It's coming...

The oppressive heat and humidity that we've heard about and dreaded is slowly making it's way here. We're just about the point that inside is a much better option than outside. (Except for going to the pool!)

When we were at the pool on Sunday, I met a woman who was from New York. She and her family moved here last summer. I told her we hadn't lived through a summer in Augusta.

She said, "I went to the grocery store at 10:00 at night in July. When I walked outside it was horrible, so hot and humid, I could hardly move! And people were walking around as if everything was normal! It was the strangest thing."

Strange, indeed.

Everybody in the pool!

We've had what we're told is an unseasonably rare spring in Augusta. But now the temperature is starting to creep up. Saturday we turned on the sprinklers for the kids (including neighborhood kids). Fun was had by all.

Sunday, we went to the pool we joined for the firs time. It was somewhat crowded, and we saw Erin's friends Sam and Emily and their families there, too. Last summer, Erin was a reluctant swimmer. This year, she seems much more adventurous. A few things are helping. The big pool has a section that ranges from 2-2 1/2 feet, so the water isn't over Erin's head. Also, peer pressure! Sam blows bubbles in the water, so does Erin. Sam tries swimming with the kickboard with her mom's help. Erin wants to try to. Emily puts her face in the water, so does Erin. So peer pressure is working well. She even got dunked once, but it didn't slow her down.

Lauren was very reluctant to go in the kiddy pool with daddy. Finally, though, she got in and had fun. Eventually she went in the big pool with mommy. Progress was made my all!

Why puppies shouldn't have pacifiers

As we were letting Daisy romp in the kitchen with us, she suddenly retreated to her crate in the laundry room. Rene said, "Isn't that cute? Daisy is resting in her crate." I knew that was not normal for Daisy, and soon Lauren kept requesting, "Blue Binky!" I went to Daisy, opened her mouth, and there was the the remnants of the blue binky. The main part (the part you suck on) had been bitten off. Lauren looked at it and said "Wash it!" So I carefully washed it in soap and hot water, dried it off, and handed it to Lauren. She looked at it, laughed, put it in her mouth, then cried.

Oh well, at least it varied Daisy's diet of puppy chow, pinecones, sticks and rocks.

Erin and Daisy graduate

Erin finished preschool last week. Although they didn't have a "graduation" ceremony, they did have a special singing performance for parents with snacks afterwards. Erin did great, she's been singing the songs for months. She even sang a song about colors in Spanish. They had lots of fun the last few weeks. The last week had pajama party day and a water fun day. We weren't going to do it, but Erin will attend day camp there with her preschool teacher. She'll go three days a week for the month of July.

Daisy graduated from puppy kindergarten tonight. She can sit, stay, and come (sometimes). Daisy is a bundle of energy and so big! Her paws are huge. Rene got on the scale with her and she ways almost 37 pounds. She almost weighs as much as Erin! But she is very sweet and a lot of fun.

Not to be forgotten, Lauren can sing her ABCs now. If Lauren sees a word in a book or on a sign, she says, "Look, mommy, ABC's!" Lauren knows some Spanish, too, from Dora, of course. If I pick her up she some times says "Arriba" and if I ask her if she needs help, she says "Ayudame".

Jake knows no Spanish, but a few weeks ago he polished off a few servings of turkey cheese enchiladas. That's our Jake.

No spandex!

Rene's HR department sent around a notice that the dress code would now include a "no spandex" rule. Well that's going to limit his choice of a summer wardrobe!

Daddy did it

Last week of school for the girls. Yikes! Erin's class has been busy with a mom's tea (which we missed to due Erin's ear infection), crazy day, backwards day and pajama party day today. On Wednesday is the big singing performance. Erin has been belting out "Jesus Loves the Little Children" quite often. Of course, in her rendition, it goes something like, "Jesus Loves the Little ChildREM" and various other words are butchered.

Not to be outdone by her sister, Lauren has her own way of saying things. Here a guide to some of Lauren's favorite utterings:

lolla hop = lollipop
mope = milk
mo mope = more milk
Edin = Erin
bamas = pajamas
nur one = another one, as in "another one, binky", "another one blanky", etc
Gola Boots = Dora, Boots (as previously mentioned)
pee-low = pillow
pee-dow = playdough
Gam=Sam (Erins' friend)
Guck=Stuck
no like = I don't like it
I like it! = I like it!

Lately, any time I try to get her to do something, her response is, "Daddy did it."

Do you want to take a bath? Daddy did it.
Can I brush your teeth? Daddy did it.
Let me change your diaper. Daddy did it.

Now it may be true that at one point in time Daddy has done all of these things, but usually she says this when it is quite clear Daddy has NOT done those things recently. As Erin said once, "Babies can be pretty tricky."