“That underwear that holds those things that are going to make milk for my little brother.”

The boys were each using a bucket to collect "fish" (dried leaves) from the ground.  A neighbor passed by and Benjmain showed off his catch.

"OH MY GOD!" exclaimed our neighbor.  He was trying to be enthusiastic and friendly, but really, is that an apporpriate response, regardless of your religious beliefs?

Not to be outdone, Jonah showed off his fish as well.

"OH MY GOD!  FISH!" Mr. Neighbor exclaimed again.  I watch Benjamin's face as he processes this new phrase state so dramatically and approvingly.  I'm wondering how I'm going to explain the idea of taking the Lord's name in vain when he inevitably mentions this encounter again.

Turns out the only vain thing was my wondering... a few minutes later Benjamin offers Jonah a fistfull of dried leaves asking, "Want some of God's fish?"

We enrolled the boys in swim lessons for the couple of weeks we spent in Midland. At home we haven’t been able to make it to the pool enough recently to make much progress – I haven’t been comfortable being by myself with them since they can’t swim and I can’t move quickly enough in case they go under.

When I have had a chance to take them under the water a time or two in the past year, it’s very traumatic with lots of tears and rage at the unfairness of life in general.

So I knew whichever swim instructor got stuck with them had the honor of teaching them was in for a reeeeeal treat. Lots of “But I said I don’t want to do that” from Benjamin, lots of hysterical shrieking from Jonah, and many tears from both.

After a couple of lessons Benjamin relaxed somewhat and – as long as his face stayed dry – he actually began to enjoy it. Whereas jonah spent most of the last lesson out of the water tearfully pleading for a parental unit.

It’s an indoor pool and people actually came over from other parts of the building, convinced that my kids were being waterboarded. Jonathan witnesses the last lesson and told me we were scarring Jonah for life.

Evidently not because since we’ve been home we’ve gone to the pool 2-3 times a week (I was able to take them for a while and now Jonathan does on the afternoons it’s not raining). In the beginning we had a few minutes of “swim lessons” where they had to practice their kicks, floating on their back, and submerging various facial features for a split second. They always came up smiling, both proud of themselves and relieved it’s over.

And now Jonah loves jumping into the pool! He gets his face wet and goes under a bit – and begs to do it 59 times. Benjamin doesn’t like to jump in, but now he and Jonah will both voluntarily dunk their heads under while hanging on to the edge... and think it’s fun!!

And through all this I have made the most delightful discovery: an hour in the pool wears them out! Their naps are back to nearly two hours with only the occasional It’s-Only-Been-45-Minutes-And-You’re-Up-ALREADY?!-nap.