The Annual Crape Shot

Capture!

His first firefly!

Pool

Swim!

Palmer had his first real swimming lesson tonite.  We're doing private lessons at the community pool with a guy who was a lifeguard and formerly taught at Potomac Swim School where Connor took lessons.   This will just be easier on our schedule and it costs roughly the same.  

I have to thank some Facebook friends for the suggestion.  I would have never thought of it.

He did well...other than that little complication that he already THINKS he can swim and he's shocked as hell when he sinks like a stone.  It's clear that 30 minutes is perfect--he was tired by the end of it.  Imagine the same for you--thirty solid minutes of kicking, climbing, jumping, paddling.  I would be tired, too!

Independence In The Meadow

We heard great things about the Independence Day celebration out at Great Meadow and they were all accurate. Part tailgate party, part county fair, part weird rocket and horse show. Loved it!

Got this taken quickly before the mess.   Pink sno-cone on the white shirt 10 minutes later. As per usual.

A first for the Tates.  The deep fried Twinkie.  We all had a bite and I have to say that it was pretty damn awesome.  Later in the evening there were, no kidding, about 75 people on line at this place. 

Oh, the stupidity of the blue icing.

Massive tailgate party

And the threat of the blue...

...delivers.

A pack of 9 year old girls chased Connor until the could no longer run.  They took him down strategically like big cats hunting antelope.  

Glo Stick Selfie

Herd Immunity

Both of my little men had their annual physicals this week. And both of them got lots of shots. I get so frustrated with the anti-vaccine movement. I could write a massive diatribe about it but I won't. I'll just keep getting my kids as protected as I can and help the other fools out with improved herd immunity. Science, people. Not stories.