CFF swim lessons...

Cousins, Emerson (6 years old) and Hudson (3 years old) took swim lessons too! (Picture above; on deck.) Enjoyed pool side conversation and soaking up the sun with Mommy, Heather! See you guys soon. Session 6?

If you can see the smoke and you can smell the smoke, then it is probably best not to be outdoors breathing in the smoke. Despite CFF rescheduling a couple of days of swim lessons due to unhealthy air quality from nearby fires in Butte County...Tiegan and Kennedy were very excited to go to the pool everyday! They have just completed their first "formal" session of private swim lessons; Turtle 1 and Turtle 2 class. Tara, their swim coach, was absolutely wonderful! She turned the task of teaching swimming 101 into a fun game for the girls. The girls were trying and doing new "things" in and under the water without even realizing it! (I chuckled.) Every now and then they would glance over at me to see if I caught their moment of triumph. I gave a clear thumbs up.


1. Face in water- bubble blowing, hold breath, retrieve objects... CHECK! CHECK! CHECK! CHECK!
2. 10 bobs to chin! CHECK!
3. Floats- front and back... CHECK! CHECK!
4. Supported kick in front... CHECK!
5. Arm strokes... CHECK!
6. Unassisted floats- enter/exit pool... CHECK! CHECK!


Braden has his own personal swimming pool to splash around in... Thanks Auntie Lisa!


Tiegan and Kennedy both liked to jump in from pool side and use the kick boards! Tiegan conquered several unassisted front strokes out to Tara from pool steps. Both girls thought monkey crawling on the pool wall was fun. Overall, this was a very positive experience for the girls. It really helped build up their self-confidence in the water and overcome some of their fears of the water. Watching other children who were also three and four years old reach their swim goals, challenged them as well. GO, girls!

Your next vacation?

If gas prices keep going up... this is how all of us will be taking our vacations!

Birth order of children...

Maternity clothes:
1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.
2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

Preparing for the birth:
1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last time, breathing didn't do a thing.
3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

The Layette:
1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.
2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they? (NOT if we can help it. BUT there is a lot of PINK in our house.)

Worries:
1st baby: At the first sign of distress, a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby.
2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.

Pacifier (our favorite):
1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.
2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby's bottle.
3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

Diapering:
1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour; whether they need it or not.
2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.
3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

Activities:
1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, Baby Zoo, Baby Movies and Baby Story Hour.
2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaners.

Going Out:
1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.
2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.

At Home:
1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.

Swallowing Coins:
1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays.
2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin to pass.
3rd child: When third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his allowance!

I laugh everytime I come across variations about parents behaviors when it comes to their firstborn... all the way down to their lastborn. Nonetheless, there is a lot of truth in this sarcastic humor! Have you experienced any of these birth order stereotypes? Do you have a favorite?

GRANDCHILDREN: God's reward for allowing your children to live.

Random "stuff"

1. Tiegan and Kennedy have bouncy, healthy looking hair. Trimmed approximately 3 inches off.

2. Swim lessons: Day 3 and 4 postponed and rescheduled due to unhealthy air quality. Drought + Mother Nature= 300 scattered California fires. This fire season is a red flag warning. Smoke, smoke, and more smoke... Thanks Canada, Australia, New Zealand for offering a helping hand.

3. Rafael Nadal beats Roger Federer, the five time Wimbeldon champion, taking home his first Wimbeldon 2008 title. Federer: "Expect the worst and hope for the best. Nadal is the worst competitor to have... I tried everything." GREAT match! Nadal hurdles over spectators, hoists himself onto the rafters where his parents watched the competition; celebrating a long family hug! Priceless moment of victory! (I cried.)

4. Girls night out was a hoot! Laughed so hard it hurt! Literally. Enjoyed the company, sharing stories, cuttin' up, laughing, roasting Colleen, etc. (Have fun in Africa, Coll!) As usual... A really great time out. Shared several stories with Byron when I got home and he laughed out loud! (Anyone need a back rub?)

5. Byron's new hobby. He is now attempting to bid on ebay for vintage toys that he had when he was a kid; Planet of the Apes, Big Jim action figures, American Justice League, etc. Only to be outbid by a penny. Oh, the nostalgic childhood memories... Someone, please, help me. Will Braden really appreciate these toys, as much as, his "retro" dad did? I know, I know... he now has someone to pass them on too. (Hmmm... RETRO... sounds like our next pet name?)

6. Looking forward to watching the Summer Olympics in a few short weeks, 08-08-08; host- Beijing. GO USA!

7. I bet you can't do this... pull a rib from your vertebrae. Yes, you read that right. That is exactly what I managed to do Friday afternoon. (Oh, so that's what that sharp pain was?) Yowzers! I think it is amazing that chiropractors can pop, push, turn, pull your body back into alignment. The sounds of adjustments sent my feet flying into the air; natural reflexes I guess. It really feels like he put my rib back where it belongs one pop, push, turn, and pull at a time. A little bio-medic ice, skilled hands, electrotherapy, and ice packing to reduce the inflammation and prevent me from favoring one side over the other and I was on my way. Sore, but I feel like a million bucks today! Life goes on...

4th of July

This was one of the best 4th of July celebrations we have ever had as a family! We chose to surround the kids in all of the local patriotic festivities that we could physically be a part of. The weather was absolutely perfect; cool with a slight breeze. (In past years, it has been too hot to really enjoy any outdoor venue for any length of time.)

Our day started at Royer Park where the Roseville parade marched by us. Local veterens led the pack. There were girl scouts, Alice in Wonderland floats, remember fallen soldiers cars, ROTC flag bearers, Roseville Fire Department and their families showing their patriotism with signs, songs, sirens, music, dress uniforms, costumes, flags, etc. After the parade had marched through town, the flood gates opened! Royer Park soon became a sea of families meandering among the venders, listening to patriotic music played by the local orchestra, eating kettle corn, and excited children scurring around at the play park. Tiegan and Kennedy stopped only for a moment to make a photo memory before they were off to the super slides and crazy bounce houses. Fun, fun, fun...

(Byron's friend, Chief Scott Mulligan; Roseville Fire Dept.)

The day continued on at #### Celtic Drive; the Ramsey's residence. Yes, the one and only, Uncle Tim's house. (Did you notice the street name that my brother lives on? Funny, huh?) This is where we devoured our midday American picnic of hamburgers and hot dogs, baked beans, homemade potato and macaroni salad, fried zucchini, fruit, watermelon, and refreshing glasses of iced tea. Patriotic dessert followed. D-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s.

Afterwards, the girls had their own ametuer fireworks show; throwing party poppers in the middle of the street and twirling sparklers. But the real fun began at o'dark thirty. That's right, we trekked out to Lincoln Park for a fantastic fireworks show! The best we have seen in a few years! The kids were intently watching, even our little Braden man. All of the kids ooohed and aaahed at every loud BOOM and striking display of light! The show actually lasted a good half hour; I think there were three grand finales. SPECTACULAR!

The night was far from over. Back at the house... the street asphalt became our informal launching grounds. It was time for the dad's to "blow" stuff up. With boxes of the "GOOD STUFF" in hand, grill lighters, and family and friend spectators at a safe distance, the second fireworks show began. There is something wonderful about grown men giggling like children. Byron and Tim trying to out-do the other with one thing in mind... bringing it BIG! I guess we have our forefathers to thank for ensuring our country's independence so we can celebrate the holiday by combusting fireworks.

Celebrating the American way!

Happy 232nd Birthday, America!

God Bless the Red, White, and Blue!

Thanks for protecting our freedoms.

As for our household, we are PROUD to be Americans.

God Bless AMERICA!

July 4th Trivia:
1. How many verses does the Star Spangled Banner have?
2. What is the last line of the last verse of our National Anthem?
3. Who wrote the Star Spangled Banner?
4. What is our national bird?
5. How were fireworks invented?
6. How is the flag supposed to be folded?
7. What are two things the flag should never touch?
8. The first Independence Day was July 4, 1776 but in what year was Fourth of July officially declared a national holiday by Congress?
9. Which president of the United States was born on the Fourth of July?
10. Which two presidents, both of whom signed the Declaration of Independence, died on the Fourth of July in 1826?
BONUS: How many signatures appeared on the Declaration of Independence?

Did you answer all 11 questions, right?

Hope you have a fun, but safe 4th of July!

Scroll down for answers:

1. Four.

2. O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave (it's the last line of each verse).

3. Francis Scott Key.

4. The bald eagle.

5. The Chinese invented them much the same way they constructed rockets for war.

6. The preferred way to fold the flag to show respect is to fold it into the shape of a triangle.

7. The ground or water.

8. 1941.

9. The 30th president, Calvin Coolidge

10. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.

BONUS: Fifty-six.

How did you do?

California Hands-Free Law

Well, it's official. It is now illegal, in California, to drive while talking on your hand held cell phone. This new "hands-free" law is in effect today! Byron and I have BLUETOOTH; a wireless link between our cell phone and the ear piece device. And it isn't so bad, really. But you do get what you pay for. So, invest wisely. Click and watch this short news video to hear more about the law itself and what your options are.


Just drive...