All Through August

Lots of lost teeth.

The kids took swimming lessons in the first half of August.

It was Anthony's first time!  Big boy!

Anthony at breakfast.

Hanging out with chickens.

Wearing Daddy's hat and hugging a chicken, what more could a 3 year old ask for?

A treat in the backyard.

See my ice cream cone?

Fun with friends on the last day of August.

Silver Dollar City, Day Two

Well, it has taken me a while, but this is the last post about our vacation back in September!  You can tell we don't go on vacations very often.  :)

I was really glad we went two days to Silver Dollar City because the first day was a bit overwhelming.  There were so many craftsmen and shops, rides and shows, and lots of different ways to go, that even with a map, we went right by some attractions the first day that we didn't even know were there.  On the evening before the second day, I spent some time with the map and the app on my phone and plotted out all the rides and things we wanted to go to the second day. 

The great thing about going to Silver Dollar City in September is that there is rarely much of a line, especially for the rides.  There were a lot of older people there, but they were mostly attending the shows and going to the shops.  Another thing we discovered is that even though the park "opens" at 10:00 that time of year, you can get there a lot earlier, and it is good to get there early, because they have an opening ceremony that starts right at 10:00 a little ways into the park. 

This is a giant lathe.  The tall man turning the wheel told the kids to stay in school, otherwise they would have to do his job instead of the other man's!

The first day was hot, but the second day was cool and drizzly.  I was glad we brought jackets along.  This man played his harmonica for the kids. 

We went to the homestead area, and there were animals to pet!

Anthony just loved this little goat.

A lot.  He was rubbing his face in its fur.

Dan was brave and took some of the kids on a water ride, even though it was cool and a little rainy.  They didn't get wet until the end when they raced down the big hill.  Dan took the brunt of the splash.

After the wet ride, we went and found the big dryer.  All of them fit inside and for $3, you get blown dry.  It was well worth it on that day.

We went on the coolest indoor roller coaster called Fire in the Hole.  The whole family went, even Anthony.  It was really neat, and there were several sudden drops that you could not see ahead of time.  Anthony didn't cry or anything, but he didn't want to go on it again.  Neither did Anne, but I took the rest of them on it a couple more times. 

We went into the crazy house with upside down rooms and slanting floors. I wouldn't have even known this one was there, except for seeing it on the app.

Dan took three of them on a ride called The Flooded Mine.  We weren't sure if it would be okay for Anthony, so they went to check it out first. 

Anne, Anthony, and I entertained ourselves with taking pictures and eating snacks.

The Flooded Mine was an indoor, partly in the dark, ride in a boat, and shoot laser guns at targets kind of ride, so it was fine for little ones.  Another ride we walked right by the first day.

There is a cave at Silver Dollar City right at the entrance, but when we read there were I think 600 steps, we decided that would be too strenuous for the littler kids (and too stressful on the parents), so we did not go down in it.  There were two giant roller coasters that were too big for the kids and a few other rides that seemed a bit much, but otherwise we hit every ride in the park.  We watched some of the craftsmen, saw a couple of shows, and went into the Christmas Shop.  We sampled some of the food there, bought homemade taffy, and thoroughly had a good time.  One warning:  there are some pretty steep hills in the park, so you will get a workout. 

One last trip to the pool:

Anthony was all ready to go.  No chance of him going under with all that stuff on.  By the end of our stay, he was paddling around without assistance.

Let's go swimming!

And that is the end of our fun trip to Branson and Silver Dollar City!

Swim Lessons

In the second half of July, the four big kids took swimming lessons for two weeks.  They loved it.  On four of the eight days, I was able to take Anthony outside for Toddler Time at the outdoor pool.  He loved playing on and around the play structure.  Since it was just him, I didn't make him wear a life jacket, and boy, I had to keep my eyes on him! 

Loaded up and ready to go swim!

Anthony got to hang out with Mommy and eat snacks.

Joseph's class.  He had on the green swimming trunks.

Anne and a little friend.

Dominic gave a wave.

Catherine, as well as Dominic, had lessons in the lap pool.

Catherine worked on her backstroke.

This was the day that Anthony refused to wear a shirt.  And got to eat candy.  It was the last day, what can I say?

Swimming Lessons!

For the last two weeks, I have been taking the kids to their swimming lessons.  We opted for the Monday through Thursday, 10:30 am lessons, which seemed to work fairly well.  Except that it seemed to eat up a lot of the day. :)

Look at those smiles!  This was just before we left for their first swimming lesson.

The kids had not really even been in a pool other than a backyard wading pool for almost 2 years.

Catherine and her swimming instructor.

 None of the kids had ever taken swimming lessons before.

Catherine, contemplating what she gets to do next in the pool.  

Catherine was in the Youth Swim classes, for age 6 and up. She really tried hard and loved it a lot.

Dominic was in a class with five girls! 

   Dominic, Anne, and Joseph were all in the Kinderswim, for ages 3-5. However, they were each in a different group, which worked out fine.

Dominic's teacher looks a little pained.  Did he splash her too much?  :)

Dominic did well and gets to move up a level next time.

Anne patiently waits for her turn to get in.

Anne was a little more timid, but she tried hard and made good progress.

Anne blowing bubbles in the water.

 I wasn't sure at all how Joseph would do, being newly turned 4 and without his brothers or sisters.

Joseph and his cute little class.

I needn't have worried, though, because he did great and got complimented on his nice manners and good listening skills!

I know this is fuzzy, but you can still see that big, happy smile on Joseph's face.

They are a bit sad that their lessons are over, and quite anxious to get back to the pool to practice what they have learned.

They each got to learn how to put on a life-jacket and climb in and out of a boat.  Catherine is to the left in the boat and in the back of the picture you can see Joseph on the side of the pool.

And what about Anthony, you ask?  He and Mommy got to hang out during the 45 minute lesson, and usually we sat on the other side of the glass, watching the kids.

Anthony ate a lot of snacks!

Twice I took Anthony outside to the water park to play during Toddler Time, which coincided with lesson time.  He loved it, but I did not dare to even attempt to take pictures of that. :)

So to summarize:  swimming lessons were a resounding success!