More puddle jumping

Late yesterday afternoon a series of thunderstorm came through dumping a ton of rain. Our back yard was one huge puddle. Zaven and Nell had a great time wading, then running then falling in it. Showers followed and off to bed.

Ballet and Tennis

This week we are doing a few new things. Nell is attending Ballet camp from 9-2 each day. So Zaven Esmé and I are left to fill the time.
Today Zaven did swim practice and the. We went and played tennis. It was fun. But boy was it hot.
Now Esmé is napping, Nell is home and I am trying to conjure the energy to keep the promise to myself of going to the YMCA today for some exercise.

The kids also had their last swim meet last night. They both did great and it was a fun win!

Milla's visit

We were so happy to have Milla come for a visit. She got here on Monday and came to the swim meet. I know it brought back lots of memories of long and torturous swim meets of back in the day! It was an exciting meet. Nell did a special version on freestyle. He butt was doing butterfly, her feet were doing breaststroke and her arms were doing freestyle. It was so funny. Zaven swam great and even got to swim in the IM relay. He swam freestyle and started behind, though he did not catch up for the win, he swam his heart out and made up some ground. He did himself proud! It was all very exciting. After the meet the team was going to Sonic after, so I let the kids go and they had milkshakes. It was fun, and brought back memories of going tot he Pizza pub after meets when I was a kid.
Tuesday we did the pool routine in the morning and then Milla took the kids to the museum for a show.
Wednesday, we had planned to go hear a swing band in Merchant's square, but it was so hot we decided not to. Instead I took Zaven to try outs for the Coast Guard swim team. He was accepted onto the Gold team. He is excited at the prospect. We will see how it goes.
Thursday Milla and the kids went to the Powell house, but with the heat it was not as fun as other times.
All the kids enjoyed having Milla here. Esmé was comfortable with her, which was fun.
Friday, Milla left:( that evening Chris had a wedding rehearsal. We went to dinner at Cracker Barrel. Saturday was a busy day. We got up and went to the farmer's market. Followed by Chris taking a bike ride, then the big kids and I going to the pool for a quick swim before Chris and I went to the funeral of a dear parishioner, Jack Willis. While at the reception there was a huge rain storm, and I had to take off my shoes and wade into the water to get back on my car. The water was mid-shin! That night Chris had a wedding and Zaven was at a sleep over. After Esmé went to bed Nell and I went out and did some puddle jumping, it was fun!

Another great week!

Great week!We had another home swim meet, both kids improved their times and Nell managed to do both her races. Chris took Esmé home during the first half and I stayed and timed during the 2nd half. We won the meet, it was very exciting for the kids.The day after a meet is is always interesting getting the kids up and to practice, less than 12 hours after leaving the meets. But we made it. Wednesday night we were invited over to the Lamperts for desert and fire fly catching. It was a beautiful night and we had a great time. We stayed from 7-9, Nell and Zaven were very well behaved and Esmé hung in well for it being so late. Wednesday I tried a Zumba class at the y. I am not a dancer, but it was fun and I think I got a good workout, so I will try again next week. There are several bounty photos of Esmé, she is on the go almost all the time. She loves to carry Zaven's LL Bean bag around. She even managed to put my wallet in it one day last week, leaving me without it when I went to run errands. Oops! Tonight we had dinner at the pool again. A smaller group but still fun.The coming week we are looking forward to going to the library, pool, y for my excercise a visit from Milla, a possible Swing Band on Wed.

Summer Routine

We are back in the 'burg and getting into our summer routine here. It was a great first week back. Fun to be at church last week and see everyone as well as enjoy the new Custis Tenement facility. Then Monday the kids and I hit the pool for practice at 9am stuck around til about noon, came home lunch, quiet time, a nap for Esmé and then it was time to pack up sandwiches for dinner at the swim meet and head back to the pool. It was the third meet for the team, but the first for the kids. We had a great time. Chris timed for the first half and then left to put Esmé to bed. Then I finished timing. Nell swam in freestyle and did well. 2nd place! She was supposed to be in the backstroke race but did not get in to water when the race started. Oh well, maybe this week. Zaven swam in freestyle, backstroke and butterfly. He placed 2nd, 4th and 3rd respectively.The team lost but it was a good meet. The rest of the week we were at the pool for practice at 9 and stayed until 12. Esmé is getting the hang of taking a morning nap in her stroller, though last week it was so hot that it was hard. But she has gotten about an hour each day, which is not great, but better than nothing! The 4th of July was good, hot! Esmé really started walking everywhere, it was so funny she kept wanting to put on the Colonial Williamsburg pass and walk around with it on. We went to the pool and grilled some burgers at home. The big kids stayed up for the fire works. We watched from just outside of the driveway, Esmé was asleep, and luckily stayed asleep during them. It was a nice show. Thursday I went to Short Pump in Richmond and got a new iPhone, mine went swimming in the Gulf of Mexico in my pocket when I ran in thinking a little girl was struggling in the surf. Turns out she was "listening" under the water. Oops. I would do it again. I was sorry to lose some of the photos I had taken on the kids at the beach etc, but not much i can do about it now. Friday we were excited to go back to Plaza Azteca and Sweet Frog, it had been a while. It was great, as usual. Saturday, hot again, the kids and I walked up to Merchant Square for the Farmer's Market. We got some great tomatoes, zucchini eggplant. Then Chris and Zaven went to the pool with the plan of Nell, Esmé and me following once Esmé woke up from her nap, well, she slept from 9:30 until just after 1:30. Chris and Zaven came home before we ever made it. So we went back later for another swim. Then we came home and I made a pasta dish with the things from the Farmer's Market, it was very tasty, if I do say so myself :) Today, hot again! We went to 9:15 church, Chris preached a great sermon. Esmé did not nap in the nursery so she was pretty much asleep the minute we go tin the car. Then it was the usual Sunday fare, grocery store and what not. Then at 5pm we met 3 families, the Brewers, Klees and Sneads at the pool to swim and grill out. It was a great evening. Each family has 3 kids and they all played really well, we were there until almost 8. We hope to do it again. I don't have many pictures to post of the above activities. But I do have the other photos from Esmé's first birthday, take two with the candle lit!

Esmé is One!

We had a great day celebrating Esmé and her first birthday today!
Esmé got the celebration started early by waking up before 6 so she and I went out onto the porch and played and talked and sang until around 7.
Then we came in and made banana pancakes for breakfast. The day was kind of cloudy so we spent the better part of the day inside. We made Esmé a cake during her naps. Later in the afternoon we all went swimming and played. Then Grammy and Ella got here. Big fun having them here.
Esmé had fun opening presents. She got a stuffed Ostrich ,"stretch", a monogrammed bubble outfit, a lap desk activity center, toy car keys, a shape sorter ad some markers and paper. They all seem just right and she has really played with them all.
Then she ate some dinner and it was time for cake! Ellen had brought a cute candle, then we realized we did not have any matches. I was not sure how much longer she would stay awake so I did not want to go get some. So we sang and have her cake without lighting the candle. She loved the cake. After she ate that inlet her play some more and Chris and Armen went and got the pizza. Then Ellen had the great idea to look downstairs in the owners closet to see if there was a lighter for the grill, there was, so we did it over. I am glad we did, it was fun and Chris got some great pics with te candle lot and Esmé could not believe her luck that we had put the cake back down in front of her. She grabbed a little more! Then it was off to bed, a full fledged one year old! Why a sweet baby!

I should also mention earlier in the day she said "thank you" for the first time. We were blowing up balloons and she handed me one and said "thank you" she did it several times and it was sweet.

Wow!

Today was a great, long day. This morning the kids were up early so we went over to the beach around 7:30. It was a beautiful morning. Nell had a new shovel and dug some holes. Esmé enjoyed crawling around. Zaven and I threw a football. Then we went for a walk. It was fun. During Esme's nap I went for a bike ride. Later the big kids and I went to the lighthouse and climbed to the top, then got ice cream. when we came home we all went swimming. Then I made a qinuoa and shrimp recipe. It was so yummy.
Can't believe that Esmé will be one tomorrow!!