Wheels

Finally got Tyler to predictably ride Little Bike.  We rode to Krey twice and he doesn't quite have the stamina, but I remember when Scott used to ride Little Bike to Northgate, he'd get tired, too.  Then, on Wednesday, Scott and I decided to ride bikes to soccer practice but Heidi left Scott's bike and insta-tandem at the school.  I pulled down White Lightning, filled up the tires for Scott, and we made it to soccer.  White Lightning is still a little big for Scott but here he is, riding it.  25 years old.

And here's Kira on the trike in Walnut Creek.  We went to Brett's house and I brought along some oil so I could lube the squeaky wheels.  By the time we got there, the trike was going pretty good.

Time

As Danny rode off on his bike with Scott behind waving good-bye, yelling over and over, "I love you mom, have a good day, see you soon," with his backpack bigger than he is I wondered when my baby got so big.  So good on a bike to turn around and wave without falling or running into parked cars.  I wondered how we were so lucky to live in a beautiful neighborhood and country. I was filled with JOY!

I was filled with joy that danny is so lucky to do something he loves that allows him to ride the boys to school!

This type of joy that can't be bought with money, a big house of fancy cars.  It is the joy that is found with family, friends, love and living close to God.  The joy of having a wonderful husband.  The joy of having kids who enjoy school and are striving to be good little people.  The joy that my husband gets to take my kids to school because he works down the street.  I love our little neighborhood.  It is perfect for our family!  I felt so blessed!

I was filled with gratitude and simply needed to share!

I have the image in my head and need to capture it on film or with a photograph because I think it will be one of those moments in this moment of life that will forever make me happy.

Do you have any of those moments?  What are they?  Write them down to remember them forever.

As a kid I remember walking home with Erin and being greeted by my mom and grandma.  They made me a snack.  They asked me about my day.  I felt loved.  I felt special.  I felt I was the most important at that moment.  I remember that.

I remember sitting in the shower at Scottsdale or on the hot deck to get warm.  That was joy.

I remember driving to LA in our van at night.  We slept in the folded down back and watched movie.  I remember getting there and being greeted my ga and granny.  I remember playing at the beach and watching the rose bowl parade.  That was joy!

I remember always having my parents at my soccer games, swim practices and gymnastics practice.  They always supported me.

I remember doing my homework with my dad at night.   He was always there for us.  He could answer my homework questions, even if it meant reading the entire chapter to get what we were doing. I am grateful that Danny will do that someday because I am well aware my kids are going to surpass my skills.

I remember sunday dinners in the backyard.  Yummy strawberry/lemonade smoothies.  Sour and good.

My memories aren't necessarily the presents or big trips.  It was the time that we spent together.  What a reminder for me as a mom!  I am blessed with parents that led by example.  They taught me the importance of spending time with your kids.  You don't know to be involved in everything, just need to be available.

FIVE

Can you believe Tyler is 5??  I really can't but so far 5 has been magical.  Except for the bad headache last night, Tyler is a new kid.  He is happy, healthy, social, fun to be around, loveable with a little kick instead of a lot.  His fontan has made him into a new kid and we are all loving it.  His cardiologist said that kids personalities oftentimes transform after the Fontan and not being so oxygen deprived.  I didn't hold my breathe, but he has miraculously transformed.  It makes me realize how sick he really was.  His blueness became normal and I thought his personality was just him being tough.  I guess he really wasn't feeling well for the first 4 1/2 years of his life.  Gives me a little more patience and empathy to try to understand why my kids or adults for that matter act the way they do.  

It is a miracle.  Each birthday for Tyler is a miracle. We have so much to celebrate this year!  He started school and loves it.  He has made some great friends.  He enjoys learning.  He goes swimming with his brother and loves it.  He is living a healthy and happy childhood.  I feel so blessed.  So grateful for the doctors, nurses, family and friends that got us to this point.  So grateful for the angels that gave their lives for medicine to be where it is today.  There lives are not forgotten.  Full of gratitude in celebrating this little man. 

All he wanted was spiderman stuff.  Cake brought to you by Pop.  He loves his new big boy slip on Star Wars Shoes, spiderman hat, watch, shirt and football.  He is one happy little man!  Most of all grateful for family who fill our lives with joy!  Without family, birthdays would be so different.  Grateful my mom is starting to feel a little better.  True love!

the weddng

This is when I went to Max's wedding one day late...My mom told me she thought it was Friday and sure enough she was right.  While I missed the dancing and mingling lucky me got to hang out with my bestie Laurel and her sweet little guy. These little men are about 3 monhths apart. Our last kids are 1 day apart. Robin served me up some yummy mexican from the night before and her bundt cake that was SOOO good.  I can't stop thinking about it.  I got to actually talk to the special couple Max and Emily without any rush.  It was a fabulous post wedding night...so if you aren't quite ready for your wedding to end in a night, just invite me and I might just extend the party!  This is my life with 4.

 

The close of rec swimming

Aquaknights had their awards ceremony and Scott's relay did pretty well.

Tyler enjoyed the hot tub more than anything.

A sinking Kira has had to be pulled from the pool at least three times but she's learning how to breathe.

Scott's happy about the regalia

Blakey is thinking, "Hmmm, steak or chicken?"

Tyler says, "Cheese!"  Look, that open bite is almost closed.  And Tyler can pretty much do bathroom duty on his own.  Sweeeet.

Reading

At the end of kindergarten there are a handful of kids that are pretty good readers.  Really good readers in my opinion for kindergarten.  They love it.  Scott was not one of those.  He really didn't like doing any homework let alone something as hard as reading.  It didn't bother me and was very evident that his mind was just not ready to learn in that way.  All I cared about last year was Scott enjoying school and getting along with kids which he did.  He loved his friends.  He learned social skills and confidence for which I am so grateful for!  In some ways I think the American school curriculum needs to go back to how it was when we were kids.  We push these little kids to do these advanced things at such a young age and half the time half the class is just not ready or mature enough.  I feel like we think the younger we start them, the better they will be when that isn't always the case.  I tell parents with a crying 3 year old that if they wait a year there 4 year old who wants to be there will actually grow to love swimming better and have a much better learning experience.  I am sure the trend with eventually shift again as do all trends.

With that said, I was really hoping that the transition to first grade would go alright since it is so much more academic.  It is a year full of learning.  He begged me to do swimming and soccer which worried me a little bit.  I didn't want to get involved in too much and not have down time, but so far it has worked out really well.

The kids get to either play at the playground or at home for about a half hour before we do homework and piano before we are off to sports.  After sports we usually play with friends at the field or pool, come home and eat and it is bedtime.  So it is school stuff first and playtime after.  So far it is going well!  We have to be pretty routine oriented which I am not used to but is a good thing.

Last night Scott said he is enjoying reading.  It helps that he memorized a ton of sight words that help him read.  What a difference from last year. I can't believe how much he has matured and actually wants to learn compared to last year just doing the minimum and.  Don't get me wrong, if he had the choice he would be outside with friends or watching tv, but that is probably like 95% of kids.

I am grateful for these amazing programs that have been invented to make learning easier and more fun for these kids.  I am grateful for his teacher.  I am enjoying help him learn. It is fun for me.  I feel blessed that I get to be the one that gets to teach him and see him grow at home.  It is awesome!

Last night Scott told me that I wasn't very good at drawing.  I laughed, agreed, explained we are all good at different things and asked him what he thought I was good at. He said I was good at being a mom. It made me feel good.  Lots to work on but at least he thinks I am good enough.  The amazing thing about kids is that they think there parents are the very best mom and dads in the world.  Sadly, that changes in the teenage years.

Coaching

I am coaching very part time.  I have mainly 6-7 year old boys.  Scott is in the group.  It is a smaller group so we really get to work on stroke technique.  I love it!  They are eager to learn and we are having fun and hopefully going to help these kids get proper technique down.  They are 4 days a week for 45 minutes.

My next group is a pre-team and they are so dang cute.  They are mostly 4-5 year olds who can swim a lap but need to work on gaining more confidence and learning straight legs, side breathing, etc.  They are 3 days a week for 30 minutes.  It started out as a really small group but has really grown this week.

Tyler did the group yesterday and had fun. He was a good listener and eager to swim.  After about 20 minutes his classroom friend who is also his swim buddy came over to play with him so he was off to play which is just fine.  I am still unsure how he will fit into the swimming mix.  He loves to play with his friends at the pool and is at the point that he can swim fine with them in the water.  Yeah for him.  It allows him to be independent and social.  In the beginning of the year he would play in the shallow end and as soon as they went to the deeper pool he would get stranded and just wait for their return.  It didn't seem to bother him but I always felt a little bad.  Sometimes he would have me bring him on my back.

Tyler likes to stay close to the edge and jump in and out which is easier for him than laps of swimming or treading. In a swim lesson, I want him to feel he can swim as much as he wants and enjoy the social aspect, but know he might not be able to do the physical laps the other kids do.  I am hoping he will self monitor just like he does with other things.  We shall see how it all unfolds.  For now I am grateful he has friends to play with and is water safe which is  a needed life skill.

It is so great being back to coaching very part time.  I needed the break last year and needed all my energy to focus on Tyler and Danny's surgeries and recoveries.  I couldn't do anything more.  I chose to coach at this pool that has a play center for Blake and Kira and the kids.  It is perfect.  I don't need to stress about finding a babysitter, they love going.  Well, at least Kira loves going.  They do crafts, play-doh and set up little things in the gym.  She says she plays with her friends.  Lovin it!  Grateful I get to do something I love and as a bonus I even get paid a little.

It probably pays for gas that week (which I am grateful for).  We also get a membership and my kids swim dues so I am grateful for the perks.  I am there anyway and enjoy coaching.  I realize how blessed I am that I can do what I want because Danny is able to provide for our family right now.  So many are not in the situation and have to be away from their kids or take a certain job because they need to.  Very blessed that I get to be with my kids right now and do this on the side.  Perfect!