Soccer Time

Miles and Liam had there first soccer class. Surprisingly, they really enjoyed themselves and participated to the best of their ability. It was a parent interactive class for beginners. Parents helped with redirecting their kids and retrieving balls. There was about 10 kids in the 2.5 - 3yrs old range. I know sounds crazy but it was all pretty organized thanks to the great instructor. Today's lesson was about getting comfortable with the ball and making a goal. Liam is able to manage the ball really well, Miles on the other hand....well what can I say, needs work.

Happy Birthday Madison

Unfortunately, we won't be able to attend Madison's birthday party as Aidan has a pre-kindergarten activity to attend. We did get her a set of Brain Quest preschool cards and Hi Ho Cherry-O Book Series. Aidan just loves both of these so we thought Madison would too. And, I just love this owl wrapping paper. I used the last bit of it on these gifts, just love the colors!

Little Starfish

Today was Aidan's first official swim class. Although, we went to mommy and baby swim classes when he was an infant more of a playtime to get acclimated to water, this was his first actual class where he had to get in the water without a parent for a true swim lesson. Albeit, it was far from a swim lesson and more of a test of will, as you'll soon find if you read along. Today's class was the "starfish" class for nervous beginners which I would have to say was a pretty mild description of Aidan today. The instructors tried everything to coax Aidan into the water, using toys and talk therapy. He wasn't having any part of it so they finally did what they called a "hand off". One staff member pool side picked him up and handed him to the instructor in the water as Aidan kicked screamed and flailed. Aidan had refused to let me take his t-shirt off insisting he wasn't getting in, to his surprise he went in with t-shirt and all. He cried and protested for the entire 30 minutes clinging on to the instructor as I watched from the observation deck (as they requested). The instructor bobbed around the pool the entire time, up down, up down, side to side, while Aidan just clung on like a koala bear. The nice part was that there were other parents in the deck who were reassuring me that either their child or other children they'd seen were just like that. Session ended, I went down to the poolside to pick him up, what I expected to here was "nice try, don't bring him back" actually turned out to be "see you next week!"....and they even gave him a gold ribbon that said "outstanding" on our way out....I was amazed!

Garage to Art Studio

Garage soon to be my studio.

Contents out of garage...what will I do with it all?

Today with the help of a Ismael, a handy man, I've begun the conversion of our unattached garage into a working art studio. We pulled everything out of the garage and not quite sure what's going to happen with all that. That problem will have to be tackled soon. Truth be told a lot of those bins you see in that photo are filled with fabric that I've collected over the years (about 12 yrs worth). Ismael power washed the floors and walls which needed it desperately. We just got a new roof a few weeks ago, prior to this there were so many holes that rats and squirrels were coming in and making their mess in the garage. Now no more, it's soon to be spic and span clean. After power washing, Ismael began, priming the walls, caulking some holes, and repairing an area of dry rot. This is going to take a couple of days to complete. Next step will be to add a window and better lighting. Then it will be time to move in all my art and craft supplies, can't wait to have a working space of my own. I've been using the dining room table and it's just not working out anymore. With the kids curiosity, I have to put everything away to keep them from exploring through everything and there's always the danger of them hurting themselves on my tools. So much time is spent taking supplies in and out that I don't get to spend much time actually working on anything. Now with my own space I can leave projects out and work on them as time allows without losing time taking out and putting items away. I can also work on projects while the kids play in the yard. I'm hoping that sometime down the road we'll replace the garage door with french doors. For now I'm just happy that I'll have a space to work in soon!

Productive Monday

It's been a whirlwind day of productive activity, lots of home projects and tasks to be done. Started with phone calls, confirm my appointment with the window guy, refrigerator delivery this afternoon, and Aidan's swim class later this week, schedule dentist appointment, then a run to Costco to restock the household, run to Target for a new rice cooker (ours died)and a few other miscellaneous items, run to gymboree for new undies for Aidan, back home to meet the window guy to give us a quote on new windows ...phone call from fridge delivery company informing me they are behind schedule so I unload the dryer, fold laundry, start a new load of laundry and then run back out to the post office to mail some packages, then out to Home Depot for a deck box we'll be using to keep all the boys sporting goods in and cleaning and painting supplies for tomorrow's project(garage conversion to working art studio). You tired yet?? because by this time I sure was. Not over yet, I now run back home unload van, empty the fridge and freezer into coolers, run out once again to pick up the boys, to then come home and wait for the fridge delivery, fridge delivered so now I empty coolers full of food into new fridge. Phew! exhausting day, was feeling pretty good about all that had been done today but what..wait a minute, what's that my brand new teeth bleaching kit I'd just gotten from the dentist was accidentally left in the old fridge that is now long gone my big bubble of satisfaction of a days job well done has now been completely deflated with disappointment. Oh well, tomorrow is a new day.

Swim Time Fun @ Lake Anza

Another hot day here in the East Bay. We decided to beat the heat with a swim at Lake Anza. We met up with some friends, it was a day for relaxing, chatting, swimming and sun bathing. The kids had a great time, especially Aidan who got to spend some time with his pal Luca and played frisbee in the water with a group of friends his age. So far July has been a month of fun family weekends. Hope the rest of the summer follows suit.

Buggy Wrap

Another crafty wrap here to share. I just love wrapping presents and try to give each present I wrap a unique touch. This one was for Aidan's pal turning 5. Simple craft paper wrap with natural raffia with some fun colored dimensional bug stickers for a bit of fun.