This summer, we have some scattered plans which will pull us all over the map. Of course, I'm leaving the spouse and the spoiled, er, Sprite at home as I spend 4 fun-filled days in Chicago playing with a bunch of other bloggers who are just as happy for the break. (It may get a little dangerous..) I may even take a break from Sprite's Keeper. I haven't decided yet. I may also pull in some guest posters, so let me know if you'd like to keep up appearances (and maybe dust my archives. It's affecting my allergies.) by leaving me a comment.
July 4th will find us on the other side of the state as we prepare to celebrate our niece's first birthday since she so eloquently chose Independence Day to assert her independence.
I can't leave out July 18th weekend. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince? It's marked on my calendar, it's that important.
And of course, Labor Day weekend, John and I will be celebrating 10 years together with a quickie trip to the Mouse with Sprite. (The deals for Floridians abound this time of year. It would cost us more to STAY HOME! So I've been telling John. And don't tip him off, it's working!) This trip is also an excuse to visit three (soon four) of my favorite people at The Katz Cradle and meet Cletus who should be born by then and will still have that new baby smell.
Throw in a few Saturday excursions to Costco (we usually pack an overnight bag, we spend so much time there) and parties (with or without birthday cake) and you have our summer.
Oh, I almost forgot!
Tomorrow, Sprite begins swimming lessons. Can I just say I'm dreading this?
I love swimming. I love the water. I hate the beach (the sea water, sand, tourists, crabs, please, we're going down a path that is drowning in seaweed..), but water and I get along.
In fact, many summers of my youth were spent in water. We had a pool in our old house and my sister and I would use our college aged uncle as a responsible adult (Ha! We thought he was cool because he ate pizza for breakfast.) when my parents were working and spend endless hours swimming. In an age where Lee and I rarely got along, the pool and the threat of losing pool privileges made us reconcile our differences quickly.
Something I didn't like though? The swimming lessons. It was summer. I was seven. Mom and Dad had started the process of building our pool and enrolled us kids into swimming lessons. I don't know what I hated more, the having to let go of the swimming instructor whose greenish tinged dirty blond hair reminded me of The Wizard of Oz just to get to the wall or the obscene amount of freckles she had dotting her leathery neckline due to countless years of sun exposure. Then there was the swallowing of gallons of chlorine, the choking, the hot burn of it going up my nose, and the subsequent crying. And that was before I even dipped my toe in the water. My mother had to bribe me a lot just to get me into my bathing suit. And the kicker? To pass the class, the instructor threw a perfectly good DumDum into the deep end and made us go get it.The woman was nuts. And lazy. Whenever she dropped colored rings into the pool, she would send one of us to retrieve them. I think she needed a dog.
Well, I passed, I got over my fear of water and of swimming instructors, and have grown to love the water.
Now, Sprite has developed an affinity for the water, so much to the point of "pretending" to swim in the bathtub and playing in the deepest puddles near the drain at the water playground in the park. I've been watching this and getting concerned because, living in this state, we are SURROUNDED by water. (I know, you're thinking, "Well, DUH", but you should know this only heightens my fear of possible drowning. I've even had my only nightmare concerning Sprite revolve around water. Not fun.)
So, like every other neurotic parent out there, I decided that flinging my only child into the deep end or six Saturdays in a row should either abolish my own fear or nurture hers. Whichever way, it will be a win.
I don't have many expectations for the class other than for her to find her way to the nearest wall or adult and maybe a ten second synchronized swimming routine. I'll even welcome five seconds. So, see? I'm not envisioning much.
I just want her to have a healthy respect for water. And me too. I want respect too.
Tonight, she better get her rest. Tomorrow, we swim.
Sprite, your summer is about to get a bit more exciting.
(Is it wrong to hope our instructor is a brunette and abuses sunscreen?)
*****************************************************************
Reading all these Spins have put me in the mood for a poolside chair, a good book, and a large Sonic Cranberry Limeade. (I know where I'M going tomorrow.) Check out these Spinners!
Sandie over at Sandie Simply Says
Sandie over at Sandie Simply Says -An "I love you" Spin!
Ginny Marie over at Lemon Drop Pie -An "I love you" Spin!
Kendra over at Life In The Slow Lane
Cyndi over at The Adventures of HarryJack -An "I love you" Spin!
Cyndi over at The Adventures of HarryJack
Lisa over at Boondock Ramblings
Ecologista over at Ecology of Life -New to the Spin Cycle! An "I love you" Spin!
Mama Badger over at Out of The Boondocks and Into the Burbs...
Pseudo over at Pseudonymous High School Teacher
Joanie over at Joanie's Random Ramblings
Fantastic Forrest over at Traveling Through Time and Space -New to the Spin Cycle! An "I love you" Spin AND a Summer Plans Spin!
Fantastic Forrest over at Traveling Through Time and Space -Another Summer Plans Spin!
Kingsmom over at Servant to a King
Lisleman over at A Few Clowns Short
Camille over at Archives of Our Lives -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Lesha over at The Lost Burp Clothe -Updated today! Fresh Spin! New to the Spin Cycle!
Rachel over at The Ramblings Of Rachel -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Wicked Step Mom over at Life and Times of a Wicked Step Mom -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Stacy over at Stacy's Random Thoughts -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Maureen Lynn over at A Chronicle of My World Travels - Updated Sunday!
Stop by and see the new Spinners and the veterans. It's summer! We have all the time in the world!
******************************************************************
Next week's Assignment: Memories.
Shucks. Remembering summers past has me all nostalgic. Let's talk memories. Good ones? Bad ones? Momentous life changing events? Or a memory of something so seemingly normal yet it encompasses life in a nutshell?
Describe a moment of your life! Could be twenty minutes ago, could be twenty years ago, yet it's still crystal clear.
Or maybe you're making memories. Anything memories!
Just remember to have it in by June 19th!
Sounds like a great summer. Hope the swimming lessons go smoothly!
Posted by: The Dental Maven | June 12, 2009 at 05:33 AM
WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU!!!!
By the way, we just started swim lessons this past week. I hope I am wrong but Sprite will probably cry...and scream...and protest...and then get out of the water and want to do it all over again if she is anything like her little Orlando friend.
Posted by: Becca | June 12, 2009 at 06:08 AM
Swimming lessons aren't all bad, we're in them now too. Well, except that Graham fell in last week at his lesson and spent that 30 minutes and this week's HYSTERICALLY crying on the edge of the pool. Sad but true. You're right though, we're literally surrounded so it's the only option.
Please forgive me for I have not Spinned. Grammatically incorrect, I know but it sounded good. I had plans of writing my spin last night but then I got the last minute opportunity to go on a date with my husband! We saw Star Trek and although it impeded my spinning progress, it was great! I'll do better this week, I promise. Still friends?
Posted by: Casey | June 12, 2009 at 06:44 AM
http://lifeandtimesofawickedstepmom.com/2009/06/12/spin-cycle-summer-plans/
I never had swimming lessons... I think I am going to call my mom and thank her for that...
Posted by: WickedStepMom | June 12, 2009 at 06:53 AM
We did the swimming lessons thing at about Spite's age. Summer was spent with swimming lessons; winter was spent with snow ski lessons. Good luck with those.
If you're going to forgive Casey could I get in on that? My bad.
Posted by: Michele | June 12, 2009 at 07:09 AM
You're both forgiven... For now. Mwahahaha! Wow, I just can't do evil anymore..
Posted by: Sprite's Keeper | June 12, 2009 at 07:36 AM
I didn't purposely do this post as a spin cycle post: http://lostburpclothe.blogspot.com/2009/06/who-loves-parade-i-do.html But I hope it can be included!
I only remember the smell of chlorine from my swimming lessons when I was little, but I still love that smell, so I guess I had fun. I can't swim at all though as an adult.
Posted by: Lesha | June 12, 2009 at 07:42 AM
I taught (or sent them for lessons) all my kids to swim when they were very young. By the time they were 4, they were jumping off the diving board into the pool! All my kids turned out to be little fishes, although the 2 girls more so.
Great spin!
Posted by: Joanie M | June 12, 2009 at 07:56 AM
Oh yeah! I just remembered!When I was about 12, my friends taught me how to swim. They pushed me into the deep end. I swam.
Posted by: Joanie M | June 12, 2009 at 07:58 AM
I wonder if I should have Princess Nagger take swim lessons - I never learned how to swim as a kid, but I do love the water and can do a mean dog-paddle and back float...I just never got the coordination down for the swim stroke - you know, to breath OUT when your face is in the water, and breath IN when it's not...I always did it backwards. :)
I actually did a spin this week! Aren't you proud of me? ;)
Here it is:
http://stacysrandomthoughts.blogspot.com/2009/06/spinning-up-some-summertime-fun.html
Posted by: Stacy (the Random Cool Chick) | June 12, 2009 at 08:00 AM
I'm always up for a guest post if you still need people---I like running rampant with other peoples' blogs (and doesn't that make you excited to turn yours over?).
Coming from AZ where every other neighbor has a pool in their backyard, I am also a firm believer in swimming lessons. It's gonna be great. Wish Sprite luck for me!
Posted by: Camille | June 12, 2009 at 08:52 AM
Your summer sounds like fun. One of these days I would like to see sprite at Disney world. Hint Hint (Mike)
Posted by: Baba | June 12, 2009 at 08:53 AM
Honestly, I wouldn't expect to get much out of the swimming lessons. They (the American Academy of Pediatrics) say that children under age 4 aren't developmentally ready for swimming lessons. I wouldn't expect Sprite to learn any potentially life-saving maneuvers at this age. My daughter took swimming lessons at about the same age....not trying to burst your bubble, and she might retain some arm stroke type movement, but that's about it. They're really too small to be able to pull themselves up or move more than a tiny bit. Couple more years, still.
Posted by: Cameron | June 12, 2009 at 08:57 AM
This sounds corny but there's nothing better than teaching a kid to swim. It really is something to enjoy for a lifetime.
Sounds like a great summer planned, especially the trips. Enjoy!
Posted by: Robin | June 12, 2009 at 09:19 AM
You might remember that the only really bad dream I had about Jonathan also had to do with water. If you don't remember, it did and it was horrid. I think swimming lessons are an awesome idea. And it sounds like your summer is booked right up. I am jealous of you going to BlogHer, but right now thee would be no way for me to go. I shall live vicariously through you, which is why you have to find a way to blog that week!
Posted by: Lisa (Jonnysmommy) | June 12, 2009 at 09:28 AM
Oh and I'm up for a guest post, but I'm not sure I'm worthy or snarky enough. :-)
Posted by: Lisa (Jonnysmommy) | June 12, 2009 at 09:28 AM
Swimming, swimming, in the swimming hole...
Good times. We've taken LG into the pool once or twice now. He thinks it's just a bigger bath tub. No trauma or anything. I think it might have to do with the no pressure thing. I could care less is he goes in, I'm not paying to swim in my own pool.
As for the large rodent, we're jealous. You'll have to take lots of pictures of Sprite within the kingdom of magicness...
Posted by: mama badger | June 12, 2009 at 10:37 AM
::crying::
I'm so sad I had to give up my ticket :( We could have MET!
::sniffles::
As for swimming lessons, I'm a huge fan. I think it's different when you're their age and different when you're 6 or 7. Hopefully, by the time they're 6 or 7 they'll be pros!
Posted by: Michelle | June 12, 2009 at 10:57 AM
So you are going to blog her? Am so jealous. I wanted to go to celebrate a year of blogging and to meet some bloggers in person. Maybe next year *sigh*
My kids loved their swim lessons, hope SPrite has similar experience.
Posted by: phhhst | June 12, 2009 at 12:55 PM
I remember mom on the phone with the swim instructer and me hiding behind the horrible black and white dining room table and chairs scared! I also remember the dum dums at the bottom of the pool. That was my favorite part in the shallow end of course. I put Bryan in swimming lesson at Sprite's age and he cried the whole time. It was hard to watch! Hopefully Sara will do better at this age! Good luck! Love you!
Posted by: Lee Ann Haskett | June 12, 2009 at 06:40 PM
I'm such a dead beat dad, I still haven't taken my youngest swimming yet.
Posted by: Captain Dumbass | June 12, 2009 at 07:13 PM
Ug, I hated swimming lessons too. Not such a fan of water as you know. Still, good times for you and Sprite! She'll probably take to it like a little fish. And please don't take a blogging hiatus! At least not a long one!
Posted by: Rachel | June 12, 2009 at 08:25 PM
Maks started swimming lessons at 8 months and he hated it. 16 months later he is loving it. I think that getting them into the water is a great idea. They don’t have to be Olympic athletes, having them comfortable in the water is good enough.
P.S. I pack a bag for Costco too. :)
Posted by: Meli | June 12, 2009 at 09:01 PM
a little late, but here's mine!
http://maureenlynn.wordpress.com/2009/06/13/summertime-and-the-livins-easy/
Posted by: Maureen | June 14, 2009 at 12:57 AM
I've been trying to bribe my brother into swimming lessons too. He doesnt want to. My parents waited too long to teach him. He's twelve now. I think he NEEDS to learn, but I dont know to how to convince him about that.
Posted by: GiGi @ Incrementum | June 14, 2009 at 09:10 AM