Super Jack turn 4 and Summer Fun

To jump start our summer, we joined the yacht club.  It's close to our house and has a great kid pool and nice adult pool.  Sophie and Jack love to swim there.  I truly attribute Jack's progress at swimming to his time at this pool. It's amazing the difference from May to now.

Jack not only learned to swim but, by the end of the summer, was able to jump into the pool, grab diving sticks on the bottom of the pool and do all sorts of jumps off the diving board.  He is now a little fish!

Sophia made progress too.  By the end of the summer, she was able to swim around the pool with her floaties and Carl had taught her how to flip and float.  

In late May, I took a part-time job.  I've worked about 20 hours a week and the kids adjusted well to a nanny two days a week.  Carl studied for his orthopaedic boards a lot during our summer.  He worked really hard and we were so proud of him when he passed the exam, and is now an board certified orthopaedic surgeon.

For the first summer in a long time, we didn't really travel.  Besides going to Sarasota in early summer, we didn't go anywhere.  Cousin Thomas and Elosie came to visit.  They were here for a labor day weekend.  We had a lot of fun swimming and the kids loved playing together.  

Jack talked about his birthday for about two months before the actual day.  He has been obsessed with super heros for over a year now.  It first started with Spider Man and then moved onto Super Man last halloween when I let him try on his first cape at JoAnns.  As soon as he put on that cape, he was "flying" around that fabric store.  He was so cute that I didn't protest at all when he asked to bring it home.  Surely, I didn't think he would still be into Superman by July but he was.  It was a full Superman themed day!

We surprised Jack the day of the party with the bounce house.

He was so excited and in disbelief.  I am glad that we went with an obstacle course one because it provided a lot of entertainment and enough space for everyone. 

To add to the fun, we had the obstacle course arrive an hour before the party so that Jack got used to it before everyone else arrived.  To keep him company, we invited one of his best friend's, Ella.  In true Florida style, Mark dropped off Ella by boat!

Okay, so when does this party start?  Sophia waiting for the guests to arrive.

The Benton kids and Marly enjoying pizza

Cora jumping after a slide down the bounce house. 

Sophia was our little entertainer. If you didn't know better, you would have thought it was her party:)

The bounce house was very popular but the kids needed a break to grab some pizza and chips.

Sean and Juliet playing in the sand box.  They dressed up as super heros for the party too!

Jack was excited to help put the candles in his case.  He such a helper in planning the party.  He actually picked out the cake design and went with me to the store to help to explain to the lady exactly what he wanted.  

Jack's gigi came to visit him from Delray for his birthday.  She was so helpful and enjoyed watching him and all of his friends.

I just noticed how totaly unsafe this hammock is since the lawn men burnt a hole in it:(  Well, there was adult supervision and the kids had a blast.

Always with a cape.  At school, if there were ever a superman item lossed, they automatically assumed it belonged to Jack.  

Sophia adores her big brother.  She thinks the world of him. When she wakes up from her nap, he is the first name that she calls. Within two minutes of separating them from a fight, she is begging to be with him again.

Sophia at 2 years and 3 months.  She speaks very well.  She still prefers Sophia over Sophie.  In our family, she is the comedian,   Everything is funny to her and she makes us all laugh a lot.  She can be a bruiser to her brother but is also a nuturer of our family and her many babies and animals. 

The Lupo Family

Jack's cake that he designed:)

Jack and all of his friends as we sing happy birthday

Jack getting ready to blow out his candles

A shy moment. Jack realized that everyone was watching him so he leaned into me trying to escape the crowd. He got over it though.

Over the shyness and ready to blow out his candles!!!

A successful birthday singing and blowing out of candles.  Each year, Jack grows more and more confident and less shy.  He has gained so much confidence this summer. Before, he would hate to talk to adults and shy away from his peers.  Now, he eagerly speaks to adults, especially when it involves describing something he wants and needs.  

Tasting the cake!

The Leonard Family

Me and my little lady

Jack fully enjoyed the bounce house

Tug:) One of Jack's closest friends from school

Sophia is totally a daddy's girl

One of the Nixon twins, Chris, enjoying Jack's tractor

We surprised Jack by wearing matching Superman shirts for his birthday.  Since his birthday, he gets a big smile on his face and asks us in a quizzative manner why we are wearing the shirts. He then says how much he likes that we wear them.

Jack's birthday was a big success.  The rain held out, the bounce house was a big hit, and most importantly, Jack had a great day.  Despite there being about 50-60 guests, we had a lot of close friends there and it was a relaxing day.

Some of my favorites of Sophia from the day:

Mark and Sam

You can tell