Leah's First Big Girl Swimming Lesson

Since she was six months old, Leah has been taking swimming lessons.  From six months until three years old, the kids do parent-child swim classes where the parents are in the water with the child.  Leah has always loved swimming lessons so we figured when she moved up to "big girl" lessons (meaning no parent in the water with her), she would do just fine.  We were right - she LOVED it and did so well!!  She was by far the tiniest one in her class (to the point where another mom asked "why is that baby in this class?") but was probably one of the best.  She had no fear in the water and did a great job with each of the things that the instructor had them do.

One of the most important things the kids have to do - hang on to the wall with TWO hands at all times.  More than once (probably 10 times!) the lifeguard had to remind Leah to hold on with two hands.  Leah would turn around, see what else was going on, push her hair out of her face, etc.  She wasn't worried about needing two hands - one hanging on was more than enough.

Back float

Swimming with the kickboard

She did such a great job, even swimming for part of the time without the teacher holding her up

This was supposed to be her smiling at me but she got distracted at the last minute by the life guard standing over her

Time to jump - for how fearless she is in the water, she gets very nervous about jumping and much prefers to be holding on to someone's hands when she jumps into the water

But then, she has no problem going underwater, touching the bottom of the pool, etc.  It is just the initial jump into the water that makes her nervous.  Silly girl!

She loved the lesson and can't wait for next week - every day this week she has been asking if it is swimming lesson day again.

Leah's Third Birthday Party

We had Leah's third birthday party the weekend before her actual birthday - we were hoping that we would have it early enough that Sweetie wouldn't make an arrival before (or during) the party!  It worked out and it was a beautiful day for a party.  The weather was so warm, in the 70s, so we spent most of the party outside.  It was great.  Our guests at the party were Nana and Poppa, Aunt Gina, Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa, Omi and Opa, Aunt Susi and Michael, Aunt Linda, Uncle Chris, Nick and Jason, Aunt Cathy, Uncle Randy, Joe and Amanda, Uncle Chris and Joe, the Santaguidas and the Langes.

In the days leading up to Leah's birthday, she changed her mind every day about what kind of cake she wanted.  One day it was a heart cake, another day a princess cake, another day a fairy cake.  I think at one point or another she also asked for a 3 cake, a hockey cake and a butterfly cake.  In the end, I made her a heart shaped cake with fairies on it.  Leah LOVED it - she said it was exactly what she wanted!

Heart fairy cake

And cupcakes to go along with - decorated by Daddy!

An artsy shot of the cupcakes

The party started around noon.  We had appetizers and hung around outside talking and playing lawn games.  We had lunch about an hour later - meatballs and pulled pork with different salads and sides.  It was yummy food and we very much appreciated everyone helping us out by bringing some of the food for us!

After lunch we brought all of the gifts outside for Leah to open.  It was such a nice day that we couldn't resist spending as much time out there as possible!

Loading up the present table.  In the background you can see one of Leah's early birthday presents - the playhouse in the background is from Nana and Poppa.

Mike, Joe and Cam playing lacrosse

Tag lacrosse maybe?  I'm not sure what they were doing, but Cam LOVED playing with his big cousins!

The birthday girl waiting very patiently to open her gifts

Kinsella men hanging out - Uncle Chris, Joe, Grandpa and Poppa

Awwww - Jaime and Jeff

Are we at a gun show?

 Time to open presents (with help from Amanda and Cam)

Leah opening a present from Omi and Opa - it was a beautiful red dress that Omi made!

Leah opened most of her gifts sitting on Amanda's lap - she loves her cousin Amanda!

Digging in to her next gift

Hugs for Aunt Linda

Leah was very excited to get playdoh

Pretty birthday girl

Great-grandma watching the action

Hugs for Aunt Cathy

And hugs for Uncle Randy

Winking Abby

Relaxing Joe

She is just so darn cute!

Hugs for Joe - he didn't want to crack a smile, but who can resist a Leah hug?

And hugs for Uncle Chris too

This gift is almost bigger than her!

Inside the box was a sock monkey that Great-Grandma made for Leah - so cute!!

Hugs for Great-Grandpa

Aunt Gina and Uncle Matt got Leah a Tigger stuff animal.  Leah bounced around with it, just like one should do with Tigger!

Leah was very excited to get rollerblades from Mama and Daddy.  She has been wanting to use Cameron's for a while now, so she was excited to get her own.  With princesses on them!

Hugs for Aunt Susi

Hugs for Emily

Hugs for Aunt Gina

Pretty Bridgette

Goofy girls

We went inside for Leah's cake because it was a bit windy outside.  Windy enough that even having the sliding glass door open was blowing out the candles!  So everyone piled inside to sing to Leah.  She liked the attention and singing just for her.

Blow out the candles!

And then lick the frosting off the bottom of the fairies

Everyone wanted a fairy to eat frosting off of

Yummy birthday cake!

We spent the rest of the party playing outside.  It was a wonderful party, Leah had a blast and we couldn't have asked for better weather.  Thanks to everyone who came and celebrated with us!

Cameron's Lacrosse Game

Cameron is playing lacrosse this spring and has been really enjoying it.  They started off the season with a few practices inside in the gym, but are now outside and playing games.  He is really good at it, especially since he hasn't played on a team since the first season he tried when he was three.  I think his hockey skills definitely help out, but he has also figured out scooping and running with the ball.  Here are a few pictures from his last game:

They start out the games in a scrum like normal boys games.  Cameron is over on the right hand side of the picture, in the lime green jersey and black pants with a red stripe.

After the face-off, there are lots of pile ups like this one where they are all crazily scooping for the ball!

Cameron (in the middle of the picture) taking a shot

Cam running with the ball

Going for a loose ball

He's got it!

He shoots, he scores!  (And Mama actually captures the goal on camera!)

All of the kids take turns being goalie.  Here is Cam in goal.  They wear helmets and chest protectors when they are in goal, it is very cute.

High fives at the end of the game

Cameron is LOVING playing lacrosse and has been playing it at home all the time.