Just Keep Swimming

The highlight of our summer really was the swimming. I was really worried about getting a city pass this year because I didn't know what I was going to do with Clara if we did. She wasn't going to want to go in thepool but I couldn't leave her In the shade when there was a million people around. The solution: my parents had moved into an apartment with a great pool so we went there! It was nice too because we could use any floatingwewanted and a good portion of the time we were the only ones there! I was able to just keep Clara in her seat I the shade and not haveto worry about her, it was also great becuase my mom was there most of the time so she was able to help me with the kids.

There was one thing that really drove me crazy though and it was the kidsconstantly wanting to get and stay in the hot tub!! Even when it was over100 outside they would still want to go and cook themselves in the hot tub!!

It was really fun to go a few times with cousins when they came to visit. Swimming is really fun with a big group!

Annie spent a lot of her time laying out towels and messing around on the side.

Nellie really made strides last year with her swimming and she really picked it up even more this year! She did great!

Jane was ver timid in the beginning and then totally blossomed by the end of the summer. She was swimming on her own, going underwater and even in the deeper end.

 

This was one of the best things of all, watching him learn to love swimming!

Janie learned to jump in, it was really cute!!

 

This was one of the best things of all. These two learned how to swim completely on their own with their life preservers. The would just paddle all around the pool, it was really the cutest thing ever!!

The one time we tried to put miss Clara in the pool. She hated it, ( it is pretty cold) we took her out and she fell asleep with dad.

Even if we didn't do tons this summer by way of activities, at least we went swimming lots!!

 

All About Nellie-9 Years

Nellie is 9 Years old!  these kids of mine are just growing up way too fast!  Next year I will have two in the double digits!
I love that Nellie is still a little girl.  She thinks she wants to grow up but really she doesn't.  This past year there has been a big shift in our family.  It used to be that Lizzy and Nellie were super tight and Jane was the one that was left out.  Not so anymore.  Lizzy has moved onto liking things that are older so Jane and Nellie have become really close and they are the ones that play together all the time.  We moved into a new house that is quite a bit smaller than the last one, so we don't have as much room in the house, but Kevin made up a play area out in the garage and that is pretty much where you will always find Nellie and Jane playing.  They love to play house the most I think.  They also play with their dolls a lot, which makes me happy that they are going to good use.  I just wish they didn't feel the need to make such a giant mess that they don't want to clean up.  Nellie is still the biggest slob.  She is so very creative when it comes to the games she makes up.  I love it because she is always coming up with a creative new game to play.  The only problem is that she throws a massive fit when I make her clean up the mess. She struggles to keep her room clean and now that she and Lizzy share a room, it has become a giant problem that causes a lot of fighting.
Nellie is now in fourth grade and is still dong well in school.  She really does well with math especially.  She may not like it but she does pretty well with it.  We also now live really close to one of her good friends so it has been fun for her to have a friend nearby. 
Nellie still really loves candy and sweets and I can use them as an incentive or a consequence of choices.  I know that if I threaten to take away a treat that she will do just about anything to get it back.
Nellie loves her baby sister Clara so much.  I think partially because she looks the most like Nellie of any of the kids.  But Nellie loves trying to get Clara to smile and helping take care of her.  When Nellie wants to be a helper she is a great helper, the problem is she would rather not do it, so on days when Lizzy is gone she makes sure to stay MIA so she doesn't have to help. 
One funny thing about Nellie is that she wants to have money so bad, but she doesn't want to earn it.  She wants to get it in the easiest possible way.  Nellie is still probably my hardest kid.  She has such a hard time with change so this past year with a new baby and a move was particularly difficult for Nellie.  But since we have gotten settled and things have gotten easier, she ahs started to do better. 
Even though Nellie gives me a run for my money, I wouldn't change a thing about her, because she is special.  She has such a good heart.  She makes our life exciting and she challenges me to be a better mom.  I love her so much and I am so glad that she came to our family, because she makes life so much more exciting for  all of us!1