Swim Classes!

swimming to mommy

smiling despite the super cold water

our class room

liam & irina

irina wanted to try the slide but was to scared

Irina has started her swimming classes again, we switched from the Aquatics Center in Southlake to a much warmer pool at the Keller Pointe Rec Center. Liam and Irina took classes together last year and were going to jump in the water together again this year. We were excited to be in 85degree water vs 70degrees (although it felt like 40degrees to us), we walked in for our first class only to see a sign that read "WATER HEATER IS NOT WORKING, WATER WILL BE COLDER THAT USUAL"..ugh! really!? Then, our class instructor wasn't properly advised of the type of students she would be teaching...you see, we signed up for a "Mommy & Me" swim session where a parent is required to be in the pool with their child. She was under the impression she taught toddlers alone, minus the parent. So after talking to this manager and then that class coordinator, we walked into chilly waters with our kids. Irina screamed last year for her first couple of sessions but this year she had been asking to go swimming (yeah, in FEB!) so I felt she might be ok. Liam was a bit nervous and I'm sure SHOCKED by the near freezing water! He did the best he could and I think he did better than Irina did last year. Irina was a great little kicker, she can blow bubbles in the water, "monkey" the wall or walk along the edge with her hands and she is comfortable with her ears in the water. We have taken 2 classes and the heater is working! Wahoo! The water was much, much warmer and the kids did weren't shivering at the end of class :)

Irina is not shy

Just yesterday Irina moved into a different classroom at church, Craig and I were worried she would cry since it was a new and big change. We have seen kids transition into new classrooms since we teach Sunday school and were expecting the worst. Irina surprised everyone and did AWESOME! Once kids are 2, they get to see a puppet show and sing songs with all the kids that are 2yrs thru 4yrs. Craig and I are in that group teaching and thought Irina would cry when she saw us, but she walked in, said hi and danced along to the praise and worship. She even got on stage and did all the hand motions to the songs! Craig and I were so proud of her! We have such a big girl!

Irina's Birthday Party & New Class @ Church

cindy & annabel

irina & her datty

friends!

make a wish!

the birthday girl

"cheese"

sneaking off to open a gift

holding baby Henry

"I twoo" is what she says

Mondays are our playgroup day and so we decided to schedule Irina's 2nd birthday party on a playdate. We had a great turn out and everyone had a blast! I can't believe my baby girl is 2! She is growing so fast! She has been putting sentences together and is doing a great job, she is trying to do the same in spanish but doesnt quite get it yet. I really need to talk to her more in spanish but it slips my mind, I have to pick a day and focus on just speaking spanish to her; it's difficult! So anyway, she has also learned to count to 6 and can count to 3 in spanish..slowly but surely we will get to 10! I'm so proud of her!

SNOW DAY #2

Last Friday we woke up to even more beautiful snow outside our homes! I have never enjoyed a winter more in my life than I did this year, the family had so much fun in the wintery blast! Craig went into work late that morning so we enjoyed playing with Irina in our bed. My brother Roy and Irina were hard at work shoveling snow off our driveway. Notice my front neighbors driveway..how did they shovel the snow off so well?? I wish I would have seen what they did, they're from New York so maybe they have some experience and tricks up their sleeve.

SNOW DAY #1

Wow! I can not believe the amount of fluffy snow we got here in Texas! Irina and I had a great day together watching the snow fall and pile up outside our windows. After lounging around at home next to the fire place, we went out to play in the white snow!! Of course we had like 15 layers of clothes on...ok, more like 2 pants, 2 pairs of socks, 3 shirts, a hoodie and a coat and of course snow boots. At first Irina was a bit hesitant to walk around in it but she quickly got over that, she even started eating the snow!