Rockin' and Rollin'

Swimming Lessons

Last night the boys had their very first swimming lesson at The Rivi with “Ed.” I forgot my camera, so I am hoping to capture this little event in words. I roped Pam into going with us because each child needs an adult in the water with him/her. There were only two other kids, so it was a great little group!

Now, Ed…..how do I explain the phenomenon known as “Ed?” He is best described as a surfer dude who somehow got stuck in “The Middle.”—ie. Indiana. He has the swimming abilities/knowledge/passion of Michael Phelps, and the energy/wackiness (for lack of a better word) of a three-year old. The man is a riot and a half, and he was incredible with the boys. As expected, Alex was much more reserved than Noah about trying new things, but by the end, BOTH boys were independently swimming around on noodles (those floating things—not the pasta)!!!!!

Now, for Noah…oh Noah. Ed fell in LOVE with Noah, and I think the feeling was mutual for Noah. Ed used Noah for every demonstration because Noah kept screaming, “I want more!!!!” In less than 30 minutes, Noah learned to “hand walk” in the pool along the edge by grapping the side, climb up the ladder, jump back in and swim away on a noodle! There was much “woohoo-ing between Noah and Ed, several high-fives and lots of “Dude, you rock!!!!” I think Noah was happiest, however, when Ed threw….and I DO mean THREW my little man several feet above the pool, let him land in the water, go under and then pop up!!! The whole time, Alex was looking at the two of them like they had totally lost it.

Ed was a little calmer with Alex and tried to let his excitement rub off on him, but Alex was not ready to go that far. Ed was great with Alex too—very patient and encouraging. By the end of the night, Ed was calling Alex “Big Al”—a name that, so far, only Ms. Amy was allowed to call him. But, I think if Ms. Amy met Ed, she wouldn’t mind!!!!

We cannot wait until next week!!!!!

Standin' on the Corner Watchin' all the Pretty Trains Go By!!!

Working the Ice Cream Shop at the Zeum

The Carousel

I love these two pics and thought they should get their own post:

Family Day Pics from "The Zeum"

Bob the Builder Exhibit:

Reading with Coici--ANOTHER book on trucks

Can you tell someone was VERY tired at the end???

Catch Up: MARDIS GRAS

To the victor go the spoils--bean bag toss extraordinaire!!!

It's all about the beads~

Family Day

Two years ago today, our little family was completed with the arrival of Noah. Unlike the pick-up trip for Alex, the pick-up trip for Noah was a nightmare since both Coici Pam AND Noah were horribly sick the whole time we were down there. I spent many nights walking the hotel hallways with a screaming Noah, and when he was not screaming, he was throwing up! The flight home was equally as miserable as we went through multiple diapers and multiple MULTIPLE changes of clothes......still it was the best day(night) of my life!!!!!

In the past two years, these two boys have not only become my sons, they have become brothers in every sense of the word. They look out for each other as much as they fight, they laugh as much as they cry, and they are as devious as they are loving! I cannot imagine my life without them anymore. They are blessings beyond measure, and I thank God every day that we are together.

We spent today having fun. After church, Coici Pam joined us for a romp at The Children's Museum--one of our favorite haunts. Even though Coici has the cold from hell, she was a trooper including riding the carousel, chasing Alex around the (EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING) Bob the Builder Exhibit and watching the train movie--AGAIN. We DID go to the planetarium show that featured Big Bird and Elmo--the boys LOVED LOVED LOVED it!!! After nice long naps (BOTH slept for two glorious hours), we had a GREAT evening with Familia Willis and Coici just hanging out at home with pizza, adult libations, and ICE CREAM SUNDAES! It was wonderful to share this special day with some of the special people in our lives.

Tonight I cannot help but think of children in Guatemalan orphanages and praying that they too, will someday, get to celebrate a Family Day of their own.

Alex-isms

Coici Pam and I were talking as we were driving with the boys. I made a comment about getting a babysitter for the boys, and Alex piped up:

"I WANNA GO WITH YOU TO GET A BABY SISTER!!!!!"

I almost wrecked the van!

General Cuteness

Catch-Up: Wonderlab

On MLK Day, the boys and I went to Bloomington to visit The Herron-Foley Fam. We spent the morning at Wonderlab (equiv. of a mini Children's Museum). We had a blast....mainly playing in the water!!!

Valentine's Day

The boys had a Valentine's Day party at school, and they just LOVED looking through their haul after school!

SNOW!!!