Safety Camp

Our county offers a summer week of safety camp through the Sheriff's office.  Its free, and only offered to rising kindergarteners and rising 1st graders.  The kids learn how to safely ride their bikes and be aware of their surroundings, what to do when strangers approach (Logan was excited to tell me he's allowed to bite a stranger if anyone ever tried to take him so STRANGERS BEWARE!), fire and gun safety, and other very important topics. 

The camp is taught by firefighters, police officers and other public safety people.  Its FANTASTIC.  Dylan went to the same camp when he was in kindergarten and he still remembers everything they taught him.  They talk about serious issues but  make it fun, age appropriate and impactful.

Today, Logan got to take his bike to camp and learn how his helmet should fit, how he can ride his bike safely, and how to keep his bike in top shape.  He also spent time learning what to do if there is ever a fire, and how to escape.

The camp is drop-off and I don't really get to see him in action there (until the little graduation ceremony this Friday). But today I arrived a few minutes early for pick up and got to see him crawl out of a 'burning' trailer to safety. 

Tomorrow he's very excited, he'll get to ride a battery operated ATV that he says "looks like a police motorcycle but doesn't  have sirens..isn't that funny Mom?".

swimming and more swimming

Swim team continues to be a huge hit for Dylan, and we're enjoying lots of friend time at the pool.  His team is undefeated three meets into the season, and he won four ribbons at his Saturday meet.  Go Lightning!  Go Dylan!

Here is his whole team.  He's second row from the back, fourth from the right.  And our swim team is small comparied to most in the area!

Meet #2

Dylan's second swim meet was last night, what fun!  It was the first meet at our home pool and we won again!   Dylan competed in his first ever 100 meter relay and won a ribbon for 4th place.  He also competed in 25 meter freestyle and backstroke, shaving time off both of those strokes since the meet this past Saturday.  Go Dylan!

He absolutely loves the swim team.  Its a big commitment with practice everyday and two meets a week, but to see the absolute joy on Dylan's face makes it more than worth it.   We've found his 'thing', this is just clicking for him more than any team sport. He loves the other kids, the coaches are absolutely amazing, and his swimming is getting better all the time.  I love the camaraderie of all the kids cheering for each other, and that its an individual sport, for the good of the whole team.  There are around 130 kids on the team, and everyone is so nice. Seriously, the spirit of the team is so welcoming and positive.  Its just a nice group to be around and spend a lot of our summer with.

He loves it so much that he says he wants to still do a swim team over the winter, so I'll have to look into that for him.

Here he is, getting ready to swim his 25 meter freestyle:

So proud!

Backstroke!

We swam against another local team from Leesburg, and our wonderful friends are on that team so the boys got to see their good friends B and K.

Happy Birthday to Andrew

Yesterday, my darling husband turned 40.  There are many things I love about him, one of them being he will always be older than me (by six months), ha!

We decided to plan a nice adult night out with some of our closest friends.  It was spectacular.  Everyone lined up babysitters and we had five couples join us for an evening of delicious Spanish tapas at one of our favorite restaurants, Isabella's Taverna, about 40 minutes away in quaint downtown Frederick, MD. 

We ate so many delectable small plates of food, I can't even remember it all. 

The sangria was delicious as well.  Maybe that's why I can't remember all the food.  Tapas are fun because everyone shares everything..its very social. 

Scott and Annick

Josh and Kristin, Jerseybaby  (who herself turns 40 this coming Saturday!)

Dianna and Bob, Tatertown

Randall and Sharon

Kristin and Erwin

We are so incredibly lucky to have these friends in our lives.  We've all been great friends for over eight years now.  We became parents at the same time.  Our kids play together.   These friends give my life so much joy and happiness, and that is a gift and a treasure. Truly.  I love these people.

Andrew received some fantastic gifts, including two hats.

Not to mention some fabulous tequila.

Their pastry chef make him the most delicious carrot cake ever.

Ole everyone!

And afterwards, the boys went outside for stogies. As Dianna said, this looks like the line up from The Usual Suspects.

What a fantastic, fun night.  Thank you to our dear friends for making it so memorable and full of laughter. 

xoxoxoxo

Go Lightning!

Dylan competed in his first swim meet this morning.  It started excruciatingly early, and we were up at 6 a.m. loading him with carbs and packing the cooler. 

We all wished Andrew a happy birthday, since today he turns the ripe ole' age of 40, and off we went!

Dylan competed in freestyle and backstroke.  We won't get his official times until tomorrow, but we know he shaved a few seconds off his times from the mock meet last weekend.

You have to volunteer at four meets over the season in different positions.  Today, I was the 7/8 Boy Coordinator.  Which really should be re-named "7/8 Wrangler of Boys Tackling and Putting Their Hands All Over Each Other".  I had to round them up and get them in order prior to each heat.  For four hours.

Oh yes.  We have earned an adult birthday night out tonight and the sitter arrives in 30 minutes.

Go Dylan!  Go Lightning!

It was PACKED!

second grade - check!

All done.  Went in for the year end party this afternoon and it was absolute pandemonium.  Wow.

We left early before the 16 buses filled with screaming, excited kids departed.  Second grade was a big year for Dylan (but then again, aren't they all big years?).  His teacher, Mr. Poindexter, isn't returning  next year as he lives an hour away and his wife is giving birth to their first son in August.  We wish him all the best!

Hello summer vacation!  I know the next 10 weeks are going to filled with fun adventures, sleeping in and lazy mornings (well, until swim practice that is), trips, swimming and lots of playdates!

last day as a second grader

He just got on the bus for the last time as a second grader.  What a huge year this has been for him!

He wants to go eat crabs tonight as his special dinner.  I think we can arrange that.  I'm so proud of you Dylan!

this morning

first day of second grade, back in September

Third grade, here he comes!

decorating a bathroom

As I type this, the shower glass guy is driving here to install our frameless shower glass walls and door.  Its been 42 days since we were last able to shower in our bathroom.

Craig, our contractor, finished his part of the job thoroughly and within the timeframe we had discussed.  The glass company couldn't take measurements until Craig's part was complete, and its been going on three weeks its taken them to cut the glass, temper it (making it safe), and now the install tonight should take around 3 hours.  I wasn't impressed with the amount of time it took them to get this part finished but you're talking to a person who spent a hell of a lot of money to have a beautiful bathroom and hasn't been able to shower in it yet!   I'm sure they will do a great job, and it will be even more beautiful.  Tomorrow I'll report in with the final photos, glass installed, and just how great that first shower really was.

Meanwhile, we've been busy adding decor and touches that make it a little retreat from our everyday life with busy kids.  We wanted some plants, and we wanted to keep the decor very natural and simplistic.

Andrew found a rubbed bronze cosmetic wall mount mirror and installed it for me, love it!

The print is a George Dombek. I think it goes perfectly with our room. 

Here is the shower before glass, the last time it will look like this ...

Can't wait for tomorrow's shower. Watch, they'll tell us tonight we have to let it set for three days before we can try it out!

Pretty amazing to see the transformation.  Here is when it all started on Day One.

My amazing husband turns 40 this Saturday.  I'm so glad this is going to be wrapped up before that monumental day!

when he grows up..

Dylan has two more days of school and the backpack has been coming home crammed with the wrinkled contents of his desk from the year.

Today while sorting thru it all, I came across this essay and it gave me a chuckle.

When I Grow Up
by Dylan

When I grow up I would like to be a website maker.  The first reason is you get to make websites.  It's fun to make websites.  Second you make lots of money.  You can be rich.  The last reason is you sit in an office.  It's quiet.  At the end of the day you go home.


So just to be clear, he wants to work someplace quiet and be rich. 

that's a wrap

The Blue Claws finished their t-ball season with a wrap up party at our local Fuddruckers Sunday evening.   The coaches awarded their trophies and since then, Logan has wanted to carry his everywhere we've gone.  Suffice it to say, he'll be playing t-ball again for the fall season!