Muy Caliente!

In the words of Rob Thomas, "Well it's a hot one, like seven inches from the midday sun..."



I do love the sun, but 108 and it's still only June? Lord, have mercy! What will August be like?

It was a hot one here today so of course we headed to the nearest swimming pool. Thank goodness Deanne & Justin live only a mile up the street and are welcoming hosts (even if they weren't, we're family so we'd just barge right on in anyway!). But they love us so we spent the day in the pool, along with our good friends the Collins family.

And hey, the temperature was enough to drive even Jayden into the pool! Wa-hoooooo! Anyone who does not understand the significance of this, please read the post below about his ill-fated swim lessons... Anyway, Jayden got right in and we could hardly get him out all day! (Plus, he's ALL BOY and I bought him some squirt guns that I told him he could only use in the pool!)

Hooray, I think he's cured!



Even Lola had to cool off...


The gang...




Abbie stayed cool in the shade and entertained us all with her big smile and giggles...




Man, everything goes straight in the kisser! I just know a tooth is coming soon...

The Morning After

Jayden woke up this morning and said to me, "I got hurt, Mama." Awh, my heart is still breaking!



But as one friend told me, "You'll remember this a lot longer than he will."

You got that right!

O-U-C-H !

Boys will be boys...



They will fall, they will crash, they will get bruised and bloodied...



...and it will break a Mama's heart!



Jayden had his first big crash tonight.

He fell on the concrete bleachers at the baseball game. Daddy was there to pick him up when he fell but Mommy's heart about stopped when Daddy and Jayden came walking over with blood dripping all over this nose and mouth! I thought for sure we were headed to Urgent Care but thankfully when the blood cleared he didn't need stitches. He just needed Daddy and Mommy to clean him off and love his boo-boos away.

Somehow I doubt this'll be the only big ouchie we'll be caring for over the next several years of boyhood.

I hope my heart can take it!

Simple Beauty

To boast: To talk about with excessive pride.

It is with "excessive pride" that I share some pictures I took of my kids this afternoon.


Jayden: 2 1/2 years


Abbie: 7 months

Because, quite simply, I believe they are about the cutest kids you've ever seen.

You agree with me, don't you?? :)

Swim lessons...kind of.

I knew I should've taken pictures.

I had my camera, but it stayed in my bag.

Drat!

Jayden started swim lessons this week and you'll have to take my word for it because I had to tend to my little screamer instead of taking pictures of my up-and-coming Aaron Perisol. (Maybe I was being a bit ambitious with that one...)

Day 1: He was all smiles until it was time to get in the water...without mommy. Boy, he didn't like that idea too much. But he generally likes the water and has never had a problem getting in the pool before so I thought he'd settle down after a few minutes.

I thought wrong.

After his instructor asked me to go around the corner so he couldn't see me (thinking it would help if it was just the two of them), he screamed so hard he threw up in the pool.

Needless to say, that was the end of lesson #1.

Day 2: Jayden was like a cat getting into the bathtub. He flailed and cried just going up the driveway!

Daniel, his instructor, wises up and tells Jayden he doesn't have to get into the pool, he's just going to play catch with him. He was in the pool and Jayden was on the pool deck and they played catch. By the end of the lesson, Jayden was standing on the first step with his feet in the water.

Progress.

Day 3: Thinking he'd helped conquer Jayden's fears, poor Daniel tries day 1's methods again.

Big mistake.

But at least he didn't throw up in the pool.

Bed-time on day 3: While tucking my little guy in, he says to me, "Sad, Mommy. So sad." with a single tear running down his cheek. When I ask him why, he says, "Water. Daniel."

OK, my heart is bursting out of my chest with sadness for the guy. If he's still freaked out 10 hours later, I come to the conclusion that he's been sufficiently terrorized.

Day 4: Mommy places a phone call to Daniel thanking him for his patience and suggesting we try again at the end of the summer. Or next year.

Oh well, at least the goggles I bought for his ill-fated swim lessons aren't being wasted. Jayden's got himself a new bath toy!!




As you can see, he's a little happier in shallow, bubbly water. Maybe I'll try that next time...

Sum, sum, summertime!

I positively LOVE this time of year.

Unlike March-April, you can pretty much guarantee the sun will be out. It's no longer April-May cool, but it's not crazy-August-hot either.

It's just right for...

Bike rides to the park...








and picking the first veggies out of the garden.





This pepper was hot. Really, really hot! (Notice Justin's face and Corey's red ears!)



I look forward to bragging (I mean blogging) about all the other goodies that come with early summer in Cali, so check back soon.

Life is good.