Sun Protection

When I swim mid day, this is what I look like:

I like sun protection. I haven't always, but I've noticed signs of sun damage on my skin this year and am trying to minimalize any further issues. So, I wear a hat, sunglasses, an SPF 50 swim shirt (from the boys dept at Walmart $8), and SPF 50 sunscreen.

Gavin likes sunscreen too:

Gavin's bedtime prayer last night

"Bless Mommy,Daddy,friends,church,big trucks,dirt."

Swimming!

6/18 swim from Kelly C on Vimeo.

Pool!

Isn't that a beautiful pool?

I don't really even want to go into what a stressful ordeal it was to get it that way. It's too depressing. Suffice it to say it took a month and we ended up draining it and starting over.

But it was worth it for this guy: 

 We're in the pool almost every evening now, after it gets late enough to not have to mess with sunscreen. Gavin could stay in there all day. He just finished up 2 weeks of refresher swimming lessons. He still requires some occasional cueing to stay in the correct form in the water but all in all he is an awesome little swimmer. His biggest problem is that he often times doesn't want to stop to rest or turn over and float to breathe while swimming - he just wants to go go go. But somehow most of the pictures I took are of him floating. I have a video too if I can ever get it uploaded.

 Our garden is doing pretty well too: 

update

I just sent an e-mail with the following update, so I figured I might as well update the blog with it too:
Gavin started swim lessons this week and is a little fish. He picked right up where he left off last year. His teacher is working with him on stopping to turn over and take breathes - Gavin sometimes forgets to come up for air. We've had some issues getting our pool opened up but should be swimming in the next couple days. He is also finally ready for potty training - when we're home he uses the potty about 75% of the time, but needs a reminder each time. I'm hoping he will be trained by the end of the summer so he can start a 3 morning a week preschool program in August.

Memorial Day Weekend

We once again spent a long Memorial Day weekend at my parents house in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. We got there Friday afternoon and left Tuesday morning. My parents watched Gavin for us each day so Jake and I could have time alone, and then each late afternoon we headed to the beach. This way we missed the brunt of the crowds and didn't have to apply sunscreen. Double bonus. The bay worked best for Gavin this trip, so that's where we mostly went. The water is super shallow there so it's great for him to play in. We also lucked out for the 2nd year in a row and the water temperature was in the low 80's, warm enough for even me to get in. During the days Jake and I shopped, ate out, and  saw Pirates of the Caribbean in 3D Imax. We managed to eat at 3 of my favorite restaurants: Helen Back Pizza (ate outside on deck on the water - best view for a pizza place I've seen), La Paz (Mexican - catered our wedding), and Whataburger (best fast food ever). The only downside to taking Gavin on vacation is that he doesn't sleep as well as he does at home. Saturday morning he woke up around 4am. My mom and I got up with him, and we were at the park by 6. But it was a gorgeous morning, and the park is on the sound so we got to watch all the boats go by. Here are some pictures from the trip. They aren't all in chronological order.

Fun with Grandma while Jake and I were out:

Train Ride at Uptown Station:

Fountains at Uptown Station:

Sunday evening trying out our new boat in the bay:

Passed out on the way home with a found shell in hand:

Friday evening on the gulf:

  
 

Saturday evening at the bay:

Monday evening at the bay:

Watching the Curious George movie on Jake's IPod: