{pretty, happy, funny, real} - the swimming edition

Two years ago we bought a backyard style pool for our children. At that point Kateri was already good swimmer, Zuzanna was learning.  Kubus was just a few months old baby, so it was safe to let the kids go and enjoy the cool swim on the hot summer day.

It requires a little bit of work, that pool of ours. First of all we were never planning to do so. We never looked for a house with a pool. It did not make sense for us here in Northeast, where summer lasts two months. But we changed our mind when the kids started to grow up and enjoy the hot summer in the backyard.

So going back to the work on the pool... It takes two days to set it up properly and a lot of hours to fill it up with water. Then we have to make sure that it stays clean and bacteria free. That is Andrzej's job. Mine is cleaning up after the season. We don't leave it up, but pump the water out, rinse it and wash it with bleach. Then it has to get dry, and finally after a week of cleaning, is being put away for the ten months of the year...

But you know what, it is all worth it!

Last year the girls enjoy it again. Kubus was going in, but rather for a short period of time.
This year it has changed. He absolutely loves it!!! Andrzej decided to buy him a float, the one that gets tied up around the child with a padding on the back. It gave Andrzej and Kubus a lot of freedom in the pool. And mostly, a lot of excitement for the little boy.

The thing I am very anxious when little ones are in, so I am staying out most of the time, only being there when the pictures are needed to be taken or recordings of joyful splashing.

As I join Like Mother, Like Daughter for the {phfr}, I am posting few pictures and a short movie of Kubus' efforts to stay afloat!

 {pretty, happy}

 

My pretty and happy boy. Andrzej and Zuzia enjoyed it too!

 

{funny}

Being funny, stealing sibling kisses:) 

 

{real}

  He is real-ly swimming! With some help of course...

 

Kinga:)



Letting go...

We had pets for two weeks, and then we let them go:)
One stayed linger a little longer. Not to say good bye, but because its wing was too damaged from constant banging at the net. The girls did not want to part too soon:(

 

 

Kinga:)



Theme Thursday: Rooms



I am right on time today, and showing off my multipurpose dining room, as I join  Cari for the Theme Thursday.

It is very informal and formal place in our home. Even though we are lucky to have eat in kitchen, we enjoy our meals at the dining room table. It is a place for fast breakfast, almost restaurant requested lunches, alone dinners and family dinners. We have celebrated here birthdays, name days, Communions and christenings.

We have enjoyed our yearly traditional Christmas Eve dinner and Easter breakfast for the past eleven years now. When guests come over, that is where they usually sit and converse with us.
It also a place for homework, crafting, sometimes sewing, planning and organizing.

I did not capture less interesting part of this room where stands the old fashion computer. So it is also our office. But  we don't complain for the lack of one more room. We are not really in a big need for extra office space, even though that would be nice.
So besides the dining and learning purpose of this room, it also used for computer games, paying bills, checking e-mails and blogging. And I like to keep it clean. So I pushed away the clutter for today's picture of the week:)

Kinga.

NYC

The last few days have been exceptionally hot here in northeast. And it was very hot in the big city, like New York. No one in the right mind would chose such a scorching weekend to play a tourist there, but we did:) And a lot of others as we dragged along walked through the crowded streets of Lower Manhattan!

Kateri had her National Junior track and field event in Icahn Stadium in NYC. We couldn't pass that
meet even if there was 110 F! It sounded too important and prestigious. Was there anybody from our family or friends invited to participate in such  a meet? No, we had to go!

Kateri's 400 meter dash took place on Saturday. As with a meet with a lot of events, the run was delayed. The participants had to warm up, wait and then run in the hot blasting sun. I knew that it is not going to be Kateri's race. We just told her to enjoy and remember it:)

She run in the second heat. Over all from 20 runners she had placed 12ve.
The girls had a chance to chat a little and some of them mentioned that they train very often in the heat of the day to get used to any kind of weather! I can believe it. The few first girls who finished with top places run like rackets! Kateri said she was already tired before the race, from the heat...

 

 

After the run we went to the hotel to cool down and relax and then we hit the...Bronx! Not the Zoo though, it was too late. We headed toward a good pizza place but honestly it was very hard to find such one. We stopped at the surprisingly nice downtown of Yonkers and enjoyed the walk along Hudson river.

 

 

 

 

 



 

Sunday did not give us any relieve from the heat.  It actually felt hotter, and that was our Manhattan day! We had tried to do it early in a day but it did not make any difference. We started sweating as soon as we left the car! We walked along the United Nations buildings, past the Chrysler skyscraper and Grand Station, toward the Public Library. Over there we were planning to rest for longer, but the library was closed! We headed toward Time Square which has been under construction. Not a pretty view.

For a Sunday Mass we decided to go to St.Patrick which was also going major restorations.
Kids has a little rest and fun in Toys"R"Us, before heading to Central Park to enjoy greenery and heading back to the car. Zuzia was happy finding 21 turtles in the stenchy Central Park pond. Yes, she counted them, and watching them, made her day:)

We were all glad to be in the air conditioned car later on and heading back home. I am surprised that despite of the heat, everybody took it well. We are planning to come back, but maybe in the cool and crispy Fall!



 

Kinga:)

 

 

 







Theme Thursday: Freedom ( on Sunday :)

What a hot and scorched 4th of July that was!!!

I added the 4 miles on the 4th to my dailymile. I have to say that it was rather a mistake. I was very tired, and had a headache plus additional anxiety. That "thing" can't seem to leave me... I am thinking more about changing my work out routine. It does not matter that I like to run. It seems that it is just not for me. I have to stick to my very personal "wii coach" and walking. I like to lift weights too.

We tried to stay cool indoors, while watching some tennis. Polish player, Agnieszka Radwanska was in semifinals. The match was very interesting, unfortunately she lost:(

In the late afternoon we finally opened our pool for summer. The water was pleasantly warm, kids cooled off and little certain someone did not want to leave the wet fun. The trouble was for Andrzej who had to hold Kubus the whole time since  the water was way too deep for our little one!

We skipped the parades, maybe another, cooler 4th of July. We had read few books and waited for friends to come over.

We all had great time celebrating the freedom. The refreshing water, the yummy food, the sweet and gooey s'mores, the glowing bracelets, the shining sparkles and the neighborhood display of big, colorful and loud fireworks, made this day feel oh, so very special and fun!

Few highlights from our Freedom Day, joining Cari!

 

 



 

 

Kinga:)