Summer Fun

The last few days it has gotten pretty hot with high's around 90 degrees. We have taken advantage of some of this warm summer weather with pool, water, and outdoor fun.









We also met up with one of Rebekah's church friends at Coolidge Park. Joshua wasn't very fond of the sprinklers, and the girls were ready to eat lunch soon after we arrived, so we didn't play in the water much. After lunch we rode the carousel.

Rebekah is excited to ride


Rebekah's friend Natalee


Joshua was not looking forward to the ride at first. In fact, he was scared...


...Until the carousel started moving.


He was hooked after that!

Rebekah earned her second sticker for SwimAmerica today.

Station 2 – Bubblers (Underwater Exploration)

Advancement Goals:
Go underwater by self
Open eyes under water
Hold breath and blow out (deck)
Blow bubbles in water

Joshua did better today in his swim class as well. He still was very clingy with me, but he's relaxing a little bit more in the pool. He's grabbing and holding the wall excellently! His upper body strength really amazes me, and I think a lot of that has to do with compensating for his low muscle tone when he was army crawling.

Another exciting milestone is that Joshua is exploding in learning his letters. Just a few weeks ago the only letter he had mastered for sure was 'O'. He now knows over half the uppercase letters and about a third of the lowercase letters. I confess I haven't worked as much with him as I did Rebekah, so she knew all her letters by this age and even how to spell her name, but Joshua is catching on quickly for learning them mostly using the Fridge Phonics and other alphabet toys. He even surprised me today by identifying the number 4. Now I'll have to see how many numbers he knows!

A Visit from Carrie

Last week my sister Carrie, her daughter Taylor, and their babysitter Lindsey came to visit Chattanooga for a few days. Daniel needed to work on the kitchen, so he sent Carrie and Taylor out of the house, and they chose to visit us for the holiday.

They arrived town on Monday, and since Rebekah didn't have preschool on Wednesday they came over while the kids played in the kiddie and baby pools and other outside toys. Friends of ours, Tina and and her baby boy Caleb, came over as well. We had an enjoyable afternoon with each other and the kids.

Joshua did not last long in the baby pool at all, so in the play gym he went. He wasn't too happy about this either. I did manage to calm him down with a Hot Wheels car, and he stopped fussing for a moment when a garbage truck drove by. Funny thing, Caleb and Joshua noticed the truck, Joshua moreso, but Rebekah and Taylor could care less. It's funny to see how different boys and girls are even at such a young age.


Fussing - he's teething again. It's about time! He only has 6 teeth!


Taylor and Caleb enjoying the baby pool. Taylor outlasted everyone in the water!


Nothing like a toy on which to chew!


Taylor


Caleb


Rebekah enjoys her pool too.



Tina, Joshua, and I, and Carrie


After some water fun we went down to the swingset to play.


Rebekah pushes Taylor in the infant swing


Rebekah introduces the sand and water table to Taylor


Cute pose


Carrie, Taylor, and Lindsey