Expecting Summer

Since the rain has officially died down and it has started to really heat up outside, we have been utilizing a bit more outdoor time as a family. Even in the weeks leading up to my official "summer vacation" we tried to get out as much as we could, when the weather allowed us to.

We had the intention of getting Nora more comfortable with swimming before her official swim classes started, so we have been to the pool and splash pad a couple of times to test the waters. Last summer, Nora didn't really like the splash pad since water sprayed in her face and Janie was not even moving yet so she didn't really have a lot of involvement. We wanted to see how the girls reacted at the splash pad this summer. In our first visit, I was not surprised that Nora was still a little unsure about the splash pad. She didn't get very wet but she did like running around and watching - only slightly more independent than one year ago. I was totally surprised that Janie didn't eat up everything about the splash pad. I really thought she would just love it but I guess I was wrong about her! She was just as timid about it as Nora was a year ago and wasn't so much into getting splashed. She mostly wanted to stay with mommy and play hide and seek with the chairs.

Janie keeping a close eye on the splashing.

Taking a snack break.

How Janie preferred to spend her time at the splash pad...

When we ventured to the actual pool for the first time, Nora didn't seem to have any problems wading in and hanging out in the water with mommy or daddy. Janie took a little bit of time to warm up to the idea but eventually she did like walking through the water and going on the little water slide that they have for toddlers and young kids at the pool. We played, practicing "jumping" in the pool (I say this with quotations because Nora is still not a great jumper... it was very scaffolded jumping), and hung out in a little deeper waters to try and get Nora used to swimming around. Swim lessons will start this week so we will see how everything goes!

Ready to swim!

In addition to our water time, we visited the Fort Worth Zoo, have been to the playground, and played a little in our own yard and driveway when we had the time and the weather cooperated.

Janie loved the elephants!

Playing with sticks.

Spinning at the park!

Our first two official weeks of summer have some pretty busy days. The girls are going to school for the first week so that I can accomplish some things around the house and attend a few trainings and I am teaching VBS at our church the second week, so we won't have a lot of time to plan out our summer days. I am looking forward to going to the library, dance class, and movies this summer with the girls!