Sllllloooowwww Moooooooo...

We've been having some fun here at our house using the slow mo mode of video recording for Christopher's Irish dance moves...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfUEbHMwbIs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijdif7q-hi0

Bon Voyage

It's official! After a bit of extra work, all of our passports have arrived! Daddy was the only one who had his already--Mommy just had to renew and the boys had to get their first ones. Apparently the government was not convinced that I was really Jonathan's mother and so requested "5 or more" documents "5 years or older" that showed I was who I said I was. (All this because I had just renewed my drivers license, but mysteriously it was okay for Christopher's application. Go figure!). Well, they got their "or more" and I sent 13 forms of ID. They even got a copy of my NJ driver's license. I didn't even realize I saved that! 

Anyway, I just have to share the picture of J that is in his passport because it is so perfectly him...

Maybe he looked suspicious and that's why I needed to prove who I was... Regardless, we are all good now and ready to head to... wait for it... Ireland!!!

Monster Tomato!

Our first tomato of the season might take several days to eat! Hoping Grandpa Clyde would be proud.

Wait, Another Post?

I know right? Three posts in less than 24 hours. I'm trying, people, I'm trying!

I realized I haven't given an update on our garden. It's growing like crazy. My zucchinis started off strong but have kind of fizzled out, which is actually okay because usually they take over. So far we've also harvested some cucumbers, chard, herbs (parsley and basil), and some cherry tomatoes. It looks like, unlike past years, the tomatoes will be strong this year. That's what happens when it is over 95 for most of the summer! Here are a few of the cherries and the big tomatoes are starting to turn red too...

The basil has finally been growing well and, as you will see from the boys' plots, the little tiny sunflower seeds they both planted have exploded into huge, towering soon-to-be flowers. The argument every morning is whose sunflower is bigger...

And if you'd like to know where to find Christopher when he is not dancing or swimming, it is usually on the couch reading his Warrior series!

(Of course there is a vacuum on the couch...)

Compact Hetty

Big news in the Woglom household--Hetty has arrived! Some of you may know the stakes involved in Hetty coming to live with us but for those who don't, here's the story. A certain three year-old has done a great job with his potty training but there was one roadblock so to speak. Once Jonathan conquered said roadblock (going number 2 on the potty), he would receive certain amazing (to him) rewards. Now, I'm not usually a reward person but in this situation, we were pulling out all the stops. He was going to get Compact Hetty, a big bowl of M&Ms, and baked Alaska. What can I say, we were desperate! Yesterday was the day for the pull-ups to go away and honestly, I didn't know how long it was going to take. All day he tried sitting on the potty, we let him watch vacuum videos while he tried. You name it, we were willing to do it. After lots of food at Christopher's swim meet last night, there simply wasn't much room in J's little tummy. When we got home, he sat on the potty and after a moment of "freak-out" mode, there was no longer a choice and, well, mission accomplished. Even though he'd already had ice cream at the meet and it was well past his bedtime, I broke out the Hetty vacuum and a big bowl of M&Ms. Everyone was very excited! Now Henry has a girlfriend to vacuum with...

 And Jonathan could not be happier!

Now for the baked Alaska... hmmmm...

Big Boy Bed

Look who got his big boy bed!!! It was very exciting (and hard to wait) for the delivery guys to come with J's new bed. It really is the exact same bed as Christopher. J did a great job his first night--slept well and even stayed in it in the morning when he woke up. We'll see what happens once he figures out that he can get out of it and go though the bathroom into Christopher's room haha!

Also, here are our cute dogs...

Swim Meet

Yesterday was Christopher's first swim meet of the season! Above, he and Giles are showing off their backstroke starts while acting a little goofy too and below Jonathan was, well, just acting goofy!

Chris swam 3 events-- he got first in freestyle, second in backstroke and his relay team (which he swam with Giles and two other boys) came in first. It was a great night for our boy in the pool!

Goggles!

Jonathan finally got his own pair of goggles today (the ones from the previous picture were Christopher's). He picked them out himself and found his favorite colors (red and white). He was so excited about them, in fact, that he wore them in the car and also into the Irish dance studio when we picked up Chris from camp! He (Mommy) also couldn't resist the wind up Chase toy that "swims" in the pool.

Baseball and The Pool

With all of Christopher's Irish dance stuff going on, I've neglected to mention that he is playing baseball this season! On Monday evening, he pitched an inning of their game...

Also, we are back at the pool for swim team! Chris is loving it and Jonathan is too...

Back to New York

Upstate this time! And a little downstate too...

Here are some pictures of our week with Grandpa T and Nancy:

After our time upstate, we went down to Suffern for the 45th Annual Rockland County Feis. Chris did great! We saw some excellent New York dancing and Chris came home with a first in reel, and seconds in light jig and hornpipes. Since his first feis, Chris has moved up to the Novice division where he is competing with more experienced dancers. We are amazed that he competed in reel with 16 other dancers and came out on top! The whole "levels" aspect of Irish dancing takes a lot to explain (more than you probably care to know) but with Christopher's first place, he now moves up in reel to the Prizewinner category. Once he gets firsts in his other Novice dances, he will move up in them too.

We are very proud of our Irish dancer! Here are his three dances. I thought I got hornpipes but I must have forgotten to hit record...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KskSvd5Vka4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R9HT9Sp-qM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkbrS3XfXVQ