7.14.14 ~ More Swimming - Because It's Cute

Notice the "dive" off the starting block!:


MVI 5452 from NMPH on Vimeo.

7.9.14 ~ Swimming Break Through!!!

Tonight at the novice meet, Liam swam his first FULL LAP!! I was so proud I nearly popped. That week at the beach and all the pool time worked wonders on him. Even last week - as evidenced in the last video I posted - Liam was stopping multiple times along the way. But tonight he told me he was going to swim the whole length and then he did! Then he got out of the pool and walked over to me like it was no big deal.



Liam's first full lap from NMPH on Vimeo.

7.8.14 ~ OBX 2014

Another year of OBX vacationing is behind us. This year was probably the most fun but most exhausting yet. I was happy to get back to work where I could recover. Not really. I wasn't happy about it at all. I love my job, but missed my kids like crazy the minute I started driving toward DC on Monday morning. After this vacation I realized that every day of childhood - or at least every day of childhood during the summer - should be like this vacation was: Outside and active all. day. long. And I should be there to take part in the fun, right?

Liam and Nora came back totally fried with dark, dry, scaly skin and dry bleached hair from all the sand, sun, water, and sunscreen. They played all day long busy in the sand and water with their cousins. In the evening they collapsed in a heap of physical exhaustion. Or wait. Maybe the heap of exhaustion was actually all the adults. But it was all more than worth it for the fun that was had.

So, how can I get a job with summers off (where I don't have to teach anyone anything throughout the year)? I'm open to suggestions.

7.8.13 ~ Go Bluefins!

He may not be the fastest - but he is the cutest. And he's working hard, so he'll be the fastest soon too.

Liam Swimming June 28th 2014 from NMPH on Vimeo.

Nora is ok with being sidelined for now. But the urge to be included and participate will overpower the allure of this plastic pool playground before we know it.

6.5.12 ~ Graduation

Liam has officially graduated from Preschool. As he stepped up to his teachers to receive his certificate, thoughts of dropping six month old Liam off at the Rita Gold Center for the first time entered my mind. He's been in "school" for so long, that in many ways the transition to Kindergarten seems like no big deal. But at the same time it DOES actually feel like a big deal. I mean, look at him. He's a big kid. He's about to head off to real school. He's going to ride the bus and learn to read. He's going to gain more and more independence and have more of his own experiences. It's amazing that Jason and I created this little boy and that he has grown into this incredible little person. I can't wait to see what Kindergarten has in store for him - whatever it is, I know he will rise to the challenge.

5.30.14 ~ Nashville

I went to Nashville to see Jill and Pia a few weeks ago. Even though this blog is supposed to be about the kids -  and they weren't with me - I'm still posting a few pictures because I just have the prettiest friends.

5.30.14 ~ Our Little Athlete

Liam's been playing t-ball this spring and its one of the cutest things I've ever seen. See for yourself.

And now he's signed up for swim team for the summer. As in the Woodbridge Bluefins. As in the swim team that Jason, I, and all of our respective siblings swam on when we were kids. The legacy continues! Stay tuned for pictures!