Swimming lessons

Theo and Addie started swimming lessons yesterday. They were very excited because they know that we are doing lessons to get them ready for the outdoor pool which opens this weekend. They had a great time with their teacher Whitney. We actually signed them up for semi-private lessons (they are the only two kids with the teacher). Last year it quickly became apparent that the pool would be no fun for me if I had four kids and only one that could swim well so this is our last minute attempt to get Theo and Addie going on their own this summer.

Theo told us afterwards that he thought his teacher was really tricky because she had held his hand and had him jump in and then she asked him to do it again and this time she kept holding her hand further back, and finally Theo just jumped/fell in. This was very amusing to Theo. Here are some pictures of them in their swimming 'gear'. And the last picture is Jack trying to show them how to smile!

Happy 2nd birthday Eliot Charles

Here is a fun picture of our favorite 2 year - Bring on the twos....I think I am ready!

Like Father, Like Son....

The other day I was telling the babysitter that Theo was allowed to watch one of his favortie shows while I was gone called Wild Kratts (not surprising an animal show!). I told the sitter that the show came on between 4:30 and 5:00 and he could have the tv on then. Theo quickly piped up and said no Mom that is not when the show is on. I quickly dismissed him and said ‘yes it is Theo’. To which his response was ‘No, Mom it is on from 4:30 to 4:59. Martha Speaks comes on at 5:00.’  He was right. I was wrong. Like father, like son.

#LifewithTheo

Theo is really into anything to do with animals. He is a walking animal factoid. Seriously – some of the most obscure facts come out of his mouth.

Well, yesterday Jack came in and announced that Theo was peeing in the front yard. Charles quickly calls Theo in. He questions Theo on Jack’s allegation.Without missing a beat, Theo promptly explained that he ‘was peeing on the termite mound he had ‘made’ because that is what termites do to solidify their mound so he wanted to make sure his  mound was built well’. Yes, you cannot make these things up.#lifewithTheo

Respect Your Continent

The boys are learning a timeline of world history this year through Classical Conversations.
Alexander the Great, through some transmutation that only comes through the minds of
little kids, turned into a nickname for Eliot, but as Alexander the Chicken. It’s a game for
them: Eliot runs through the house, laughing, chasing his older siblings, as they yell, “Look
out! Here comes Alexander the Chicken!”

That’s the backdrop for a recent incident. Addie was parading around, talking about
Alexander the Chicken, just like her older brothers. But Theo pulled a 180 on her. He
sternly corrected her, “You need to show some respect for your continent.”

“Theo,” Mrs. Thumb Up said somewhat puzzled. “Alexander the Great’s not from North
America.”

“I know,” Theo replied. “He’s from Europe, but we are Europeans.”  Clearly Theo has not forgotten the land of his birth.

Of course, most of our English friends are now puzzled too, since they don’t often think of
themselves as being part of Europe. :)