New activities~ Caleb and Maddy

I know I haven't been very good about posting personal posts in quite some time (SORRY). I have been very busy with life in general. I am going to be working hard to get up more posts about our family, events, outings, and fun things my kids say and do. I can't make this a long post, because it is late...but I wanted to post about two new and fun things we started. Caleb started swim lessons this week, and he had a great time! He wants swim lessons everyday, but that is just not possible. I was concerned with how they were going to do lessons with the kids when they are so young, and not knowing how to swim. The instructor and the helpers did a great job, and the kids all did very well, too. There are 8 kids in this class.

He loves his teacher and her assistants. He learned how to enter the water (safely), how to front float, and back float, put their face into the water and how to jump into the water.
Caleb told his helper, the guy in the picture, that his brother was baptized at that pool. I think he surprised the guy. He seemed surprised, anyway. I love how kids are so open with what they share, especially when it is about God. Faith like a child...
Caleb looks so little in the water. I can't believe that he is growing up so quickly.
I want all of my kids to take swim lessons, because I believe everyone should know how to swim, especially if you live in a state with over 10,000 lakes! :) Nathaniel and Madelyn will be taking lessons in November. I wish I would have started Nathaniel in his lessons when he was younger, but I do think it is important either way. I think I will wait a year or two with Cole.


Caleb played a game where they stood on the deck of the pool like a tree. When asked what kind of tree they are, they told their teacher. Then, the teacher would say, "chop, chop timber." The swimmer would then hop into the water into the instructor's hands. It was fun, and Caleb had a great time. He told them he was an Apple Tree. It was a great time, and I had so much fun watching him, and seeing him interact with others. He is so social. :) He is looking forward to his next lesson, too.


Madelyn started her ballet lessons this week, too. She was very excited about being in ballet, and thanks to my sister...most of her attire was covered. I did buy her some leather ballet shoes, but they have not arrived yet.
I think Madelyn will do very good with Ballet, because she is very petite, extremely flexible and girl-y! She loves dressing up, wearing pretty things, and being a ballerina. I think she is adorable in her outfit, too.

Maddy is taking private lessons from a girl who lives about 20 minutes away. I think she is going to have a great time, and I know the teacher is great with kids! I love that her teacher prays with her before class, teaches her some sign language with her dancing, and teaches to dance from the heart. All glory is to God through this dance studio, and I like how they incorporate that in their business.

Well, more to come later...

Piano for Preschoolers

I took piano lessons for over 14 years, and I can honestly say that practicing wasn't something I looked forward to or enjoyed. When I first started out, there was so much to learn and so much that seemed so hard! It is a challenge to learn to read music, especially for the younger children. I was impressed when I took out the materials from Piano for Preschoolers (basic coarse). There is a song music book with 17 songs in it that accompanies a 17-track CD. Plus, there is a lesson book for the parent/teacher that has 19 lessons in it. To help preschoolers learn how to play, they use the two keyboard color strip guides. You just place the color guides onto your keys, and kids can learn from color rather than notes on a staff. What is nice about the color strips included in the kit, one fits a piano, and one fits a mini keyboard. That is a special bonus, because you can get your child practicing piano while on the road. They don't even know they are practicing that way!
Piano for Preschoolers costs $39.95 for the Basic Course, and I think this is a valuable price to get your preschooler interested in piano playing. The Basic coarse is designed for ages 3-8. Piano is a great instrument because it teaches math skills with counting. I really like the Piano for Preschoolers approach with teaching young ones, by color. Not only are they learning their colors, they are putting it to music. The kids get exposed to the keys, and can start to get comfortable where the notes are. There are a few lessons in the back of the book that actually teach the notes on the staff (spaces and lines) so that your child is ready to move on to reading piano music. I am excited to be doing this program with my child, and it is so much fun seeing him get excited about learning how to play piano!
Piano for preschoolers offer other products for purchase too, like songbooks, mini keyboards, and a few different gift packages.