From Coast to Coast - June 2010

Summer is here and we’re loving it! All the kids’ activities ended so all we’re doing this summer is pool time. Okay, that’s a lie. Carlita is doing t-ball at the Y, and Karl is serving as her team’s coach. This is his first time coaching, which is exciting but exhausting trying to coach 4-5 years old kids. We have signed up for a Y membership and have been going to the pool almost everyday. With our membership we’re able to go to any Y in the state so we’re going to different pools. Carlita is getting really comfortable with the water and I hope she will be able to project herself through the water by the end of this summer. Luke just loves the water, and I’m calling it that he’ll learn to swim faster than Carlita.

As for school, Carlita is still going to Pre-K. She has lots of friends and have been going to lots of birthday parties. It’s a bit sad that most of her friends will move on up to kindergarten but she will stay in Pre-K due to the placement of her birthday being after the Aug. 31st cut-off. But we think it will be okay. She needs some more time to grow her confidence among her peers. She’s so different with her ‘college-age’ friends compared to her little friends. She has become an excellent tree climber, and loves rock walls. As for Luke, he is staying home with the parents. Karl has adjusted his work schedule so that he takes care of Luke in the morning and works in the afternoon/evening. He naps so well, usually 3-5 hours, in the afternoon so I’m able to get a lot of work done. Luke is learning so much. He still loves his balls but now he wants to take rides outside. He loves his hat and has a particular fondness for shoes. Just loves shoes!! His language is increasing. He can say “No”, “Shoes”, “Ball”, “Mama”, “Dada”, “Titi”. He loves his sister and follows everything she does. They are very playful with each other, which is good and bad. Knowing our kids we’ll end up at the ER sooner than later.

The big event for our family has been the traveling to the West coast. Karl flew out one weekend (plus some days) to see his brother graduate from high school. He returned, and then in three days I flew out to San Diego for the NACURH conference (a national student leadership conference). I took ten student leaders to attend this high-energy, cheerful, and themed-filled event. We went to the San Diego Zoo, the Torrey Pines State Park, and the La Jolla/Pacific Beaches. We walked all over the place, which resulted in over 26 miles charted. Wow!

For Karl and I, we experienced single parenthood and gained great appreciation to those single parents out there. We tried pool trips, blueberry picking, and playground visits but nothing replaces having that other parent, not just to help out but to be there for those memorable moments and to support you. Thank you to all those single parents who put their life on hold and somehow balance and manage a crazy life with kids. Now lets see what July brings the Luka family.