Swimming - Little 2s

Madelyn started the Little 2 swimming class in early June.  It's another 4 week class with 2 sessions each week.  When we started I thought that might be a bit much going 2x week but we love it and Madelyn asks to go swimming every day so it's perfect!  Jack has done great too - he is still taking everything in and loves watching Madelyn and holding her towel!

The Little 1 class was very much about being comfortable with the water, waving to parents, splashing around which was fun.  Little 2s took a big step up - it is all about swimming and learning how to swim (which is obviously awesome since that is why we are paying for these lessons!).  The first session I was a little overwhelmed because there was a girl in Madelyn's class who could swim by herself.....and Madelyn just became comfortable putting her face in the water.  There were 4 kids (instead of 3 in Little 1), no waving or giving thumbs-up to the parents and it went from one skill to the next to the next and before we knew it, the class was over!  Thankfully it didn't phase her and she loved it!

She has done awesome in the class!  She is now swimming by herself.....scooping and kicking from about the 1/3 of the pool to the edge.  The teachers at Foss are amazing.  They know exactly the skill set that each of these classes is capable of and how to get them there.  Extra teachers step in to help so the class moves right along.  

Madelyn passed Little 2s and is onto Little 3s!  At the beginning of the session I would have never dreamed she would pass but she is a pretty focused little girl.  She does whatever is asked of her and even if she can't do it all, she does her best and is always improving.  It's been amazing to watch her build confidence every session and love what she's doing.  Less than 4 weeks ago Madelyn wasn't even comfortable going under water and now she can't wait to get under water!

Floating on her back, all by herself

Flipping from her back to her stomach

They always doing something fun at the end of the lesson.
This session they rode the raft!

Pump It Up

Today Madelyn had a field trip to Pump it Up.  The building is in the same parking lot as my office so I went over there over my lunch hour.  It was perfect - I got to see Madelyn play for a little bit and eat lunch with her.  Leaving is always the hardest part.  Madelyn does great in the mornings at drop off but whenever she sees me during the day it's always hard to leave again.  I am going on the Sea Adventure field trip at the MOA in August and I promised her I would take her home after the field trip and we would have a mommy/daughter date!  She was excited about that......I am too!  I just love our daycare/preschool.  They do fun things during the summer with all the field trips, projects and water day.  It is a change of pace from the regular Sept-May so that's fun for these days.  Kids of working parents deserve a fun summer too -- it makes me feel a little less guilty!

Madelyn & Whitney

Playing Air Hockey with Adeley

Arrowwood 2015

We went back to Arrowwood last weekend for our 6th annual Bishop family vacation!  I can't believe we have been doing a trip for 6 years.  We really love Arrowwood as there are so many different things for the kids to do, it's only a couple hours away, plus there is a waterpark.  It is such a fun weekend and we make memories that will last a lifetime!  Every year gets better and it's easier as the kids get older.  The 3 older kids had a blast making bead necklaces and bracelets.  Madelyn & Nora played dolls, Bishop looked for frogs & turtles and Jack did whatever he felt like doing!

We swam a ton!!  Madelyn absolutely loves swimming these days.  She can't get enough.  I'm so glad we started swimming lessons this spring so she could enjoy swimming with Bishop & Nora on this trip.  The indoor waterpark was huge hit for the Bormann kids this year!  Last year I think it was a little overwhelming for Madelyn and Jack was only 1.5 so he couldn't do much.  This year Madelyn went on the lazy river, loved swimming in her life jacket and going down the slide with Auntie!  Jack did the slide all by himself and had the biggest, proudest smile when he got to the bottom!

We also celebrated Nana's birthday and Father's Day which made it extra special this year!  What an awesome family weekend!!!

The oldest......

.....and the youngest!

Our family of 4!!

Sisters!

Happy Birthday Nana!

Happy Fathers Day Daddy!

Startin' him young!

Papa getting in on the action!

These kids absolutely melt my heart!

Mommy & Jack

Jack and Mommy have had date night at the park the past few nights.  He loves swinging!  He would swing all night if he could.  We have such a fun time together and I really enjoy our one on one time.  Jack makes me smile with all his funny faces and cute things he says.  You can't help but smile when you see his sweet face!  I love you my little Jack Jack!!

Jack and Mommy Selfie!

Twinsies!!

Madelyn and I are twins today!  Love this little girl of mine!

Graduation Program

So excited to get to "gradulation"
as Madelyn calls it!

Every year the preschool classes put on a graduation/end of the year program.  Last year Jack stayed home with Nana but this year he got to come along.  He's been talking about "being quiet while Mad-e-lyn is singing" and he did really well.  There are lots of young kids/babies there and the younger siblings did great!  

We went to Potbelly's for dinner on our way and then it was off to the program.  Each of the preschool classes performs their own song and then they sing a group song.  Madelyn's class sang "One Small Voice" and did actions.  She has been singing it for the past few weeks and it's a cute song!  Then the all school song was "The Minnesota Song" which we have heard quite a bit lately and Ryan & I even start singing it sometimes as it's such a catchy tune!

Afterwards there is cake and juice.  It's a fun night to celebrate the end of the year!  Can't believe next year our baby girl will be "graduating" from preschool and onto kindergarten!  So thankful we have another year.....whew.....because I'm not ready for that yet! :)  

Madelyn's class singing/belting out "One Small Voice"

Love this picture - Daddy's little girl for sure!

Mommy & Jack - sweet boy!

Natalie and Madelyn eating cake!

Madelyn with her teachers.....Ms. Corissa and Ms. JoAnna
We love them both so much!

Since we didn't get our picture at dinner or at the program
we took it when we got home to end our special night!

Swimming - Little 1s

Our attempt at a family selfie as we head
out to Madelyn's 1st swimming lesson

We started Madelyn in swimming lessons this spring.  We decided to do lessons 2x/week for 4 weeks so she could get in the groove of it since we haven't been swimming since last summer/early fall.  We weren't sure what to expect as she has never been overly excited to jump in or get her face wet.

Her teacher was Ms Tia and there were 2 other boys in her class.  We loved Ms Tia - she was very encouraging and made it fun.  Madelyn was pretty reserved the 1st 3 sessions.  She didn't put her face in the water voluntarily but when her teacher splashed her face or helped her go under water she didn't seem to mind it.  By the 4th lesson Madelyn was a different swimmer.  Something clicked and she was building confidence with each activity/lesson.

She loved swimming lessons and asked every night how many more sleeps to see Ms Tia and when can she go swimming again.  She has like 5 different swim suits so it was always fun to figure out which one to wear :)  We went to the MGCC a couple times and last weekend Madelyn was jumping off the side, going underwater and pretending to be a shark like daddy!  She is very excited because we are going up north with our family in a couple weeks and she knows she will be swimming with Bishop & Nora.....she can't wait!

We found out last week that she passed the Little 1 class so now she is onto Little 2s!  We are so proud of her and she is so excited to keep swimming!  The next session starts next week and we are already on countdown for her 1st lesson in her new class!

Doing the back float all by herself!