Swimming Swimmers

I didn't have visions of grandeur when it came to my children and swimming this summer.  I've never been confident in the water (thanks to a certain traumatizing experience during my early childhood), but I am quite proficient.  However, much to my surprise...I was underestimating my children!

Because of our spring being a bit chillier than normal and a couple of fantastic trips, our visits to Nana's pool didn't really start until July.

Here's the Piton boys' swimming time line...

Friday, July 2nd- Gabe is swimming but unwilling to jump in from the side.  Will is all over the pool with the aide of his trusty "noodle."  Sam is extremely content to float around in his "boat."

Saturday, July 3rd - Gabe is jumping off the side, yelling "Geronimo!" and doing cannonballs.  Will realizes that he might have grown gills and takes off swimming without his "noodle."  Sam is still happily floating.

Monday, July 5th - Gabe can't stop jumping in but has no interest in the diving board.  Will is all over the pool and has also discovered the joys of jumping in.  Sam is no longer happily floating, he figures if the big boys can swim so can he.  He doesn't want us to hold him in the pool and there is no question about how he feels about floaties.  He's ticked that he can't keep up with his brothers!

Tuesday, July 6th - Gabe has conquered the diving board!  Will has figured out how to take a breath and turn while swimming...he is everywhere!  Sam is happy!  He is wearing his "backpack" (shh - don't tell him it's actually a floatation device!) and holding onto a noodle to discover the freedom of the pool.  Oh, and he's jumping in to us.

Wednesday, July 7th - Gabe teaches himself to float on his back (no small feat when your father sinks like a rock!).  Will has officially graduated from the underwater doggie paddle, to a breast stroke.  He also has now conquered the diving board.  Sam is not happy!  He doesn't want to use the "noodle" anymore, but hasn't quite figured out how to stay upright enough in his "backpack."  Oh, and he also thinks he conquered the diving board.

Friday, July 9th - After a couple of days of fighting us with the "backpack", Sam has decided that he is again in love with it!  I guess sitting watching your brothers swim is not nearly as fun as swimming with them!  He no longer uses the noodle...he just goes.  Mark even got him to jump in (well, belly flop) into the pool several times with no one catching him.

Sam modeling the "backpack" - seriously, the BEST $$ I spent all summer!!

What's the fun of summer, if you don't get a little naked bike riding in?

Congratulations Ryder and Audrey!!

Okay, so how weird is it that I only have 2 cousins?  It's odd, I know.  Some people can't tell you how many they have and I have 2!  I think it's fabulous!  We've always been close.  So, when Ryder announced he was getting married, there was no doubt we'd be there to celebrate with him.  Better yet was the fact that he was getting married in the Catskills of New York.  Aw, darn!  Mark and I had to take a vacation!  The first one without kids (really, it's been nearly 7 years since we've been anywhere without the kids)!

We enjoyed a fabulous day with family and friends.  The grounds were gorgeous and the ceremony was perfect.  We are thrilled to count Audrey among our family!

Here's one for the history books...a picture of Mark and I!  Don't expect too many of these!

Banyan (my cousin Rondi's son) looking like he's been working hard!

My dad and Aunt Vinda

My parents

My sisters...looking their best!

A Lesson In Static

While we were waiting for everyone to end up in the same place, Mark and I took the boys and Kiera to a park.  Everyone had fun, but I think we all got the biggest kick out of Sam's hair.  He has very fine hair, perfect for fun with static!

Before

It's starting...

The mullet curls stayed intact despite static

Slides are fun, especially when they provide such entertainment for all of us watching!

He kind of looks like a dandilion!

We enjoyed watching his hair raise as he'd go down the slide and then watching it fall as soon as someone touched him and absorbed the static!

Student of the Month

Not only was today crazy hair day, it was also Gabe's assembly for being Student of the Month!  He really enjoys school and has a great teacher (an excellent combination)!  He was honored for being "A focused learner who is dedicated to excellence!"  We are very proud of him and hope this is just the beginning of a successful educational career.

Evelyn and Gabe

It's hard to tell, but that is Gabe on the big screen.

Gabe collecting his pencil, bumper sticker, and award

I love that the principal fully participated in crazy hair day

Ms. Sullivan and Gabe

Crazy Hair Day

Crazy hair day at school for Gabe meant crazy hair day at home for Will.  I wasn't sure I'd be able to do much with Gabe's hair, so I was quite happy with the way it turned out.  I knew I wouldn't have too much trouble with Will's hair.  It's amazing how two brothers can have such different hair!

Will sporting a mohawk

Straight up for Gabe

No Sam

Before leaving for to spend Thanksgiving in Utah, we put the tree up (one of the many joys of owning an artificial tree!).  While we were assembling and fluffing the tree, we talked to the boys about how important it was to help us keep an eye on Sam around the tree.  Gabe wanted to make a sign saying that Sam wasn't allowed to touch the tree.  I told him that was a great idea, except Sam can't read.

Later that evening, I came into the room and found this in the tree...

It's a "No Sam" sign.  It's hard to tell, but there is a little picture of Sam with a line through it.

Way to solve the problem of Sam not being able to read, Gabe!

This And That

Over the past few months, I've gotten behind on my blogging.  Now I'm trying to catch up!  In doing so, I've found several pictures that showed a few things we've been up to but they weren't worthy of their own post.  So, here you go...

Gabe and Will as the two headed monster

Sam found that playing with his reflection can be quite entertaining

Sam signing...it's his hybrid version of "more" and "please"

"All done"

Tennis anyone?

Come on!  Lets go for a ride!

Someone doesn't like going to "Time Out"

Part of Gabe's homework is quizzing him on letter names and sounds...he finds this to be a bit boring, so he usually sings the answers (or use a frankenstein, monster, or dramatic voice).  This is what he looks like when he does it!

Gabe got some hand-me-downs from a dear friend and couldn't wait to try them out

Will wanted in on the action

Yup, I'd say he's ready for Redwood wrestling

Snack time in front of the fridge

We never worry about bad guys...there is always a super hero or two around!

A super hero is always on the move

Anyone up for popcorn and a movie?

The boys LOVE Rudy (I think the feeling is mutual)!

Mark caught this bat on our back porch.  We put him in a jar so the boys could examine him.  We had fun learning more about bats!

Sam got stuck in a basket and was not happy about it!  Though, I thought it was pretty funny!

The boys love their Wii and even Sam gets in on the action!