Westin in Swimming Lessons

I was hoping to stick a video on here of Westin's swim lessons, but the only videos are from Wes's iphone and they don't easily upload.  Anyone have any tips for this?  

Westin took swimming lessons this year.  Several friends had highly recommended his teacher, Kate, from church.  It was a semi-private lesson and was ideal for Westin.  He wasn't terribly enthusiastic,and the new environment scared him.  He loves our walk-in clubhouse pool and is totally comfortable in it, so it was good to push his comfort level a little.  He learned the basics:  blowing bubbles, floating, keeping legs straight while kicking, etc.  By the end of the 2 weeks he was comfortable touching the bottom (of the shallow end), and swimming a short distance.  Westin tried to negotiate with his teacher at times with, "Can I not bubble this time?" or "Can I touch this bottom (while pointing to the pool step)?"  She would just say no and then he would do what she asked.  He is definately an apprehensive child at times.  Westin also liked to compare himself to animals while at lessons.  His teacher loved animals when she was little and so she thought all his details about different animals were fun.  One of his comparisons was to a poison snail, which he learned about on NOVA.  The deadly cone snails, found in tropical waters, shoot out these little poisonous harpoons that can kill you in several hours.  Homeland security actually studied them as bioweapons.  Ahh the things we learn from having kids.  Fortunately not everything is useless, like these cone snail fun facts. 

Memorial Day Camping in Capitola

 

 This year we got a last minute invite to go camping Memorial Day weekend at New Brighton Beach in Capitola, just south of Santa Cruz.  This was the perfect location for camping.  Our campsite was surrounded by giant coastal trees and the beach was a just over the cliff.  The weather was great, the kids loved it, and Wes and I had a great time too!

Visit from WA, Getaway, Mother's Day

Mom and Dad came down from WA for a week.  It was a great visit.  It was especially great, because Wes and I got to leave for 3 nights without kids!  We got a hotel on priceline that put us in Redondo Beach.  We drove down Monday night.  Collected shells for the kids on a beach in Malibu, at sunrise.  Walked the Santa Monica pier and had one of my favorites, coconut shrimp, at lunch time.  Did some touristy stuff (drove through Bel Air, Rodeo Drive, Hollywood) and a little shopping before dinner.  Rode around and to dinner on beach cruisers the hotel had available to use.  Wednesday we spend at Newport Beach, playing in the waves.  It was so fun to not have anyone to worry about, but us!  It was especially nice to drive as long as we wanted and not worry about having to hurry and stop, so the kids could get some movement.  We did miss them, but they were in good hands and it was a short trip.  It was just what we needed.  Westin and Jade did great with Grandma and Grandpa.  They all kept eachother very busy.  They were also here for Mother's Day, which made the day extra nice.       

We decided to go see the Forest Hill Bridge, and the Sacramento Train Museum. 

See the mannequins in the background?  The freaked out Jade.  She had fun playing with the trains upstairs though.

It was really nice spending time with Mom and Dad, and sad to see them go.  Love, love, love them. 

Ready for Swim Season

Westin's 4th Bday

Westin's birthday was pretty low key.  We went to Bounce U, had cake, he got CARS toys, and we just tried to make it a good day for him.

Westin

This little guy is the best!  Today he came in my room after quiet time and said, "Mom, I love you.  You're terrific."  He is a little tricky though, because the other day in the car he said, "Dad, I you are the best, but not Mom.  She is ridiculous (he pronounced it re dic a lus)."  Last month he said, "Good job on your running skills Mom."  He is a funny boy.  He is ooooozing with energy, but so much fun.  His sister loves the heck out of him and so do we, of course.  Jade often tells Westin, "I love you, Westin."  He is so sweet about expressing his love to us randomly and often, that I'm pretty sure he taught her to do the same.  He loves animals of all kinds.  I often play the role of mother animals of his choosing.  I have heard, "Goodnight mommy white crane, mommy poison dart frog, mommy penguin, mommy cameleon, mommy t-rex, mommy sperm whale, mommy dolphin, mommy orca..." and I haven't even got to insects!  He loves to sing, shoot his bow and arrow, shoot his dart gun, play baseball, collect snails and slugs and frogs, play with his sister, the park, walks with Dad, being read to and looking at books, and of course watch movies and TV.  He now weighs 33 lbs and is 101 inches tall.  We have a hard time containing this one at times and I have been frustrated beyond what I prefer, but that is a parent, and he is worth it.      

The Light, The Life, and the Hope of the World & An Easter Resolution

"...Jesus is the living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son."

Wes's Aunt Ann and Uncle Daryl came over tonight with Whitny, Bruce, and Aidan. They are visiting from UT. We got to see another of Wes's aunts, Judy, and his cousin Kelsey, last week. It was so nice to see all of them! Ann left me a little flip book with "The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles," by the First Presidency and The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As I read the quote above, on the last page, I was again reminded of how our Savior has made it possible for us to feel peace when everything is a mess around us. I get off track so fast, but Jesus Christ really did give us the perfect example of how to love each other and remember that our Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us. So, I take from this the need to be more loving and more faithful. I decided that I am going to make a resolution out of this...my Easter resolution.