It's Officially Summer

It's officially summer around here when swim team starts!  Well, today it started!  This morning Brody and Case went to their first swim team practice at Mesa Country Club.  I was a little worried about how well they would do since it was Case's first year and last year Brody was so freezing cold that he was miserable.  They did just great!  The water was freezing and Brody didn't make it through the whole hour, but Case managed and did super!  Since Brody has had hives the past two days, he was a little weak and tired but survived!  

These two chumps were so excited to get in the pool this morning!

 Don't they look cute in their speedos?

It's so surreal for me to be at Mesa Country Club during the summer.  After all, this is where Jeremy and I hung out all our summers growing up.  It's where we played, laughed, swam, flirted and fell in love!  It was my favorite time of the year since I got to spend every day, all day with the boy I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.  Our parents would drop us off up there first thing in the morning and we would stay all day until 3:00/4:00.  We built forts out of the lawn chairs and towels, ate french fries and popsicles, and played sharks and minnows in the deep end.  Now my boys are following in our footsteps with the swim and golf programs.  They are meeting new friends, signing tickets at the snack bar, and who knows, maybe their future wife is up there swimming in the lane next to them!   

Garden Bliss!

So look what came out of garden last weekend!  We've got carrots, crook neck squash, green and yellow bell peppers, banana peppers, green onions, and not pictured are the hugest zuccini and tomatoes you've ever seen!  Our strawberries have slowed in growth, but actually, I think we have a little animal friend helping himself to the juicy berries!  Tonight for dinner I sauteed the zuccini and squash and boy was it good!  I am so proud of myself and the garden I have produced this year.  I wish I could make it last all summer but it's just getting too hot!  Any ideas on summer garden production, please let me know!  I'm hoping to plant my pumpkins this summer for a fall picking, but other then that, I think this HOT summer weather will complete my gardening for now.  How is your garden growing?

Determination!

Speed Racer Caser getting ready to ride his bike without training wheels!  Yep, he's wearing his Speedo team suit and tennis shoes!  

There he goes!

No way was Brody going to let Case be the only one to ride his bike without training wheels today!  And Yes...he too is wearing his team suit!

Ledger had fun running up and down the street after Case and Brody!  He also couldn't stand that I was taking pictures of his big brothers.  He kept saying, "Mom Cheeeese!"

Case is the most determined kid I know.  When he sets his mind to something, he does it.  No matter what the task, he goes for it full speed ahead!  Yesterday we were at Brody's school at the end of the day and Case says to me, "Mom, I want to do the monkey bars."  I politely reminded him that he didn't know how to do the monkey bars yet.  The next thing I know, he's going across the monkey bars, by himself!  It was like he'd been doing it for years.  He had tried several times before at the baseball games, but no luck.  So today we were out front playing and Case brings his bike to me and asks me to lower the seat.  I find the tools needed to lower it as he is getting on his helmet.  After lowering the seat he says to me, "Mom, I want to ride my bike today without training wheels."  I stand up, give him a little push and he was off!  Just like that!  Like he's been riding a bike without training wheels his whole life!  He rode up and down the street a dozen or so times and that was that!  Well, Case's determination was contagious.  Brody, who hasn't been able to ride a bike without training wheels was not going to let his little brother accomplish this task without him.  He too jumped on the bike and after 6 or so tries, took off down the street.  It was awesome!  On the first day of summer break, my 4 and 6 year old learned to ride a bike without training wheels!  What did you do on the first day of summer break?  

Hooray for the last day!!

This was Brody on his first day of Kindergarten.  August 2008.

Here he is on the last day of Kindergarten.  May 2009.  

Doesn't he look so much more grown up?

Brody received a class award today for "The Best Personality!"  We couldn't agree more!  We are so proud of him and are looking forward to watching him grow some more! 

Did I mentioned how excited I am that today was the last day of Kindergarten for Brody?  The guilt and frustration I have felt this year are unbelieveable!  The things that Brody has and has not learned this year have been unimaginable!  I am so happy it's over!!  I'm ready to have him home with me, learning and working on more important things in life!  Away from his "friends" is what I most look forward too!  I'm giving his school one more year since we got the teacher we requested but after that, we are on the something else!  If 1st grade goes anything like Kindergarten did...that's it!  I'm hoping, praying and confident that 1st grade will be better for him (and I!) The best part about this year is that I've learned alot about schools, teachers, principals, and peers.  I've learned that Brody has been 100 times happier the second half of school then he was the first. I've learned that teachers have very different teaching styles and that I need to find the teacher whose style works with his personality and mine!!  I'm happy it's over and I'm looking forward to a wild, crazy, hot summer with my boys at HOME!    

Hooray for the last day!!

431...

The proud little 6 year old showing off his Magna Guard Battle Ship!

Look at all the cool stuff it can do!

          ...that's the number of pieces in the Star Wars Lego ship Brody put together today after school!  I took him to Toys R Us On Monday becasue he had a gift card from his birthday that he hadn't used.  He went straight for the Lego section and picked out the Magna Guard Battle Ship.  He didn't have time to put it together Monday night because of the baseball trophy ceremony and yesterday he came home from water day early because he had strep throat.  So today was the day!  He came right home from school at 3:00 and didn't leave his chair until 8:00.  He was so focused and determined to get this awesome Lego ship together.  I love watching him put these things together.  Although there are some frustrating moments and times where he is sure pieces are missing, he is so focused, patient and determined. I am so proud of him and his excitement when it is finished.  It has to be the best feeling to a 6 year old to complete something like this! 

Way to go Brody!