J's Swim Lesson #7

I took pictures of Lexi during Jordan's swim lesson today.  I didn't take pictures of her at the lessons yesterday or Monday.  On Monday, she had a play date scheduled at her friend Heather's house in the afternoon.  There wasn't enough time to give her a bath after the swim lesson, so she wore shorts and a t-shirt.  She ended up playing with their dog.  Yesterday, she went to the movies with our friends (family of 3 girls) again.  They saw Rio.  

News about Aunt Paige

Papa Malcolm is in town this week.  He took us out to dinner last night at Cici's Pizza.  We had a good time.  He told us that Aunt Paige and Vicky are planning on getting an apartment together.  Lexi was thinking about it today again and is very upset by it.  She doesn't understand why Paige would move out of her mom's house.  I've tried to explain in a nice way that Paige is 25 and feels like it is time.  Lexi just doesn't think that is right, especially since she is leaving her cat behind.  Lexi has told me that she plans to stay with me forever.  I just smile.  Sometimes, she tells me she'll be my neighbor because she wants lots of pets and I don't.  She was quite upset for about 20 minutes today.

Later, she decided to set up a little dinner table in her room.  She wrote a note asking if she could eat in there and sent Jordan to give it to me.  I said it would be fine as long as Jordan could join her.  They had corn on the cob downstairs and then ate their sweet potatoes there. 

Father's Day Presents

This week, Lexi and Jordan Lexi worked on art projects for the fathers and grandfathers in their lives.  I have heard that their dad doesn't have very much on his walls, so I bought canvases for the kids to decorate for him.  As you can see, I used painter's tape to make a big L on the one Lexi was making.  She also drew the pictures below for her grandfathers and great grandfather.  This morning, the kids' dad came to pick them up and they presented him with their creations.  Steve is very excited about hanging their artwork up.  

My grandfather (my dad's dad) who is a cowboy & lives on a ranch

Travis, Papa Malcolm, and Lexi on the dog beach in California - top says Papa backwards check mark smiley face, check mark, smiley face

Lexi and Granddad (George) on a boat (heads peaking out of the windows)

Lexi, Papa Malcolm, and Travis at the park

Lexi doing a painting for her dad

Jordan, Steve & Lexi

Blonde Friend Day

We got to spend this Friday Funday with our good friends.  I happened to talk to their mom this morning and discovered that she had a medical thing to take care of today.  I asked if I could pick them up, so we could play with them.  I think it has been over a month since we've seen them.  Here is a picture of them all piled in the car to head to our house.  

J's Swim Lesson #3

Lexi came with us to Jordan's swim lesson today.  To be honest, I really wish I would have signed her up too.  She definitely needs to go to the next level of swimming.  She relies too heavily on the doggy paddle.  I keep telling her to listen & see what she can pick-up.  I'm hoping I can sign her up.    

Yesterday, she was lucky enough to watch a movie with some friends.  One of the nice theaters in Katy has dollar matinee movies for kids Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.  We had some good friends going that invited Lexi along.  She was able to watch Happy Feet 2.   

J's Swim Lesson #1

We went to the water park this morning to meet up with some church friends.  We didn't get to stay long though, because Jordan started swim lessons today.  Since Lexi was already in her swimsuit, she hopped into their hot tub.  Actually, when we got there Jordan's teacher, Darby, took him over to the pool and I lingered near the house to talk to Darby's mom and another friend from church whose daughter's lessons are before J's.  Lexi ran over to the pool with Darby & J.   A few minutes later, she came back to tell me he wasn't cooperating or listening like he should be.  Lexi is definitely an oldest child.  She has the weight of the world on her shoulders and feels too responsible.  I wonder if Lexi is even worse given the fact that she is the daughter of an oldest child.  I went to the pool & Darby was handling him perfectly.  I shouldn't have been surprised, Darby is an oldest child too.  

Matching on Sunday

A few weeks ago, Lexi asked if I could make matching skirts for us.  I looked through my fabric and noticed that I had just enough left over from my Easter skirt to make her a contrasting one.  I have an easy pattern for her so I made it rather quickly.  We probably would have worn it last weekend, but they were both a little under the weather and we stayed home.  

As you can see, we wore them today.   We posed for a few pictures in the backyard before heading to church.  Jordan actually took the picture of Lexi and me outside.  After church, I set the camera on the tv and snapped a picture of all of us using the timer.  

Fortune Teller

Yesterday at the play, our friends had a fortune teller that they had made.  Lexi and Jordan were so fascinated and entertained by it.  When we got home, they couldn’t stop talking about it.  I told them that I use to make them when I was young.  They begged me to make one for each of them.  I really had to think about it to remember the steps.  I managed to pull it off though.  The neighbor kids even came over and each wanted one, so I got lots of practice.  I showed Lexi the steps hoping that from now on she can make them herself.

Little Mermaid Play

We had a special event today.  We went downtown to the Miller Outdoor Theater with our friends to watch a production of Disney’s Little Mermaid.  We made sure to get there an hour early so we could sit in the shaded seats.  There are lots of free plays and concerts held there.  This one was quite good.  I think this was the first time that Lexi and Jordan saw a full length play.  I was especially amused that Ursula was a drag queen.  She certainly added flair.  We also loved having a picnic lunch with our friends after the play before heading back to our side of town.  

Handwriting & Math

One of my summer plans includes quiet/work time in the afternoons.  I had planned on getting workbooks for them to do some days and library books for reading whenever they want to.  Fortunately, Lexi's teacher sent home a bunch of workbooks on the last day of school.  Here is a picture of Lexi working on her handwriting and math.  It is nice that at this age she is excited about doing it.

Beach Club

We went to the beach club today.  During adult swim, I sat on the beach chair and pulled out my camera.  I love documenting/remembering the times they play well together.  It happens quite often, but never enough.  

Bike Practice

I have been promising Lexi that I would start teaching her to ride her bike without the training wheels.  She is ready for it and is a little frustrated that she hasn't had the chance yet.  I tried to take the training wheels off this morning and couldn't do it.  The bolts are pretty tight.  I ended up taking the kids to the high school down the street anyway.  At least they got some time practicing.   

School's Out Celebration

Since the last day of school was yesterday, we knew that we should start the summer off right.  We invited some friends to meet us at the water park.  We had such a good time with them.  We stayed for 3 hours and the kids enjoyed every minute.  In fact, I didn't take pictures until the last 15 minutes.