After much thought...

After much thought, talking with my husband and advice and an informative site from my friend Helen...

http://www.paulsadlerswimland.com/programs/index.php?id_area=0&id_location=9

And asking Michael if he wanted to go to swim lessons today, which was a very loud NO! I decided I would not put my son through swim lessons today!
I want him to enjoy swimming and water and not be afraid of it....To make up for yesterday I took him to a local water park and the first 45 minutes were tough for Michael, he was definitely afraid. But I kept encouraging him and letting him pretty much go at his own pace he calmed down and was playing. We floated the river and I even managed to get him to put his head under water a few times...lol...Of course Mommy had to do it too!! He was swimming for me while I held him and did really well. I think the positive day at Splashway made up for the negative effects of swimming lessons yesterday. I know I feel better! It's tough being a Mom and making the calls. I think a lot of it is instinct and we need to rely on our instinct more instead of what other people think! With input from my friend Helen, Husband and even Grandma I made the right decision!!
So today was a positive day compared to yesterday and a great lesson was learned!!

Swimming Lessons

I'm not sure where to begin, as some of you know Michael started his first swimming lesson today...I was told to be at the pool by 9:15 and showed up right at 9:15 and the class was already in session...was a bit peeved with that...so I more or less had to push Michael right into the group instead of giving him time to warm up to everyone...He was not happy....I sat with him for a minute and he was becoming more argumentative so I asked the instructor if I should just leave...she told me it was up to me...I left...it was so darned hard...specially when you can hear your child crying and sobbing for you....I stayed in the wait area where he couldn't see me and watched....I was a little stunned as they basically at some point just throw the kids in the water, no warning or anything....Michael hated it!! Finally after about 20 minutes I quietly slid back in by the pool and sat down...He didn't see me for awhile and then when he did see me he wasn't to bad...He was still pissed about being dunked and I don't blame him....I kept my mouth shut...He didn't seem overly stressed out but he told me he did NOT want to go back tomorrow...sigh! Later he said he had fun but still didn't want to go back...I'll take him tomorrow and see what happens...When I took him to splashway last week he was putting his head under water on his own and was okay with it, I'm just wondering with these dunkings if this is going to make him afraid of the water....I know some of you have had experience with swimming lessons and little ones...do they normally dunk them? I just thought for the first day they were a bit aggressive with the kids instead of letting them take this first time to get used to the water and being in the big kid pool...and learning how to kick....I took a few photos but they aren't very good. The girl holding Michael is one of the teenage life guards helping out with the class. She had to hold Michael the whole time because if they had put him on the edge of the pool he would have ran....lol....I feel like a Momma bird pushing her fledgling out of the nest....ugh!

It's Sunday

Michael sitting in Daddy's truck waiting for Daddy! I was trying to take a photo of a bird for a photo challenge and Michael kept yelling at me take my photo Momma, so I did!

A Hibiscus Bloom. Fred bought me this plant 2 yrs ago for my Birthday and I just love the colors of the blooms, very tropical!

We drove over the Bridge into Victoria this morning and the Guadalupe River is still flooded!

Our Nephew is in the Marine Corp and I have this bumper sticker on the back of my truck!

Fred took us to town for breakfast and had to run a few errands. Now I'm at home enjoying some peace and quiet while Fred took Michael to visit his parents. I'm actually thinking a book and a nap sound really good about now. Find attached some photos I took today!

Bugs, critters and flowers...lol...

A gecko, I hate these things...like most people hate snakes that is how I feel about these nasty critters...I took this late last night as that is when they are outside on the walls of the house, ugh!

This was a huge spider that had a web out in the middle of the front yard last night. I was experimenting trying to get a decent shot of it! It's web was HUGE!

Cosmos from my garden
This is a gladiatorKatydid they seem to like eating my morning glories, grrr!
A Texas dandelion otherwise known as a weed, lol.

That is it Folks please stay tuned for more...

Today's photos

St. Marys, Victorias first church.

There is a fawn standing in front of Momma doe!

Can you see the fawns, very well camoflaged!

Look at that little one running, lol! Go baby Go!

I was out in the yard taking photos this morning when I looked down the driveway and lo and behold there were twin fawns down there playing. It was quiet a ways away and the photos aren't the greatest but it was so much fun to watch them jump and run around while Momma Doe watched me and Michael. I also took photos of St. Marys in Victoria this morning. It was the first church established in the city of Victoria.

Some photos I took today!

I took Michael to storytime this morning and then we ran errands. When we got home I stepped up on the porch to unlock the door and something ran past my foot. I think I jumped 3 foot in the air and was a bit shook up! I then saw it was a scaley lizard! They are pretty big compared to the geckos and the anole lizards but not bad in any way. Normally they stay in the trees so finding one on the front porch wasn't expected and I think you can understand why I jumped! I got Michael to bed, he had fallen asleep, and everything put away and went back outside with the camera. Mr. Scaley Lizard had gone up on the side of the house and I attempted to get as close as possible for a photo. After taking several photos of him I walked around the yard and took some more photos. I have been trying for days to get a photo of a cardinal couple that have a nest in a tree behind the house and have failed miserably. After taking some photos of flowers and bugs I was back in the house uploading the photos to the computer when I heard the cardinals outside. So I grabbed my camera and ran back outside...Mr. and Mrs Cardinal were throwing a fit...I couldn't see what the problem was and assume it was probably a snake. I did manage to get a few photos of the cardinals but they weren't very good....Then I heard water running and thought there shouldn't be water running out here...After looking around I saw where Fred while shredding the other day had hit an old water tap...ugh! The water had been running for two days! I called Fred, who was on his way home, and told him. He wasn't to pleased...So we worked on a water line this evening and had to go back to town for parts then the a/c is still on the fritz too! It's working now but we have to keep fiddling with the thermostat to get it to run...sigh!! It only does it in the evenings and only when Fred is home...lol...I think he's jinxed it! Well at the moment everything is fixed and running and I'm going to keep praying they stay that way :o)

Splashway Water Park

We had an absolute BLAST today!! We went to Splashway water park in Sheridan Texas, a small water park but perfect for Michael....Tues was 2 for 1 so we even saved some money! It was only about an hour from here so not to bad of a drive. I am whipped and Michael had a 30 minute nap on the way home so he's re-charged, lol. I plan on taking him back! Not sure why I hadn't taken him sooner...Yes I took my camera and was so nervous about having it near all the water but no accidents...just a dirty lense from water splashes....My sister in law took some of the photos and I think next time I am going to get a cheapie water camera as there were some shots I wish I would have gotten but to afraid to get my camera wet....I even went down the big water slide while Michael and his cousin Brianna watched...Michael thought that was hilarous when Momma shot off the slide and directly under water...ha ha ha...haven't done a ride like that for 20 yrs and felt a bit silly but enjoyed it!

I also recieved and email from a friend in Victoria who said Michael and I were on the news this morning. They had a News camera at the Library event yesterday and I guess they caught Michael and I on camera. I've tried to find a video of it on our local news site but wasn't able to find it...bummer!!