Join The Club

About once a week we visit our local library. However, since summer has begun it seems we haven't been as often. In fact I hadn't realized how long it had been until our most recent visit. It seems our local library is doing a reading club for the summer called the Texas Reading Club Jubilee. They have set up a special area in the library just for this event. Student volunteers man the desk to sign up new members or to recommend books for young readers. Unfortunately this designated reading club area has replaced Preston's favorite area containing the maze toy and puzzle table. After showing his obvious disappointment and disgust for the library's audacity to remove his favorite toys, he proceeds to the reading club desk to ask (aka harass) the poor student volunteers. Since we were there I thought I'd find was it was all about and lucky for Preston the reading club welcomed readers beginning at age 3. So we signed him up. As a Texas Reading Club Jubliee Member, every day we log how many minutes he reads (or is read to, since he's not reading yet). Then at the end of the week he turns in his log for a prize, for a total of 5 weeks. Preston was so proud to have his name put on a paper cactus and tacked to the big bulletin board with all the other reading club members. I think he's forgotten all about the maze toy and puzzle table now. We checked out a couple books and read them both the very first day... several times.

Here he is showing off his books, bookmark, and reading log.

Just Keep Swimming

Preston started swim lessons this week. Here's just a few pics. (Sorry they're blurry and kind of dark.)

Waiting for class to start. (He's the short one in the blue shorts)

I like to call this one "Oreo" or "SPF 50 Required". (Is my boy white or what?!)

Practicing the breathing technique with the rings.

Kicking. Our favorite part.

Stroke... breathe... stroke...




Taking the dumbell out for a swim... I'm talking about the swim apparatus!

Notice the technique. Tongue out allows you to swim better.

(Oh and notice how the instructor has one eye back on the kids? Too funny!)

Let's try swimming on our back.

Looking not so sure.

"Mom, are you sure this guy is a 'certified instructor'?"

"It's all good!"

The Big Brother's New Do

First of all if haven't heard our big news, you'll want to click here.

We finally broke down and decided to pay a professional to cut Preston's hair. Up until then my mother-in-law or myself have been trimming it here and there. I can't speak for my mother-in-law but I had no clue what I was doing and thus Preston's hair has suffered for it.

Phillip was needing to get his hair cut so we decided to go ahead and let them take a whack at Preston. As Phillip is a simple (and thrifty) kind of guy he just goes to one of those walk-in type places. Preston was called first and although the hair dresser (or is it hair stylist... beautician... beauty salon person? I haven't a clue) didn't speak much English I attempted to tell her what I'd like to have done with Preston. I kind of wanted to keep the bowl cut we had going but I had fears that she would shave the back and sides and Preston would look walk out looking like Mo of the 3 Stooges. Helmet hair is not cool. Anyway as I was laboriously trying to explain, "Just do like we have here, nothing fancy, nothing adult or teenage looking, uhm... more like a trim, well not like a trim... uhm..." At this point I'm sure she's either thinking "Oh, I got one of those moms" or "I cannot understand a thing she is saying". Thankfully she interrupts me and says, "You want little boy hair cut?" Uhm, yes that's what a I want, do that. Although I'm pretty sure that directly translates from English to her native language to mean "Shut up woman. I cut, you like." Regardless I think she did a really good job. Not exactly what I thought I wanted, but she did cut and I do like. Sorry Karen, our boys no longer have matching hair-do's.

Coming Soon December 2008!

It's June 1st and what better time than to think about December. A time of cooler weather, snow (for some) and Christmas; my favorite time of year. To help us get in the mood here's what we have to look forward to this December:

• First of all December means Christmas! And who isn't excited about Christmas? Preston will be four and will without a doubt be super excited about you-know-who coming to visit.
  
  




• A new Star Trek movie! That's right Star Trek XI (that's number eleven, folks). I have to admit that I actually saw one or two of the first ten, but I think I'll pass on this one.

• This Park Avenue vanity will be available for purchase in December. Break out your platinum Visas friends, this one is going to cost you $1083.33 and I'm pretty sure that doesn't include shipping. Hey it is on sale!

• Another movie set to release this December is Opus: The Last Christmas. This one is on my must-see list as I've always been a huge Bloom County Fan. It'll be interesting to see how Opus makes it on the big screen.

• A new Sesame Street book for hardcore Muppet/Sesame fans is being released December 26, 2008. "Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street" will be a hardcover book consisting of 384 pages and promises to be full of Muppety Goodness.
  
  




• And last but certainly not least there will be a new HappyChap arriving December of 2008. Merry Christmas everybody!