Esther finally jumped in from the side of the pool by herself! Before, she just slid in from her bum. But she finally took the plunge, so to speak. She also jumped off the diving board by herself. The best part of that was that even though she was shaking with fear, she did it anyway! I'm so proud of my girl! We ate ice cream before lunch, I was so happy!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Swimming Lessons: Week One
Esther had her first day of swimming lessons on Monday. She cried through pretty much the whole thing. Poor kid. By Thursday, she was jumping in the pool when her instructor (her cousin Derek) wasn't looking! That's a big turnaround in just four days! I'm really glad that she's overcoming her fear of the water and I hope that she will continue on in the great Janis family swimming tradition. Personally, I count myself very brave for swimming in the deep end of a swimming pool or actually getting up on waterskis a handful of times.
I love this video. She is still not keen on actually jumping into the water so she jumps at the side and then slides into the pool!
Learning to dive for a rock at the bottom of the pool. Not too shabby, kid!
I love this video. She is still not keen on actually jumping into the water so she jumps at the side and then slides into the pool!
Learning to dive for a rock at the bottom of the pool. Not too shabby, kid!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Happy Father's Day!
He stands alone in the middle of the street, eyeing his target. His weapons are slung across each shoulder, resting firmly at his hips. Anxious for action, he flexes his hands near his sides, waiting for the right moment. Suddenly, a challenging voice shouts out, "Paul, would you get out of the street before you get hit by a car?" He quickly shoots the picture and hurries back onto the sidewalk, smiling apologetically to my mom.
I love my dad.
I remember the vacations when he had a video camera hung over one shoulder and the big Kodak with the telephoto lense over the other. He wore a baseball cap, pen in his shirt pocket, and had more maps on him than a newsstand. Now he's replaced the two cameras for a much smaller digital with photo and video capability, but his enthusiasm for taking pictures hasn't lessened one bit-- especially since he now has grandchildren! And he still wears a hat and carries a lot maps.
Sure, I love to give my dad a hard time about looking like a tourist, being an overly verbose tour guide, for remembering our trips by which restaurants we ate at, and making silly jokes, but I really look up to him. And, after all, I ended up with some of those same traits. Just ask my in-laws or anyone that comes to visit us. A couple of years ago, Daron, Esther, and I took a short trip around Virginia with Daron's parents right before law school graduation and I found myself doing many of the same things my dad used to do. Years ago, that would have made me cringe, but now it pleases me to no end.
My dad has always been a wonderful example to me of how to live the gospel. He is truly one of the most humble men I know. I love to listen to him sing as his bass voice rumbles the back of the pew. I love how he teases my Mom. I love how he gets so emotional about his girls. He's an engineer (but we won't hold that against him); he is smart, patient, and mostly funny. He is definitely one of a kind!
I love my dad. Happy Father's Day!
I love my dad.
I remember the vacations when he had a video camera hung over one shoulder and the big Kodak with the telephoto lense over the other. He wore a baseball cap, pen in his shirt pocket, and had more maps on him than a newsstand. Now he's replaced the two cameras for a much smaller digital with photo and video capability, but his enthusiasm for taking pictures hasn't lessened one bit-- especially since he now has grandchildren! And he still wears a hat and carries a lot maps.
Sure, I love to give my dad a hard time about looking like a tourist, being an overly verbose tour guide, for remembering our trips by which restaurants we ate at, and making silly jokes, but I really look up to him. And, after all, I ended up with some of those same traits. Just ask my in-laws or anyone that comes to visit us. A couple of years ago, Daron, Esther, and I took a short trip around Virginia with Daron's parents right before law school graduation and I found myself doing many of the same things my dad used to do. Years ago, that would have made me cringe, but now it pleases me to no end.
My dad has always been a wonderful example to me of how to live the gospel. He is truly one of the most humble men I know. I love to listen to him sing as his bass voice rumbles the back of the pew. I love how he teases my Mom. I love how he gets so emotional about his girls. He's an engineer (but we won't hold that against him); he is smart, patient, and mostly funny. He is definitely one of a kind!
I love my dad. Happy Father's Day!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Happy Birthday Nathan!
Nathan turned one yesterday! I can't believe how much of a little boy he's becoming. He folds his arms to pray and says, "mamamama" like he's saying the prayer. He also says that when he's "reading" a book. I guess it's the universal phrase right now - good for whatever words are necessary. He is also learning to kick a ball and put toys in and out of other toys.
I'll always remember the nights in the hospital with Nathan. I sent Daron and my mom home and stayed the nights alone. Although I was still in a lot of pain, it was so peaceful - just Nathan and I snuggling, him learning to nurse, watching HGTV at 3am, and getting to know one another.
I love this little boy with the big eyes!
California Trip
The last Saturday of May, I took the kids out to Sacramento, CA to visit my brother and his family. The weather was beautiful and we bummed around the house, went shopping, ate frozen yogurt, smoked chicken, and had a great visit. Then I rented a car and drove down to San Jose, where we picked up Daron from the airport and met the entire Janis family at the Los Altos Residence Inn.
It was Daron's parents' 50th anniversary so the reunion was planned in California, where they both grew up and where they raised their family. Events included driving tours of homes they had lived in, schools the children attended, and places filled with memories. At each stop, we would read about the humorous or interesting experiences that had happened there. One evening we ate pizza at the hotel and watched a documentary that my sister-in-law had put together about Mom and Dad Janis. It was fabulous to get to know them better and to watch clips from previous reunions and of all the grandchildren as they joined the family.
On Saturday, we drove from Los Altos through Morgan Hill, where Daron spent his life from 2 to 14. The drive down the mountains to the beach in Watsonville was gorgeous. The redwoods and cypress trees smelled heavenly! (I love associating places that I love with smells or sounds. For example, San Diego will always bring the aroma of orange blossoms, Williamsburg the sound of fife and drums, and Boston the crunch and smell of autumn leaves.) And the weather was gorgeous - in the 60s and 70s each day we were there and no humidity.
Neither Esther or Nathan enjoyed the beach. The water was still pretty cold and Nathan did not like the sand at all. It didn't help that he hadn't had a regular nap for several days already. He spent most of his time sitting on my lap snacking on crackers or standing on the sand crying. We did get one picture of him smiling, though!
That evening we held an anniversary party at the chapel where they used to attend church. Old friends from way back when came to help celebrate their anniversary. On Sunday we all went to church together and then went back to the hotel for lunch and a special tribute to Mom and Dad Janis.
I love that I get along so well with Daron's family. They truly have become my family as well. I have been so blessed to have two marvelous extended families!
It was Daron's parents' 50th anniversary so the reunion was planned in California, where they both grew up and where they raised their family. Events included driving tours of homes they had lived in, schools the children attended, and places filled with memories. At each stop, we would read about the humorous or interesting experiences that had happened there. One evening we ate pizza at the hotel and watched a documentary that my sister-in-law had put together about Mom and Dad Janis. It was fabulous to get to know them better and to watch clips from previous reunions and of all the grandchildren as they joined the family.
On Saturday, we drove from Los Altos through Morgan Hill, where Daron spent his life from 2 to 14. The drive down the mountains to the beach in Watsonville was gorgeous. The redwoods and cypress trees smelled heavenly! (I love associating places that I love with smells or sounds. For example, San Diego will always bring the aroma of orange blossoms, Williamsburg the sound of fife and drums, and Boston the crunch and smell of autumn leaves.) And the weather was gorgeous - in the 60s and 70s each day we were there and no humidity.
Neither Esther or Nathan enjoyed the beach. The water was still pretty cold and Nathan did not like the sand at all. It didn't help that he hadn't had a regular nap for several days already. He spent most of his time sitting on my lap snacking on crackers or standing on the sand crying. We did get one picture of him smiling, though!
That evening we held an anniversary party at the chapel where they used to attend church. Old friends from way back when came to help celebrate their anniversary. On Sunday we all went to church together and then went back to the hotel for lunch and a special tribute to Mom and Dad Janis.
I love that I get along so well with Daron's family. They truly have become my family as well. I have been so blessed to have two marvelous extended families!
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