Memorial Day weekend

Like every summer, we try our best to get to at least one Twins game - sometimes 2 if we're lucky. Seeing as how we'll be adding to our family this summer and with my last pregnancy I wasn't allowed to travel more than an hour away in the last 4 weeks, we had to figure out when we were going to take in our annual Twins game. Well, Memorial Day weekend was the answer.

We had a blast - stayed at a hotel by the airport with a pool, rode the light rail (for the first time) to the Twins game and visited Nickelodeon inside the Mall of America. It was a quick 2-day trip, but so much fun - and the Twins won, even better! And I saw a first in person - Cuddyer hit for the cycle the night we were there, very electrifying in the dome.

Brady in his "go Joe" shirt heading for the dome

Brady & mom riding the light rail

Brady & mom all smiles after a Twins win over the Brewers

all done at the hotel

He sure loved Lego Land

James, Brady, Dora & boots

(James was not nearly as excited about this pic as Brady was)

had to have one with Diego too!

Brady & his favorite Backyardigan, Pablo

First swimming lessons

We started swimming lessons in the middle of April at my alma mater, Minnesota State University Moorhead. This was a parent/child class since Brady seemed to have a decent fear of water. It was on Tuesday nights for 6 weeks and was 1/2 hour long each night. James did the first night and it did not go so well. As you see in the first picture, he spent most of the 30 minutes on the edge of the pool.

James trying to talk Brady into getting in

He got in, but wasn't too sure yet

This is the whole class, I think 6 or 7

Unfortunately, Brady was the oldest, so

we definitely could have done this last year

YEAH!! SUCCESS!! (with some reluctance)

We are happy to report though that after the 6 weeks were complete - the instructor told us that Brady was by far the most improved. We could see it, but was nice to hear it from an objective party. He cried a little less each week until the 4th week where he didn't cry at all. Even the other parents made comments about his improvement, which was nice to hear :) He went from being scared to getting in to jumping in the pool and putting his head under water. As a parent, it's always fun to see your child learn - but to see him overcome his almost fear of the water was amazing. We hope to continue this fall or winter with lessons and are trying to get in a pool as often as possible this summer to keep up his progress.