Summer's End

Friday marked the end of the summer session at Graham's school. In a week, he will move to the older group in preschool, with two new/different teachers than last year. He'll be one step closer to his goal of being "big". As part of the end of summer rituals, Graham received a certificate for his swim lessons, and a special gift from his teachers. (see picture)! We're not getting a straight answer on what the whole "starfish poisonsharks" thing is about, but I'm guessing that's the name the five three-year-olds that made up his class came up with!

We're taking a vacation this week -- our first together in some time. We're going camping with Grandma and Papa in Ossipee on Wednesday -- this is a test! Depending what we feel like, we might head to Conway or check out Mount Washington, or we might stay by the pool and lake all day. If all goes well, we'll stay until Saturday, if not, oh well!

Look, no hands!

Graham has been taking swim lessons this summer, and in the last week (since Autumn's visit, at least), he has really made a giant leap in his progress. I think we can officially call him a swimmer. He can swim alone with just swimmies and no help. He experimented with this with Gramma and Papa when they were here two weeks ago, and now he's taken off. He also will now put his face in the water completely, and has taken to floating on his back in the tub as a way of practicing (it also cuts down on the hair-washing conflict!). I am of the distinct impression that Autumn's abilities (which surpass his) had something to do with this. Ah, peer pressure!

We're going camping next week, and I found a place with a pool and a lake, so he should get plenty of practice. I think he's more excited about s'mores but it's hard to tell!

Swimmy the boy

Deana e-mailed me a couple of photos from last Sunday at the Hollow with the cousins. We've attached one of Graham in the pond, the cousins & Kim, and cousins on the top bunk!

Summer Fun

We had a big family week. On Sunday, Graham and I went up to Vermont (I forgot my digital camera, so no shots of this until people e-mail me photos!) to see Autumn, Kris, Deana, Grandma Norma, "Poppy", Mimi Debbie, Laurie, Zinn, Jack-Jack and Dave. It was a beautiful summer day and the three-year olds LOVED the water. They floated boats, took a trip through the culvert and tried out the pond.

On Tuesday, Kris, Deana and Autumn came for a visit to our house. Grandma and Papa came the next day and camped nearby where they had a pool. The two kids got along great, but going to bed was a little difficult for each of them! We took Autumn to the beach, where her parents were really not excited about the water temperature (63 degrees), but she didn't mind! Because it was REALLY hot, we only stayed a little while, and then headed for the pool.

We had an early birthday party for Kim, with Grandma making an Autumn-safe cake and the three year olds playing the birthday song on some really loud instruments!