Happy Birthday Joel

 On Saturday this boy turned 7.  We weren't sure that would happen a few days before because he threw a fit when he was told he wasn't getting a 3DS for his birthday. We said he could save his money like Colin did and buy it himself.  He refused and insisted that his birthday would be terrible if he didn't get it. I told him we didn't want him to have a terrible birthday so we would cancel it and treat it like an ordinary day.  Then he cried about having to stay 6 forever and never turning 7.  But he came to his senses and has now added a 3DS to his Christmas list! He has half the money already in his piggy bank but he doesnt want to use his money - he wants us to buy it for him!  But mommy and daddy aren't giving in so we will see if Christmas happens for him! 

This boy.  He is the sweetest and kindest boy when he wants to.  There is a sweet side of him that Colin doesn't have.  He wants to always get stuff for other people and even bought Pokémon cards with his own money this year for the kid who was picking on him on the bus because that kid didn't have any.  He comes home from school with candy to give to Norah.  But he has this stubborn side to him that you cant make do anything he doesn't want to.  Life is always interesting and unpredictable with Joel. 

 We were supposed to have a swim meet on his birthday and Joel didn't like that one bit.  He didn't want to have to wake up early on his birthday (so says the boy who wakes up at 6:30 every morning)  But they moved the swim meet to Monday night so our day was free.  He had been saying for weeks he just wanted to play with Nathan and Noah on his birthday so that's what we did. And despite not getting a 3DS he had a really great birthday and kept thanking us over and over.

 Colin was beyond thrilled that out of everyone Joel wanted Noah too so Colin had his best friend for the day too - we joked with Colin later that it was like his birthday too. 

 We always see the pirate cruise when we are at the beach so we decided to take the kids on the pirate cruise.   And I'm so glad we did.  It was so much fun. 

We took the early cruise so it wasn't too hot and it wasn't full so the kids had the run of the ship and got their own water cannon for the whole cruise. 

 They did a great job entertaining the kids and we even veered off course for a little to follow some dolphins.  Norah loved that part. 

We were waiting for the ghost of Blackbeard to come and Joel wasn't so sure about that at first - but it was just a guy inside a mask on a little boat. 

 Norah thought the guy was hilarious and showed no mercy to him with the water cannon.  Nathan aimed right for his mouth.  Towards the end (the 'ghost' kept circling the ship so all the kids could squirt him over and over) Colin  said felt a little sorry for the guy inside the mask.  The kids showed no mercy. 

We loved it and would highly recommend it.   After the cruise we took everyone to pungo pizza and let the kids play in the arcade. 

Sweet boys have been friends since they were 6 months old I think.  I'm glad Joel picked Noah and Nathan too! 

 Then Ant Ant, Grandpa and Ma-Ma-Maa came over for dinner and more birthday celebrations for Joel.  

Happy Birthday sweet boy!  Your sister thinks you are the greatest thing ever and always tells me "Joel's my best friend"  and Colin adores you as well.  Sometimes being the middle child is hard but you have the best of both worlds right now.  You can easily play with Norah and Juliauna next door making potions and mud pies or you can play with Colin and the older boys playing soccer or nerf wars.  You are well loved by all and even the 9th grader next door will ring the door asking if you can come out and play.  We are so glad you are apart of our family.  We love you so very much!

4th of July

Happy 4th of July! 

Our city does fireworks on July 3rd and it was all Norah talked about for days. She would count down the days until fireworks and tell everyone how many days left there were. The boys didn't really want to go - Colin wanted to go swim laps at the ymca instead! I really hope this boy makes All Stars this year. Joel wanted to stay home and watch a movie but Norah was so excited about the fireworks so we all went. 

Joel found these science goggles when they were cleaning their rooms and has worn them nonstop the past few days.

One of the glow sticks exploded on him but at least I could find him in the dark. 

Norah couldn't wait for them to start.

And then they started...

She spent the next twenty minutes rocking in the fetal position in my lap begging to home. Poor girl.  The boys loved every minute of it. 

Everyone keeps talking about the firework display one of our neighbors puts on each year and we are going to try to get Norah asleep before that happens tonight.

Today we went to watch the parade.  We checked the weather last night and there was only a 15% chance of rain. So when we woke up to no rain, a breeze and cooler weather we were excited for what we thought was perfect parade weather. Usually we are dying from the heat. 

Ten minutes after we got to the parade route it started to sprinkle. 

Brent went across the street and bought a few umbrellas - which we needed anyways because the boys umbrellas never made it home from school this year. 

And then it was a heavy downpour the rest of the time!  We were soaked and I think it will take our chairs a few days to dry out. 

But the parade went on and the kids didn't mind getting wet. I was surprised how many people were there watching the parade in the rain. We will always double check the weather the next day after this! 

Swimming

We have really been enjoying swimming this year.  The boys are at the top of their age groups and doing well.  And having a lot of fun.  Norah plays with the teenage girls during the meets and loves all the attention.  And they love their little cheerleader cheering for them at the end of the lane. 

 Colin has made it to Divisionals once and in our league after Divisionals there is the All Star meet.  He is determined to make it to All Stars this year and to do well he needs to swim at least an 18 second butterfly.  But his goal is a 16 second butterfly. Right now he has a 22sec so he's so close but those last few seconds are really hard to take off.   I have taken him a few times to the ymca after dinner to give him another practice.  Its fun to see him so focused.  We got their ribbons the other day and its never been better.  Very patriotic with all red, white and blue ribbons (blue is first, red second and white third place)  Colin got a purple 4th place ribbon but he noticed that his time on that 4th place ribbon was 3 seconds faster in breastroke so he didn't discount it like he used to.  Its all for times right now.

He does need help on his dives.  The ymca wont let us practice dives so I might look for a private swim lesson just to give him more practice on his dives.  Joel needs work too.  They did fun relays at the end of practice the other day and the kids had to bellyflop and I think that was Joel's best dive so I might tell him to do that in the swim meet. 

Its been really fun for the kids to watch the Olympic trials this summer and not to brag but my cousin was swimming in them! 

So fun to see my cousin on tv! 

We've watched her race several times already! The kids cheer loud every time. So proud of you Hannah!! The kids are in awe. Colin's worst stroke is backstroke and he had to swim it in a race the Tuesday after Hannah swam. I told him he was part Gouger too. He went and got second and was just 0.15 behind the kid who got first. 

She swam on Monday and that Saturday before Colin would tell all his fellow competitors behind the lanes that his cousin was swimming in the Olympic trials.  Nothing like a little intimidation to psych the other swimmers out. 

We have three more weeks of the regular season and then hopefully two more after that if we make it to divisionals and all stars!