Summer Update

This has been a crazy busy summer.  It seems I blinked and now it is almost time for school. Matthew has had swim lessons twice a week since just after Easter.  He's still at the same level, but in the "older beginner" section now - so moved up a little bit.  The first few lessons involved a few tears, but now he is all smiles. One of the instructors always tells me how much she loves his laugh.  Just a couple of months ago Matthew wouldn't jump in the pool.  Or off curbs.  Or out of the car.  But now he will gleefully jump off of any curb and jumps into the pool without holding on to a hand.

Get ready

Swim!

Yay!

We also took a Kindermusik class once a week for 8 weeks.  It was fun, but a bit stressful for me.  Matthew preferred to run around the room over actually participating with the instructor.  At lease she is a friend of mine, and also has a three year old.  

Getting a treat for much better behavior

Even with the classes Matthew still wakes up every day asking where we are going or who is coming to play.  He loves activities out of the house.  Some of our regular haunts include the Children's Museum of Richmond.  The central location downtown has a fantastic splash area.

Firetruck at CMoR Chesterfield

Splash area at CMoR Central

Splash area fun

Ambulance at CMoR Central

Another usual trek out for us is the Richmond Zoo.  Matthew's favorite activities there include feeding the giraffes, feeding the budgies, riding the "train" ride around the African yard, and riding the carousel at the end of our morning there.  He FINALLY let us put him up on a stationary animal this last trip.  He usually likes just sitting on the bench better. And he recently started climbing to the top of the structure in the playground.  Daredevil he is not.  But he's slowly becoming a little more adventurous.

Getting braver holding the cup himself

On the carousel - the bench

On the zoo train

"Look Mommy, I'm up high!"

"I'm up high!"

Hungry ducks

Hungry giraffe

Slurp!

Budgie!

Another budgie

Starting to feel like "The Birds."  They love shoelaces.

Carousel bench

On the tiger!

Still cautious

Every boy needs a ride with a monkey

We tried out bowling a few times thanks to the Kids Bowl Free program. The first time bowling the employee set us up with a ramp. Turns out it's a special needs ramp and he wasn't supposed to let us use it. Oops.

First trip with the ramp

Third trip to the bowling alley and he did surprisingly well (without the ramp)

We enjoyed the park.

Hauling sand up

Swinging.  Always a favorite. He still doesn't want to try the big kid swing.

Matthew enjoyed his first movie in the theater - Planes Fire & Rescue.  It was surprisingly pretty good.  Mike and I took him a second time.

Waiting for the movie to start

"Cheese!"

And then there is berry picking, the random trips to Lowes, and the excitement of the new house being built next door.  The excavator driver saw Matthew all geared up in the yard, watching the work, and parked close to our side gate.  He came over and chatted for a couple of minutes and invited Matthew to check out the excavator.  It turns out he has a couple little ones of his own and completely gets the fascination.  Super nice guy.  The only downfall is that now Matthew expects to get in all the heavy machinery he sees next door and melts down when we say he can't.

On the hayride

Picking blackberries.

He ate as much as he picked

We picked blueberries too.  Berry picking is hot work!

The haul - about 5-6 lbs each.  Now it is jam.

Thanks to Granddad's Gator, he now looks for and finds the key slot

Hey, I can reach!

I like this one too.  The arms are fun.

Helping sand his new used bookcase for painting

Picnic lunch on the front porch watching the cement trucks.

Foundation being poured

Checking out the excavator

That's a big scoop

Having a blast

I can drive this, no problem

Picking rocks out of the track

I think that's a pretty good rundown of our summer so far.  Of course there have been some playdates and trips out for various errands keeping us busy too.  I'll fill in on our out of town trips and holidays soon.