Little Fishy

Elise started swimming lessons on Thursday! She loved it. I wasn't sure how she was going to do because she can freeze up in situations where she feels insecure. But she was so excited from watching JJ and wanting to do everything that he does that she did great. She is in a 4-year-old class and it the youngest/littlest on there. She just turned four and the rest of the kids have been 4 and are a year ahead of her school-wise. She did great though. They all sit on the side of the pool with their floaties on (Elise was sooooo excited to get to wear floaties) and the teacher takes two at a time across the shallow end learning to doggie paddle. They also used kick boards to learn to kick across the pool. Elise was the most timid in the water, but her teacher Mr. Dave is great and just let her take her time and kept her from turning and heading into the deep end! Elise did the best during the last 5 minutes when they get free time. She had the floaties on and got a pool noodle and held it in front and under her armpits and was able to kick and swim all by herself to the other side. I think she did it 7 times. Mr. Dave had her slide into the pool on her own a couple of times and the first time she dunked under the water and came up with huge eyes and mouth in a big O, which quickly turned to a grin. Oh, and she looks so cute in her surf suit I found on-line, which is this all in one swimsuit that has shorts and long sleeves - pink and purple of course. It is hard to find a decent swim suit in October!

#2 in the Broken Bone Club

Believe it or not, JJ now has a broken arm! I guess he thought it was his turn to get all that attention. It was bout 2 weeks ago when Jonathan took him golfing. JJ was running down a hill and tripped and landed on his hands and rolled. The doctor wasn't sure if it was broken or not so we had to wait a week with this horrible, monstrous splint on. Then it was decided it was broken, so he has a cast from his palm to his elbow. All his classmates signed it and I could tell he loved being the center of attention! He gets his cast off Oct. 31. Mom has been helping a lot more with his violin playing now that he has only one hand to use. So JJ holds his violin with his chin, bows with his right hand, and mom plays the left-hand finger part. So together we can play the whole Twinkle Twinkle Little Star song as a duet! JJ has a long lesson on Monday with all the other little kids who are at his stage of playing. There will be 6 kids in the 3 to 6-year-old group. Should be entertaining! Elise is chomping at the bit to start music lessons, so I hope to have things (i.e. money:-) ready to start her in January.