Swimming, Bronchitis and Other Fun Stuff

This week was good overall. Jacob didn't have speech therapy, because his therapist was on vacation. It made scheduling so much easier, but at the same time I know how much it is helping him. So we will be back to the same old schedule this week.

The kids finished up their last swimming lessons this week. Caleb didn't care for the second week of lessons, though he loved the first. Jacob took a few of his turns, and loved it. He's good in the water. He made it very clear that he wanted to swim. He can say swim quite clearly, and on fRiday when there weren't any lessons Jacob put on his big floating suit and wore it all day long. He really wanted to go. The kids are going to miss the pool. It really makes me think seriously about getting a pool membership somewhere. They were so happy this week swimming nearly every day.

Beth did an excellent job at her lessons. I'm reading her Harry Potter at night, and she loves it. In fact all of the kids go to better so much better when I read at night. I just might do the whole series. I'm still trying to decide. Caleb says he doesn't like Harry Potter, but he doesn't like anything associated with bedtime.

Caleb has had a cough since the Fourth of July. So I finally took him in this week. I had to trick him to get him in the car. And on the way to the doctor he said he'd go visit the frog doctor (that's his neurologist) because he was so tired. I think he chose that doctor because he has never had him poked or given him a shot. But when we got the doctor, he went up and went in. Although he was mad. He was quite relieved that there was no shot involved, and said that he'd go again. He really likes his medicine and you can tell that he feels much better.

(It sounds like Caleb goes to lots of doctors, but really he is healthy. He was going to a gastroenterologist, when he stopped growing, which I'm happy to say he started again. The neurologist was to check his tremors, which turned out to be familial tremors. I have them, my dad has them, and my grandpa had them, so it wasn't surprising. We even got to do some kind of study for Duke for them. Caleb's actually been really healthy lately, minus the bronchitis, which I am happy to say runs on Rob's side of the family not mine--since all of Caleb's growing and tremor issues come from my side.)

Jacob is just talking more and more each day. Right now he is going an Uh Huh phase. The intonation is so adorable, but I'm not savvy enough to record it. So you'll just have to take my word for it. He's getting better at repeating words, and uses multiple word phrases to ask for things. I'm very proud of him.

Rob's doing okay. He's working a lot this week. His normal job during the day and some freelance gigs at night. Seriously we won't see him this week. But the jobs he's picking up in the next week and half will be as much as he makes in a month. (That's just the freelance stuff) I wish the work were always this good, because Rob could think about freelancing completely instead.

Well I'm off to do some reading. My library book is due back tomorrow. I've got a couple hundred pages to go!

Happy Week to you all. This was a very rambly post.

A Fun Week

Beth and Caleb had swimming lessons this week, which meant that they got to go swimming this week. They were really happy about it. But Jacob wasn't as happy. For some reason this year, he just wouldn't get in the water. On Friday I decided to fix that, and got in my swimsuit, and went to the pool, knowing that I'd get in. At first he wanted to hold both my hands. I tried just sitting on the side, but he say "Me In, You in" very clearly meaning, if I have to get in, so do you. After a little coaxing, he began to walk by himself, around the water, then he kicked his legs and moved his arms. When Beth's lesson was over, he went and talked to her. "Coool Coool." I think he was really proud of himself. This week the lessons shouldn't be as dramatic, at least for him.

Beth and Caleb are both doing really well with their lessons. I'm proud of them.

We went and saw Harry Potter this week. It was a good movie, and I was pleased with it, except I felt gipped at the end. I love action scenes---and I'll leave it at that. Rob and I had a very long discussion about that. He had points, but I had points, and I still thing the tension would have gone up a few notches.

This week we will have more swim lessons, and it's time to buckle down with Beth and work on her match skills. She needs to be a little bit more comfortable with the subject.

Have a great summer!

Book Update

56. The Alchemyst by Michael Scott (Totally fun, totally loved his magic explanations and his mythology intertwining!)

57. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen of course I loved this book. Of course I did. As always a beautiful well though out story with strong girl characters and real relationships. Happiness.

58. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins--yes it is the sequel that comes out in September. Yes it is as awesome as the first book. But I won't write anymore, because I will spill wonderful plot twists and nail biting moments. What I want to know is how does she manage to build such a level of suspense throughout the entire book? How? You've got to read this one.

A Very Quiet Week

Beth and Caleb spent the week at Grandma and Pap's. They had a lot fun and managed to cross some crazy activities off of their list. And they got to do things, they wouldn't have been allowed to if I were around--but that's what grandparents are for, right?

List of things they did

Treasure Hunting
Fishing
Sleeping in a tent (in the kitchen)
Playing in the creek
Swimming in the lake (twice)
Sleepovers with cousins
Trips to the science museum and library
Caleb touched a sting ray (I think he's done this before)
Picking things in the garden, lots of things.
Riding the lawn mower

The kids had lots of fun. Jacob missed them. He was really sad each morning when he woke up and they weren't there. We did fun things too. Trips to the park, and library. We also cleaned his room--I know not so fun. Jacob was so excited to see them. His entire face just lit up in a huge grin and stayed that way for a very long time! On the way home Caleb and Jacob held hands for a long time, just grinning at other. I'm glad that my kids love each other.

I'm still plugging away at my novel. I want to send it out to agents by the end of the month. Hopefully I'll be able to.

Rob is doing the same old thing. He is working four day work weeks, ten hour days (twelve with his commute) and then Fridays off. Next week he won't be dong that since he is teaching some sort of seminar to eighth graders. The schedule has been hard on him, but he says having Fridays free is worth it.

We are both looking forward to Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. It comes out this week. Unfortunately we won't make it to the midnight showing. We both really want to do that, but kids put a damper on that. But we will be seeing it this week. I've watched all five movies, and Rob is starting to watch them now. And I reread book six in honor of the event! Go Harry Potter!
J. K. Rowlings is a genius.

This next week should be fun for the kids. They will have swimming lessons, a trip to the park, and other craziness! Plus chores are starting this week!

Dad When You Were a Hobo . . .

Caleb has had quite a few profound statements the last week.

Conversations:

Caleb: Dad, are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Dad: No, what are you thinking?

Caleb: I think you should buy more Mickey Mouse ties.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - -- - - - -

Caleb (to Grandma Great (Rob's grandmother)) taking her by the hand: What's wrong with your arm? It's all liney.

Moment of Silence

Grandma Great: It's an old woman's arm.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Caleb to Rob's Mom: Grandma how did Dad get to be your son?

Moment of silence, while everyone ponders how deep to go with the answer

Caleb: Oh, I know you took care of him when he was a baby.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --

My favorite (We were passing a panhandler in the car, and Rob offered him some food, when Beth said is that a hobo? We tried to explain the difference then . . .)

Caleb: Dad when you were a Hobo, did you get rained on?

Rob: I was never a hobo, but if I had been I would have been rained on.


That's it for this week. I love seeing the world through the eyes of a four year old.

Happy Fourth of July

Well, I know I'm a day late, but we were out of town. I must say that I'm proud of myself because I didn't take my work with me. Rob would be the first to admit that it rarely happens. But on to bigger and better things!

this weekend we went down to visit Rob's folks and to drop off Beth and Caleb for some Grandma and Pap time. The kids had a lot of fun this weekend between swimming, fireworks and four wheeling (not really it's a little kid one).They also loved picking things out of the garden.

The fireworks show we went to was amazing. Then the cops showed up. After they left it went on to be amazing. Just a little tense in the middle. One stray firework did blow up in the street. i was glad that we hadn't chosen a front row seat, but it brought back memories of the circle fireworks show. Aww memories.

We also hit the annual ward pancake breakfast complete with flag raising ceremony. As always it was fun, sticky and slightly off tune. (Well at least I was.)

Jacob is home with us, but wishes he was at Grandma's too. I don't know how we are going to handle just one little guy with us for today.

Happy Fourth! Be grateful for the liberties we have and the sacrifices of previous generations. May we all work to preserve our freedom and honor their memories!