A Week in Austin

Julie and the boys headed down to Austin for a week, so that Caleb could take swimming lessons.  Not only did we have a great recommendation of a wonderful swim instructor, she was very affordable, it was a 5 day class (an hour a day), and it was a great excuse to spend an extended time in Austin seeing people we don't normally get to see during our whirlwind weekends. 

The week was packed from play dates in the morning, to swimming around lunch time, to visiting friends in the afternoon, and swimming with Mimi and Papa in the evening.  It was fun and we look forward to doing it again next summer!

Lori got to meet Davis.  She was a bridesmaid in our wedding and pregnant with a little girl due in October

Our Second Annual Mother Daughter Dinner.  Every month my mom goes out with some wonderful ladies that are my friends from high school's moms.  So when I come in town they are so generous to plan their monthly outing to accommodate my schedule.

Here are the moms: Erin, Mrs. Winter, Andi, Mrs. Davison, Alissa, Mrs. Jones, my mom and me.

Our plans to meet Kristen and her sweet kids at the park for an early morning play didn't work out this time, but Caleb enjoyed the heat at 9 am! (Love his "lifegarden" whistle!  Caleb was so attached to the "lifegardens" at the pool and looks up to them).

We met Susan, Emily, and Charlie at Chick-Fil-A, an indoor playground this day.  Susan was a friend of mine from my life guarding days/hostessing at the country club/high school.  They moved back to Austin from Dallas a few years ago and it was great to catch up with them.

Due to some fevers, only I got to visit with Vicki (a friend from Stanford). 

Christalyn holding Faith, such a great big sister, babysitter, and great with all the little ones.

We took a cousin picture TJ (6), Davis (5 months), Christalyn (almost 8), Faith (15 months), Sarah (almost 4), and Caleb (almost 3)

Can you tell the boys LOVED dressing up?!? 

And so did the girls.  (which suckered sweet Mimi to buy more pictures). 

We then celebrated with a corn dog and an evening swim. Love these kiddos and wish we could have spent more time with them.

Even Great-Mimi joined the fun with a corn dog poolside

So...on to the reason we went down to Austin...SWIMMING!  Caleb loved swimming and wore his goggles to whole ride to the pool (despite being fogged up and not being able to see)

This was the second day of swimming and showing off his "shovel" hands

Thanks to Papa, I was able to sit with Caleb, help him on the side of the pool, and cheer for him in the water.  Papa was a HUGE help and watched Davis so that I could give my full attention to the swimmer. 

This is the look of fear on Day 3.  Ms. Pam was such a strong love, very warm but gave them the sternness that they needed to overcome their emotions.  The first couple of days were really hard (more so for me) to see Caleb (and the other little ones) cry and not want to go swimming but by the fourth day he was jumping in the deep end and swimming to the ladder, jumping in the water, turning around, and swimming back to the side.  Her whole goal was to teach them how to survive if they fell in.  By the fifth day he was swimming around Ms. Pam and passed!!  It was a great week and we are so glad we did it!

Turning around and swimming to the side of the pool

The reach...it is a little tough to see them trying so hard under water to reach the side of the pool and the relief/excitement when they get it! (I guess that will be said a few more times as they get older and we watch them try, fail, get hurt, want to give up, then succeed.)

Papa probably could have taught Caleb the same things Ms. Pam did.  Thanks to his years of life guarding, swimming in high school, teaching us, swim teams, his patience-it was great that Caleb had Papa to help practice in the evenings.  It was the reinforcement that he needed!  Thanks again Papa for everything. 

 Daddy came in town on Friday night and Caleb couldn't wait to get in the pool on Saturday morning to show Daddy all that he learned.  Caleb is swimming to the steps all by himself!

Daddy sitting on the side of the pool watching Caleb swim with Ms. Pam

What a fun week-Thanks to Ms. Pam!  On Caleb's last day of swim class, Caleb had his Fan Club there.  Mammy we appreciate you driving so far to come see our boy swim.  That meant so much to us that you would show your support.  Sorry we couldn't not have spent more time with you.

Silly boy wearing 4 hats 

Thanks Mimi for a great week. I was a little anxious about not having Daddy around to help with the kids but I appreciate all the work you did to bathe, feed, calm, and give constant love to us during the week.

Thanks again Papa for ALL you did-when Mimi was at work you really stepped in and helped us out SO SO SO much.  I could not have survived the week without you.