Feet First

We are very lucky to have a pool in our neighborhood.  The kids love it - it's nice and spacious and has three different areas for kids to play and swim and enjoy.

One area that has had lots of appeal, but has also caused some fear and anxiety is the deep end with the diving boards.  A couple of years ago, Jack jumped off the diving board after much pushing, prodding, and, I think I remember, bribing.  It didn't go well, and he hasn't done it since.  And by hasn't done it since, I mean that he didn't even attempt it at all last summer although we talked about it an awful lot.

But every.single.time. we go to the pool, he mentions the diving board and how he might go off.  In five minutes.  After break.  Before we leave.  Maybe next time.

Every.  Single.  Time.

The four of us went to the pool today and about 20 minutes in, Hannah decided she wanted to go off of the diving board.  And, of course, in true sibling fashion, she had to inform Jack that she was about to go off the diving board.  Which, in true sibling fashion, made him climb very quickly out of the pool and speed-walk to the diving board.

And just like that - he found something that he loves.  For the next 2 1/2 hours that's all he did.  Happily.

Hannah went off of the diving board, too.  She just didn't love it as much as Jack.  Yet.

All I can say is, thank goodness for good, old-fashioned sibling rivalry :)

First Day

Today was a big day around our house.

Our first-born headed off to first grade for the very first time. I was nervous and excited and scared for him all at once.  He may be six and growing taller by the day, but he's still my baby.  I want him to love school.  I want him to do well.  I want him to be brave and to make friends.  I want him to reach out to kids that are lonely.  I want other kids to like him.  I want him to listen to his teacher.

And I wonder what he wants or how he's feeling...  Last night, he mentioned that he was a little scared, but he didn't seem as committed to that feeling as he was on that very first morning of kindergarten.  He's getting braver, my boy.

This morning, we got up a little extra early so that I could take some first day pictures.  I think it's kind of losing it's shine for Jack, but Hannah was loving the chance to be a model :)

Would you guess that this last picture was my favorite from the morning?  It truly encapsulates this time in our lives...sibling rivalry and out-of-nowhere meltdowns.  

I love Hannah's face.  I love Jack's face and the fact that he's still touching the frame just enough to make Hannah make that face.  I love that Hannah wanted this picture to be all about her.  I love it all.  

Luckily, both kids had a great day.  Jack seems very excited about all things first grade, and Hannah did very well in the Three's room for her first full day with her new teachers.  They are sleepy little children, but they had fun and are excited for another day tomorrow.  For this, I am thankful.

We have fun.

Sometimes, randomly, the littles do something that's just entirely too cute not to photograph.  Last night, it happened to be that before bedtime, they climbed into a basket of clean laundry to play.

 It was priceless, or so we thought.  I ran for the camera.  The battery died.

So I ran for the better camera.  And then we got carried away.

Playing in the basket for sibling pictures escalated into attacking Daddy.

And then trust falls.

{Look at that head of girly hair!!!}

And then it turned into sibling rivalry.  Pretty typical around these parts:)

{I promise he was only sad for a millisecond.}

{See?}

And then?  Hannah Bear struck again:

     Jack - "I want a turn."

     Hannah, sitting proudly, centered on Daddy's lap - "Too late.  Check minus."

But that time?  We all just laughed and laughed and laughed.