June

 Okay, this first part is still a bit of May. I told you that preschool had wrapped up, but didn't have the pictures of the graduation and subsequent party yet uploaded to my computer. Let me just state for the record that while I think my son is absolutely adorable in his construction paper graduation cap, I absolutely loathe preschool graduations (also, kindergarten graduation, 8th grade graduation, and even high school graduation for that matter, since I felt then too that of course I graduated from high school. Is it really worth all the hoopla?) Nothing says "way to show up" like a preschool graduation ceremony. Still, Nate's a cutie.

Much more satisfying is the after-party. Truly that's what the day was about, celebrating the end of what was, for Nate, a very long school year. My boy did not love preschool. I'll admit that I'm a little worried what the next 13 years will be like, given that it's all downhill from here. Preschool is as fun as school gets.

The party included balloons and face painting. Also acceptable was arm painting, especially if the selected design was a snake.

Gwen chose a red flower, but spent her time giving her face painter the stink eye.

The graduation party also included a picnic, bubbles, play doh, popsicles, and general mayhem.

In June my brother had a few days between school and his internship when the Mrs. was out of town, so he came to play with us. The kids loved the visit from their Uncle Patrick.

This summer has included a new experience for us: swim team. Brenna and Ava are both competing. They have practice from 11-12, Monday through Thursday, with one evening swim meet a week. We are completing our 8th and final week and they have yet to grow tired of it! They leave practice smiling every day and are excited for all the meets.

As I tried to take photos of the girls in their events Gwen said, "Take a picture of me!" Who could resist?

Ava swam 25 meter races, which meant she never faced my direction for an event. So the best shot I have of her of the one meet I remembered to bring my camera to is this one:

Brenna swam 50 meters for her events. Here she is in the backstroke.

And the freestyle.

This has been a fantastic summer, with all four kids finally swimming independently! Nate and Gwen took swimming lessons early in the summer and loved it. Here Nate is learning to dive.

It was during swimming lessons that Gwennie turned a corner and began to just...swim. She went from needing to be held onto every second she was in the pool to pushing me away, burying her face in the water and just swimming to me. Just like that. Here she is doing it for her instructor.

And here you can see that she and Lila (on the left) are having the time of their lives.

I still have to watch Gwen every single second she's in the pool but the girl is swimming, and that makes me so happy.