Swim Class

I believe that Mommy and Daddy have recognized my proclivity for pool swimming while we were at the beach, for with the return back to our other home, I have been immediately accepted into a new program for learning how to swim. I, of course, have little use for learning how to swim, as I know it already, but I always acquiesce for a moment to their constant demands to kick my feet, just to prove that I can. Otherwise, I spend the class time relaxing in the pool and chewing on a duck. I take the class with My Dear Sister, who has improved tremendously, and Mommy and Daddy. Mommy and Daddy, I must assume, are not proficient swimmers, as they do not even attempt any of the instructions as given by the teacher. Perhaps I should do more to teach them the proper form, but it is just more fun to relax and enjoy the pool.

Beach Vacation Day 6

This was the third morning I awoke to find that there was no Mommy in my room. On this morning, however, I found this to be unacceptable and called for her. She came, and we snuggled for a long time. I eventually fell back asleep, only to be awoken by My Dear Sister climbing into my bed. I was sleepy all morning, and thus not terribly enthusiastic nor interested in all that was going on. Eventually I was placed back in the car, and I awoke at home. I have been much happier ever since. That evening we played in the water table...

...we hoola'd hoops...

 ...and we set off fireworks. This last event started off with things called "snakes." Fiery portals were created to some dark dimension out of which crawled foul snakes (snakes say Sssss usually, but these snakes did not say anything) that immediately died and were scattered by the wind. I cried until I was let down, but I made sure to stay beyond the line which indicated how close I could go and still be safe. I oohed and aahed.

I made sure to hold my fluffy animal so she could see as well. It was a giraffe. It appears that nobody knows what a giraffe says.

I also watched as Daddy lit off other fireworks that I watched between bouts of wandering. These fireworks were boxes that blew sparks into the air. I know not their purpose, but I appreciated the sparkles. There were even some that I was allowed to help hold: sparklers, glow sticks, and pop its. The latter needed to be thrown to explode, and so I was exceedingly proficient at it.

Beach Vacation Day 5

The next day we played some before going to the beach again.

This time at the beach it was, again, cold and windy, so I never felt any desire to leave my cuddly perch. Daddy and Grandpa tried to stand on a floating board on the water, but it never worked well for them and did little to change my opinion of the water. The hot tub we went to later, however, was delightful. Daddy tried to show me how to swim.

"See, Mommy? I am swimming."

I was more comfortable this time with the hot tub, and wandered on my own. It did not take me long to find buttons to press. I spent most of my time there.

When traveling about the tub on my own, I occasionally reached places that were too deep for me to stand. On those occasions, I did as I had seen other swimmers do at the lake, and leaned forward to kick with my legs and move my arms about. Daddy caught me every time I tried this, however, so I never got to swim on my own. I did, though, get to play with something My Dear Sister called "A Pew Pew." I was frustrated with using it, and regressed to playing with buttons.

 I then had another bath and wrestled with My Dear Sister. She always wins, but I scream louder.

Beach Vacation Day 4

On the fourth day, I woke to find my mother no longer sleeping in my room. Disappointed, I went back to sleep. I woke again, still earlier than usual, and was disappointed to not be allowed to nap before going to church. It was not our church, however, but a different church, which was odd. I also had the attention of all of my family which, while flattering, made it all the more confusing why I was not allowed to wander where I liked. I understand that being the rule in our own church, but why must it be the rule in a new one? I voiced disagreement. Daddy took me to a very boring room until I calmed down enough to realize it was best to return to the chapel and not cry than it was to cry and be taken somewhere so boring. After my post-church nap, we returned to the horrid beach. It was windy again, but less cold. I started my time there much as I had the time previously, by snuggling deeply, despite Daddy's attempt to get me to fly a kite.

Kites are very odd. Somehow people find enjoyment in holding on to something that is constantly trying to pull away from them. It does not move. It does nothing of note, other than sit there at the end of the string. I tried to study it out to understand its allure, but I was unable to do so. Eventually we returned to the water, which is the most interesting part of the beach. Every time the waves came in and splashed Daddy, he would jump, and I could not help but smile and giggle at the hilarity, despite my misery.

While I snuggled a grandma, Daddy and My Dear Sister played with toys. The toys were so tempting to hold that I eventually did the unthinkable: I willingly got onto the sand. Despite my best efforts, I briefly enjoyed the sand.

The sand soon betrayed my trust and covered my foot. It was a grievance so deep that I could not help but break down in tears. I was eventually consoled by being presented with a fluffy shark. All was well once more.

I have named him Sharky.

He is now my favorite fluffy animal.

Beach Vacation Day 3

I woke up even earlier on the third day. How could I not when Mommy was right by my bed? After some napping and getting ready, we went shopping. We first went to a store inside of a shark. It was a fascinating store with many odd items to snuggle.

This shark toy and I have a lot in common: specifically our penchant for biting.

I snuggled fluffy turtles, a fluffy shark, a biting shark, shoes, and family members. It was a delightful store in which Daddy let me wander, despite the fact that all of the displays were close together and taller than me, allowing me ample opportunities to hide in the labyrinth. 

We eventually left that store and went on to more, but these have less worth describing, as I was stuck in a stroller and unable to break things, unlike My Dear Sister, of whom I am extremely envious. We ate out, but I was more interested in exploration than eating, so I forfeited my lunch in favor of pressing my face up against the glass of the dining room. I then went home, napped, and woke up to do the most delightful thing I would do the entire trip: Swam in a hot tub. I know not the cause for its name, as the water was just as warm as my bathwater, but it was much larger, had more bubbles, and allowed for nearly constant snuggles. It was the best of all worlds.

Beach Vacation Day 2

The next day I awoke while it was still dark outside to find Mommy in the same room as me. I was so excited to see her that I woke her up to play with me instead of falling back asleep as I am wont to do. It did not stop me from being my playful self, however, as we spent the morning napping and playing. I had plenty of people with which to play, as I had all grandparents, Mommy, Daddy, and My Dear Sister with whom I could play. All of them talked about a mystical location called the beach, and it piqued my interest.

Here I am, preparing for the beach by being a mermaid.

Me playing with one of many grandparents.

I was so excited to go to the beach that I helped carry items out the door.

This excitement was all for naught, however, as the beach ended up being a dirty, cold, windy place with nothing that could possibly bring me joy beside some snuggles and some waves to distract me momentarily from the misery.

This is the happiest I was that whole excursion.

We finally returned to our new home where My Dear Sister and I were bathed and played more. There was joy in the world once more.

Beach Vacation Day 1

We just returned from a vacation to the beach. The beach is a horrid place, but we did not visit it this day. No, the first day, we just drove. The day started like any other, with Mommy refusing to let me nap until I had screamed through a trip to a place where Mommy made someone else hold me while she colored a shirt that was not even meant for me. I continued to tell her about her mistake all the way home, despite My Dear Sister, as usual, singing "I Am a Child of God" and telling me it will alright. When we got home, though, Grandma and Papa took me in the car. I slept most of the excessively long drive until My Dear Sister, who was bored with how long it was taking, succeeded in waking me up just so I would suffer, too. We ate at a place that had fries and chicken nuggets that were not chicken nuggets but chicken strips and thus unacceptable. 

I was joyful enough after my nap to still say "Cheese!" for the camera.

We eventually reached a new home, which was not my home, and was told I was to sleep there. I refused until Mommy arrived and I fell asleep in her arms.