Swimming Lessons

When a friend mentioned her girls were in swimming lessons, I pounced on it and signed Cal up for the same class. It involved racing down to the community center last minute to register, but it was completely worth it. He had so much fun, and was excited to be in his friend Keira's class.

 His instructor was Natalie; all the teachers were from the high school. It was just perfect.

While I was mainly in search of a fun summer activity, I really do feel like Cal progressed. He got an official report card at the end of the two weeks, which was adorable and hilarious.  He's always loved being in the water, but now, if he has his floaties or life jacket on, he jumps off the side into the water (touching the bottom of the pool with his toes and everything!) and swims over to the stairs to repeat. I've got to get this kid swimming so I can stop having heart attacks when he does "brave" things.

 The bonus: when we come home, we head to our complex pool with our friends to show off our new swimming skills.

 I just have to include this next story. One day, down at our pool, a group of high school girls came to chat and sunbathe, and my little flirty boy went right over and invited himself to join them.  Of course, they just encouraged him by cooing and fussing over him, saying "He's sooooo cute!"

 And I mean, I pretty much agree. :)

Gymnastics

Starting in January, Cal and his friend started a gymnastics class. He was very excited to get to try something new and play with a friend, and I was looking for an outlet for some of his energy!

This was their first week. Don't they look excited?

Cal is very proud of his forward roll, his ability to walk like a bear, pointing and flexing his toes, and walking on the balance beam. Everywhere we go now, he balances on the curb and says, "Look, Mommy! I balance!"

This one's hard to see, but it's a video of Cal doing flipping his legs over the bars:

We finished up the class last week, and Cal got a blue ribbon which he is very proud of; it's currently on the fridge, and he shows it to all who enter our apartment, saying, "Dis from my nastics!"

We'll be back for more in the fall!

Preschool Silkworms

Cal is loving his twice-a-week preschool, and every time I pick him up, it's easy to see why. The teachers are so good at providing stimulating activities for these busy, curious kids! The latest project involves three boxes of silkworms. Cal was thrilled to show me. Here he is explaining everything:

At the most recent session of preschool, many of the worms were in cocoons. I asked Cal what they were going to turn into, and he said, "Big flying BUGS!!!" It's amazing how his little mind is growing. He understands more than I expect him to, and remembers concepts and conversations, even if I just briefly mention things. I'm constantly amazed by my little preschooler!

Easter 2013

We had a lovely and fun Easter season this year, filled with lots of activities and time with friends.  On Good Friday, the wonderful moms in our ward put together an Easter egg hunt in one of our neighborhood parks. Look at this turnout!

And here are all the kiddos running to find eggs:

For those that remember last year, Cal was still pretty concerned about what was (or wasn't) inside each egg he found -- our little sugarholic. We adults had instituted a one-candy-per-egg rule, however, so he was slightly foiled in his attempt to gorge himself on peeps and Cadbury eggs. It was a fun day filled with sunshine and friends. It's really starting to feel like Spring!

Our Easter week had begun with me deciding I wanted a yellow tablecloth to brighten up our black table, and I got it in my head that I could make my own. Cal and I went to the fabric store and purchased a few yards of fabric, and then all that was left was ironing, pinning and hemming.

See, Mom? All those sewing lessons weren't a complete waste of money! :)

 Heather came to dye eggs with us, which made for a very fun afternoon. Look who is raring to go!

 

I didn't think I needed to use a spoon or wire, and this is how my hands turned out. Kind of festive, right?

And here is Reed's "Arrested Development"-themed egg:

On Easter morning, here was the spread waiting for Cal:

I felt a little sacrilegious as I set up all the dinosaurs around Christ, but Cal loved it all! We read the Easter story to him that night. I wonder how much he understands. I hope I am properly teaching him that these things mean so much to me.

Helpful Boy

Cal is growing into such a little helper!  Each Tuesday, the kids I nanny have to do their chores. Cal always insists on helping with taking out the trash -- he gets offended if he's left out!

Here he is taking the garbage bin out to the curb:

 And don't forget the recycling!

He does a lot of other chores around our own house, too, such as putting away the silverware, taking his plate to the sink after meals, making his bed, putting his dirty clothes in the hamper, vacuuming with the dust buster, and even washing and loading dishes into the top rack of the dishwasher! Don't get me wrong, I sometimes hear, "Mommy, I too tired to do my job." But in general, I love that my little guy is such a helper!

Busy Builder Boy

Cal just keeps surprising me.  He's always been busy, but especially lately, I feel like I forget how fast his little brain is racing, and how much he needs me to stimulate his mind. Every time I turn around, he has built something like this:

...or this: 

...or this:

...or this!

Okay, he actually didn't stack the couch like that; we did. But he was the one who pulled his Ikea stool over, climbed inside, and declared that it was his "mousie fort". He filled the inside with pillows and stuffed animals, and decorated the top with the green blanket.

This next one made my jaw drop. I was in my room one morning, and Cal came and got me, pulling me by the hand into his room to show me what he'd built. At first I didn't get it, but then he started explaining each step to me, and I realized he'd made his own Rube Goldberg machine, which stretched all the way downstairs and ended with a grand finale of turning on the dust buster!

I was legitimately impressed, and I think he could tell; it made him very proud. I wish I could say that I take that much interest in everything he shows me. This is me vowing to be better, and to let myself be amazed by my little builder every day.

Growing Up Silly: February Edition