First Week Of Summer

I really want to remember this summer.

So here are some highlights without

pictures.

1. Creative writing camp for Sydney and Bella (They are loving it and I'm so surprised. I've never seen Bella reading so much.)
2. Family only day. (No friends over. We did what we wanted all day. At the end of the day Preston said, "I love hanging out with my family.)
3. Little league baseball camp for Preston. (I loved seeing him playing ball like a big boy. I got to see him hit a double and steal home.)
4. Bella's soccer friends over for homemade pizza. (They even made a desert pizza, marshmallows and chocolate! )
5. Impromptu date with Todd and Preston. (The girls were invited to go out to dinner with our neighbors girls and we had a sitter for Davis so we took Preston with us to Thai food. He was a great date! )
6. Late evening scooter rides around the neighborhood.
7. Wonderful friends who took the older three one afternoon so I could have a rest.
8. Starting to decorate Preston's new room

Next week will include pictures!

My Baby is 1

I have really been reflecting on the past 18 months. I has not been the easiest year and a half but one thing I can say is that is has brought our family closer together. We have found more love and joy than we knew before.

Each child brings with them their own temperament to a family group. We are so lucky that we have been able to have 4 children all of whom are sweet, loving, polite, smart and strong willed. They are all very different except in one thing, they all love each other and us their parents unconditionally. I'm lucky because I have made a lot of mistakes and they always forgive me and love me still.

I'm sad and also rejuvenated that I'm done with the "THE YEAR OF THE BABY". I'm off and literally running into the year of the toddler. Shari and Ann, I think this year might just be harder.

Davis turned 1 on June 9th. He has been walking for about a month but not independently. This week for my parents visit and his birthday party he decided to be done with crawling completely. And from the bumps, cuts and bruises on his face he should have maybe practice a little more. He is my earliest walker and a dare devil on top of it. He loves to be in the water, dirt and sand. He could spend hours in our backyard and stands at the door asking to be let out. The kids have left the back door open and I have found him out there cruising around all alone. Not a worry in the world.

So what better way to celebrate then a water,

bubble

party in the backyard. When I found out my parents could come for the week I threw it in to high gear and put a party together with the kids and the neighborhood gang. Everyone from 1 to the 9 had a

blast. Davis loved all the activities and joined in on everything. He also seemed to love all the attention and did not cry once.

He really got into his "Smash Cake", and I let him go at it.

I think some made it into his mouth!

We all love this little guy so much. I could go on and on about how all the kids and their friends adore him. He is happy 90 percent of the time. The other 10 percent is when he is hungry, sick or tired. He has brought so much love and closeness to our family. He adores his sisters and thinks Preston is the best thing in the world. He loves to cuddle with me and has started coming to me with toys or books to look at with him.

Before Davis was born I was so worried about how I would handle a new baby and the other children. Once we saw each other I knew everything would be just fine. He has put up with shortened naps, long car rides, fast feeding and many, many school runs. He takes most of it in stride and repays me with smiles and laughter. His big brown eyes melt my heart and his smile soothes my worries.

I'm so lucky to have Davis Todd Wilson in my family. We would not be complete without him in our lives.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVIS!

Sydney The Fish!

I tired to download the before and after video of Sydney's progress in swimming. I was incredible but I couldn't get it to work. So I had to post without it because we are just so excited.

But first you should know that Sydney started swimming lessons with THE BEST TEACHER, Carol, only in March! We have tried so many swim schools and other private swim lessons without any results. Carol is a Master Swim Instructor so she knows the mechanics of swimming. More importantly she is nice and fun but knows when to be hard on the kids. Sydney's main problem with swimming has been that she is just scared. When she started she was scared to let go of the side of the pool or get to far away from it. Carol was able to not only get her swimming but swimming like a pro! She would listen to Sydney and hear what she was worried about then teach her what to do to get over her fear. It was so good to see Sydney listening to Carol, implementing the instructions and seeing a great result.

This all started with a goal, to pass the Del Mar Jr Life Guards test so she can do Jr Guards this summer. The kids her age have to swim 100 yards in 2minutes 30 seconds, tread water for 5 minutes, swim under water for 5 yards and hold their breath under water for 20 seconds. We really didn't think Sydney could do it by June but she did! She passed her 100 yard sim in 2 minutes 15 seconds! She had time to spare.

No matter what I'm so proud of her. She is swimming like a fish and all her fears of the water are gone. She told Todd while swimming laps with him that she felt so calm swimming. That pretty much sums it up.