The Kindergartener!

Today was a big day for us, the oldest started Kindergarten! She has been so excited to start Kindergarten. I think she's been ready since the day after preK ended. The husband wasn't sure we should send her to preK, but on days like today I was totally sure it was the right thing to do. Gwen was already to go this morning, about 15 minutes before we had to leave, she confidently got out the car and held the 8th graders hand and went into the school.
We had a Meet-the-teacher on Sunday afternoon, where Gwen met her other classmates, her teacher and I took some pictures. Next to the birthday board.
Next to her cubby.
With her crazy brother.
On her first day of school, in her uniform!
On the way to the car.
With her brother, but who's the crazy one now?


Walking out with the eighth grader-in the background in red is her preK teacher, chatting with the Kindergarten aides. I saw her turn, spot Gwen, catch herself and turn around. It was until then that I held it together and I am going to blame her teacher on that.
Gwen only had a half day today, so Nate and I ran some errands, came home, started some laundry and went back to pick her up. You can see her in the picture walking to the steps.
She apparently had a good day. They read a book, and she talked about some stuff that happened, I think we are on par with a good day again tomorrow. She was super nervous and excited about school today. As a matter of fact we apparently decided to have a party last night between 2 & 4am. FUN! Oh wait, not fun at all, we are all exhausted. I was not pleased at all, since I had to get up and run this morning! I am going to try and put them to bed in about an hour or so. (Heh, just kidding) I did enjoy the one on one time with Nate. He was terribly clingy today, but I suspect the is the exhaustion, well that with a side of Momma's boy. I could tell he missed Gwen terribly. I don't know what I'm going to do with Nate all day, I guess I'll find out tomorrow!

What you don't want to see more video of swimming lessons?

Well, too bad, we've got more! This is Gwen pushing off to a swim.

Untitled from Melanie Ubil on Vimeo.

I don't remember what this video is, but it is Gwen swimming.

Untitled from Melanie Ubil on Vimeo.

Ok, this is Gwen swimming down to the other end of the pool, I took the whole way down to the other end. What I think is funny about this video is that Gwen apparently decided to pass someone and she works really hard to pass the kid, then gets to the end and is floating. Nut!

Untitled from Melanie Ubil on Vimeo.

So in this video, Gwen was supposed to jump in, and then saw me with the video camera and decided to jump off the starter block. Show off!

Untitled from Melanie Ubil on Vimeo.

These are from today, "safety day", look at the smile on that face.

Untitled from Melanie Ubil on Vimeo.

Nate jumping in at the deep end, his first time!

Untitled from Melanie Ubil on Vimeo.

You are in luck, tomorrow is the last day of swim lessons! I am trying to convince Gwen to jump in on her own, no hands, she'll do it with me, why not do it with her instructor? We'll see if she will perform for the camera!

Swimming Lessons

I have noticed that now that the kids are in school I realize that summer has gone a lot faster. Although it could be because we didn't really know anyone last summer and now we have friends. I decided that the kids needed swim lessons this summer, so in the last couple weeks of summer I finally got them into the lessons. And they love it!
I took some videos also, for my Mom and Eric to see their progress. Gwen and Nate are actually in the same class, there are 2 instructors and they split up the younger kids into a separate group. So they seem to be in separate classes. Gwen has improved so much, but I'll let the videos speak for themselves.

Untitled from Melanie Ubil on Vimeo.

Untitled from Melanie Ubil on Vimeo.

Nate swimming

Untitled from Melanie Ubil on Vimeo.

If you listen closely, you can hear Nate squeal with delight when his teacher twirls him around.

Nate enjoying swim lessons from Melanie Ubil on Vimeo.

Gwen floating, not thrilling, but note worthy.

Gwen floating from Melanie Ubil on Vimeo.

Every week the "older" kids swim the length of the pool.

swimming to the deep end from Melanie Ubil on Vimeo.

Jumping in and swimming to the edge

jumpin' in from Melanie Ubil on Vimeo.

After the swim lessons we go to the playground and they have water to play with, the kids love it...

After swim from Melanie Ubil on Vimeo.

More recent blast from the past

A couple weeks ago on 4th of July we had the big rain storm, which canceled the fireworks. Eric and the kids decided to play in the rain. I took some videos, 'cause that's what I do!

Untitled from Melanie Ubil on Vimeo.

Untitled from Melanie Ubil on Vimeo.

Untitled from Melanie Ubil on Vimeo.

The kids love playing in the rain, and apparently so does their father!

Blast from the past

I have been not really posting on here, obviously, so here is a blast from the recent past. A couple months ago we decided to take the kids to a free festival at the NC fairgrounds. It was called the NC got to be festival. They had a bunch of free stuff for the kids to look at and a petting station. We had a good time, except we had to figure out how distract the children from the exorbitantly expensive ticket prices for the rides. Gwen loved the petting zoo, Nate stayed away. We watched this hilarious animal race; only hilarious because of the announcer and the kids enjoyed it. It was pretty hot for May.