Fifth and Final Day

Today was the final day of swim lessons for this session. I have them signed up for another two weeks, one the week after next and another one the final week of July. I think the picture below tells how Mackenzie did today. She did put on the breaks when we got to the gate of the pool so I carried her in. She was a little sad looking, but never cried. I walked her over to the steps and she sat down. Within a few seconds the girl from yesterday that she liked came and held out her hands for Mackenzie. She got right up and jumped to her. I couldn't believe it. There was not a single tear today! Of course, it did start to thunder about 20 minutes into the class so they had to get out of the pool. They will make up the last 30 minutes another day. Which meant she did not have to do her two jumps for the day. That might have had something to do with the lack of tears. Well, that and the fact that Papa came to watch. I will keep you posted on how the other two weeks go. I will not update daily, but will give an overview. Hope you are all enjoying your summer!

Madison and her friend Brayden from church.

We are headed to MI Sunday for the next week to visit family and for Kennedy to do Aunt D's camp. I am sure there will be some great pictures from the trip when we get back.

Swim Lessons Day 4

Day 4 of swim lessons went much better. Mackenzie only cried for the first 5 minutes or so then she sat on the step for a while. For some reason they asked her if she wanted to go when her turn was up and, of course, she said, "NO"! The third time the girl just picked her up and made her do it. She cried but quickly stopped. Before I knew it she was smiling and even laughing. Once she even put her face in the water to blow bubbles. This lifeguard kept her for all but about the first 10 minutes or so. When it came time for them to go do their jumps she had a death grip on the poor girl. I have to say though that she is getting better with the jumping. This day she didn't cry until the second jump but after the first one she got out of the pool and actually walked back over to do her second one. I was very impressed!

Madison doing the back stroke. She is doing really well with it.

Last year they had to push Madison in each day when she did her jumps. This year she moved up a level so they don't get to jump in each day. Madison was so excited when they told her that she could do two jumps.
This was jump number two. As you can see, big sisters where there to offer their support although I think Madison's support was in the way of a little nudge into the water.

Swim Lessons Day 3

This morning when Greg asked Mackenzie how swim lessons went yesterday she told him she had fun! Yesterday was anything but fun for her. Today started out the same then one of the lifeguards took her and they just stood in the water for a while and talked. She calmed down and then she told Mackenzie to splash her. She thought that was fun. Then she let her hold her out so she could kick and splash. That was fun too! She even started smiling and waved to me once. She pretty much had a private lesson for the last 15 minutes and she actually liked it. Of course, then end came and they had to go jump in the deep end, so the crying started again. Maybe we are on the right track and tomorrow will be even better than today.

Swim Lessons Day 2

Well, today's swim lesson started the way yesterday's ended. Mackenzie was very excited to go to swim lessons again today, however, once we got to about a foot from the pool she put the breaks on. Today was about 45minutes of just crying. They didn't even make her do much. Most of the time they just carried her in the water, but she still was not having anything to do with it. I guess we will see what tomorrow brings. Madison on the other hand had a great lesson. She is really getting the hang of the back stroke!



I can't believe they did this to me AGAIN!

Happy Birthday Papa!

Happy Birthday Papa!!!

We Love You!

Kennedy, Madison & Mackenzie

Swim Lessons

Today Madison and Mackenzie started swim lessons. This was Madison's second year and Mackenzie's first year at this place. I started going there because a friend of mine takes her kids there and she said that they make the kids do it even if they don't want to. Well, after having Madison sit on the top step of the pool at the YMCA for 16 weeks of lessons I decided I needed to try this place. Last year she cried for the first two weeks, but the third week she did much better. They go Monday through Friday this week and then again for another week two different time this summer for a total of three weeks. I like that they go each day instead of once a week for the whole summer. Anyway, Madison was not swimming at all when she started last year but by the end of the three weeks she was doing great. Now we can't keep her out of the pool. As you will see below she is loving it this year and learning new strokes already. Mackenzie was excited to go also. The pictures below tell her story of how the hour went.

Hey, swim lessons are fun!

I can even splash the lifeguards!

When it is not my turn I sit on the step and wait for the next lifeguard to get me. My friend is the girls in the goggles with the hair covering one eye. Her brother is my age and is also in this class. It is fun to watch the other kids learn to swim.

Well, I am not so sure I like this lifeguard. Swim lessons are just OK.

Hey! She just made me go under water! I don't think I like this anymore!

Really, I said I don't like this!

At the end of the lesson they took me to the deep end and made me jump in, twice. I guess I have to do this each day. Well, I refused so they picked me up and dropped me in! Can you believe that? My Mom said they had to do that to Madison almost every day last year. I am not sure I am going back tomorrow. Mommy said I am, but I may put up a big fuss! Mommy said that is OK, Madison did last year also, but she still made her go. Guess we will see what tomorrow brings.

Madison is loving the water and her teachers! Can you see the whole where her tooth was?

Mad's Big Weekend

Well, this was a big weekend for Madison. On Saturday, Madison had Greg take off her training wheels. She went down the street a little ways and back with no problem, so then she and Kennedy went around the block. She did great, no falling at all. She looks like she has been riding a two wheeler forever. Always a diva, riding in a skirt and, yes, she is wearing flip flops while riding. Big "no no" I know.




Look Mom! No tooth! Her first tooth came out today, on Father's Day. She wanted it out so bad she let Greg pull it out. The one next to it is a little loose also, but it has a while yet.

More Bike Fun

Here are the pictures my sister took of the girls on their bikes. Here is Madison looking like she is about to tip over. The training wheels are on, but bent up so high that they don't usually catch her if she goes over. She is loving riding the "two" wheeler though.


It was raining when DeAnn was here, but they still had to show off their new bikes and riding abilities. Mackenzie didn't want to get wet though, so she used the umbrella. (Note the shoes on the wrong feet. She likes them that way.)

The whole gang posing with their bikes for a group shot.

Bikes

This past weekend was a big bike weekend for our girls. On Saturday, Greg took Kennedy to buy her her new, bigger bike. I think it is as big as mine now. She loves it! It is lavender and she has a new helmet that goes with it. Very cute!


I am afraid I don't have pictures of the other girls, but Mackenzie has somewhat figured out how to do her trike now. She thinks it is so cool to have a bike like her sisters. The big news comes from Madison though. Sunday night she, Kennedy and Greg were on a bike ride when Greg noticed that she was riding and her training wheels were not touching the ground much. He had her get off, and since he wasn't near the house, he bent them up so she had to work on her balance. He had his phone with him so I got a call saying to come outside in 2 minutes. When they went by, she had a huge smile on her face and was sitting so straight on her bike, but best of all, the training wheels were not touching AT ALL. She is just beside herself she is so excited. Greg told her he would take the training wheels off for good this weekend, so she has the week to practice, and boy is she. She has already been out practicing today in the rain a few times. She had to show Aunt D, our unexpected but awesome overnight guest, before we took her back to the airport this morning so that meant riding in the rain. She did get a couple pictures so I will post them once I get them from her.

Last day of school

Today was Kennedy's last day of school. I am not sure why they even bothered to go. She only had to go for an hours and 15 minutes. They had fun getting autographs and addresses and then they all walked through the halls, following the 5th graders, as the music played for the graduating class. They ended the day playing on the playground then counted the final 10 seconds off. Kennedy was looking forward to that part. I'm glad that the rain stopped long enough so they could do it. Tonight we will follow tradition and take the girls out to dinner for the last day of school. They have actually agreed on a place to go. We will be meeting Gramma, Papa, Uncle Randy and Rosie at Kobe of Japan. They love to watch their dinner being prepared in front of them. Also, Kennedy likes it because the parents of one of the girls in her grade own it. I am sure it will be fun even if the fire scares Mackenzie.

Graduation Day

Yesterday was Madison's Preschool Graduation. Greg, Gramma, Mackenzie and I went. They were all so cute! They sang us a couple of songs then they each walked up front, when the teacher called their name, to get their diploma. Here is Madison with the head teacher, Miss Laura. This was Miss Laura's third year at the school. So far, Madison is the only kid that she has had for both years so she was very sad to have Madison leave. She said it was the first time she has cried when one of the kids has left. I know that Madison sometimes gave her a hard time, but she must have been sweet a lot of the time too or there wouldn't have been the tears. Maybe in a couple of years Mackenzie can have her.


Madison with one of the aids, Ms. Mary Lou. She is originally from Texas and speaks spanish, so Madison loved learning new words from her. She would hear her speaking to some of the spanish speaking kids and would ask what she was saying. Mary Lou would always take the time to explain what she had said and would help her to repeat it.

This is Miss Elizabeth. She was new to the class in February. I didn't know it until yesterday, but she goes to our church. Her Mom and Greg's Mom taught Sunday School together a couple of years ago. Greg's Mom was also Elizabeth's Sunday School teacher when she was in first grade. What a small world.

Here is Madison and a couple of her friends. This is Avril. She would talk about her almost daily.
This is Madison and Jennifer. She is such a cute and so nice.

Yes, I know. The sore on the nose is back. I guess she missed it the past month or so, so now it is back.