2014 Summer: Playing Tennis

This has been a summer of tennis for Nigel, having been introduced to the sport by a suggestion from Mom at the beginning of the summer. Dad constructed a tee-ball tee last year, and he and Nigel have played with that a few times, but it was a bit hard for Nigel to make good contact with the ball, and the tee kept getting knocked over and had to be stood back up frequently. Mom had him try hitting tennis balls with a tennis racket, and Nigel found that to be much easier, hitting them very consistently.

Everyone had so much fun taking turns hitting tennis balls in the yard that Dad decided to start taking Nigel to a court to play on Sundays. They did this most Sundays through the summer, often taking Aunt Blaire with them. She would play opposite Dad, with Nigel in front of her. They modified the rules so that kids score a point just by hitting the ball, and score double points if they can return the ball over the net (regardless of where it lands). When Nigel would miss the ball, Blaire would often hit it back to Dad and a rally would start. (Dad always started things off by serving toward Nigel, who was standing in the middle of the court.) Sometimes Nigel and Blaire would score multiple points in one rally!

Toward the end of the summer, Grandpa came to play with Dad and Nigel, and Dad switched to Nigel's side of the court to play with him, Grandpa serving to the pair of them.

Another way Dad and Nigel would play was turned sideways on the court, with Dad on the same side of the net as Nigel, bouncing balls to him. Nigel would try to hit them back at Dad, often sending them either up a hill or right at him with "super speed"! They also tried taking turns hitting a ball off a practice wall alongside one of the courts. Nigel really seems to have a very good aptitude for the game, and everyone has been having a lot of fun with it.

2014-08-26: A Picture of Mom (Poor Mom!)

After school, Nigel was telling Mom how in class they had drawn a picture of a living thing and a non-living thing. He mentioned having asked in class whether a lightning bolt is a non-living thing. He also said, "I drew a picture of a person, but it's kind of fat and it's wearing a yellow shirt and it kind of looks like you."

Apparently, Nigel thinks she is kind of fat because when he puts his arms around her bottom, they only just barely touch on the other side, whereas when he puts his arms around Dad, he can easily clasp his hands on the other side. Mom and Dad are quite convinced he means no offense with this comment, and of course everyone loves Mom very much and considers her to be beautiful.

2014-08-24: Odd and Even

Today, Nigel and Dad discussed odd and even numbers during lunch.

2014-08-23: Pool Party with Dad's Family

The family went out to spend the afternoon with the Blacks today for swimming and playing, along with Grandpa and Grandma M. The Blacks have a pool in their complex, and have gone swimming nearly every day through the summer. KariAnn learned to swim the length of the pool and back underwater. Haley also learned to swim its length underwater. Uncle Kerry even said he went back and forth twice one time.

This time, only Mom, Dad and all the kids swam, aside from Chloe. Dad brought snorkels, and everyone had fun trying those out. Grandpa tossed balls back and forth with his grandkids, and the adults mostly talked. All the kids have really enjoyed swimming this summer.

2014-08-18: Gymnastics and Rolls

Nigel has been taking gymnastics classes again this summer, in a much more playful environment than the last time he tried gymnastics. The summer has really turned out some good results, too, as tonight in class he initiated (and completed) backward rolls (somersaults) and multiple consecutive forward rolls that looked really fluid and easy. He was doing rolls over a bar, as well, and was really enjoying all of it.

2014-08-12: Stinky Mint

Nigel, holding onto Mom at bedtime tonight, is told he needs to let her go so she can go take a shower, because she is stinky from exercising. He smells her hair and says she smells good.

Mom: "Smell my armpits."
Nigel does so and tells her she smells like mint.
Mom: "That isn't bad."
Nigel: "It is to me."

Nigel does NOT like the smell or taste of mint, likely due to the foul, minty-tasting medicine he was given for acid reflux when he was a baby.

2014-08-04: Talent Show

Nigel decided he wanted to play Song of the Wind at his summer camp's talent show. This was such a wonderful event, with everyone getting fantastic support from the large crowd of parents that attended. Nigel was one of only a few solo performers, with most performances being group efforts. All the acts got huge applause and cheers, and the event was just as positive and as fun as it could be.

2014-08-03: Long Weekend

Mom worked a long weekend to make up for some time off, leaving Nigel and Dad to fend for themselves all weekend.