Zac diving and getting to his back to float.

Swimming Lessons: Max

I wasn't sure how Max would do with swimming lessons, because other than the bath, he hasn't really liked water. Last year, when we'd go to the pool he was never that keen on it. He was pretty upset the first 4 days. Everyday when we would put swimsuits on and get ready to leave he would want me to hold him. One day I even had to hold his foot (because that is all I could reach) as I drove to the lesson. But after that 4th day he walked over to the pool and put his hands out to the teacher all by himself. No matter how much they fussed or cried before or during the lesson, each time it was over they both said how much fun it was and that they liked it.

Max putting his head in and blowing bubbles as he works on his kicking.

Max floating on his back. I think both boys picked up on this about the same time. Max would just do what his teachers said. Zac would try and talk and distract the teachers or try and understand exactly what was going and what was happening every step of the way.

Max diving for sticks

Got them all!

Max is doing great! It is so comforting and fun to see them be able to manage themselves a little bit in the water.

Max diving, then floating on back

Max swimming

Teacher Appreciation Gift

This year decorated these jumbo clothes pins. I also did these last year for his teacher, and for Mother's Day. I bought them here.

We included a card, written and illustrated by Zac. This was the first time he has written a whole note all by himself. I love this!

We also included a target gift card, a great quote and note from me. The quote was by Maya Angelou:

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

 

 

 

Zac had an awesome year! He learned so much, and most importantly loves school. His birthday is the last week of August, and he turned 4 the first week of class. We decided back in Sept. that we are going to keep him back a year and start him in Kindergarten in the fall of 2011.  Last fall, he started in the 4-5 year old preschool class, but he seemed significantly younger than the other kids who were all 6 months to a year older than him. He didn't feel comfortable in the class. He said the work was hard and the teacher said he had a hard time staying on task and keeping track of what was going on in class. They also have a reading program and we were worried that he would have trouble enjoying it and staying caught up. So after a couple weeks of deliberating and talking to teachers and parents, we decided to put him in the 3-4 year old class, and therefore to wait til 2011 to start him in Kindergarten. 

 

All the parents I talked to, who have children with late summer birthdays who started Kindergarten when they were barely 5, said that their child has consistently had a harder time keeping up. So our main reason for waiting to start Kindergarten is because of that and we want him to enjoy school and be confident, not feeling behind all the time. I hear many parents keep their children back so they are bigger for sports-let's face it a year is not going to make much of a different in size with the genes he's got! He has done wonderfully in his class this year, and has loved it! When I told him it was spring break and explained what it meant, he cried because he couldn't go to school.  I am so glad he loves school.

 

A Pirate of Sorts

Yesterday, Max scratched his eyeball at church. We don't know how it happened. But both eyelids swelled up and he had a fever, so I took him to the dr. She used a black light to see his the scratch. We don't know what the fever was for. Max had to wear an eye patch for the rest of the night til the morning, and we had to give him eye drops a few times. As long as we said he was a pirate he did great keeping the patch on.

We took him back today and luckily the scratch was all healed!

The Weather

I just can't resist. Its been craziness here. I guess that is just what the say about Utah. Spring in Utah, is hot, warm, cold and freezing! Last week, I totally sun burned my arms while hanging out in the backyard. Yesterday, it rained all evening and left a nice rainbow

And it continued to rain into the night, and the temperature kept dropping. . .

Snow.

The snow didn't stick at our house, it mostly sleeted

But a few miles to the north and to the east, a few inches of snow stuck.

To remind you of the date, it is indeed May 24th.