Pool Time

Max & I went to the coolest pool today! He loved it & I loved being in a swim suit again with max in his little board shorts! I am loving it here, but I will forever & always be a summer girl!

The pictures below are just one area. They have waves, a little beach, a lazy river, huge waterside, kiddie pools, swim lesson pools, dive pool, lap pool, and a cool gym. All in doors! We loved it!


Max loved that his swimmer diaper had a fish on it. That's what he's showing you in the picture. The changing room had a little playpen aka jail! Max begged to get in it. He loved it!

I love all the cool stuff there is in Dunedin for us. We are looking at more houses this afternoon. If you are a praying person we would love some for our housing/finances. If you aren't send us good thoughts :) we will keep you posted!!

Addiction

Slow Days

Max walks. Not fast. Not hurried. Just walks. He stops and looks at rocks. Touches walls. Stops to see a birdie. Climbs on ledges. Squeals at anything that looks like a ball. Screams when he sees a plane. It's what you do at 18 months.

I walk with Max. We slowly walk most places, occasionally with me carrying him. I always thought I would be SO busy as a mommy. I'm sure I will be one day, but for now we simply walk slowly. I enjoy these moments of wonder. I enjoy walking to the library. I enjoy our Starbucks dates. I enjoy our tromps through the museum. Today as we walked I realized I'm a bit surprised at the enjoyment. I don't do things slow, I love action, I hate being bored. I usually am doing three things at once. Truth:: I still sometimes multi task with Max, but most days I am just slow with him. No where terribly important to be. No one to impress. No deadlines or projects to complete. I struggle on and off with not having those things, or more accurately not having those things define me. There is something to be learned in the slow for me. I, of course with all my might most days, want to rush it, but that's just it. It can't be rushed. It's found in the slow. Maybe at 35 I'm finally finding me or rediscovering me. The me that isn't bogged down with who I think everyone wants me to be, but just me.

Slow works right now. I fight the urge to compare myself to the other women & moms learning something in the fast & chaotic. It's there fast moment not mine. By 40 (when did 40 become closer than 30!?!?!) I want to thoroughly love the skin I am in. The first step is what I said earlier :: I'm enjoying the slow.

Some of our slow from today.

Driving.

Max's first letter from a Girl

Today Max received his first letter from a girl. His little friend Talia send him a very cute card. He was so excited. He loved "reading" it and showing daddy when he got home.

Cookie Monday

Sometimes a Monday needs to be started with a cookie! Today was one if those Mondays. We are still thoroughly enjoying are time here, but the week at times can look long. We started our week at Starbucks (thanks Grammies & Grampie!)

Max loves planes, so we stopped today to have a quick flight. Then we headed for the pool. We haven't swam in months so this was a fun activity. There are two pools near us. This one wasn't very exciting but Max still had a blast.

We are nearing the end of this first section of time. Sam has two more weeks of class and then we will begin a new chapter. We are still looking for a place to live and figuring out a new budget. I can easily get overwhelmed, but am constantly reminding myself to do just what's in front of me. There is so much that is unknown, but I know that God has some good stuff ahead. Some days I just have to remind myself over and over. :)

Max's 1st Day in Church Class

I found a great church here last week. Max was sleeping during church last week so this week he got to give it a try. He had so much fun. I wasn't going to leave him this week to get him used to it, but he played & loved it. He only lasted 15 mins but that's a great first start after all this transition. I went back in then even left again when he started playing and not looking for me. He lasted 20 mins that time.

The class was what I was hoping for him. They played, did bible stories, snacks, songs & craft. He made his first craft:: a sheep, after they told a story about Jesus always looking for people because they are special how farmers always look for their lost sheep.

I heard announcements, one song & 15 mins of talking. Not too shabby for his first time.

The teachers were awesome and loved on Max and let him get so excited about everything. He loved the fishing pond & play dough. He loved the story and taking a picture of his play dough ball for daddy (he was home doing homework all morning).

Some of the pictures are blurry but his first day is documented at least.

Butterfly Fun

We went to the Tropical Forest at the museum again today. Max loves it and was even more brave with the butterflies. His other favorite part is the waterfall and pond with all the fishes and birdies.

His excitement & expressiveness is one of my most favorite characteristics.

Fall.

We found a cool new park and Max loved the crunching of the fall leaves

Free.

Max is forever scoring free treats. After a gorgeous sunrise and fun Mainly Music class we stopped by the gas station. The man gave Max a free lollipop. He's such a charmer.

Pre School Fun

Max has had a full day. We had a Starbucks date & he is winning the workers over one by one. Even the cool guy that works in the morning. He was coloring Auntie Amy a picture in the photo below and eating his yummy puffs from Grammy & Grampie.

We had a story time at the library with a few challenges where my son was doing his favorite trick :: making all his bones disappear & going limp as well as shutting his eyes tight when I say look at Mama. Aye ya yae. One little old lady kept staring at me. "Oh no here it comes" is what I thought, but I was pleasantly surprised when she encouraged me and said I was doing well. I'll translate that from Kiwi to American in my head "You are doing amazingly awesome!" yep I'll take that :)

We also found this cool little park by our house. It has a slide Max does awesome! And to his delight not just seagulls but ducks! My dad would have loved it - not sure the ducks would have.

Max got another cool treat today, too. We looked at the coolest preschool/daycare today. Max had such a good time and I really liked it too. They were so sweet with him and he played all around loving it. He especially loved playing on the computer.

Beach Afternoon

Max & I headed to the beach for a much needed beach afternoon.


Something good just happens in my soul at the beach. It's not always joy sometimes it's just a safe place to mourn and still look forward.

First Library Card

It was a big day in our home :: Max got his first and very own library card. I can absolutely remember getting mine. And I'm so old I remember the librarian date stamping the date card in the back of the book!

Max was SO excited and waited patiently while she processed his card. They are wonderful at our library here and so FOR kids. The lady danced with him all the way back to the children's area and then handed him over to the children librarians. They gave him a special bag and a book mark and, to his utter delight, 2 stamps on his hand. They got excited with him and even clapped when he showed them he can roll his hands one over the other (his new trick he's been working on for ages!)

He was so proud and can't wait to get more books.