S is for....

S is for ....
SUMMER
Three weeks left. This summer has flown by and it's been a blast. I went into summer with a game plan. A cheap game plan. We've managed not to spend too much money, but have still done everything on our summer bucket list.

S is for...
SHOVEL NOSE SHARK-
We went to Harbor Cove with the kids last weekend, and I noticed shadows moving around in the ocean. A few teenage swimmers were shrieking loudly too and confirmed that something was in the water. Everyone was screaming about eels or sting rays, but a brave beach goer reached down and caught one of the many shovel nose sharks in the cove.

Taylor was brave enough to touch it, and Wes was brave enough to hold it while the hunter went to fetch his iphone so I could take a picture of him with his prize.

No worries, animal lovers. We let the creepy creature go after a quick science lesson for the kids on the beach.

S is for...
SWIMMING!

Finally! I have two kids that can swim!

The YMCA proved to be useless. Taylor started swimming the first week of summer after watching our friend, Andi, swim across the pool. It was like a light bulb went on in her head, and that was all it took.

Corinne, however, proved to be difficult. We bit the bullet and put her in private lessons with a wonderful gal in Valencia, who costs (deep breath) $25 for 25 minutes. That's a dollar a minute, for those of you who were doing the math in your head. But in the end, she was worth every penny. Corinne is getting better and better, and I can breathe a little easier when she's around the pool.

S is for...

Sea World!

Our last vacation of the year. *sigh*

We took the girls to Sea World. The ride there was painful. I won't sugar coat it. Corinne was getting over the flu she had the previous day, and both barfed and peed while in the car. Poor kid can't look at an ipad or color, or do anything remotely entertaining without wanting to puke. But we managed and made the best of it. I have to give myself kudos for keeping a happy face on the WHOLE 3 hours there. No joke. Hard to believe, I'm sure, but I was determined not to be a Negative Nancy.

The girls loved Sea World but loved our hotel even more. They're odd. They wanted to leave Sea World after an hour, just to see our hotel. But we stuck it out and enjoyed the shows and animals.


S is for....

RaciSt!

Ok, that's a stretch. But Taylor and I had a conversation the other day at Wes' baseball game that had me worried.

We were playing at the park near the baseball field when two little Hispanic girls sat down to play with the kids and their sand toys. They were speaking Spanish and Taylor froze. Literally, stopped dead in her tracks.

Me: What's wrong?
Taylor: They're speaking....Spanish!
Me: So. You speak Spanish. You watch Dora. You know how to say 'hola.' Say 'hola' and play together.
Taylor: I can't! I don't like it when Spanish speaking people are around.
Me: (Starting to wonder if she's channeling my deceased grandfather) Taylor, it's just another language. All of your friends speak Spanish too. Jasmine, Melanie, Kaitlyn, Kayla, Nikki, Sister Barron, Gabby....
Taylor: Ok....I'll just look at them and sign (in sign language) Thank you!
Me: Good plan. Go play.

Corinne, on the other hand, played right along with the two Hispanic girls and giggled when they spoke Spanish. She even tried to join in.

Little girl#1: *something in Spanish*
Corinne: Makalaka taka naka saka laka makamaka..
Little girl #1: (looks at Corinne like she's nuts)

At least she tried.

Totally unrelated video below of Taylor being chosen to assist during a show at the library.