his booster seat)

Lara: Umm, haha. I think he already went!

Me: Joel! NO NO! We don't go potty in our pants!!

(as the pee drenches his shorts, dribbles down his leg into his socks, shoes and ofcourse flows onto the booth bench)

Joel: I go pee-pee, Mommy. I get treat!

Jude was giving the camera a face to show how Joel SHOULD have been feeling. Joel was totally content with his little show and sported a big cheese smile! Silly monkeys! I had just picked them up from daycare, strapped them completely in their carseats when Joel tells me "I have to potty, mommy." I unbuckled both children, take them both back inside, take them BOTH to the potty, go back out to the car, buckle both boys again and we're on our way... Seriously?! What would I do without them to keep me busy?! By the way, I was also lucky enough to have forgotten an extra pair of shorts so I left Joel in his wet pants until we finished our plate of pizza and then strapped him in his car seat pantless for the ride home! I should be expecting my Mother of the Year Award soon I just know! ;-)

Adventures at Grumpa and Mimi's

Jude had such a blast last week with Grumpa and Mimi at their house out in the Dumas Canyan! He got to leave his little brother behind for almost an entire week to go on a "big kid" adventure with his two oldest cousins, Kathryn (8) and Ivye (5). They got to ride "Hershey" the donkey, "Dixie Raisin" the horse, "Molly" the pony sized dog & play with kittens just to start! Mimi kept them all busy with such fun activities! They had a tea party outside, went to the big city pool and got to help pick fresh strawberries! It was definitely a week none of the cousins, or grandparents will soon forget!! The smiles in the pics say it all!!  

Riding on Hershey

 Loving on sweet Dixie Raisin

Jude has been asking all weekend already when he gets to see Grumpa again. I love that he was able to have the week of bonding time! He thinks "Grumpa is awesome!"

Best Buds! Grumpa and Jude bug! ♥♥♥

Playing on the back porch. Mimi said "This is a man's house. Jude has a car in every room. Earlier he had Woody from Toy Story driving a pink Barbie corvette"

I was so thankful she kept in conversation with all the parents all week sending us adorable pics and text updates. She's always SO thoughtful! The kids are lucky to have her in their lives and we as parents are so fortunate she loves our kiddos like she does!! ♥♥♥

All the kids LOVE Mimi's kitty cats!

"Kitty Katy Kathy Kid"... That's what Stan calls Kathryn, when he's not calling her Suzy! :)

Mimi says - "We named Jude Captain Courageous. At first he'd barely get in the water but soon he actually stood under the big pail as it dumped right on his head. He grinned from ear to ear. Of course big cousin Kathryn encouraged him to be brave."

While Jude bug hung out with Grumps and cousins at the city pool....

I hung out at our neighborhood pool and caught some sun myself while Joel napped. *sigh* Life is good!

Anybody care for tea?!

 Looks like Hershey would like some, too.... hehe.

Enjoying their last full day at Grumpa & Mimi's

Mimi spoiled the cousins from arrival to departure! She handmade them personal goody bags for their road trip home, which included coloring books/markers, goofy glasses, candy, cheetos (Jude's favorite!), dancing and singing flowers and a very very sweet love letter! ♥♥♥

Joel is invited to join in the Panhandle adventure next year but for now...he seemed to enjoy his time "left behind" just as much as Jude enjoyed his time away!

Four Eyes Proud!

There is nothing that can prepare you for the feeling of sight! Especially when you don't honestly realize you're vision is "going south"...haha. I've had a pair of cute reading glasses for about 5 years now. I used to wear them maybe once a week when my eyes were tired and I was staring at the computer screen too long or more so, if I thought they looked cute with what I was wearing! ;-) In the last year or so I've worn them more and more frequently! Then came the blurred vision while driving. "Was that an exit sign?! Whoops!" *sigh* After continually trying to convince myself I didn't NEED glasses for some time, I finally went out to have my eyes checked. Let me just preface the story by admitting that I have had vision insurance for over a year now b/c when I renewed insurance, I knew I needed to have my eyes checked out.

So....it's an off Friday at work and I have the plan to head to Costco so thought I could just knock out having my eyes checked while there. NOPE! Strike 1...their vision center is out of my network. Okay, no biggie, I'll go next door to Target Vision Center. I tried calling buy no one answered. The recording gave the hours and mentioned walk-ins were welcome so...I headed over. There was an OPEN sign on the door but it was locked. I knocked...no answer. I tried calling again...no answer. Feeling somewhat defeated at this point, I googled for optometrists close by. Seriously?! VERY few results! When all else fails...FACEBOOK to the rescue! I posted asking for advice from my LM friends on where to go and within 5 minutes I had 10ish replies with referrals. I made my apt for the following Wednesday at 4:00.

I show up to my apt 15 minutes early to fill out paperwork and can't help but notice that there are 4 other people in the waiting room, all in glasses. At this point I'm still not convinced I need anything more than maybe some OTC reading glasses but I'm definitely curious what the dr will say, too. After waiting over an hour, I'm at wits end and am about to walk out! Ugh!

Worth the wait! Dr Ditto apologized for the crazy wait time and assured me that was not typical. He then started the eye exam. WOWSA! I could NOT see! He showed me line after line that was just flat out blurry. I seriously was in disbelief and felt like I was being tricked! After he advised I would have most definitely failed my driver's vision test this year had I not auto-renewed online, he brought the "magic" and showed me what the charts looked like with glasses. Uh-mazing!!! SOLD!

I picked out some cute new frames and the staff told me they'd call when I could come pick them up in a couple days.

Ta-da! I picked them up yesterday... Words cannot explain! Everything is so crisp!! I feel like I'm in the middle of a 3D movie! It's an intense feeling. I keep taking them off and putting them back on! Haha. I wish I could show Jon the difference so he'd understand 100%. So neat!

 

Signed,

Four Eyes :)

Ready or not...here they come!

Grumpa Stan is on the road headed back to the Panhandle and with precious cargo! Ivye, Kathryn and Jude will be staying with him and Melanie thru Thursday. Dear Lord let my child behave and be okay and be give Grumpa and Mimi the patience they will most definitely need to enjoy having the added energy in their home this week!