It's been a while.

This summer is insane. I decided to be a better 'summer' mom and take my kids to the pool and to the park more often. I also enrolled Dom in swimming lessons (continuously) since May 4. I will enroll Alli in a month when she is old enough to take them. And, I even enrolled them in the summer reading program and take them to the library! **Patting myself on the back right now for being a good 'soccer'-mommy**

1. The kids LOVE the park by Lena and the one at the Fairgrounds. They actually fight over and debate which park would be better to go to on any given 'park' adventure day. They get a lot of exercise and have fun doing it in the vitamin D enriched sun (with sun-screen on of course)!

2. The pool was a challenge at first, but now it is awesome and crazy and fun for all...even me (as nervous as I was to take them both alone).

3. Dom hated getting his face wet. He wouldn't even let me get a drop of water on his face when showering him/washing his hair. He would scream nightly during our wash-capades. I HATED it...I yelled a lot and then I came up w/a solution (with Sean) that I prayed would help. He would take swimming lessons in Pullman at their indoor pool. And, after just a couple of lessons, shower time because tolerable. And, after a few more lessons, the outdoor pool (mentioned in #2) became FUN for Dom. And, after a few more lessons, he started ENJOYING bobbing up and down in the water! And, after a few more lessons, he started jumping off the edge of the pool onto a water noodle and swimming around on it by himself! And, he is starting to learn to actually use swim strokes now. Phew. It is the best money I have ever spent and I plan to keep on spending it until he is a proficient swimmer (not necessarily perfect, but able to stay afloat and for me to to worry every second about in the pool).

4. Alli has to be 3 to take lessons in Pullman. I will put her in as soon as I am able. She begs every day to take lessons and do 'torpedoes' in the water like Dom. She can't wait to jump off the side and float. She adores her brother and wants to be just like him!

5. The summer reading program and the library in general is awesome for my kids. They LOVE books. They pick out their own books and read of hours, literally hours, at home in the afternoons/evenings. Sometimes they even actually cry and beg me to take them to the library!

So, super mom continues through the fall. Dom and Alli will both take swim lessons (because we want them to and it is fun). Dom will take soccer (because he wants to and it is healthy for him). Dom will start kindergarten. Ahh..it all starts...what have I gotten myself into?!?