Playing – Page 26 – JTOK Chatter

My little swimmers!

Posted on August 21, 2014 @ 4:30 pm by Jen — 1 Comment ↓

This isn’t the best video of how great Katie swims but it’s something (I have one week left to get a good video). She has no fear and just kick-kick-kicks her little legs so cute and motors around the pool.

Her favorite thing to do, however, is to climb up the ladder (not the steps—the ladder on the other side of the pool), walk two steps to the pool edge, then get back in the pool by sitting on her butt, rolling onto her stomach, then sliding into the pool. I hope to get a video of that, too. 🙂

Owen has apparently taught himself how to swim by watching other kids and maybe taking a few small tips from me (though he never seems to care, he must be listening). He obviously does better when he’s not holding a gun in one of his hands but it’s still miles ahead of where he was just a few weeks ago.

I can’t wait to get them both lessons next summer.

Both kids also like playing with other kids. Two little girls were there and at break time (when the kids have to get out of the big pool) they were all in the kiddie pool. The girls started to leave and Katie piped up: “Guys! Guys?” Their mom told them the little girl wanted them to stay, so they did. 🙂 Later when they did leave, Katie said “Bye! See you soon!” 🙂 Later, Owen was over playing ball with the girls and Katie had to be right in the middle of it. 🙂

Family fun at Pirates Cove

Posted on August 18, 2014 @ 2:28 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

Before we moved, I bought a Groupon for Pirates Cove Waterpark and today was the day! It’s not huge like Great Wolf Lodge, but it’s plenty to keep the kids busy. We started in the wading pool (which is where Katie was supposed to stay since she isn’t potty trained).

She did pretty good at waiting her turn in line when it was just a few kids, but when it got to be more than four or five, she either wanted to push to the front of the line or wait and let everyone pass her.

While I was with Katie, Tom was with Owen over in the bigger pool.

We asked him why he was swimming like this and he said because someone had tied his hands behind his back with a rope! Tom said he even went DOWN the waterslide like that. I love his imagination. 🙂

Unfortunately, I could only keep Katie happy and occupied for so long before she REALLY wanted to go in the big pool with daddy and Owen. As in she was starting to throw a fit. So we left the gated wading pool…but the wheel only worked for about two minutes.

Finally! She was with daddy in the big pool and she was HAPPY. And fearless. She went under twice, coughed and spit a bit, and then kept on chugging.

She loved loved LOVED the waterslide. She would have gone down it the rest of the day if we let her.

She really liked the pirate, too!

And then we had a major tantrum because it was time to go back to the wading pool and she DID. NOT. WANT. TO. GO. I’ll spare you the few tantrum pics I took (and deleted). We got a funnel cake for a snack and that didn’t really even appease her much. Then she saw the sand area…so that’s where we headed.

We had planned to stay longer, but about 2:30 we were leaving. Tom came up and said that Owen was being a major grouch so he lost his pool privileges. It felt like we had been there for a long time…but it was ONLY TWO HOURS. Egads. But the kids had fun. I can definitely see us getting a summer pass next year!

This is why it’s hard to get anything done.

Posted on August 17, 2014 @ 9:36 am by Jen — No Comments ↓

Getting ready to run the ravine

Posted on August 15, 2014 @ 6:10 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

This isn’t the best video but it makes me laugh. Owen wanted to run again, but he had to “exercise” (stretch) first. He obviously got the idea from somewhere I have no idea about. 🙂

And his cheering section—she’d clap wildly while saying “Run Owen!”

Sibling Roughhousing

Posted on August 14, 2014 @ 6:25 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

Outside time

Posted on August 14, 2014 @ 5:10 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

Two at the mirror…and the TV.

Posted on August 13, 2014 @ 11:45 am by Jen — No Comments ↓

Someone likes the mirror I just unpacked.

Posted on August 13, 2014 @ 9:11 am by Jen — No Comments ↓

Owen ate a cheeseburger!

Posted on August 10, 2014 @ 5:50 pm by Jen — 1 Comment ↓

Bun and all! That Tom grilled! We’re thrilled!!

Taking the police car out for a scary spin

Posted on August 9, 2014 @ 11:20 am by Jen — No Comments ↓

The hilly lots/roads really REALLY suck.

We started in the backyard but it’s SO steep that it really taxed the car battery—and it’s SO narrow that it really taxed Owen’s driving skills. And consequently my patience. 😐

So we headed to the front.

But if they’re not actively moving forward they’re rolling backward and even on the low speed they can get going pretty fast downhill. I don’t trust him not to go off the sidewalk (even accidentally) and hit a car or mailbox so I let him go downhill on the side of the street but it was still nerve wracking and I walked in front of the car the whole way.

Heading up on the sidewalk.

Heading down in the street.

It looks less intense than it really is:

Heading up the somewhat flat sidewalk along the main drag.

I’m not sure if we’ll be keeping the car or getting rid of it. I had high hopes of being able to use it here but it’s just SO SO STEEP. So of course I’m feeling super guilty about it again. 🙁

Rolling fun at Ikea

Posted on August 8, 2014 @ 6:40 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

Then we set these brackets in the cart and she set them all upright. 🙂

Last day swimming with friends

Posted on August 7, 2014 @ 3:28 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

We’ve been going to the pool every afternoon with our guests. Today was the first day I remembered my camera. Owen and Katie have both gotten MUCH more comfortable in the pool…

Katie had borrowed another girl’s toys but the girl eventually wanted them back. This is what happened.

Ruth and TJ taught Owen how to blow in one end of the noodle to spit water out the other end.

Katie likes to float on a noodle now, too.

And try to climb up on it.

I wanted Owen to show me a big jump like he’s been doing but I just got this little one.

Katie has started saying “Oh yeah! Oh yeah!” (from Despicable Me) and she was doing it in the pool.

A day out with friends!

Posted on August 7, 2014 @ 1:17 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

My friend Ruth (that I met in Jacksonville through the mommy group) lives about 1:30 away from us now (they moved to Maryland a few months before we moved). Her son was attending a baseball camp close by so they were staying here. Yesterday I watched her younger daughter and today she was going to take Owen with them, but she convinced me to go and bring the kids. It was exhausting, but fun…we hit two parks and had a picnic lunch at a library.

Owen wasn’t sure about the ropes—he definitely isn’t a climber like Emily—but he eventually climbed up a little ways.

Playing in the water feature at the library. She needed a change of clothes when she was done (which I had been prepared for!).

Park #2

Making friends!

All around the Charlie ottoman

Posted on August 3, 2014 @ 6:45 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

She was doing this for a good minute or so before I started recording. 🙂

Owen’s nirvana

Posted on August 3, 2014 @ 11:45 am by Jen — No Comments ↓

After running our errands, we surprised the kids by taking them to the Lego store at the mall. They were both excited! There was lots of Star Wars stuff around so Katie kept screeching “YODA! YODA!”

We were willing to buy him a huge $80 set (that was on clearance) but he chose a little $10 set instead. 🙂

Then we stopped at the play area on the way back.

“Katie’s sleeping in Maggie’s bed.”

Posted on August 2, 2014 @ 5:15 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

A new bubble machine!

Posted on August 2, 2014 @ 3:50 pm by Jen — 1 Comment ↓

Gramma Jean got this for the kids to use when we were in Michigan but we never had time for it…so it came home with us. We finally got it out today (the kids were driving me crazy so we had to get out of the house)! And of course they loved it!

She loves climbing up in the chairs.

Kids in the doghouse.

Posted on August 2, 2014 @ 11:25 am by Jen — No Comments ↓

Or crate, actually.

I was washing Maggie’s bed and blankets so her crate was completely empty…until this happened.

After she had Owen lock her in, he was shoving Legos in for her to play with. 🙂

This is what I found in the hall this morning.

Posted on August 2, 2014 @ 7:52 am by Jen — No Comments ↓

Owen was trying to entice Katie back into his room. 🙂

Turns out, Owen wanted Katie to follow the Legos back into his room. 🙂

Gorgeous weather means we’re outside!

Posted on July 30, 2014 @ 10:40 am by Jen — No Comments ↓

We’re ready to go outside!!

We’ve unpacked more toys!

Helping me water the basil!

Well…once they saw the water, they wanted to play in it. So they got a bucket full. 🙂

Cuteness.

Family pool time!

Posted on July 29, 2014 @ 5:00 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

Another day, another afternoon at the pool…but today, Owen got to wear his new goggles (like all the other kids have!)…

…and Katie got to test her new “puddle jumpers” (a life jacket that keeps her perfectly afloat). THEY WERE BOTH IN HEAVEN.

She wasn’t thrilled about this hooded towel, but it is dang cute (and a hand-me-down from a friend!).

Our little running fiend

Posted on July 29, 2014 @ 3:10 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

Since it was such a nice day out, I wanted Owen to get outside and get some fresh air. Of course he was being a grouch and just wanted to watch TV. Long story short, he eventually came around then this happened.

He ended up doing it about four times. He took a break for some ice water to “get more energies.” 🙂

Then Tom brought Katie out after her nap and she was content to sit here.

Owen made a friend at the pool!

Posted on July 25, 2014 @ 4:45 pm by Jen — 2 Comments ↓

So we were at the pool again today and Owen was having a blast in the big pool (though he typically still wants to start in the kiddie pool). There were a few kids playing around and one had water guns and diving rings—which he noticed IMMEDIATELY so of course he zeroed in on him and wanted to play with the gun. I told him he had to ask—which he did. And they played for a bit. Then we went back to the kiddie pool for a bit (for 10 minutes every hour, kids have to leave the pool and it’s adults only—so we just go to the kiddie pool because they’re still young enough). And while we were in there, the kid with the guns/rings came in saying “My dad said I should come meet you.” 🙂 So I had them introduce themselves and then I asked a few questions—his name is Eli and he’ll be in first grade. It was so cute watching them together.

Then it was time to go back in the big pool and they had a blast throwing and chasing the rings. Eli is quite a good swimmer and Owen started mimicking him—it was hilarious! He pushes off into the water like he knows what he’s doing and he kicks his feet…but his arms just flail madly and he doesn’t really go anywhere but he’s trying so hard and he’s having so much fun and he excitedly says “I’M SWIMMING!” 🙂 So then Eli’s dad came over to the edge of the pool (where I was with Katie) and introduced himself and we chatted for a few minutes (he’s familiar with Michigan—his family had a cabin around Grand Rapids). So the kids got along and Eli let Owen borrow two rings when they were leaving. I said we’d be back at the same time the next day!

Introducing our community pool!

Posted on July 23, 2014 @ 5:05 pm by Jen — 4 Comments ↓

We finally went to check out the pool today—and wow is it ever nice! It’s about a 10-minute walk (twice as long as at the last house), but it’s definitely worth it compared to the last pool. They have nice attached bathrooms and showers (which you have to walk through to get to the pool area), two lifeguards at the main pool, a kiddie pool, tons of lounge chairs and tables (some even with umbrellas) and a basket of pool noodles! Most of the pool is 3’6″ deep with the very center section being deeper (not labeled but I’m guessing about 5′).

We started in the kiddie pool where Owen tested out his new goggles and snorkel (he did really well!) and Katie splashed around (she was a bit peeved that it was too deep to walk around on her hands like she likes to do). After about a half hour, we moved to the big pool where Owen slowly but surely (but actually quite quickly for him) got comfortable in the deeper water—he clung to the edge for awhile but then was out and about away from the edge playing. There were some older kids (guessing 12-14ish) there that had brought water guns and Owen was having a blast just watching them…so imagine how excited he was when the kids started spraying him! The moms were in the pool, too, and warned their kids not to get him but I piped up and said “Oh no, he’s loving it!” Then they let him use a gun and he was in heaven! Katie loved being in the deeper water, too, because she likes being carried. She also liked “jumping” off the steps—which really means leaning forward and falling into my arms. 🙂 Owen was doing so well on his own that I actually left him in the pool by himself for about 10 minutes while I went back to the kiddie pool with Katie (I could still see him, of course).

I am sure we’ll be back quite a bit in the next month before it closes September 1.

IKEA with the kids

Posted on July 22, 2014 @ 3:15 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

Katie loved the stairs because the rise is kid-sized and there was a kid-level handrail.

Owen wanted to stay and play at the kiddie center so we just had Katie with us.

Playing peek!

Waiting for daddy to come back with Owen (kids can only stay in the center for 30 minutes).

Our last night at Gramma and Grandpa’s house

Posted on July 19, 2014 @ 8:07 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

After the group photo, he commandeered the tripod to use as a cannon…and then actually as a tripod and was pretending to take pictures.

Sitting by the fire!

Not a bad spur of the moment family picture!

Making s’mores!

Eating s’mores—or in Katie’s case, eating the chocolate bar off the graham cracker.

Kaliseum, Day 2

Posted on July 19, 2014 @ 1:25 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

Since we had the time, Tom took the kids back to Kalkaska to the Kaliseum for another day of swimming with Uncle Rob and Grandma Marsha! (I stayed back and went to a Parade of Gardens and lunch with my mom!)

This is how she’d navigate the water when it was too deep for her.

Heading up for the waterslide! He hadn’t wanted to go on it the last time, but then was sad he didn’t do it…so he was excited to go back so he could try again.

Unfortunately, it didn’t happen, and he came back down within a minute (the time stamps on both photos are 1:06pm). Oh well.

Fire, Fireworks & Stones, Part 2

Posted on July 18, 2014 @ 8:21 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

I got some of mom’s pictures of the day, but not until after I’d already posted…so I’m just putting her pictures in their own post!

Fire, Fireworks & Stones

Posted on July 18, 2014 @ 8:06 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓

Gramma Jean wanted to try out her new fire pit…so we all headed outside. The kids loved running around and of course Owen had to get out his new water gun. 🙂

Uncle Rob was nice enough to go in and fill up the water gun…but surprised Owen by shooting him! It’s blurry but I love Owen’s body!

She stayed pretty far from the fire once daddy yelled at her for getting too close. 🙂

Watering Gramma’s flowers.

Smoke bombs! They certainly didn’t last as long as I remembered them to…

Katie liked the pooping dog—except for the popping and crackling at the end.

In addition to Katie’s first fireworks (MUCH earlier than Owen’s first fireworks!), she also got her first sparkler. She was okay with it…but not thrilled.

And then we all went out to the front yard looking for Petoskey stones in the landscaping.

Pretend sleeping with daddy

Posted on July 18, 2014 @ 12:01 pm by Jen — No Comments ↓