Swimming lessons

Her practice pool

I should have started this story 3 weeks ago. If I had started it then you may have been better able to appreciate where we are at now. Lucy started swimming lessons with "no one in the pool with me but my teacher". Big step, for her and us....since she screamed bloody murder through the entire series of lessons that she took with Jim in the pool with her. If you have ever heard a screaming child in an indoor pool area you know the acoustics in there accentuate every shrill scream and cry, and raise the decibel level as well.

Oddly, the girl still loves to swim like a fish (daddy's genes). She talked about swimming lessons like they were Disney world. She LOVED them (really?!!). So the brave parent that I was (parent is singular because Jim would be having no part of these...he luckily is working on Thursdays at 1035) I signed her up again. The first day went OK--few tears, a potty break to excuse her from most of class, overall I viewed it as a success. Last week I didn't know if I would even make it through it. The poor girl was crying so hard she couldn't even see, the pool was flooded with snot....she screamed and cried up until the last minute, and another mysterious potty break to miss going under water (hey, I guess I didn't raise a dummy). She was able to swim with her noodle to the far side by herself chasing a rubber ducky to finish off class, and I think she almost smiled (maybe it was the Slurpee bribe, I mean incentive, I promised during her bathroom break if she made it till they end of class). Her comment when she got out of the pool "I wuv swimming lessons!"--so confused.

So today was filled with smiles, laughing, and most of all lots of swimming! I am very proud of her. If I can figure out how to download videos from my actual video camera I will show everyone the drastic difference.

See ya winter.....

Our snow family....mommy, daddy, Lucy, and the new baby (sorry Kady....mommy could not stay out there a minute longer!)

"Queen" of the mountain

Jim had been digging holes for the girls in the snow pile at the end of the street. This was the only time I saw them, I know no fun mommy--but really--is this safe?

That's how far in they went...the goal was to connect both the holes. I was really sad the next day when the snow plows came back through, and the holes were gone! :)


Instead of hot chocolate Lucy prefers a giant snowball when she comes in

SO I do really have to say that I enjoyed winter. Don't get me wrong, I will be much happier to get the bikes out, play outside without having to bundle up etc. It was a lot of fun with both girls this year. The bigger they get, the more independent they are. I have almost convinced Kady that it is OK to walk in the snow (I have got to believe that it can't be easy with all those clothes and boots), but I did get plenty of exercise pulling her in a sled wherever we went. So bye bye snow....I'm sure we'll see you again this season, but you have my blessing to start melting quickly!

9.20.10

Here is the first picture of our newest little jumping bean! We are so excited to finally be sharing our news!

Our little fairy

"Poof" you must sleep forever


"Oh no, what have I done?"

Oh drat....it didn't last long, what can I get into before she gets up?

Oh happy day!

I needed a good giggle today....too much stress that I'm letting get to me, and just an overall blah type of day. I'm going to blame some of it on it being a cleaning/laundry day, and Michigan January. So here are a couple of reasons that I can always find to smile about:

Muscles waiting to get in Grandma's tub!--Lucy is "SOOOOOO barressed" (I'm sure)

Lucy's depictions of Jim and myself

Having to get all "blinged out" before baking (as you can see number one has rubbed off on number 2 already)

and there are winter days where we need to wear sunglasses!

Christmas pics at last

Christmas is such a magical time of year. I love being busy, having lots of parties, and just being with friends and family. The girls are at a perfect age. Lucy was a little more into it...a little confused at how Santa and Jesus both came on Christmas. She loved the opening of gifts, not really realizing what came inside. Kadence peeled off the paper very slowly, and not until every piece of paper was off did she even care to look at what was under it. Lucy taught Kady to say "ho-ho-ho", which was usually said with much gusto.

We celebrated as a family Christmas morning, then headed to Kalamazoo for Christmas day, spent the night, and Saturday headed to Holland. We are very blessed to have all of our families together and to get along so well!

I almost feel bad that these are the only pictures I got of our family together. It was so fun to watch the girls open their gifts....(or maybe it was the taking toys out of packages that was so time consuming) I know there is a little video. Regardless I cherish these moments.

Gingerbread house making with daddy Christmas eve

Our enormous tree

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care

Kady opened her candy cane of m&m's by putting them under the bathroom door to break the plastic...I'm not sure if it was accidental or purposeful, but either way she had them gone before I even realized that it had been opened. (she insisted on her boots and hat all morning before we left for Grandma's!)

Celebrations

New Year's day the Herrema got together to celebrate Grandpa. 85 years of life, and 70 years of piano playing. WOW

We shared many memories, histories, and songs.

There are fewer times that all the kids can get together and sing....it's busy with background noise, the noise of a growing family. Thank you Grandpa for what you have given us all!