Cotton Candy

Our pool has punchcards that you can buy for certain dollar amounts and use at their snack shack.  I decided to get each kid one and let them be responsible for their own spending until its gone.  In the first day, Landon bought an ice cream cone.  Adler bought a hot chocolate, cotton candy and an ice cream cone.  Landon came back 3 times to make sure it really was OK that they get anything they wanted.  I assured them it was, curious to see what they would get.  Adler's card is almost gone after just one day and he didn't like the hot chocolate or cotton candy.

Swim team kids

Living the swim team life.

A private view with a private beach

We were so lucky to be invited to stay with some friends in Surfside at their beautiful home situated on a private (yes private!) beach in Southern California.  This was the view from one of the balconies.

 Because the beach is private, shell collecting is limited to the residents.  Each night hundreds of shells are washed up on the shore, which made for shell collecting each morning.

 Landon very meticulously sorted them into different types of shells and color coordinated them all.

  Sunset in Surfside.

 In addition to shell collecting, the boys built water systems in the sand.

A first

I am hesitant to feed our kids fast food, for many reasons, but after hearing about In and Out burgers for so long, I researched the company a little bit and found its actually better than most fast food.  We stopped on our way from Surfside to La Jolla to break up the drive.  The kids loved it, I was underwhelmed, it was OK, not the best burger, but OK. 

Adler is not much of a meat eater, but he gobbled down most of the burger!  Brian still hadn't been and so we did the reverse and stopped on our way driving from La Jolla back to Surfside.  

brothers

Climbing a tree together outside the museum a few weekends back. 

Legoland

 We spent the last week in southern California.  Most of the week was on the beach with friends (more to come on that), but one day we went further south to LaJolla and spent a day at Legoland.  

 We spent the week with some family friends who have a son Landon's age.  He joined us at Legoland.

 Adler was too young to drive the big kid cars, but they had a little race course for 5 and under that was perfectly fine for him.

 Probably the highlight of the trip (for the parents at least) was these two getting stuck on the boats.  They insisted on riding together and refused to listen to how the boats worked.  After nearly 20 minutes of being passed by other boats and completely unable to navigate their way, we finally had to ask the ride operator for help.  She reluctantly put on waders and plunged into the water to rescue them.  Landon was laughing hysterically the whole time, as were the adults.  Landon's friend didn't feel it was so funny.

As we were about to leave (after a FULL day there), Adler insisted he wanted to ride on the roller coaster.  I'm not allowed to right now and Landon was unsure.  Adler insisted he could wait in line by himself and ride it alone.  Landon and I decided to wait in line with him and at the very end Landon went with him.  Their first roller coaster alone, and they loved it.

Cousin Love

LT turns 8!

 LT turned 8!  I always try and make the actual day a special one, filled with activities he loves.  We started off with a breakfast date (just LT and mommy) at Snooze (only Adler had been).  

 He really wanted to go to the driving range, which between big rain storms we managed to squeeze in.

 He's been taking golf after school once a week and both Brian and I (well, mostly Brian since I haven't the slightest clue how to play golf) were really impressed by all he's learned.

 Adler had some fun too!

And for the fourth year, we went to White Fence Farm for dinner with the whole family.

Surprise storm

I looked at the weather forecast all day yesterday, 0% chance of rain during swim practice time.  We pulled up, parked and walked in without a cloud close by.  Sunny, warm, it was perfect.  We got Landon ready, put on sunscreen, he got in and within seconds a huge storm rolled in.  The kids thought it was hilarious swimming in the rain, but after a few minutes there was lightening and they all had to get out.  

Not just the 25 free

LT had his first swim meet!  At the practice before the meet, I asked his coach what he would be swimming so that I could prepare LT.  She said, "just the 25 meter free".  That seemed like the perfect start to a swim season and thought that when we told him he would be pleased to just have one race.  Instead he asked when he'd be able to swim more.  Brian and I assured him that he would swim more in the coming weeks.  However, late that evening I habitually checked my email before bed and the meet schedule was attached to an email.  I quickly glanced at it and noticed that he not only was in the 25 meter free, but the 25 back, 25 breast and a relay!  He was already asleep for the night, but when we told him the next morning (bright and early), he was proud and excited.   LT surprised us with his natural talent and hard work, but more importantly he is looking forward to another meet and met a few new friends.  

First Heat, No Time.

LT had his first ever swim meet this week. As he told us recently, "I get up early, it's just what I do" so getting to the meet was no problem (they always start early). Kar and Adler came to meet us at the pool a few hours later after the little one woke up.

He'd only been to three or four practices and didn't have any qualification times. So he was placed in the first heat of 8 and under 25 meeter freestyle (heating goes from slowest times to fastest so the last heat of any event typically has the best swimmers). He's definitely not the best swimmer in 8 and under but (proud dad moment) he's pretty darn good for having just started. And that may well be the last time he ever swims in the first heat. He absolutely obliterated the other swimmers in his heat, all whom were also first timers with no qualifying times. He finished several body lengths ahead of the nearest competitor. Just a week ago I was worried he wouldn't like it, wouldn't be good, and maybe wouldn't even be able to do it. But he did great and I'm really proud of him. He also swam 25 backstroke, 25 breaststroke, and the free relay. He held his own in all his events and, most importantly, he seemed like he really enjoyed it.

He doesn't have his team sweats yet but he showed up, unfazed by the 6:45am arrival time, looking like he knew what he was doing nonetheless (thanks to his mother) sporting sweats over his team suit, flip-flops, and his neatly organized backpack.  

One of his friends from school is also on the team. Swim team was a central part of both Kari and I's summer social lives growing up and I think we both kinda hope our boys can have similar experiences.

I thought I was shooting a video of his first race but apparently I still need to learn to use my new phone because it had switched back into photo mode after a test video and I only have this one picture just before the start of the race.

Park Burger

 Brian took Baba to Park Burger for mothers day this year, but the boys and I had never been.  On LTs last day of school I asked him where he wanted to have a special lunch and he said at a burger place.  I knew there was a Park Burger not far from school, so we tried it.  The boys loved the burgers (yes, even Ads!)

Mythic Creatures

 Thursday was the official first day of summer for both boys, but not for most other schools.  We decided to take advantage and go to the (often very crowded) mythic creatures exhibit at Nature and Science.  We chose a great day, it wasn't empty, but it was a great day to be there with few crowds.  

 In addition to seeing sculptures of various mythic land, water and air creatures, they had an art project for the kids to draw their own mythic creatures.  Landon drew two different ones and Adler sat down for over 45 minutes carefully drawing his.  His attention to detail and patience was incredible.

Such a fun activity for both of them.

And at the end, they have this fun photo booth!

Sweet last days of school for the big one

 LT had his last days of school this week.  On Wednesday they had a splash day followed by a summer birthday celebration.  Ads and I came at the very end to pick him up and found him happily eating sweets on towels with 3 of his best buds.  I am so happy that 2 of them will be with him again next year.

 The day before was the 2nd grade continuation (LT participated even though he will technically be in 2nd grade again next year.  We called it his dress rehersal.)  Each second grader gave a little speech to the class and parents about some of their favorite memories in the classroom over the past 3 years.  LT stood up proudly and spoke loudly to everyone, I was so impressed.  As with Ads, I am just so proud of how far he's come with his confidence and just being comfortable with who he is.

After the speeches, each kid received their certificate and a flower.  Then it was the younger kids turn to complement the older kids on all the things they will miss and are thankful they had the chance to do with certain kids.  Landon got many complements from the younger kids about helping them learn to build or complete hard tasks.  I love the multi age philosophy for this reason.

Swim team!

We got off to a slow start with swim team given the cold wet weather, but this week the weather has pulled through and we've made it!  LT seems to really enjoy it and from what I can tell, he's not a bad swimmer in comparison to the other 8 and unders.  Only a fraction of the little kids have been at practice with school schedules, other activities and the weather, so it is hard to tell where his skill level really lies.  Most importantly, he looks forward to practices and works hard when he's there.  He seems to be meeting other kids and the team seems really fun.  

Cousin Day

LT has tennis with his buddy every week and the timing works out with naps.  This week LT was dropped off after school at my brothers house and then we headed back to Stanley to pick up another kid for tennis.  Once unloaded from the car, the 3 big guys just focused their attention completely on the little one, so cute.  

Nothing but adorable.

Collaboration and teaching, I love seeing Ads engage like this.