Swim Lessons--June 2011

We have started swim lessons!!  It will be a 2 week session, Monday-Friday, for one hour each day with "Mr. Bill" Stewart.  I've heard very good things about Mr. Bill from a few mothers and signed up a few months ago.  He fills up fast!  In fact, during the 2 weeks that we will be with him, he has 5 other classes each day!

We were the host family for the class and had a total of 3 kids: Beau Carter (3years), Taylor Moore (6 months), and Lauren (almost 2 years).  Duncan Rivard also came the first day, but they decided not to continue because he was having some problems with his ears.  Poor Duncan.

The word around "Mommy town" is that Mr. Bill takes no bull from the kids and is very strict!  I was a little nervous to begin the 1st class because I had no idea what to expect from him!  There was a bit a crying that 1st class and he would tell a crying child as a whisper in his ear (but we all knew what he was saying) "if you swim to mama and come up crying, I will make you do it again"...and he would!  Lauren cried a few times, but she loves the water so much that I honestly think she started crying because others were crying.

Sweet Taylor with her Mama!

From the very first class, all the kids were putting their face in the water and gliding about 5-6 feet to us moms encouraging them to "kick!".  But we were told not to talk to much to them because "when they hear your voice, it makes them want to be baby'ed and they'll stop listening to me".  We were very careful to follow Mr. Bill's instructions!

They were also going underwater to find plastic dinosaurs and pennies on the steps.  Mr. Bill would say "close your mouth" and would ease their heads down into the water.

By the end of the 1st class, I wasn't nervous anymore and actually loved Mr. Bill's soft but firm voice.  He used to be a "Bay Watch" life guard and has 40 years of swim instructor experience--I know that he is going to be a great teacher for Lauren!

Duncan having lunch with his big brother, Walker, after class.  

Orlando--June 9-12, 2011

On the afternoon of June 9th, we loaded the truck with our 3 suitcases and headed to the airport to catch the plane to Orlando for a fun weekend!  This is Lauren's "travel look"  as of late: backpack (which she can say "back pack" now) and baby doll in hand.

This will be the last free plane ride that Lauren will take since she turns 2 years old in 2 weeks.  I think we've definitely used the free flights to our advantage over the past 24 months.  Eric and I have tried to count the number of planes that LEB has been in, and, quite frankly, we can't remember all of them to count.  Oh goodness...

We had a great flight down and Uncle Mark picked us up at the airport late that night.  When we got to the Ashy's house, Kaylee had already gone to bed but Ashlynn was still awake!  So, she and Lauren had a little bit of time to play together!  Lauren loves playing with both the girls.  It's so sweet...  It was also my birthday!  Mary surprised me with tons of balloons (that all 3 girls loved playing with all weekend long) and my favorite cake from Charlie's Bakery.  Thanks Mary, for taking such good care of me!!!

 This is THE most delicious cake in the entire world...

 The girls at breakfast with their fun balloons!

 Ashlynn with her Uncle Eric--just hanging out...

The next day, the girls had breakfast together and we just all hung out playing in the play room and swimming in the pool.  Here's Kaylee!

And here's Ashlynn!

The girls suits, hats, and glasses are precious!

Having a juice box after a fun swim

Later that night, we 6 adults went out for my birthday dinner on Park Avenue in Winer Park!  Miss Eric and Miss Lauren came over to watch the 3 girls and we all had a fun time sitting and catching up.  We then walked down the street to The Wine Room.  Since I wasn't drinking, my birthday present was to pick out wines for tasting for everyone else.  Yes, it was fun.  

And here we are...Old parents after a night out zonked out...and it probably wasn't even midnight yet!

On Saturday, we went to Sea World!  I was so excited to take Lauren there!  She loved the small aquarium at the children's museum in FLL and loves going to Gulf World with Miss Heather, I just knew that she would like SeaWorld...and she did!  100%!
Here we are: 4 adults, 3 cute kids, and 2 strollers (A&K's is a double) ready to take on the June heat!

Watching the stingrays swim by

We next went to watch the dolphins.  1st we watched them swim on top of the water and splash us, then we went below to watch them swim underwater.  Lauren was in absolute amazement!  I can't describe how excited and surprised her little face looked the entire time we were down there.  If she could talk, she would have probably said "Mama, can you believe what we're seeing!?  This is so cool!"

"Look!"

It looks like she is upset, but she really isn't...she was so happy!

"Oh my!"

"Whoa!"

"There they go!"

"Ashlynn and Kaylee...this is the neatest thing I've ever seen!"

"See?!"

"I can't believe my eyes..."

"Eeeeee!"

Watching the Dolphin and Bird show...she loved it!

A&K loved it too!

"This is amazing..."

"Bravo!"

We then went to the Shamu show.  I have to say that, having seen the show in the past with the real Shamu, it just wasn't the same.  Since the death of the trainer, no one is allowed in the water with the whales.  But...it's still a great show and we liked it.

The 7 (8) of us!  I had no idea I was looking so pregnant...note to self: belly button is clearly showing through this shirt...do not wear it any more during this pregnancy!!

See the penguins

"I think I see Nemo!"

At the end of our day, we went back to the underwater dolphin cove...Lauren could stay here all day.

We were so hot and tired by the time we got back to the car.  It was a very good 1st trip to Sea World and I know we'll be coming back when she's older.

That afternoon, we strolled to downtown Baldwin to have dinner with JB and Noah!  

We saw the ducks on our way downtown!  

Look at all of our kids!  Wow!

Walking with her hands on her hips.  This is a new thing.  I love it...

Hanging out with mommy and her belly

1st kiss to the baby

1st group bath with A&K!  It was a bath tub full!!!

We had such a fun time hanging out with our nearest and dearest and, of course, can't wait to do it again.  It was easier to say good-bye this time because we knew that we would all see each other in about 2 weeks at Lauren's birthday party!  

I should note that the day before we left for Orlando, Lauren and I spent 2-1/2 hours at the DMV renewing my driver's license.  I couldn't renew it online because I had done that the last time so I had to go in person.  Lauren did really great though!  I little bit of running around and watching her movie (Tangled, of course) and she was as good as a 2 year old could be. 

Afterwards, I told her to make her "I'm bored" face for a picture...ha!