Summer Swim Lessons

Summer means swimming and pool time to me!  Growing up we always did swim lessons during the summer... I can remember taking classes up until middle school/junior high time frame.  I am very fortunate to have a pool at my company's park that is open ever summer.  It is free for employees and they offer 3 sessions of [dirt cheap priced] swim lessons!  We did them last year with Jack and he screamed and resisted the whole time.  Man, I was hoping for a better time this year!

This year we did the second session of classes.  The first week was a replay of last year... ugh.  The second week he did slightly better but was still pretty resistant most of the time.  He did so well with one of his teachers that I asked her if she would do private lessons with him.  We just did 3 days of lessons this week... it has made a HUGE difference I think!  He still started the lesson kind of resistant to participating but his teacher always got him engaged within minutes!

Just wanted to share a few pictures of him in swim lessons this week:

Blowing bubbles, kicking and doing his "ice cream scoops" with Miss Abby.

Using the big noodle to practice his kicks!

Trying on his new goggles.  I think these have helped with him getting all flustered if he got water in his eye or sun in his eyes while practicing back floats.

Within three days of private lessons she almost had him swim by himself... so close!  He was just acting a bit hesitant and kept putting his feet down!

Hopefully we'll be able to get him swimming before we know it!

Happy National Ice Cream Day!

So, today wasn't just National Ice Cream Day... it was the day on which I braved the grocery store alone with two children for more than just a gallon of milk.  I must say, the boys did excellent!  Jack did have a minor freak out at the fact that there were NO car shopping carts.  The only way we made it into the store was by me carrying a 33 lb. 3 year old while pushing the cart with the 8 month old... ah, I was a site to see.

And of course, I couldn't go to the grocery store without getting ice cream to celebrate!  Here's Jack enjoying the treat after dinner:

And we can't leave Christopher out:

Playing with Daddy's Arnold Palmer while I cooked dinner!

In Desperate Need of A Creative Outlet

I am in major need for a creative outlet... feeling a bit stuck in the "everyday" of everything.  I am definitely not unhappy by any means, I am loving every minute of my family.  I loved my art classes in high school and never got to take any in college (due to my course schedule to complete my requirements).  I am just feeling like I need to do a little something creative to wind down and give me a change of pace from work.  Blogging is one way I try to do that but I'm definitely not a creative writer, things I write about here are pretty factual.  My problem is that I feel like I can't do anything creative without some sort of end goal or productive end.

Last Christmas we made homemade vanilla for our all of our family.  It was a project we started when I was 8 months pregnant with Christopher and finished up with the bottling after the aging process just before the holidays.  My aunt kept saying how much she loved the vanilla and mentioned a family friend who makes perfumes and body care things. That idea keeps rolling around in my head... I am a formulations chemist for a big product development company, but this would be something so much more low key, yet still kind of technical (let's face it I'm still a nerd at heart).  I keep playing around with the idea of doing it on a scale large enough to do craft shows or maybe even an Etsy shop... am I crazy?  Probably...

I am also going to start doing a bit of printmaking.  I have not done it since high school art classes, but it was possibly my favorite of all of the media we worked with.  Again with my "practical" side influencing me, it would be fun to make stationery or cards with my designs.  Just thinking about getting started is relaxing!

I've added a poll on the side of my blog that I'd love for you to vote on things I should try to do to include in possible craft shows and/or Etsy shop.  I'll definitely be playing around for a bit before I do anything.  Maybe I'll be looking for people to test my products and let me know what they think!

What do you all do to unwind from the craziness of everyday life?

Times to Treasure Scrapbooks Candy Jar Review

I recently won a candy jar set in a Facebook giveaway from Times to Treasure Scrapbooks owned by Jackie.  Here's a little bit about Jackie and how she started her business:

My name is Jackie Henderson and I have 3 grown children.  I am a Reading Enrichment Teacher.  I have been doing crafts since I was very young(that was a LONG time ago)!  In 2005 my friends convinced me to turn my passion for scrapbooking and crafting into a business so Times to Treasure scrapbooks and gifts was born!  I absolutely love creating for others.  When I create a scrapbook for a customer, I feel like they become part of my family-preserving memories for generations to come.  I have made so many friends through my business-such a rewarding experience!

Not only does she create custom scrapbooks, she has some adorable home decor crafts she makes.  You can see that she does custom decor wooden blocks.  When I saw the Facebook auction & giveaway through another vendor, I entered to win the candy jar set.  They are so unique and I knew they'd look perfect in our kitchen.  They came with a set of red, white & blue ribbons as well as 3 letters to add some more decoration to the jars.  The letters were U.S.A. which was perfect for the 4th of July and for our family to support Team U.S.A. during the 2012 Summer Olympics!

My candy jars with the ribbons attached to the lids!

Be sure to go check out Times to Treasure's website as well as her business' Facebook page to see all of the wonderful things she makes.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July everyone!  Here are some fun family pictures from our HOT day today!

Christopher hanging out on my back before our town's 4th of July parade!  I absolutely love being able to walk to our city's downtown from our house!

My favorite guys watching the parade... that's a yawn from Jack, not a surprised look.

Hot baby playing with the flag that was passed out... he & I walked home shortly after this shot.

Later that day after naps and lots of inside time, we went to the city's festivities at the park.

Me and my boys... Jack cheesing it up!

I love my silly little boy!

Daddy took Jack on a fair ride!  It was a fire truck that went around in circles... Jack LOVED it!

Jack's favorite ride was the train... he had to sit in the engine all three times he rode on it!

On the train!

Getting ready to leave... we lasted maybe an hour because it was so hot!

Today's plans were a bit spur of the moment because we were supposed to go to my grandma's but that was cancelled.  Please say some prayers for her as she's in the hospital and has a long road of recovery ahead of her.  Thanks!

And We're Off!

Christopher is officially 8 months old and approximately 19 pounds (as measured by the weight by loss method on our home scale).  He has been crawling for a couple of weeks now and is getting quicker every day.  His favorite room to go to is our bathroom, hence why Matt is standing in the bathroom as Christopher makes a beeline for the doorway.  He also heads straight for his big brother's toys... especially Jack's train tracks.  Jack feels it is his responsibility to always take things away from Christopher & tell him no... even if it is a toy that is perfectly fine for Christopher to play with.  Bossy big brother much?

Christopher is pretty regularly eating two solid food "meals" a day outside of nursing or getting breastmilk in a bottle.  He's had peas, carrots, green beans and most recently squash.  The only thing he has consistently made a face at has been peas.  Oh well..

He LOVES swimming in the pool and swinging on the play set.  Though he does get a bit ticked when the sun is in his eyes and he can't quite figure out how to make that stop (by you know, closing his eyes).

My little Mama's boy!

Silly boy!

I LOVE this picture... so sweet!

Happy early 4th of July everyone!