When ya got noth'in good to show... just show pictures of kids and kittens. That's what I'm do'in because that's all I got. If ya don't want to see kids or kittens just move along.
Seems this week has gotten away from me just a bit. It all started on Monday when I took Tater to swimming class and was sucked in to helping with the class. First off... I'm not a big fan of swimming. I'm not good at pretending I'm not terrified that one of them will drown at any moment.
Little kids that spit and sputter in the water make my heart beat a mile a minute. That's why they go to swim class. So they can learn to swim and I don't have to watch. So how did I get wrangled into helping with the class? I'm not sure. It was one of those moments when my brain was screaming "No! No! No!" but my mouth said "Sure, I'd love to help."
So I am spending my mornings this week and next with a little herd of Tater-sized squids (Tater included) while they make their very best efforts at floating, flutter kicks, and bubble blowing. I don't know about them but I'm pretty sure I hold my breath for the entire morning. These are small people we're dealing with here. The water is almost up to their chins which means that one stumble sends them under. I am not a good swim class helper. The teacher and other helpers have to keep reminding me to let go of the kids. I keep holding on to them so they won't stumble and get their little faces wet but that means that they also can't float or flutter or bubble. Its not a good seen. Plus one of the little darlings is my own Tater and she's the youngest and smallest of them all and her little lip trembles and her skin is all goosey bumped and she says "Mama, the water is so cold today!".
Really... the kids have a blast. They giggle and flutter and yell "Watch me" and all I want to do is towel their little faces off and convince them to maybe go play in the baby pool or get a popsicle at the refreshment stand or something. Today was really scary. Today was Life Jacket day. The kids all wear Life Jackets and get to see what it feels like to float around in one and how to keep their faces up incase they ever have to wait for somebody to rescue them. You'd think I would have felt better about them all wearing Life Jackets but really what it meant was I was surrounded by 8 little buoys with no tethers. They all giggled and bobbed and floated around in all directions like little ships at sea with no rudders to guide them. It was like trying to gather marbles on a wood floor. Their little feet couldn't touch bottom while they were floating in those puffy orange vests so they just splashed and giggled and floated around. It was terrifying.
Disclaimer: The class is actually very safe and well managed with a wonderful teacher. I'm just really uptight about kids and pools and the entire experience has been awful (for me not them). Next year please remind me how awful this is so I don't do it again. Tater needs the class and she will go but if I have to do this with her again I'll need to have my meds upped.
So anyway... between swim torture, last week of school paperwork, school meetings, a few work things, and a few trips to the veterinarian the week has just blown by. I keep waiting for a lull but it ain't happen'in.
So about the kitten pictures. We got a new kitten. I feel so cliche. Knitter lady gets another cat. Not very original. But I do love the kitties. This is Oscar...
He came from the Llama Lady's farm. I'm amazed its taken us this long to cave in and bring a kitten home from there because let me tell ya there are cute kittens there every spring and we spend a lot of time there.
My biggest concern was that the poor little guy would either be eaten by Tucker or beaten mercilessly by Toby. Honestly Toby was my biggest concern. Tucker can be a little bone-headed but Toby is just plain mean when he wants to be and he even pushed Tucker around when Tucker was still a pup. I figured a dinky kitten wouldn't stand a chance.
Well, it took about 10 minutes for Oscar to hiss and swipe Tucker across the nose sending Tucker reeling with disbelief. And it only took about a week for this...
Granted... they're snoozing on the dining room table where they shouldn't be but at least they're bonding! Little Oscar has moved in and made himself right at home. I want 10 more.
Okay... now the kids...
The boys have been thoroughly enjoying some exploring exhibitions in the woods and down by the lake and the other day they brought back the biggest dandelion I have ever seen...
(Left to right) Flash's best buddy, FlyBoy, Flash
We've had ridiculous amounts of rain for the past few weeks (months?) so everything that likes a lot of water is growing like mad. Really, knowing my botanical background, or lack thereof, it may not be a dandelion at all but either way we're calling it the biggest dandelion ever. If it looks like a dandelion...
Tater was super impressed...
Of course Tater calls dandelions Wishing Flowers and delights in blowing the little fluffies away. She momentarily considered the big wishes this one was worth...
In the end we decided to stick it in the pot with the fern on the back deck and just leave it there to admire for as long as it would last.
So there ya go. No knitting. No sewing. No smocking. Just kids and fuzzy stuff. There's a few almost done things here but almost done isn't quite what I was going for so they will have to wait a little longer. FlyBoy and Doodle go to camp next week and school will be completely done by then so hopefully next week will be uber productive.
What a precious kitten! (And holy dandelion!)
Posted by: L | June 28, 2009 at 05:07 PM
Marie-Grace, now let's just get things right. Now, I've always known that there's Tater, and there's other siblings, etc. But then: what's that photo of three! well-tough, manly boys? What's going on?! Have your boys grown up?! X
Posted by: clarabelle | June 15, 2009 at 03:55 PM
You are SO brave to help with the class. I feel the same way about swim class and have probably only been to three in the four years she has been swimming. I figured I handled the dance class so my husband can handle the swim class. Plus, since he was a lifeguard in his youth, I figure he is better qualified. i know she is an awesome swimmer now, but is still scares the crap out of me.
Posted by: Niki | June 12, 2009 at 04:10 PM
Great, now I want another kitty (I've wanted and Orange kitty for soooooo long) and I'm not allowed... other half says three is enough... he's is gorgeous and Oscar is the perfect name!
Posted by: Valerie | June 12, 2009 at 10:19 AM
It's always the most pleasant of surprises to find that your big old tom cat is a total softy when it comes to little kittens.
Good luck to Tater (and mom) with the swimming lessons -- she can only get better at it!
Posted by: Marg | June 12, 2009 at 08:40 AM
KITTY!!!
Oh I relate to the terror....
Posted by: bezzie | June 12, 2009 at 06:52 AM
Aww, I am loving that kitten!
I've always loved swimming and always done that with my kids, so it's a little hard for me to relate to terror. But, I've also always been very careful with kids and water. I was a lifeguard in my young adulthood, so I get the whole water safety thing. I'm always shocked at the parents who set up camp far from the water's edge while the kids are out in the water. When my guys were under 5, I was an "arm's reach" parent while we were swimming. Anyway, swimming lessons are good and when you see that they really can do it, it won't freak you out so much.
Posted by: elizabeth m | June 12, 2009 at 12:07 AM