Jack’s First Swim Meet

My kids teach me something every single day. Although most days it’s just a new level of patience! Today, though, Jack taught me to not underestimate his ability. He started swim team not knowing anything about swimming and today swam across the pool both freestyle and backstroke – and shaved nearly a minute off his time for each. While I had been worried about him participating because he’d surely come in last (and, truth be told, he only beat one kid), he was concentrating on what mattered most — getting there. He said, “I just got up on that stand and wanted to WIN!” He said he was at the other side before he even realized it so he didn’t have time to think about holding onto the ropes. Nothing like your own kid teaching you to have a winning attitude — whether you win or not! And, yes, that is a marker smiley face on his belly button. Small pleasures, people.

Oil Ranch Farm

Saturday, we spent the day at Oil Ranch Farm and it was lovely! Hot and humid, but lovely. The kids got sunburned quickly – I remembered to pack a cooler of ice water but forgot the sunscreen – doh! There’s surely some kind of mother award for that maneuver. Anyway, the kids each had favorite things: Ben’s was riding the ponies, Jack’s was the waterslide, Gabe’s was riding the train and Cole’s was the free food, drinks & snow cones.

Owl Bibs – What do you think???

I love knitting but I’m VERY new to crochet. I crocheted these owl bibs. I did a newborn and a toddler size. I changed the closure for each one and like the closure for the newborn bib best. I put all the details of the project over at my Ravelry page. I don’t have many friends there so if you are on Ravelry, let me know!! These bibs are made of 100% cotton so they are washable and would clean very easily – the same yarn as used in the infamous dishcloths. So durable! But, what I’m wanting to know is this something you would actually use and like to receive or is it 70’s afghan ugly and I’m just too biased because I spent hours making it???

Pepper the Pound Puppy

Introducing Pepper, the pound puppy. We adopted her last Saturday on a whim. We have been wanting a puppy for awhile – mastiff, rottweiler or german shepherd but when we saw this brindle boxer / black lab mix at the pound she was so sweet and we couldn’t leave her behind. She’s just shy of 5 months old and it’s taken a week but she’s starting to come out of her shell. Welcome to our home, Pepper!