Mermaids and other fish tales

The littlest mermaid

As promised, here are some pictures of the mermaids.  We were late in getting the pool put up this year, but we are definately taking advantage of it.  Perhaps the delay was so it would coincide with all the swimming events in the Olympics, which we have been following closely.  Regardless, we have seen wonderful achievements at our house too.  The girls have been swimming every night.  The big girls have all known how to swim for years.  But this is Kinnley's first opportunity to actually learn to swim.  The first few nights, we had both water wings and a ring on her.  With both on, she had full reign of the pool.  A few days later, we graduated to only the ring.  This actually gave her more flexibility with her arms.  Each night, we would take the ring off and get her more used to the water.  She would blow bubbles, and hold her breath while putting her face in the water.  But tonight, we had a huge breakthrough.  We took he ring off she just held on to the side.  Before we knew it, she was going under water on her own while holding on to the side.  She quickly gave this trick the name of "go down the hill".  I have no idea where it came from, but it seems to be sticking.  Then she started opening her eyes under water.  Next, I got her to float on her back while only resting her head on my shoulder.  As a riveting finale, she learned how to swim about three feet and grab onto the side of the pool.  This is so much progress in one night!  We told her how proud we are of her.  Lainie even worked with her to try to sit on the bottom of the pool.  Kinnley said "Lainie helped me".  Such sweet sisters.  :)  Kinnley's confidence in the water is growing in leaps and bounds.  I'm so proud of her!

Kinnley's foster mom has been on my mind this week.  In great timing, we had he opportunity to send a letter and pictures to her through a friend.  I asked Kinnley what she wanted me to tell Mama #1.  At first, she didn't know.  I suggested telling her that she was happy, that she liked playing with her sisters, etc.  Then she chimed in to ask me to tell Mama #1 that she is learning to swim!  She is so proud of her big achievement.  :)  This may be small potatoes to some, but Kinnley is just beaming.  :) 

Mermaid #3

Mermaid #2

We had one more achievement this week.  It actually started by accident.  We needed to leave for town within minutes.  I looked at Jad and asked if he had given Kinnley her mecliine.  He said no.  We decided to let sleeping dogs lie and didn't say anything to Kinnley.  She still wore her sea bands and insisted on her "yellow pow pow gum", which is Juicy Fruit gum.  We made it all the way to/from the girls' school without getting sick!  WOW!  So we tried again the next day for a similar distance.  Success!  These are short trips, but at least we can get her to school without having to medicate her.  I cannot say how wonderful this is.  We will still give her meclizine for longer trips, at least for a while.  Perhaps the success is because it is a familiar route.  Perhaps it is the short distance.  To tell you the truth, I really don't care.  We'll celebrate our little wins as they come.  :)

Corn cob eating contest - thanks Aunt Cindy!



Jaci's sparkly ears!