Busy Week!

Before the summer started, I worried (outside of the pool) with what we would fill our days. No school, no soccer, friends on vacations.... But almost every week that has gone by has filled up in one way or another, usually to the point of exhaustion!! This week was no different. We're going on four nights in a row of late late bedtimes due to fun, out-of-house excursions. Such is summer...

Yesterday was a great representation of what makes our weeks so crazy. In the morning two great friends (and one great baby) joined us at our pool. Noah and Logan are great swimmers, so the three boys had a blast jumping in (off of the side and diving board), having swim races, and playing baseball in the baby pool. Yup. They used a dive stick as the bat and another dive stick as the ball. That didn't last long as running around a pool and hitting a hard dive stick in close proximity to others fall in the category of 'What NOT To Do'. Eli was very excited when Logan's mommy jumped off of the diving board also. He keeps trying to coax me but has yet to be successful. Eli did create a new game for himself during which he jumps into an inner tube in the water. He makes it completely inside every time too...crazy! Maddie had a great time too, following after the boys and trying her hardest to hold, hug, poke, kiss, and love on Cooper (said baby).

After quick naps, it was back to the pool for Eli's swim lesson. He is in his second session now and he swims without a turtle back 100% of the time (even off of the diving board). His teacher says he is fearless (in a good way) and he has improved way more than she thought he would in this short time. Swim team, here we come!! Maddux swam along in the pool, jumping in from time to time. She has started to jump off of the side of the pool while holding my hand. Even though I am not in the pool when she does this (I'm sitting on the side), and even though I usually let go right as she jumps, she still asks for my hand when she gets ready to "GO!!". We finished his lesson and got Maddux and Eli dressed quickly so we could rush to the Marietta Square for dinner plans.

We arrived at the pizza place just before the kids' friend, Owen, showed up. Eli told everyone again and again that he was going to sit next to Owen. He was quite obsessed with it! Once we sat down, Eli was very very VERY interactive with little O. He helped entertain him by talking to him, playing with the place mat with him, and telling him words to see if he could repeat them. ("Owen, can you say, 'Daddy'? Can you say, 'Pizza'?") He even tried to help him eat a little bit. Eli has always shown love for babies (and small toddlers, such as Owen), but this was the most involved I've ever seen him...it was really sweet! We walked over to the park after dinner and Eli put his arms around Owen, sat next to him for pictures, and kept tabs on him in general. Maddux showed Owen some love her way. This usually consists of a choke hold and forced kissing or eye-poking. So far Owen doesn't mind too much.