Swimming

Today we went swimming and it was the closest I have come to see you really start to swim Chipmunk! 

The pool was crowded,it was Saturday and a lot of families where having great fun together.

I had said to you that I was going to pretend to be your swimming teacher and that you was going to try to swim like you do with Jenny on Thursdays and you did seem to take this too heart and do whatever I wanted you to do.

We started in the big leisure pool and you did great swimming on your back and then we swapped to your front and you seemed to prefer this,I guess you could see where you were going for a start and in a crowded pool that's a important thing! 

After a while we stopped the swim practise and played sharks and then the waves came on and you had a good time. It amazes me that when you are at the seaside you run and jump in the waves,go under the sea and get back up for more constantly but the waves at the swimming baths seem to floor you and you back away. I wondered if it was because the water gets on your face and that's what you don't like,so that's why I suggested that you stood up and it seemed to do the trick,next time we will try that first. 

After the waves had finished we went into the teaching pool and this is where you did your best swimming. We played chasing a ball,you threw it and them we both swam after it,the first one to get the ball could throw it again. 

And as they are always telling us at work boys love competition and you proved that theory right today! You swam as fast as you could to get that ball and I made it competitive and didn't let you win all the time,so it became a really good game and without me then encouraging you to swim,you was swimming,up and down the pool you swam until your little face was as red as your Liverpool shirt!

And that's got to be good!

And the best bit was it was all done through play. We all know children learn through play and why should swimming be any different? 

You swam more during that game of ball than I had ever seen you do before,nobody telling you to do it,instead you were instinctively doing it! 

So have I got a swimmer? Nearly I think!

And as you lie there fast asleep I'm sat here smiling,thinking of the possibilities this would bring for you,good possibilities Chipmunk! 

Fun,safety in water,a way to build up your upper body strength,good self esteem when you eventually have to swim with the school,a brill form of exercise,really good stuff!

So sleep tight little one,dream sweet dreams,I know I will be smiling as I drift off to sleep tonight - not quite a fish but getting there!

Sat Here Waiting For Chipmunk

Well the first day back at school has finally come and I'm sat here waiting to go and pick Chipmunk up!He was ok this morning but understandably nervous.
When I went into his bedroom to wake him I said 'Are you ready for juniors?'
To which he replied 'Yes,ready and able.'
By breakfast though he was more reticent and he came up and cuddled me saying 'I think I just cant do this'
He did do it though and all day I have been wondering: did he manage at playtime,has he eaten his lunch ok,has he had anyone to play with,has he got lost,did he miss his home.
Well I will soon find out because its time to pick him up,I hope hes had a super day!We shall soon see!

Bike Ride To Comp!

I just got to do a quick post about our fab bike ride to the comp!

After dinner today I decided to see just how far Chipmunk could ride his bike to.We set off towards our local comp and low and behold we made it there!

There was not much stressing and not much wobbling and a very proud mummy and son!

Chipmunk managed to go through gates,go up hills and even more scary ~ go down hills!

I even managed to ride my bike and I only got bumped off it once which is a major improvement to last year when I literally needed valium after a bike ride with Chipmunk!
This time it was nearly pleasurable!I still had to watch him carefully but the improvement was amazing and I'am so pleased!

We are winning! #bikeridingsuccess


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100% Attendance!

Today Chipmunk got a very special medal.During the last few weeks he has had medals for football,medals for reading but this medal was for 100% Attendance during this year!

This is something that's really important to me because it has not always been this way.

When Chipmunk first started school his attendance was poor,he seemed to get illness after illness and we just couldn't keep him fit and healthy.
I personally feel that stress played a big part in all of this.

During year one progress with attendance was made but we were still struggling to make even half a term without any time off.

Then during year two Chipmunk made a whole term at school and I was thrilled,this went on to be two terms and then the unbelievable 100% attendance record!

For me this is so special!From a really bad start to a fantastic ending!

Chipmunk was really pleased with this medal and had a few comments from the other children who knew the importance of what he had done ~ one little boy said 'that means he has come to school every day' and he looked amazed :-)

Well done Chipmunk,mummy is really proud of you!



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Footballer Tiger

Football and Tiger go together like Tom and Jerry,Fish and Chips,Salt and Vinegar,Ying and Yang,Thunder and Lightening...you get the picture :-)

Whenever I think of one significant thing that Tiger loved during his childhood it would be football,followed closely by Harry Potter.

From when he could walk Tiger would kick a ball around the house and garden and when he was about 3years old he decided to be like his daddy and support Liverpool,he still does support Liverpool and has had most of the Liverpool kits throughout the years.

Some of his favourite Liverpool players have been Michael Owen,Stephen Gerrard and recently Torres!

When he was at Infant School he would always play football in the playground and I can really picture him every playtime blasting a ball around in the year two playground.

When he was six years old he joined our local footy team and spent about six years with them.It was so competitive though and he took a year out of football and then joined up with our other local team where he stayed till he was 16.

Even now he plays football for a team and I love to see him in his footy kit because it reminds me of when he was much younger and when we used to watch him play every Saturday without fail.
Sharky spent most of his childhood rolling around a field while his brother played footy :-)

These are the latest footy boots



I always love the brightness of footy boots,if not the price!


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Swimming ~ Almost a frog!

Today Chipmunk was described by his swimming teacher as *almost a frog* :-)

This made me smile and I've been saying it ever since!

*Almost a frog* it has a certain ring to it I think!

It was of course breast stroke week and the children were doing *froggy arms and froggy legs*

Chipmunk tried so hard this week and had quite a serious look on his face for most of the lesson as he concentrated on making his arms and legs move in circles just like a frog.

There was only 6 children this week and the behaviour was good so they all did a lot of swimming.

I always love to see Chipmunk swim and I think he enjoys the lessons too.


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Footy Club ~ 2

Today after school was the much awaited footy club!

Chipmunk was very excited about this club and had been counting down to it since last week!

Luckily this week the weather was ok,not sunny but at least the rain held off and the children were able to get out on the field.

Chipmunk was a goalkeeper today and they played what Chipmunk described as a *real match*

It was J.L's turn to take the trophy home at the end of the session,Chipmunk said he got it because he did a brilliant save!

Roll on next weeks footy club :-)


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Footy Club

Chipmunk has joined the football after school club this week and what a success it was!

He got to wear a proper football kit ( pictured above ) and bring it home!
He was so proud of it!

The teacher who was running the club said Chipmunk *scored a cracking goal* in the penalty shoot out!

Chipmunk cannot wait to go again!