Water Mania

My next few posts are probably going to be about water.

Due to the crazy syncope that the kids and I have, I don't take them to outdoor pools when I'm alone, I need an extra adult outside with me in the summertime.  On one of the Thursdays that Mom hung out with us, we decided to attempt the zoo for a few hours, then follow that up with some water.  But we actually felt rather superb on this particular day!

We went to the pool next door to the zoo.  Normally when we go there, the kids just play in the spray area.  But this time they REALLY wanted to play on the water obstacle course in the actual pool area.  They have really become better swimmers, so Nena and I agreed.

To do the obstacle course and slide in the deep-end, you have to take a swim test.  Lucy passed it easily.  Clyde did VERY well and passed, but the second half of it made him very anxious.  I didn't let Iris try it.  But if she wore a life vest, she could go along with a family member who had passed.

Most kids raced each other on the obstacle course but, as you will see from my pics, Lucy & Clyde spent a good deal of time pulling Iris up to help her get through it.

Lucy and Iris at the starting line...

 ...and the race is on (you can kind of see the tippy-top of Iris's head on the other side)

 Lucy turns to encourage Iris.

Now she stops to pull her up.  This took a while.

Now they race through the mini-pool...

Oops.  Gotta stop and help lil sis again ;)

Whew...and we made it to the end!

 Clyde and Iris start the race.

Clyde talks to her the whole time, telling her how good she's doing.

Now they've got to get through the water holes...

He stops to pull up Iris.

And one more time...

Race complete!

Lu on the slide...

Clyde on the slide...

Iris, looking rather terrified, trying to slow her descent down the slide.

They ran over to the splash area for a little while.   Here they are waiting for the bucket to drop water on them.

 

Good summer fun!!

Happy Birthday, Nana !!

Stephen's mom, aka- Bobbi, aka- Nana just recently had to have her hip replaced.  This was distressful, because we are so far away and couldn't really see, with our own eyes, that she was okay. 

Well, her birthday is TODAY!!  So on Friday, we suddenly decided to pack up, go see her and just celebrate her birthday a few days early. 

Saturday morning, we loaded up the van and headed to NC.  We drove until we got there, showed up on her doorstep with no warning and knocked!

We didn't do our usual visiting, since we weren't going to stay long.  But a few friends happened to stop by that we haven't seen for a while...

And Nana told Papa we were in town, as soon as we got there...

here's Iris showing him her lose tooth...

and all the kids hugging their Papa...

Monday Stephen and Nana ran some errands.  While they were gone, the kids and I baked a cake, ran (literally) to the Walgreen's for decorations, and returned to build a party!

When Stephen and Nana returned, our birthday-hatted selves blew horns and  yelled, "Surprise!  Happy Birthday!"

Iris decorated Nana's new walker and made her a special "balloon friend".

The kids did a kind of "guess who I am" game for our entertainment.  (the tin man, a rhino, and a minecraft zombi)

Clyde had built a pinata, that he filled with candy.  So we all took turns hitting it....

Clyde busted it open...

Then after dinner we had cake...

And Nana opened cards...

Nana & Iris...

Nana & Clyde...

Nana & Lucy...

Nana & Stephen and I....

Then we wrapped up the party with a 6-player game of Clue.  Stephen aka Mr Mustard won.  It was Plum, in the kitchen, with the rope.

Happy Birthday, Nana!!!  We love you!!!

Art Museum

One recent Thursday, Mom and I used the summer reading passes that the kids earned to take them to the local art museum.

 We basically had the place to ourselves which was nice, because the kids decided to take sketch pads.

Here's Clyde drawing.  (I really like this picture of Clyde and the painting for some reason.)

This painting to the left is what he decided to draw...he appreciates geometrical shapes like his father :)

Lucy and Iris sat on the floor together to sketch.  You can see their Nena walking around here too.

Here is the lovely picture they decided to sketch...

Here are the kids and I with some blown glass...I happen to love blown glass.

Here's Clyde and Lucy peering down a glass cone....umm...forgot what it's supposed to represent.  Oops.

Here they are with Nena in the historical part of the museum...

Now for favorites....

Lucy's favorite piece was this one...

BECAUSE, close up, it looks like this.  This rather fascinated her.

Clyde's favorite was this...  (again...geometric shapes!)

Iris's favorite is one of my favorites.  It's the green, glass benches and pillars.

I'm not actually sure if you're supposed to sit on them, but all the other benches are meant to be sat on, so I'm assuming you are.  So I took a picture!

To recreate this one!