Piano Camp

The week before last, Reese had piano camp. She was so excited for me to enroll her, but the few days before she started the camp, she kept saying she didn't want to go. Well, I told her I had already paid, so she had to go, but if she didn't like it after this week, we wouldn't do it anymore--it was only an hour each day. Well, the first day we get there and she hysterically cried and threw a fit....neither of my kids have EVER done this before and she is now almost FIVE. She wouldn't even put her feet down so I could set her down. Finally, Ms. Margarita told me to leave her and come back at 2:00. So, I did. I walked out and could not believe I just left my daughter this way. I stood outside the door and listened as Ms. Margarita FIRMLY told her to "stop crying, we do not cry at piano camp". Well, she stopped. I stayed the entire time to listen and make sure everything was going okay. At the end, she came bouncing and smiling around the corner with her treats. Ms. Margarita said she was such a good girl and did a wonderful job. I was so proud of her. She loved going each day and Ms. Margarita seemed to think she had some natural ability. We are going to get my grandmother's piano from my dad and possibly sign her up for weekly lessons. I loved watching her go and try something different and haveso much fun doing it!

We baked Cookies!

We normally go to Hawaiian Falls on Fridays, but we weren't going to have very long to stay (Reese had piano camp at 1:00), so we styed in this Friday morning. I thought it would be fun to bake cookies and let the kids decorate them. We had so much fun and the kids did a GREAT job--they were so proud of themselves. We made the cookies, rolled them out, used the cookie cutters and baked. After they cooled, I let the kids ice them and decorate. They turned out so cute and were really YUMMY!!

Kids say the darndest things....

Collin: Mommy are you a grandma?

Me: No, I am a Mommy. I won't be a grandma until you grow up and get married and have a baby.

Collin: You said I won't have a baby in my tummy.

Reese: No, but I will.

Me: Collin you will marry someone and she will have a baby in her tummy.

Reese: Collin is going to marry me.

Me: Okay, then you will have a baby and I will be a grandma.

Reese: Will you have curly hair when you turn into a grandma??

**I just thought this was a cute little conversation on many levels. I love the cute thoughts and questions they have.

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Collin to Aunt AC (Andrea): Do you have kids?

Aunt AC: Well.....

Me: Well, Aunt AC has a baby in her tummy. The baby is really, really small. (we had not told the kids yet)

Collin: I want to see it.

Aunt AC: the baby is inside....you can't see it.

**we tried to explain this to him on many levels but not sure it was sinking in

Collin: I want to see it (as he is trying to pull down her strapless dress.

Me: The baby is inside her tummy, under her belly button.

Collin to Aunt AC: Did you swallow it?

**We all had a good giggle and we decided to ask Collin if he thought the baby was a girl or a boy.

Skyhawks Sports Camp

Collin had a multi-sport camp this week. The sports they covered were flag football, soccer and tee ball. Coach Jeff was amazing with the kids and Collin really enjoyed a couple of the other boys in the camp. I think they did a really good combination of drills and games. Collin was so excited to go each morning and was sad when camp ended. The last day of camp, they had a water gun fight and the boys LOVED every second of it. What a great week for Collie!

The fourth of July was such a fun, laid back and relaxing day! Mimi and David had us over and the kids had such a good time playing together. While the kids played, we played some games ourselves, ate, chatted and drank a little too! We ate dinner (David grilled pork tenderloin-YUM!), ate some watermelon and desserts and headed out to do a few fireworks of our own.

We then headed to a spot to park and watch the City of Mansfield's firework show. The kids had fun playing and watching a movie while we waited. Ms. Jennifer (mimi's friend) brought all of the kids glow sticks and they were so excited to have them. The kids loved the fireworks show--it was very apparent with all the ooh's and aah's. The were telling us about their favorite colored fireworks and their favorite shapes! After the show ended, we headed home and the kids passed out from a long, exhausting day filled with tons o' fun!

Swimming Lessons

Reese and Collin are taking swim lessons these last two weeks (30 minutes a day for a 2 week period of time). They were already swimming really well, but they are learning and working on freestyle with side breathing, back stroke and breast stroke. I am so impressed with how well they have done. The side breathing thing is actually a little tricky and requires alot of timing and coordination. I am hoping that if Jeff and I continue to work with them over the next couple of months, that they will get really good and confident with it. Both of the kids get so excited to go everyday and they LOVE Ms. Pat. I am so glad they love to swim, it is such a good form of excercise and obviously a great activity to do with them in the summer.