24 more hours

Here is Marley at safety day for swim lessons. The kids get told all the pool rules and have to float on their backs with a life jacket for a couple of minutes. Wow! Now they are water safe! (That would be sarcastic italics in use there.)

Because, other than actually dealing with her, everything she does is cute right now, I thought she looked adorable in her life jacket.







Here she is needing help to get the thing off. I'm glad that wasn't part of the test!














Lastly, we have the back stroke. This is Marley's "best" swim stroke. We showed up for open swim today and I had a chance to talk to Marley's instructor. I asked her if Marley was going to be promoted up to Sharks and she said no. I was actually quite relieved. The determining factor in swim instruction for this level is the back stroke. However, although it really is Marley's best, she just can't get the hang of her freestyle. I was going to ask for her to stay at the Bullfrog level, so the instructor and I were actually happy to be in agreement.

Daily bullets:

• Colin is trying to get used to early wake up since summer school starts next week. He will have to be up, fed and in his seat by 7:30 am. Yowsa!
• Some friends joined us today at open swim. They took off the last day of school to go on vacation so this was our first visit with them since then. The two boys, ages 9 & 11 enjoyed Colin and went so far as to suggest he be their babysitter. I think three active kids (there is also a six year old daughter) are a little too much for him.
• Marley was much more relaxed today thanks to two hours in the pool. When we got home from open swim, I had her take a bath and she washed and rinsed her own hair. She picked up a blue velvet dress to wear (Oooh, fancy!) and combed her hair and put in a hair band. She spent some time enjoying her www.pbskids.org until 4 pm which is the official time of day that the TV can be watched.

Later, in an attempt to keep things flowing smoothly, I took them both to see Superman Returns. I thought it would use up a few hours and then, when we returned home, I would be able to put her to bed right away. At one point in the movie, she asked me,

"Does Superman insists?"
"What?" I whispered.
"Does Superman insists?" Finally, I realized she meant exists.
"No, honey. He doesn't insist."

It really was too scary for Marley in parts but she was very excited by most of it. If she has nightmares tonight, I'll blame no one and not complain once about the lack of sleep. Colin wasn't thrilled about having to see it again. He had really enjoyed it the first time but was tired from all the swimming. He cooperated (thank you, son) and so the evening was filled.

I just went to check on her and this is what I found!

Cuteness personified.











Well, tomorrow is another day, Scarlett, and we'll be up to more of the same. Her friend is coming home with us after swim lessons and then we'll head back to open swim. Two more hours of sun and swim. Whoo hoo!

Paul will get home tomorrow and Marley has already offered to take a nap so she can stay up until Daddy come home.

Until next time, good night and sweet dreams.

A Celtic blessing:

See that ye be at peace among yourselves, my children,
and love one another.
Follow the example of good men of old
and God will comfort you and help you,
both in this world
and in the world which is to come.