April 30 Little Matey-Bird

Friday:  It's been awhile since I posted many pictures of Matey-Bird. This morning, he was very enthused about taking a shower while I was washing dishes. I love it when he does this.

He seems to enjoy it so much--I can't figure out why he doesn't do it more often! I wash dishes every day!

Look at him fluffing his back feathers up ...

He also took a dive right into the soapy dish water--thankfully it wasn't too hot--and I was almost finished washing dishes at that point. 

You sure are a cutie, little Matey-Bird.
 

April 29 New swimming challenges for Kaity

Thursday:  Kaity's swim lesson was scheduled for 5:30 today. They finally had an opening in an official "PRO 1" class on Thursday evening (the only day I can take her). She was pretty excited about it, AND she has the very same swim instructor that she had for her Glider 1 class! 

What is very nice about the PRO 1 class is that two swimmers can practice at the same time (in separate lanes) with the instructor watching them carefully and teaching them in the water. This gives each swimmer more actual time in the water practicing what is being demonstrated.

I don't mean to brag on Kaity ... but as i watched her teacher trying to get class participation on the sidelines, I noticed that Kaity was the only student (of the 4) who actually DID what the teacher was demonstrating. Good listening, Kaity! Below is a picture of Kaity's nearly perfect back stroke. She does this almost without effort and is smooth and straight all the way.

Kaity will learn lots of NEW swimming stuff in this class: underwater streamline flutter kicking, flutter kicking on her back (with a kickboard over her knees), and dolphin kicking on her stomach with her arms at her side, face in the water. She already does an excellent freestyle with side breaths. At one point, it looked like her instructor was teaching them a frog kick, but perhaps not--it is sometimes difficult to see through the glass and it is impossible to discern what is being said. Kaity told me tonight that Pro 1 was HARD! I told her I was glad about that! We only have 4 more sessions until we stop for the summer months. I'm excited to see how she progresses during the next few weeks.

From Gold Fish we drove to my house and played a number of games of "Counting Queens." We just love this game. And Kaity is getting SO proficient with her math! Yes! Snowball was on Kaity's side. I had Sweetie helping me out (although he is not pictured)

Kaity won two games IN A ROW. She was very pleased about it. I have ordered her a stuffed Snowball as one of her birthday gifts--he is her favorite animal from The Secret Life of Pets.

April 27 Not since March 29!

Tuesday:  It certainly was nice to be reunited with these kiddos today! Four weeks have gone by without seeing their beautiful faces. The week before I left for vacation, Aidan had run a temp on that Monday (just prior to our usual Tuesday visit) and it was thought best that I not "risk" catching whatever "bug" he had, so we cancelled. 

I think it might be possible that these guys missed me as much as I missed them--although I doubt it!

They were glad to see Matey again. He stuck close to us throughout the day and we tried to include him in all of our activities (except for the multiple times he was banished to my bedroom--i.e. while we were eating or snacking at the table--Matey is a little bit aggressive about wanting to eat our food).

Brendan requested that we watch the movie, "Rio" that is showing on Disney+. So after we ate our lunch and cleaned up a little bit, I turned it on for the kids. Brendan wanted me to see every single minute of the movie, so I grabbed a chair and made myself comfortable. What a fun movie! Brendan loves some of these characters very much. His super good sense of humor was satisfied as he watched the story.

Aidan built with LEGOs as he watched the movie ...

Erin got up close and personal ...

Yikes--I love Erin's little laugh, her smiles, her tiny voice and the darling things she says ...

Aidan--the four-year-old future stud-muffin ...

Erin, cleaning up her clothing after eating ice cream ...

We did all of our usual stuff and our day passed very pleasantly. I am so thankful that I get to be a grandma ...

Being a grandma is THE BEST.

April 25 Emma and I drink in spring at Aman Park

Sunday:  Emma spent the night last night. We watched the first MIB movie ... sigh. I'm not a big fan! We did have a relaxing evening together, though, and that is important. We worshiped Sunday morning, listening to the last few verses of the Bible being taught. It was a good teaching and made me wish all the more that Jesus would come ... immediately!

We took a really beautiful walk this afternoon over at Aman Park. Since I only "discovered" this gorgeous place a few months ago, I get to experience it for the first time in each season. We walked in the woods and welcomed spring ... it was everywhere.

Since the snow has entirely melted, new paths have been uncovered. Emma spied one that went pretty much straight down ... I decided to follow her, but it was a tricky descent.

Emma was very helpful to me along the way and I was very thankful for her kindness to me.

Everything is coming alive ... new leaves and buds are everywhere you look.

Yes, everything is waking up and coming alive!

I tried to be subtle about my photographing Emma today ... I didn't want to make her self conscious. I love her "spirit" out in the woods ... and her happiness.

The trillium were blooming in abundance ...

The sunshine was warm and delightful ...

Magical ... from start to finish!

My heart sang praise to the God who changes the seasons, who spoke a word and life sprang up at His command ... what a Wonderful Creator.

Thank you, Lord, for the peace and quiet of the woods today, for the soft wind that was blowing, for the birds we heard singing in the trees. You have promised so much for our future. Thank you for a tiny taste of it today.