Jade's Favorite Things #15

My Garden

Yesterday I ate salad with the lettuce from my garden.  Soon I will have peas, tomatoes, carrots, spinach and peppers.  I am loving every minute of digging in the dirt outside and am trying to figure out how to grow a money tree so I can quit my job and fiddle in my backyard all day. 

My Sean

He may sometimes look like he just came out of a boxing match, but this boys face is one my favorites. I know he is not a 3 year old any mother would love, but I sure do love him in all his toughness, cuteness, and stubborness.

Funny...but Proof I Was a Lifeguard

Yep that is me with my shirt tucked into my suit, and a crazy short haircut.  Not sure why I thought that was a good idea, or why no one handed me a pair of shorts, but this picture now hangs on the wall at the local pool in Hanford for all to see.  Thanks to my friend Karri for sharing.  She gets to look at this lovely picture every time she takes her kids to the local pool for lessons.  

Take a quick look and laugh, this may not stay up long.

Swim Lessons

All three kids have learned to swim around the age of 3. Well... I am expecting Sean to learn since his first swim lessons were this week. I spent my summers growing up as a life guard and a swim teacher. Funny thing is, I have not taught one of our kids to swim. Being the great listener that she is, Tom taught Kira to swim by going to Oceana Pool on Fridays. Andrew and Sean listen to me at 3? Not so much. Andrew learned from a swim coach in Fort Bonifacio, Philippines and now Sean is learning at Anderson's here in Pacifica. No matter how many years of training I have, there are some roles I can't fill with either of these two boys.

I guess it doesn't matter how you learn, as long as you learn.

Sean's first day of swim lessons.  A few tears in the beginning, but ended up a really great experience.  He keeps asking when he gets to go again.

Little Chubby Kira starting early with her swim teacher.

More work with Dad.

Andrew's first swim teacher.  Ignore my tired eyes, those were exhausting days, working nights.

Andrew showing Tom his skills.

More Sutter's Fort

Since I only got 1 picture as they were leaving the house, I was glad to get some of the "professional shots" that were taken through out the trip.  Andrew is still talking about this great trip and I know has some good memories floating in that brain.

My heart is full that our kids have had such great experiences and that Tom has gotten to be there.

My handsome pioneer.



Can you find Andrew?  Center, back row.



Sean is Growing Up

The last month I have realized my toddler is pretty much a kid now.  He has finally mastered sleeping all night (who knew a simple thing like shutting the door completely would do the trick), he has the potty training down (has for months, forgot to post about that success), and can get himself dressed in the morning, afternoon and night (he changes clothes often).  Today I am signing him up for swim lessons so Friday night swimming with the family will be more fun, and as of January he became a Sunbeam.  He is riding a big kid bike (with training wheels) and if you ask him he is a full fledged snow boarder.  Babies are adorable and I can appreciate them, but I love when they get a little more independence.  I am glad to see Sean is heading in the right direction.

He still says very adorable things all the time.  The other day he grabbed my face and said, "I love you."  He then questioned, "Am I your brother or your sister?" 

On the way to school this morning, after seeing me jumping on Andrew's bed to wake him up, he claimed, "Don't jump on Andrew, he is my brother and I am his brother, and we are best buddies."  I hope those feeling continue.

He still builds forks with Andrew, instead of Forts, and is in a faze right now where he wears gloves, morning, noon and night, (as you can see in the pic above) thanks to a Rocky marathon with Tom and Andrew.  He really believes he is a boxer in training and is shirtless at every opportunity.

He insists on wearing a watch (just like Andrew) and has no idea how to tell time.  He hates going to church, it is a fight already every Sunday morning, but then seems to have a good time once he gets there. 

Can't wait to see what the next year brings with his growth.  I am sure glad we decided to have just one more, he has added a lot of fun to the family, as if we weren't fun already.