I have the pictures now of Mel's birthday. First, the Friday party, with some neighbor friends. Click on these thumbnails to view larger:

And the cake that day...

Then the next day at Aunt Lynne's house..

And the cake from that day...

And here's from her actual birthDAY, though the pictures weren't nearly so good that day.

Here's a slide show of them all:

[slideshow]

EV can now swim. She had a lesson today (every Tues, her and Mel). And there she was, officially swimming. I consider it swimming if her face/head is in the water and all 4 limbs are off the bottom of the pool and all 4 limbs are also attempting to swim. Which they all were. She hasn't figured out the breathing part so it only lasts for as long as she can hold her breath - so maybe like 10 seconds or so. But what a cool trick.

I know K&T couldn't do this at age 5. I was bragging about EV at dinner tonight and K&T were both scoffing that they could do so much better till I told them when they were both 5, they couldn't swim near so well. EV also did a little backstroke by herself. I think it's great. She's so dang proud of herself. As we were walking to the showers after her lesson, she smiled at me and said "I'm ready for Pups", which is Developmental Sealions Swim Pups team (pre-swim team that she's signed up for).

I swim while she's having her lesson. Mel's is the hour before. It's so hot there by the pool that I can only take it for one 30 minute lesson anyhow (indoor pool - the chair for observing are under the heating vents and they have had the heat turned on too high). So EV and I watch Mel's lesson, then take her to the child care for EV's lesson. Mel loves being in the pool, just doesn't have much attention span. There's only 2 little girls in the class. So she gets loads of attention. She only spends about half the time actually listening to the teacher though. Same with the other girl in the class. The teacher just rotates between the 2 of them. So far, it's been the best swimming money I ever spent. I get forced to swim while EV's having her lesson PLUS the kids are improving a lot.