Snapshot Sunday (Wednesday)

The Family, a photo by here we wander on Flickr.

Snapshot Sunday

Looking Back, a photo by here we wander on Flickr.

Summer Days

Three Brothers, a photo by here we wander on Flickr.

If you're looking for us the next few days, you'll have to look a few hours away. The twins and I joined big brother Connor on his lake adventure with Grandma and Grandpa for a long weekend.

It's a hard life. Really. All three boys had it incredibly rough yesterday as we spent several hours on the water - swimming, jumping, tubing.

Summer is almost over, and we have to enjoy it while we can!

And There He Goes ...

We knew it would happen sooner or later. I mentioned earlier in the summer that the boys were outgrowing the beloved (and safely enclosed) kiddie pool. Xander has long had an affinity for the slide in the family pool. And now he has finally advanced the the diving board in the big pool.

And that is where he wants to stay.

It was only a matter of time. He LOVES to jump, after all. He just used to have an aversion to jumping into depths where he couldn't touch bottom. He had an aversion to getting his head, and especially his ears, wet.

But no more. This summer he has made huge strides in his comfort level with the water. He willingly jumps into the lake off the back of the boat (with life jacket, of course). And even in the backyard swimming pool, he has started floating on his back and doing more strokes (okay, mostly paddles, but you get the idea). When he started getting his ears wet a few weeks back, the last barrier came down.

So it is only fitting that on his last trip to the pool with Grammy and Pappy, he found his courage on the diving board. And never once looked back. He just kept jumping and jumping and jumping.

It took him longer than either of his brothers, but he is finally learning to love the water as much as the rest of us (well, except Daddy, who can take it or leave it). Like so many other things, he just wanted to do it in his own time, his own way.

Special thanks to Pappy for sharing the photo.

Ready to Go

Ready for School, a photo by here we wander on Flickr.

It's probably my fault. When I ordered the boys their new school shoes and their new backpacks, I probably should have kept them in box. And not let the boys see them.

Because once they did, it was all over. Both boys wanted to put on their new shoes the minute they saw them in the bench. And yes, yes they are bright, bright red. Both boys wanted to put on their new backpacks. And as soon as we had everything on, both of them went running for the garage door.

"School?" Xander kept asking. Over and over again. Even Sawyer was saying "Go!" And that's pretty big for him.

Let's just say they wore their new gear for a few hours before I could convince them to put it back away. And they were severely disappointed when we did not, in fact, head out the door to school.

The scene has replayed itself several times in the last week.

Lesson learned. Next year, keep the new school stuff in the box. Until the night before school. After the boys have gone to bed. Maybe then the waiting will not be quite so hard.

And no, if you're wondering, Connor did not join in the fun. He's not been home very much this summer, but even on the handful of days that he's been home, he has not wanted to try out his new backpack or shoes. He's perfectly content to sleep in while he still can.

Just a few more weeks, and ready (yes for the twins) or not (no really for Connor), school will be here.