Kade’s first session of swim lessons ended today with a pool party. He got to bring his Shrek boogie board and squirt gun, and I got to bring a snack that would hold up in the 90 degree heat. We have spent every morning of the last 3 weeks at the pool. Despite the stressful scrambling to get ready in the morning and the desperate attempt to cram in all of our errands before class starts, it is the best $20 I have ever spent (we had to buy a pool pass too, but we would have done that anyway). Kade has gained confidence, and he has calmed down and gotten back into a “school” groove due to our daily routine. My once water shy son is now holding his breath, swimming underwater, and coming back up without choking and puking all over. He loves swimming, Liv loves playing and socializing with all the little sibs, and I love having adult conversations with the other mamas. Everybody wins.

Here is Kade going down the water slide with his teacher, Alex. Normally the slide is off-limits to anyone who can’t swim on their own, but today was party day so slide on. At this point, Liv is flipping out over not being able to go down with Bubba…poor kid.

I really hope he remembered to keep his mouth closed.

No such luck. Thankfully, Alex kept him from going under. His pure delight over the slide adventure inspired one of his classmates, who was afraid, to give it a go. My son, the trendsetter…

Here I am with Liv and her little boyfriend, Ethan. They are a month apart in age and she’s rather smitten. This makes boyfriend number 3 for my little vixen. I know, I know…I’m going to have my hand’s full, but to tell you the truth, I already do.

The lifeguard told us we could all get in the pool and swim (usually the parents and siblings have to stay behind the fence in the baby pool area). Liv was eager to join her big brother in all the action, but I had to unhook from my pump so I dragged her with me. I have no intention of sporting a bikini, but it would really come in handy when having to disconnect. I came pretty darn close to flashing everyone as I reached my hand inside the front of my suit (I think I actually might have flashed someone when I was reconnecting, which was even more difficult to maneuver). It’s a good thing that I don’t have much worth looking at.

Of course, Kade pitched a fit when it was time to leave so I did what any good parent would do and bribed him with food. I let him carry the bowl of snack-mix we brought out to the car. He happliy picked the Cheetos out the whole way. Something about orange, processed cheese…it makes my kid’s hearts sing. If it’s good enough for Angelina’s crew then it has to be good enough for mine…right?

I forgot to tell Amy thank you for taking the above photos…isn’t it cool that she hangs out with the Hollywood elite?