More Swimming

Yet another swimming post. This is currently what takes on most of our time. Monday thru Thursdays are practice and weekends we are hanging out at the pool watching Cameron swim and get better each time he jumps in. I had posted these on Facebook, but not all of the family is on Facebook, so I am posting the videos onto the blog for the family to see how well Cameron is doing. Just be patient with me for the next 5 weeks and we will be on to new adventures.

He is growing up...7 years old

On June 11th 2003 @ 7:06am our lives changed forever. Our twosome became a threesome and life could never have been crazier. I was so ready to be a mom. I knew I had wanted to be a mom. And on this day I became one. I did not expect motherhood to be so hard, but it was. Cameron was a clingy baby. Always wanting to be held. Always wanting to be loved (didn't mind that). But he couldn't have been more perfect. He was brought to my arms to teach me patience. A virtue that was not in my vocabulary before I had him.

He has grown into such a wonderful little guy. He dotes on his sister. They never fight only argue and Madeline usually ends up the victor in the argument which will only make Cameron that much better of a husband to some lucky girl far in the future. He is a bit of a klutz and has his meltdowns, only not as many as before. He is like a sponge when it comes to learning and soaks up anything you put in front of him to read, write, or do. He loves swimming more than anything else in the world. And if he isn't in the pool swimming he is playing Wii or watching his favorite cartoons. He has definitely taught me patience and that a kind word goes farther with him than harsh criticizing words. He does anything I ask of him and sometimes more. He will surprise his mom by making the bed sometimes, and is so proud when I notice and thank him.

We are so grateful for this little boy and life would not ever be the same without him. I hope he enjoyed his spongebob themed birthday, but I'm sure he did. This family would do anything for this little guy and he does everything for us.

Madeline's Joy School Graduation

Madeline has finished her 1st year of Joy School. Here are some pics from our little graduation party. She is a ham if you hadn't already figured that one out.

Better Late Than Never

Here are pictures of the kids in their Easter duds. It is a little late, but the weather here has been crazy and was not warm enough for Madeline to wear her cute little dress. Had to wait till June to get the picture, but it was worth the wait. Right.?

My Little Fish

Paul and I have been trying our darndest to find a sport that is just right for Cameron. He loves soccer, but hasn't gotten the coordination down to be able to keep up with the kids in his age group. Same goes for baseball. The kid loves to go to baseball games, but when it comes to playing he just looks silly trying to throw the ball and hit. So instead of him being humiliated and laughed at, we were at a loss for what to do for him. Then came the World Swimming Championships. Thank you USA Swimming.

I sat down to watch the last day of the competition and Cameron happened to come in and watched with me. After it was all done he asked if they really do that. Apparently he doesn't think anything is real on TV, which this mom is grateful for, back to the competition. I said they do and he asked if he could do that. Sure, why not. He loves to be in the water, we just had to find him a team, a team that would be patient with him and help him learn the strokes. He has had swimming lessons, but hadn't reached the level where they go over the strokes. We got lucky when we found the Modesto Sharks team that as long as they can front crawl across 25 yards and aren't afraid of the water they will take them. Woo Hoo. So Cameron has taken to the water really well and is loving every minute. Fingers crossed that this is what he wants to continue to do. This mom would spend any amount to make sure this kid has something that he is good at and passionate about doing. And I think swimming is what it's going to be.

He Did It!!!!

Cameron set a goal for himself this year to get perfect attendance. He really wanted to get the trophy that they give away at the end of the year. By golly he did it. I was worried there for a bit. We had one day that he was not feeling well, but he went to school anyway. And no, I did not make him go, I was prepared to have him stay home and make it up to him in some way for trying his best to get perfect attendance.

Memorial Weekend Camping Trip

Another year means another camping trip. Our plan all along had been to go to Lake Alpine again. Not the case this year as you will see from some of our pictures. They still had 5 feet of snow on the ground, so we headed to a new campground for our camping trip. This year we were at Wakaalu Hepyu. It is Miwuk for wild river. And the river was very wild and very fast while we were there, but gorgeous to just sit by and watch and listen. Here are some pictures from our trip.