SV2011 Day 3

How long will I keep this up? We'll see...

Big day at swim lessons...Pyrate "swam" herself to the side all by herself for the first time. And then did it ten more times. Her technique is ugly but just watching her get there makes me tear up. Pepper climbed out of the pool all by herself for the first time.

Amazingly, Pepper already has skills for calming her own fears! Freakin' awesome! Yesterday she got scared about getting dunked under water and then the next time she had to do it she announced that it would be funny and then she was able to do it. Two year old mind over two year old matter. She IS my hero! She made it work for her again today, declaring the task funny even as her voice shook with nervousness. But she did it.

Then our first summer field trip: We took the Gold Line to Olvera Street. Pepper was way psyched abuot riding the train and Pyrate counted the train stops in Spanish. We had lunch in the plaza listening to Native American drummers perform. Then we shopped the street, pausing to check out the oldest house in Los Angeles, Avila Adobe. We tortured a Japanes tourist whose bladder was so full she literally had to dance outside the stall while I ushered two small kids and myself through a bathroom stop.

Then we shared a cultural treat: a churro! We listened to more Native American music before selecting our souvenirs: a Peruvian mirror for mom and two plastic flutes for the girls. All three of us made it home tired, but unscathed so we may just try this again. Chinatown is one stop closer!