FIRST SWIMMING LESSONS AT THE "Y"

Just getting in to get his feet wet...

Kicking and splashing...

"I wanna swim by myself!!"

Free play time



Reid did really well from the very beginning of class. He sat very nicely and listened to the teacher and "mostly" followed instructions. After 45 minutes, he was pretty content, until he realized that he had not yet jumped in (which was not part of today's lesson!). Maybe next week...The fearlessness is exactly why we're doing the lessons in the first place.

But the BEST part of swimming lessons was what came afterwards...there just happened to be a fun fair at the Y, complete with obstacle course, goody bags, healthy snacks, bouncy houses, and big mascot animals. So our 45 minute lesson went over two hours!

One would think all this excitement and a happy meal would wear a little person out, but the napless wonder lives on!

This is what we saw out our back window a few nights ago. Simply Breathtaking. I called Reid and Daddy into the kitchen to show them, and said, "Oh, Reid, isn't that so pretty?!" He replied, "Yeah! I painted that!." Nice job, Reid. You paint well.

(By the way, I missed the picture, but apparently Uncle Doug Gamble was equally touched by the view, and he got it. Nice job, Doug. You photograph well.)

THE LIVING ROOM WINTER OLYMPICS

Here's Reid on his "snowboard" or "skis", his ski sticks (golf clubs) and snow goggles, sliding down a mountain of snow. He can do jumping tricks, too!

In full gear. "Daddy, I wanna SKI!"

MOMMY'S LITTLE HELPER

Time to decorate the Tree!!

LAST DAYS OF FALL PARK WEATHER



We went to the park--lots of different parks--all this summer.

This one is at the library in Mt. Vernon.

Did you know if you spin the tire swing around and around and around, you can get a toddler to walk completely sideways? Heh.

Careful, this cowboy will shoot!

BEHOLD THE BOY-EATING DRAGON

You go into the dragon here...

Make your way to the end from the inside...

And a little toot later, and out you come!

ONE LAST SET OF SUMMER PICS--
Jennifer and Bryan's Wedding in August


The question isn't "why is he playing in the dirt while wearing a tux"--It's more like, "Why Not?"

MORE SUMMER FUN


Cruising at the Fair

In a cold, cold stream on a hot, hot day at Spring Mill Park

The beloved Spider Man scooter with Teddy riding along

SOME OF MY FAVORITE SUMMER PICTURES




A last splash in the sprinkler

Reid developed a deep love of popcicles

The first night in the Big Boy Bed

Reid at the fair--John Deere rules

HISTORY IN THE MAKING--THOUGHT THIS DAY WOULD NEVER COME!!

An African-American president elect in America? No, that's cool, but not what I'm talking about.

Gas prices again below $2? Again, very cool. Can't wait to fill 'er up, but that's not my point here.

The point here is that Reid finally went poopy on the potty! Yeah, I know...see why I'm so excited? So tonight, in celebration, and because we've promised him for months, we are going as a family to Chuck-E-Cheese's. (Heaven help us!).

REID DOES NOT LIKE TACOS...

We were driving to Target today and as we passed all the different fast food restaurants, he was asking me what each one was.

"That's McDonalds, that's Subway, that's Wendy's..."
"What's that one, mommy?"
"That one is Taco Bell."
"No, Mommy, that's not Taco Bell, that's Chicken Nugget Bell!"

Other terribly sweet, terribly funny, or just plain terrible things he has said recently:

• I LUFF you, Mommy
• I want my fluffly blanket
• Go AWAY!!
• (In a whisper at nite nite) Sweep wiff me, Mommy
• You're killin' me, mommy. You're killin' me. (Um, he might have heard me say such a thing...oops)
• After me starting to say the "now I lay me" prayer one night, stopped me and insisted I say "the one wiff my cousins." You know, the one where we name off EVERY single grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin and friend he knows.