boys of summer
Friday, June 20, 2008 at 08:02PM I'm overdue for some piecemeal blogging. So much about my days has been piecemeal of late. So here it goes, mostly about my boys...
Swim classes are over. And both of them are loving the water.
Aidan's ring diving dreams came true. I was impressed with his tenacity. In his first attempts, Emily would give him a push to get to the bottom. Well, another girl was doing it without a push, so the extra help just wouldn't do for Aidan. In between his turns he jumped over & over (& over & over &..), trying on his own. I sat nearby, prodding him to rest when he looked incredibly fatigued. "No, mom, I'm not going to rest until I get that ring down there." And he did. This picture didn't catch it, but he usually pops out of the water with an enormous grin plastered on his face. It's priceless. He did give me some scares when he started somersaulting into the pool rather than jumping. I don't have the nerves for a daredevil child.
Davyn can swim the narrow width of the pool with no tears or hesitation, but still ended up quite content on the sidelines. It wasn't until the last two days of class that he got up and jumped in on his own to play when it wasn't his turn. It took me completely by surprise, but I'm so glad this is the year he finally feels comfortable on his own in the water. I was hoping.
D takes his time and spends much of swim time step-sitting or side-clinging. All quiet and methodical. A is a hurricane - non-stop jumping, diving, splashing, swimming across. Everything loud and fast. When you only have two kids - and they are of the same gender, and only 17 months apart in age - comparison comes all too naturally. It amazes me how different these two are in inclinations. And swimming is just one instance that magnifies that difference.
Last Sunday we went to Jim's parents' house. Papa had built the Taj Mahal of chicken coops and bought some chicks.
While I thought they were beyond cute, there was no way I was touching one of these. And Aidan felt the same way.
(sidenote: Aidan has this neurosis about his "cowboy hat"...it has to stay at Papa's house in the pantry on top of the fridge right next to Papa's..so he only really wears it at their house.)
D was quite the opposite. He couldn't get enough chick lovin'.
But would have nothing to do with hoppin' on the equipment in Papa's backyard when we stepped out of the shop. Aidan couldn't physically be held back from "trying out" anything resembling a tractor. 
Next week the Grandma's & Papa are taking over full-time when Jim & I go to girls' camp. The boys are so far beyond excited that each day begins & ends with the "when are you going to girls' camp" question. Both Grandma Kay and Grandma Cyndee are pretty good spoilers, so I'm sure my two won't spend any time missing mom & dad.
Reader Comments (21)
I find so many differences in my girls, too. It was fun to read them about your boys. I think Aidan's cowboy hat neurosis is about the sweetest thing ever.
Love the chicks. I am with Aidan and don't really want to hold them.
Have fun at girls camp. I didn't know you guys were going. Let me know if I can help you.
I am totally impressed with the swimming. My kids all enjoy the water, but they don't actually SWIM. It is just playing and splashing.
Glad the swimming was a success...
Oh, and I love chicks, (wanted to have chickens my whole life but found I could not live with the poop!)
My friend had chickens on her ranch when we were growing up. So cute! And I can just picture the two hats sitting next to each other on the fridge. Grandpas are the greatest!
Love that picture of Davin! And love the cowboy hat. I think it is so cute he leaves it at grandpas.
I would love to hold a baby chick, they're so cute!