I Donut Want You to Leave

So Sunday morning the kids got up godawful early as usual, and I got a wild hare (hair?) to take them to go get donuts

D&D both wanted chocolate frosted donuts, which they both ate top down.  Or at least top halfway down, which translates to really just the icing.


After breakfast the Monsons (and Claire) headed out.  We had to get this pic for posterity of course.  We sure have some good looking kids.

Dalton did his part to help load the car. And, of course, had to say goodbye to his "ladies".


After they left, the three of us ran some errands. The kids made some new friends at Old Navy. They're very nice, but kind of quiet.


After nap, the Bridges came over for pool time and dinner.  Dalton, as usual, was a wild man in the pool.  In this video it seems like he sees the camera and decides to pose.

 Darby, unfortunately has become more and more resistant to the pool's charms. Whereas last year she couldn't get enough, this year she has been much more skittish.  She doesn't want to get her face wet and no amount of coaxing and cajoling can get her to practice the things she learned in swimming class.  Because Dalton is a loose cannon and may throw himself in the water at any moment, with no fear at all, I got her a floatie suit.  Even with 3 vigilant adults in the pool I was still worried about what he would do, so it was comforting to know that she wasn't going to go under if we looked away for a second (I understand the dangers of the suit, and I would never leave her alone in the pool in it for even a minute). Even though she was perfectly safe to get off the step in the suit, she clung to it, or me, and wouldn't do much of anything.

Then, a little while into our pool time, she decided to blow bubbles.  This was heartening.  Jordan and Dalton joined her - Jordan without putting his face in the water at all, and Dalton dunking his whole head.  Full spectrum.

That's when I decided to see if I could get her to swim while holding my hand.  Once she realized the suit wouldn't let her go under, she got into it, and eventually holding my hand became holding my finger.  And finally I was even able to shake her loose from that. First we went from the step to the first bench.  Then we went from the step to the second bench.  Then we bypassed the benches althogether and went from the step, all the way to the far end and back again without stopping.  I could not have been more proud of her.  And her confidence level shot through the roof.  I'm hoping this will be the push she needed to re-foster that love of the water. (see video)