Earlier this week Maile found an old pair of cheap sunglasses that had the “glass” part broken out and she started wearing the frames. She claims they help her see better – but only inside – when she goes outside, she needs to switch to her sunglasses.
What’s unclear to me is whether she know show ridiculously cute they make her look – although I have a feeling she’s catching on. Regardless, I’ll take it. And assuming she ends up having eye sight like her daddy instead of her mommy, I’ll be pulling up this post one day to remind her that there was a time where she liked having glasses to help her see better. (NOTE: I realize that includes a huge assumption that they still actually have glasses when that conversation comes up…)
Maile Girl posing with her new glasses look...
If she didn't know how cute they were before she wore them to the airport, now she definitely does, because about 20 people commented on them to her...
I found this picture on my phone - apparently, Maile was checking out her look using the camera... Yikes.
Maile put on a dance show this weekend and Christine and I noticed that she might be paying attention to some of Daddy’s moves and co-opting them into her routine. This makes me happy and I imagine for a short time will make her cooler than ice cold, but I also have a feeling that the time horizon for being cool while “incorporating Daddy’s moves” is quite short. Maile Girl, I apologize in advance.
(Click here for the video.)
A long time ago (when she was only 8 months old!), we started swim classes with Maile at the JCC. They were Mommy/Daddy and me-type classes where we were in the water with her. While the first couple of times went okay, it became clear very quickly that Maile wasn’t a big fan. We did it for a few months and then bailed on it.
Since then Maile has had some exposure to the water here in San Francisco and on our trips to Hawaii (and Boston and Chicago too). In fact, our last visits to Hawaii and Chicago made us realize that she might be ready again for swim lessons – she just loved being in the water.
We heard from one of Maile’s classmates about this great swimming program called La Petite Baleen. The classes are limited to 4 children only who are in the pool alone the teacher and the family raved about how great the teachers are with the kids. We decided to check it out last weekend and we were not disappointed. Part of it might be because Maile was the right age to get back into swim lessons, but she had a blast and I was really impressed with the whole setup of the program. We signed up for weekly classes and I have a feeling Maile is going to be quite the fish by the time we get back to Hawaii in December!
Our little swimmer getting ready for the next part of her class...
They use lots of floaties and toys to get the kids comfortable in the water - but they also teach them tricks like making a 'balloon face' so they don't swallow water when they put their face in.
Here’s a video of Maile Girl in action…
(Click here for the video.)
Last month when we were in Hawaii, we played Jenga a few times and Maile really liked it (and was quite good at it). Sensing we might have a Jenga prodigy (wink, wink) on our hands, we picked up our own Jenga set for Maile’s birthday.
Maile isn’t the most graceful Jenga player, but that might be part of where her skill comes from – she doesn’t overthink her moves, she sees a piece that is a little loose and she snatches and adds it to the top. Definitely our favorite game of the moment…
Plotting her next move...
How high can we go?
(Click here for the video.)
Maile Girl has finally learned how to “yes” her parents. She’ll agree to something just to get her way and then conveniently forget about it later. For example, we’ll say, “Maile if you watch a show now, you can’t watch another show later.” And she’ll say, “Okay, Daddy, I won’t watch a show later.” Then later will come and she’ll have a fit because we said she can’t watch a show, completely oblivious (so it seems) to the previous deal that was made.
Well, Mommy and Daddy are fighting back, aided by the latest in technology. A quick video of Maile Girl herself making the promise cannot be ignored later on!
We’ll report back and tell you how this goes…
(Click here for the video.)
A nice picture of our family (Maile at 4, Lauren at 6 months)...
... but I like this one better 🙂
The sisters - already building an amazing bond...
... one more time!
On Saturday, we combined forces with a classmate of Maile’s (named Aman) and threw Maile and her friend a summer jam birthday party. The jumpy house was in full effect and Christine and Aman’s mom came up with a fun art project where the kids decorated little canvas backpacks with block prints and markers. All the kids had a blast – in fact, we had so much fun we didn’t take too many pictures! One of the other dad’s took some a few great ones though to share…
We are 2 + 2 = 4! Yes!
Maile and her birthday buddy, Aman
Helping with setup by blowing up some balloons - considered teaching Maile the magic of helium, but held myself back this year...
Maile Girl was very pleased with her rainbow cake
Oh man, I want to eat that rainbow so bad.
Make a wish. No, you make a wish.
Maile turned 4(!) last week and I thought it’d be fun to start by looking back at a picture from each of her previous birthdays…
Maile at 4
Maile at 3
Maile at 2
Maile at 1
Maile at birth
Much more to come this week!
Maile’s Aunt Julie is a very accomplished flutist – she’s traveled all over the world teaching and playing the flute. So Maile Girl was VERY lucky to have her deliver Maile’s very first flute (or any type of music) lesson on Saturday.
Aunt Julie brought over this really cool flute made by NUVO. It’s very light and made from plastic type material – but good quality. Aunt Julie said it is a great flute to learn on.
Aunt Julie said Maile was a very good student and she was quite excited about her lips. For her part, Maile Girl got a huge kick out of learning about the flute and playing it.
First Aunt Julie showed Maile all the pretty sounds that the flute could make and played some songs she already knew... this definitely piqued her interest!
Then Aunt Julie showed Maile how to place her mouth on the flute and the proper way to blow air...
Then they put the full flute together and Maile learned about the keys and how pressing them made different sounds...
After that it was just a matter of putting everything together...
... and becoming the cutest flutist ever!
And here’s a video of Maile playing her very first “song” on the flute…
Thank you Aunt Julie! Now we just need you to move to San Francisco to continue the lessons 🙂
(Click here for the video.)
Last week we headed to Chicago to visit with GG Bea and GG Irv for the July 4th holiday. Grandma and Papa Boston came in as well. It was Lauren’s first chance to meet GG Bea and GG Irv and Maile’s first visit since last September. I am always so thankful when I get to visit GG Bea and GG Irv with the girls – and this visit did not disappoint. Lauren charmed with her smiles and giggles and Maile wowed everyone with how much she has grown up this past year.
On Wednesday night when we arrived we went to dinner with GG Bea - that smile was permanent on her face the whole time she was with Maile and Lauren!
On Thursday, Papa Mike and Grandma Jill brought Maile and Lauren to visit with GG Irv (Christine and I were off to a wedding for the day).
More to come on this trip – we also got to spend some quality time with Aunt Julie, Cousin Donna, Uncle Jimmy and the Vick family cousins…
