goggles and panties

swimming lessons started a new obsession for dolly.... goggles.  an extension of her already burgeoning love for sunglasses, she coveted her siblings' swim attire.  so when asked what treat she'd like on a recent store trip with grandma, no lollaloopsy girl or chocolate package was able to override the pink pair of fishy goggles she'd snagged.  as a result, she can often be seen poolside like this:

as for swim lessons, kindin really excels.  she has a gorgeous, effortless stroke.  she certainly has worked hard but it seems an inherent talent.  this year, she enjoyed learning the breaststroke, how to dive, and how to tread water.  and her expertise has earned her the coveted yellow bracelet that allows for adult-free access at the gym's swimming pool!

jack was quite hesitant this summer about swimming.   unwilling to be prodded by either parent, he had regressed quite a bit with his skill.  he did cooperate with the teacher and, by the end, his abilities seemed up to par and confidence was regained.  he has now been entrusted with the waterslides and the deep end sans floaties!

panties.... I do not know what started her desire for wearing 'undawears' and going potty but we weren't ready for it.  we've simply appeased 4-5 requests for her potty seat but she continues with insistence.  yesterday, she asked to sit on the potty so I got her set up on the toilet.  when I couldn't wait with her any longer because of my own need to go (sorry dave, leaving to 'stir something' just wouldn't be historically accurate!), i walked away with a promise to be back.  when I returned, she had actually pooped in the potty!  I was shocked at her independence and self-initiative!  not an ounce of incentive has been applied- just the chance to parade around in pretty pink hand me downs periodically.

a whole week of nothing (except one thing)

getting sick in the summer always catches one off guard.  when activity and sociality moves along effortlessly, one expects a welcome reprieve from the worries of contagion.  but this past week, dolly caught a big, bad, bug and it left us with a whole week of nothing.  a whole week of nothing right in the middle of an action-packed summer.  instead of playdates, swimming lessons, and exploring we were sitting in front of tv screens and cuddling on the couch.  and, unfortunately, cuddling on the couch is not my specialty nor are tv screens!  bleh.  a whole week of nothing in the middle of summer.  we were all feeling (and looking) like this by the end of the week...
  

there was a silver lining- stover mom and girl had the time we've wanted to master the cup song: 

mr presentation

in grad school, I had a diagnostics professor who would often surprise us by showing up impersonating a mental health client.  he'd come dressed as a hallucinating bus driver or a wigged, post traumatic rape victim.  as students, we'd have to interview the 'client' and write up a psychosocial assessment.  however, there was always one portion of the write up (for that class and in actual clinical practice as well) that was intensely difficult for me- the somewhat elusive portion referred to as 'presentation'.  presentation was essentially a concise description of identifying information, such as: what he was wearing, tone of speech, manner of relating, gait, motor reflexes, etc.  and, if I practiced today, I'm sure it'd continue to be an area of great difficulty.

in contrast, jack would ace the presentation portion.  numerous times I've sat in awe as he patiently but efficiently describes what to him is unnamed or unknown with such amazing precision. i.e. the time he didn't know what a ponytail rubberband was called so he described the way it made my hair look.  and just seconds ago, he was out of bed saying 'one side of his nose isn't working' because he lacks the vernacular for congestion.  with a recent discussion about moles and their increasing presence as one ages, he quickly quipped, 'then aunt sarah must be really old because she has little ones (freckles) all over her face!'          

just look at his (and super sleuthing friend's) eye for detail...

her mall stride

the girls had a bit of free time out today. i said, 'since it's just us- lets do something special. we could even get a special girl's lunch.'  immediately, my child who too often holds in what she's really thinking blurted, "lets go to the mall! AND they have food there!"  because I wasn't about to ignore any abnormal blurting, we went straight to the mall.  and take a look at that stride!  (in all the store trips of the past to spend birthday monies or allowances, I don't remember such determination.)  i really shouldnt be surprised, practically born a pre-teen, she was ecstatic to get a cherry slurpee and some new bling for her ears. 

  

 

and little one was more than content with a cookie and a browse.

 



americas fourth of july city

before I divulge our july 4th happenings this year, allow me to share some background:
 
2003 was dave and i's very first july 4th.  we sat on a hill overlooking the fort Collins firework display and it ended up being a very special night with whisphered I love yous.  really, an alternative blog title could read 'it all started on july 4th'!

in 2004, as newlyweds we attended his hometown display on the river in Idaho falls and i was impressed:

in 2005, we spent the night on a boat in the Chicago harbor with our dear friends the Flemings:

 

in 2006, our family of 3 traveled to san diego to visit aunt jordyn:

 



Idaho falls was again in 2007 and this time we enjoyed a raft down the snake river (courtesy of steve and Sharon):
 

 

in 2008, we packed up a very newborn jack and went camping with our adventurous family friends- the lish family:

 

 

in 2009, we were in Idaho falls again- enjoying lots of boating, family pics, matching cousin outfits, etc:

 

 

in 2010, I remember regretting staying in phoenix... do you know how hot july 4th there is?  but we did treat ourselves to snaps (one of 4 legal fireworks there!):

 

 

in 2011, we were at lake vermillion boating with my uncle pat and family:

 

 

and last year (2012), we held an Eichmann family reunion.  in matching patriotic shirts, we lit fireworks and then caravanned to minneapolis:

 

 

for 2013... drumroll please....we... went to America's fourth of july city!  judging from the past, you can guess it came as a surprise that we ended up planning our own july 4th.  after all, it was only the second time in stover family history that we were left to fend for ourselves!  luckily, a few days prior, a friend mentioned a farm town named seward.  a quick hour away, we went to check out the hype.  and let me say, it did not disappoint!  there was magic (jack's favorite), a car show, bounce houses, carnival food, a parade (kindin's favorite), and an airshow (dolly's favorite) and the events schedule indicates we only saw 1/10 of the events!  let's just say that the folks of seward (aka America's fourth of july city) have rightly earned their title!  

 

 we finished our day at home by lighting off our very first purchased firework assortment!