Fly Home Soon

Tonight I went to my first deployment farewell dinner.  Jeremy Fortier is leaving in a few days and Kelly arranged for a surprise party for him at a restaurant near her house, Leticia's Mexican Cocina.

We almost didn't go, because Leticia's is a 45 minutes away and we have company coming tomorrow and I really needed to stay home and clean the house. 

I'm so glad that we went and were able to celebrate Jeremy. Mike and I were the only non-Military personnel there, so he kept introducing us as "the civilians."

Since Jeremy's missions are top secret I don't think I'm supposed to say much about where he's going or what he will be doing.  The good (great) news is that he is going to a safe place, so need to fear.  He will be home in four months.

J-A-S-P-E-R

Sept. 19, 2011

This week at preschool Jasper's class is learning about their name.

One of Jasper's homework assignments was to spread pudding or whipped cream on a cookie sheet and then write his name in it.  Needless to say he LOVED this assignment.

Chocolate pudding painting has been a popular past time this last month at home and in my Sunbeam class at church.

His other assignment was to go through a page of a magazine and circle the letters that are in his first name, and/or cut out the letters in his first name.

Last week homework included writing Jasper's name with a highlighter and having him trace over the letters with a pencil.  This is one of our new favorite activities.

We also were assigned to put the names of everyone in our family on a slip of paper.  Jasper pulled the papers out and tried to recognize whose name it was.  Since we only have three people in our immediate family we included Grammy Michelle, Papa Cary, Great Aunt Shauna and Jasper's adopted Grandma Sharon.

Below are the books Jasper's class is reading.  We reserved them at the Library, so we haven't read them yet.

Yoko Writes her Name by Rosemary Wells

Our Tree Named Steve by Alan Zweibel

A, My Name is Alice by Jane E. Bayer

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

My Name is Not Isabella by Jennifer Fosberry


The Name Quilt by Phyllis Root

Preparing for General Conference - Family Home Evening

Here's a chart of the Prophet and Twelve Apostles we are used for Family Home Evening (FHE) tonight.
It is taken from the May 2011 Ensign.  If you want it in a PDF format, email me or leave a comment and I will email it to you.

The Birk family joined us for dinner and FHE.  Martha and Adam just moved to Green Valley 2 weeks ago with their cute girls Marian (Mini) and Emily (Emmy).  Martha is pregnant with their 3rd girl, due on Halloween.  Adam is an attorney too.


Martha's parents were friends with my parents when they all lived in California 40 years ago.  I used to be pen pals with Martha's older sister Lindsay growing up.  Another of Martha's sisters, Carrie, and I worked at Academy for Girls together and keep in touch.


Carrie told me that Martha was moving to Henderson and I was so excited to have another Boyer girl in town.



For our Family Home Evening lesson we used the Conference Squares game found on The Friend website.  They have fun printable activities and on-line games as well.

We colored the Conference Squares to play a little bingo.  We used chocolate chips for bingo pieces and the kids loved that.

We brought our little IKEA Igloo tent down from the playroom for our lesson.  We also bring it down from the family room for Jasper sit in to watch General Conference.  The kids LOVED the tent.

We talked about tents and how they protect us from storms and other things.  We talked about how the counsel of the Prophets and Apostles can protect us.

We talked about how King Benjamin's people pitched their tents towards the Temple.

 Mosiah 2:5-6:
 5 And it came to pass that when they came up to the temple, they pitched their tents round about, every man according to his family, consisting of his wife, and his sons, and his daughters, and their sons, and their daughters, from the eldest down to the youngest, every family being separate one from another.

6 And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them.

We sang "Praise to the Man" for the opening song, and Jasper and Minnie begged to sing it again for the closing song.  So we obliged.

I grabbed a stack of Halloween books off a side table for the kids to press on while they were coloring, and the moment that Jasper spied "Room on the Broom" he was pleading for me to read it to him.  After FHE I sat at the kitchen table with the kids and read the story while they ate their snack (No Bake Cookies).

Temple Worship

Mike and I were asked to speak at church in Sacrament Meeting today on Temple Worship.  We just spoke 8 months ago, so we were a little bit surprised to be speaking again so soon.

I invited quite a few people to come to church, and even posted an open invitatio on my Facebook page.  Last night I was pretty bummed that not one person I invited one was coming.  This morning my dear friend Kelly called to say that she and her adorable 6 month old baby girl Raynee were coming.  I was SO HAPPY!   Kelly and her husband attended the Air Force Ball and were up until the wee hours of the morning, so I really didn't think she would be able to make it.

Kelly and baby Raynee came to our house before church for a quick lunch of Cafe Rio-esque chcicken tacos, and after church Mike made us some delicious waffles for dinner, topped with raspberries and bananas and I cooked some bacon.  Little Raynee loved her mashed banana, then she tried her first graham cracker and loved it.  Very messy!  We love Kelly and baby Raynee is practically a celebrity in the ward.

Below are some personal experiences and quotes that I shared in my talk.

Personal Experiences

Why do we go to the Temple?
I was driving my car with Jasper and one of his friends in the back seat.  I reminded Jasper that Mike and I were going to the Temple that night.  Jasper’s friend asked why we go to the Temple.  Jasper quickly answered, “Because we have a lot of family members who never got baptized on earth.  You take the cards with their names on them to the Temple.  Pink is for girls and blue cards are for boys.  Then at the Temple you get baptized for them.  We can go to the Temple to do baptisms the year after we turn eleventeen…when we are 12.”  (Gotta love Jasper's counting system with made up numbers like "eleventeen".)

We show Jasper the blue and pink family file cards that have the names of our ancestors on them.  We explain how the card shows the person’s name, who their mommy and daddy are, where they were born and where they died.

Monthly Temple Trips with Jasper:
I used to take Jasper to the Temple once a year or so, and this spring Jasper asked if we could go once a month.  I was surprised by his request, but I figured we would just cut out one other outing to the park or a museum and go to the Temple instead.

Now once a month we dress in our Sunday best once a month and go to the Las Vegas Temple.  We usually go out to lunch afterwards on our little date.  We walk around the entire Temple and check out the fountain and the flowers.  We go inside and look at all of the pictures of Jesus Christ and talk about them.  We sit down with a copy of "The Friend" magazine.

We sit in each of the courtyards and talk about Jesus Christ, and being good and why people come to the Temple.  We watch and talk about the Young Men and Young Women walk to the door that heads downstairs to the baptistry.  We watch and talk about the mom's and dad'swho show their Temple Recommends at the front desk and enter to the Temple to do other sacred ordinances.

This year we went to the Temple for Jasper's 4th Birthday with our dear friends the Wilson's who live across the world in Quatar.  We talked about how blessed we are to live so close to a Temple.  Some of my most special and sacred talks with Jasper have happened at the Temple.  I am so grateful for this little tradition that we have.


Anniversary Tradition:

Every year for our anniversary Mike and I attend a Temple.  We do a few endowment sessions, perform iniatory ordinances and do sealings for our family members that we have done ordinance work for during the year.

It's not as snazzy as a cruise or a trip to Jamica.  It does help us remember the promises that we made to each other and to the Lord when we were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple ten years ago.
 

Quotes about the Temple

In April 1995 General Conference Elder J. Ballard Washburn gave a talk titled “The Temple is a Family Affair.”  He reminded us that, “We go to the temple to make covenants, but we go home to keep the covenants that we have made. The home is the testing ground. The home is the place where we learn to be more Christlike. The home is the place where we learn to overcome selfishness and give ourselves in service to others."



In April 1991 General  Conference Presidet Gordon B. Hinckley said that, "God is the designer of the family. He intended that the greatest of happiness, the most satisfying aspects of life, the deepest joys should come in our associations together and our concerns one for another as fathers and mothers and children."


"I believe the youth are not only willing and able to do genealogical research, but they are a good means of giving life to the whole program" (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 163).



In the April 1993 General Conference President Boyd K. Packer told us to,  “Say the word temple. Say it quietly and reverently. Say it over and over again. Temple. Temple. Temple. Add the word holy. Holy Temple. Say it as though it were capitalized, no matter where it appears in the sentence.  “Temple. One other word is equal in importance to a Latter-day Saint. Home. Put the words holy temple and home together, and you have described the house of the Lord!”


In his April 2009 General Conference Talk  “Sacred Homes, Sacred Temples”  Elder Gary Stevenson said, “Understanding the eternal nature of the temple will draw you to your family; understanding the eternal nature of the family will draw you to the temple.”  Elder Stevenson then promised, “You are never lost when you can see the temple. The temple will provide direction for you and your family in a world filled with chaos. It is an eternal guidepost which will help you from getting lost in the “mist of darkness.”  It is the house of the Lord.   It is a place where covenants are made and eternal ordinances are performed.”


While I was on my mission President Howard W. Hunter said, "Truly, the Lord desires that His people be a temple motivated people. It would be the deepest desire of my heart to have every member of the Church be temple worthy. I would hope that every adult member would be worthy of – and carry – a current temple recommend, even if proximity to a temple does not allow immediate or frequent use of it. Let us be a temple-attending and a temple-loving people. Let us hasten to the temple as frequently as time and means and personal circumstances allow." (Ensign, Nov. 1994)


“Regardless of the place or time period, temples are the most sacred place on earth-a place where earth and heaven meet and where we feel close to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  (Source LDS.org)


President Monson, April 2011 General  Conference, “In my own family, some of our most sacred and treasured experiences have occurred when we have joined together in the temple to perform sealing ordinances for our deceased ancestors.

To you parents of young children, may I share with you some sage advice from President Spencer W. Kimball.   He said: “It would be a fine thing if … parents would have in every bedroom in their house a picture of the temple so their children from the time they are infants could look at the picture every day until it becomes a part of their lives. When they reach the age that they need to make the very important decision concerning going to the temple, it will have already been made.”


Elder Bednar April 2009 General Conference, “"As we stand in the waters of baptism, we look to the temple. As we partake of the sacrament, we look to the temple. We pledge to always remember the Savior and to keep His commandments as preparation to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple and receive the highest blessings available through the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, in the ordinances of the holy temple we more completely and fully take upon us the name of Jesus Christ."


Quotes are by President Thomas S. Monson from the Oct. 2010 Ensign.

The temple lifts us, exalts us, stands as a beacon for all to see, and points us toward celestial glory.

The late Elder Matthew Cowley, who was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, once recounted the Saturday afternoon experience of a grandfather as hand in hand he took his small granddaughter on a birthday visit—not to the zoo or to the movies but to the temple grounds. With permission of the groundskeeper, the two walked to the large doors of the temple. He suggested that she place her hand on the sturdy wall and then on the massive door. Tenderly he then said to her, “Remember that this day you touched the temple. One day you will go inside.” His gift to the little one was not candy or ice cream but an experience far more significant and everlasting—an appreciation of the house of the Lord. She had touched the temple, and the temple had touched her.

This is the marvelous blessing that awaits those who come to the temple. May each of us live worthy lives, with clean hands and pure hearts, so that the temple may touch our lives and our families.

How far is heaven? I testify that in the holy temples it is not far at all—for it is in these sacred places that heaven and earth meet and our Heavenly Father gives His children His greatest blessings.

As we touch the temple and love the temple, our lives will reflect our faith. As we go to the holy house, as we remember the covenants we make therein, we will be able to bear every trial and overcome each temptation.

The Lord has indicated that the greatest work we parents can do is performed in our homes, and our homes can be heaven, particularly when our marriages are sealed in the house of God.”

Goodbye Tonsils -- On Oct. 10th

Sept. 20, 2011

Clap hooray!  Jasper finally got approved to get his tonsils removed on October 10th by his ENT, Dr. Shipley.
Jasper had his 2ns set of ear tubes in January of this year, AND his adenoids removed.  But they would not take his tonsils at that time.  I was VERY frustrated, but couldn't do much about it.
At his 4 year well check Dr. LaMotte-Malone said she would sign off on Jasper getting his tonsils out.  She wished they would have taken them in January too.

I knew he would end up having them taken out sooner or later, and the time has come.  His lymph nodes are big and his tonsils have been inflamed for months.  Not to mention the SNORING!

Obviously Jasper isn't as excited for this surgery as I am.  I just feel blessed that we can do it now while he is so young.  And because he's 4 years old we can do out-patient surgery and not stay in the hospital.

Here's to a week of Popsicles, apple juice and movies!  Any tips from anyone on recovery time, things to do during R & R, etc.?

Ready for School class -- Primary Colors

Sept. 22, 2011

Jasper and I are going to "Ready for School" class at Gibson library with Miss Lisa. 

This was week 2 of the 8 week program, and each class is 45 minutes long.  It's a free program and is great so far.

Here's the official blurb from the library website:  This program is designed for pre-kindergarten children. Conducted in a small group setting children and parent participate in stories, songs, games and hands-on materials which have been selected for specific learning concepts highlighted in the Nevada Pre-Kindergarten Standards.


This week was about primary colors.  Jasper colored with red, yellow and blue washable markers on a seahorse cut out of color diffusing paper, and then used a small spray bottle of water to blend the colors together.  Of course Jasper's favorite part was spraying the water.

We are excited that some of our friends taking the class with us.  Rachelle is coming with Savanna (and Flint), Kelsie is bringing Isaac (and Taylor) and Kim is bringing her twins Jocelyn and Blake.

After class I was looking at books to check out, and found Jasper in the "teen room" with the big headphones on going to town on the computer.  He was not even logged onto the computer or listening to anything but he was quite content being in the big kids room with the jumbo headphones on.

 
Can't wait until class next week. 

Here are the books we read in class:

Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni


Blue Goose by Nancy Tafuri

Our Favorite Swim Toys

Since we live in Henderson (Las Vegas) where it's nice and HOT in the summer, we spend a LOT of time swimming.  Jasper can now go under water and pick up dive toys, which he loves and which keeps him plenty busy.  Below is a list of our favorite pool toys.
 

Swimways Large Toypedo 
$10 at Walmart or Target.  On clearance now for $5 at WalMart.   
EVERYONE loves the toypedos.  They are fun to throw under water and also make a large target for little ones to dive for.  They will glide up to 40 feet.  We have two of these because someone always wants to borrow one.


Prime Time Dive 'N Grab Set 
$8 at WalMart (in CA).  On clearance now for $5 at WalMart (in CA.) 
Why didn't I think of this?  Jasper loves to put things in his butterfly net at home, so of course he loves to use a net in the pool. 



 
Swimways Mini Toypedos 
Regular price is $5 at WalMart or Target.
Smaller version of the large toypedos.  Jasper loves to dive for these too.  They go 30 feet in the pool when you throw them under water.  At $1.25 each they are very affordable.  I think they would make a fun party favor for a pool party. 


Swimways Cars Drive Toys  
$10 at WalMart or Target.  On clearance now for $5 at WalMart. 
The cars bubble as they sink.  The kids have fun rescuing these and then placing them on the Coast Guard Rescue Boat (i.e. kickboard).

Aqua Sphere Ergoboard  
$15 on Amazon.  $20 at Dick's Sporting Goods. 
We bought this 2 years ago and it's the favorite because it's a soft foam that Jasper can jump in the pool holding it.


Champion Kickboard with handles
During swimming season you can order these from Costco for $15 for a 3 pack.  These are a hard plastic material.  They are great because there are so many different grip positions.


And of course a fun noodle and small swim ring. :)  Do you have any favorites we should add to our list?

Jasper's 4 Year Well Check

Sept. 20, 2011

Height:

41.5 inches, 75th percentile Weight: 36 lbs, 50th percentile

It's hard to believe that it has been four years since we first took Jasper to Dr. Kim LaMotte-Malone's office, Anthem Hills Pediatrics.  We LOVE their office and have been very pleased with everyone there.

Our favorite nurse, John, was really cute when he measured Jasper for his check-up.  He also did most of Jasper's baby well checks four years ago.

He listened intently as Jasper told him how how really wants to measure tall enough to go on Grizzly River Run.  The height requirement is 42 inches, and Jasper is still 1/2 an inch too short.   

Last time we were at California Adventure Jasper measured for Grizzly River Run and came up just a little too short.  That same day Jasper and I shared a chocolate covered banana while we rode Ariel's Undersea Adventure.  

The next day we were at Disneyland and Jasper BEGGED to walk over to California Adventure so he could get measured for Grizzly River Run again.  I tried to explain that he had not grown 1/2 an inch overnight and that I was not walking all the way over there just to be measured.

He replied, "Mom, I ate that chocolate banana yesterday and I slept for a long time last night.  So I think that now I've grown big enough."  He really believed was now tall enough.

This may sound like a cute story, but he was so relentless about it that at 6:00 PM that day I lost it and said, "Jasper, I think you might be crazy.  You did not grow tall enough overnight!  PLEASE stop asking me to walk you over to get measured again."

The Bandaid on Jasper's forehead is covering a bump and small scrape he got after a fall from climbing on the buckets of wheat in the pantry looking for jelly beans.

We did the activities in our Highlights Hidden Pictures Playground magazines (which Jasper LOVES) while we waited for Dr. LaMotte-Malone in the Monsters Inc. room.

At this check-up Jasper got his pre-K immunization shots.  There are 5 shots, but John found a 3-in-1 so he only had to stick Jasper 3 times.  Once in each arm and one big poke on his right thigh.  The shot on his leg did have a red welt for a few days but it has since gone away.  

Jasper screamed like crazy during his shots.  John and I could barely hold him still. Jasper got a few stickers, a green lollipop and 2 prizes from the treasure chest that John helped him pick out.  He chose a mini squirt gun and a yellow plastic bracelet.

We thought that we were just going for a well check, but it turns out that Jasper has strep throat.  His lymph nodes are hug and his tonsils are inflamed.  Dr. LaMotte-Malone advised that he get his tonsils removed...and I agree.

He will be on Omnicef antibiotic for 10 days and then get his tonsils removed on Oct. 10th.

The doctor's office is part of the St. Rose Siena Hospital Campus in Henderson.  Jasper loves to go out to the healing gardens with waterfalls whenever we are there.

Of course he always wants to touch the water when we go.

Jars of Marbles...Before I Lose Mine!

We are big fans of "Love and Logic" in our home. Sometimes we need extra help.

Right now I need help with:
(1) Minding the 1st time asked.
(2) Not talking back /arguing when asked to do something.
(3) No means no. Quit asking 25 times for something.

PLEASE leave a comment or email me ANY and ALL suggestions you have.


To use "Love and Logic" terms, all of the back and forth with Jasper is draining my energy.

I want Jasper to see how much of my energy is "going down the drain" due to his bad choices and his constant attempts to negotiate.  

I realize that Jasper is barely 4 years old, but somehow I want him to visualize how much of my energy he's taking away.  I've heard of people using a jar of marbles as a reward system. We are testing out a hybrid model of this.  

 This morning and decorated our marble jars.  When Jasper makes good choices and minds the first time, he puts a marble in the happy face jar.  He added stickers of the Las Vegas Temple to the happy jar which I thought was sweet.  He and I go there once a month and he loves it.


When he makes a good choice he LOVES to pick the marbles out to place in the jar, and always comments on what color marble he chooses and how beautiful it is.

When Jasper makes a choice that drains my energy, I put a marble in the frowny face jar. 

Jasper's currently working to earn a trip to the park.  When he wants to do things that I don't have time for, I show him the contents of the jars and remind him how much of my energy has been drained.

Since we are upstairs and downstairs all day we have a set of jars upstairs and a set of jars downstairs.  The jars are food storage containers from Wal-Mart.

We are on day 1 of this little plan, so we'll see how it goes.  The worst part of this whole dilemma is knowing that I'm in this pickle to start with because of my not-so-great parenting skills.  I'm trying to do my best, but I obviously need to do better.


Below are ideas people have shared with me so far: (Thank you)

Lisa Nielsen:

Job grounding. That means grounded from everything until they finish. Tell them your job grounded for talking back, and then don’t say anything else. Help them get started on their job. It works great with my kids!  Lisa Nielsen My house stays lots cleaner and I don’t have to do it!

Reina Gamett:

After 14 years of parenting...some days are just better than others :)

Elene Janda:

Don't negotiate. When they start arguing, stop talking or they have control. It is a jungle out there, it is them against us;). Biggest one is say what you mean and mean what you say, no negotiating!!!!!

Carrie Owen Kirk:

Give consequences without warning. You lay down the rules and then follow through. No second chances. For example, if I always got a warning rather than getting a speeding ticket I would speed and maybe slow down if I got a warning.

Lauren Anderson:

Can't help you much with the first one. Just accept that even obedient and well-behaved kids don't always mind the first time. The other two are easy though. Never re-discuss what you've asked them to do unless they just don't understand it. Clarify if necessary, but if you know they got it, don't discuss it again. If they continue to try to negotiate, quietly (with no anger or commentary) just follow through with the consequence (time out, take away toy, etc.). Every time you respond to their wheedling, you're training them to keep pestering you. Same when you say no. If they keep bringing it up and saying please, Please, PLEASE, practice the art of IGNORING. It's one of the most useful tools you will ever develop if you are willing to discipline yourself to not respond. Just ignore. Talk about something else, go to another room and do something else, change the subject, but DO NOT RESPOND to wheedling and pleading because you are simply training your children to wheedle and plead. Feign deafness, or find something else to divert your attention but whatever you do, ignore the repeated pleas. Good luck. Ignoring can be very hard, but it works.

Joanne Manning:

Remember that they are not robots, they are children and will never be perfect at minding. :)

Nichole Hjorth:

I talk and make sure they understand, but I don't respond to the incessant whining or repeated questions after an answer is already given. I started that from the time they were very little before they could even talk and were throwing fits on the floor. I never wanted to teach them that that is the way to get my attention. They have learned real early....that's not the way to get what you want.

Tammy Lamm:

I heard Linda and Richard Eyre speak at Education Week. They have many years experience, many books, and many great ideas that have been helping my family the past few weeks!

Triple Tier Brownies

If you came to Nancy's baby shower you are probably still craving the brownies Summer Christiansen made.

Everyone recognized them as  "Lindsay's delicious brownies."  Man, they are good!  I'm not a huge sweets fan, but these we irresistible.  I was sitting by Lindsay at dinner and people kept coming over to inquire about the brownies.

Without further ado, the recipe.  ENJOY!

Triple Tier Brownies from Lindsay Cropper

Ingredients
    1 package fudge brownie mix (13-inch x 9-inch pan size)
    1 package (11-1/2 ounces) milk chocolate chips
    1 cup peanut butter
    3 cups Rice Crispies cereal
    1 can (16 ounces) cream cheese frosting

Directions
Prepare and bake brownie mix according to package directions, using a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Cool on a wire rack.

In a large saucepan, combine chocolate chips and peanut butter. Cook over low heat for 4-5 minutes or until blended, stirring occasionally. Stir in cereal; set aside.
 
Spread cream cheese frosting over brownies. Spread mixture of peanut butter, cereal and chocolate chips.

Chill for 30 minutes or until set before cutting. Store in the refrigerator.

Let's Play Music Class

August  30, 2011


Jasper has been waiting a whole year to start his first year in the "Let's Play Music" program.

His teacher is Miss Natalie (Natalie Gibson) and his class this semester is the Red Ballons.  He has class Tuesday afternoons from 4:00-4:45 PM.  There are 15 classes per semester, and the parent(s) attend every other lesson.  I think it's a great program and I can't wait for my turn to go again.

The CD that goes along with the program has really fun songs on it that Jasper is always begging to listen to...and we already listen to it all of the time.  He wants to practice his tone bells and do his homework assignments.  This is a very positive experience for us and music lessons.

We found out about the "Let's Play Music" program last fall from our friend Will Schroeder, and In the spring I took Jasper to Will's annual concert and review and he loved it. 

Last Fall when Jasper saw Will's tone bells he couldn't wait to play them.  We bought our own set and we love to play them.  We actually ave two sets, so that Mike or I can play with Jasper. Sometimes we use them for accompaniment during Family Home Evening for our opening or closing song -- or both. 

We have a basket in the family room filled with musical instruments where the bells live.  A couple weeks ago Jasper had some friends over and I inquired as to how they were doing.  Jasper said, "Great. We're playing instruments."  The way he said it was cute.  Instead of saying, "We're playing Batman."  Or "We're playing Lego's."  It was simply, "We're playing instruments."

We are looking forward to a great year of music!  If you live in Henderson and are interested in the program, click here for Natalie's contact information.

The Big Water Slide at Black Mountain Rec. Center

I am really proud of Jasper today.  He's worked hard on his swimming skills and was able to go down the big hydrotube water slide today.

We finally went to the Black Mountain Recreation Center.  Even thought it's only 3 miles down the road from our house on Greenway, we'd never been before.  It was an overcast day with raindrops falling here and there.  I was really leery of going at all, but I am sure glad we did. 

This morning I was lamenting the fact that the one day we FINALLY go to the BMAC pool it is cloudy, rainy and a bit cold.  Perfect weather for a bike ride, but not the pool.  I guess that's what I get for putting off going until the last day it's open for the summer.

Because of the weather, it was not very busy at all.  We got there at 11:15 AM.  I went with my friends Cydnee and Nancy and their kids.  After Jasper conquered the big water slide I called Mike and told him to throw on some swim trunks and meet us at the pool.  We left a little after 2:00 PM when it got chilly and looked like the rain was really going to come down.  

 Jasper took swimming lessons in June.  He did well in lessons and has really improved over the summer.  Every time we go swimming he says, "Mom.  I'm going to swim to you.  I need to practice for my swim test."

One time I told him that he had to take a swim test to go down the big water slides at the rec centers and YMCA's.  He took it as a challenge and has been practicing ever since. 

When we went to Hermosa Beach in August he told the lifeguard he was ready to take his swim test because he thought if he passed a swim test he could go on a surfboard.

It turns out that the swim tests are at YMCA pools, and the rec centers make you meet the height requirement (which Jasper was a little short for) and you have to be able to swim to the side after the water slide dumps you out at the bottom.

 At first we all played in the kiddie zone and Jasper loved the small water slide.  Since today was the last day the pool was open for the summer, and all Jasper ever talks about is his swim test and going down the big waterslide, I gave him a little push.  Literally.  

I climbed the stairs with him the first time and when he was hesitant to let go of the grip bar and slide I gave him a nice firm push, and down he went.


Jasper told the lifegaurd at the bottom of the water slide, "I want to go again."  After the first time he went down, and every other time too.  They just smiled at his enthusiasm.  I would guess he went down 30+ times.

 Most of the lifegaurds were super nice to Jasper and gave him a little push out of the strong current at the bottom.  The last lifeguard he had for the day told me that he had to swim all by himself to the side with no help.  And so he did!  I think that lifeguard was surprised that he could really do it.

The second time he went down I went up with him again.  He went down, and 2 seconds later a man cut in front of me and jumped down the water slide.  He was playing some type of game with a friend who was in the pool.  He ran smack into Jasper and kicked him in the head.  Luckily Jasper was okay, but it could have ended a lot worse. 


Jasper made a quick recovery.  I watched him tell his story about how someone ran into his head to everyone in line for the next 5 times he went down.



I was watching from the pool below, because he decided he wanted to climb the stairs and go down the water slide all by himself.  He told me, "Mom, I got this.  You stay here."




I watched his tiny legs go up and down the stairs no less than 30 times.  And every time I just kept thinking...he is going to take a great nap today!


Even though I was sentenced to stay behind, when Mike came he was "allowed" to go down the water slide too, and I even went down a few more times with my boys.

Jasper told Mike, "Dad, if you lay down you go a lot faster."  Once he got all twisted up and came out spinning.  He kind of scared me, Nancy and the lifegaurd.  Jasper was a little shaken up too.  The lifeguard told him it was against the rules and he shouldn't do it again.  Jasper told him, "I don't want to do that again."  Another lifeguard then told me that sometimes the really small kids get spun around because they are so small.


It cost $3 for adults and $2 for kids.  Best $8 we have spent on a family activity in a while.  If you see Jasper, he will be thrilled to tell you about the water slide.  He has asked me no less than 10 times this afternoon, "Mom, when is it going to be open again?"  We may have to start a countdown calendar.