Is it really JUNE?

I can't believe June starts tomorrow, where did May go? To be honest, the month of May was usurped by the 48-Hour Film Project shenanigans. We filmed the movie the first weekend of May, then we had our first screening the following week and after a nail-biting 10 days, found out that this year's film "High as a Kite" made it to the "Best of DC" round of competition.

The 48hfp committee doesn't post official rankings so we don't know exactly where we placed, but we were in the bottom half of the "Best of DC" group, which is compiled of the top 24 films out of 105 team entries. We weren't sure we'd make it this year, so we're just happy to say that we did!

Next year, we've all agreed to remove all naked men from our film. We're going to attempt a mature film concept, and bust into the top half of that "Best of DC" contention.

But enough about the film. Isabelle has been busy this month. Potty training is going pretty well. We're not pushing it, but she is taking control and doing really well.

She has learned the entire "Our Father" prayer now and recites it every night at bedtime. We'll tackle the "Hail Mary" next. She should be more than ready for Catholic School in a few years!

Summer has arrived in full force. The baby pool debuted this week and we're getting ready to purchase a "big" pool this month. We went to the neighbors pool yesterday and she was swimming away, glad to see she hasn't lost her swim school lessons.

We're considering some gymnastic classes this summer, there is a good program through our local rec center that has classes on Wednesday nights, just like swim class was. It was a great way to break up the week with something constructive. The jury is still out.

Other than that, our summer is already getting booked up with parties and playdates and other fun activities. Daddy turns 40 this summer! So we've started to plan his Luau party for July 24th at our community beach. Anyone know a hula dancer we can invite?

Happy Summer, everyone, even if it doesn't technically start for another 3 weeks.

It's time to potty!

Let the potty training begin! Our daycare provider, the lovely and talented and patient "Miss Trish" has had 2 days of success in the realm of potty training! Granted, Isabelle has no interest in doing this at home, but that's OK for now.

She has gone in the big girl potty successfully the last two days and we're thrilled! Iz is thrilled too, she's called me from school both days to tell me the exciting news over the phone.

Our baby girl is only 2.5 years old this month but she's becoming a big girl seemingly overnight, while we aren't looking.

Ack, all aboard the busy train!

The Wonderful World of Iz goes on, but I am too busy to share! Sorry folks, after a fabulous computer-less vacation in Tampa, followed by a whirlwind 48-hour weekend of filmmaking, capped with 3 days of hell-at-work - I just haven't had time to notice, let alone capture, any of the funny little Isabelle moments.

However, I just got a call from Daddy, who took Isabelle to her last swim class in Level 1 this evening and she passed! Even though they typically don't let you start Level 1 until you are 3 years old, she started at 2 and passed. So we'll start her in Level 2 this fall.

Nothing like starting the Type-A Overachieving mentality now, right?

Vacation, all I ever wanted....

Our first vacation of 2010 is just days away, yippee! We're heading back to Tampa (with Ed this time, but WITHOUT LAPTOP)! With a 10-day forecast of mid-80s and sun sun sun, we think it should be a perfect getaway.

Our plans include a visit to the brand new "Sesame Street Safari of Fun" at the Busch Gardens in Tampa. We're going to head out on a boat ride with Aunt Kim, Uncle Chris, and Ronan. We're going to hit the beach to show off those new swimming skills. And we are going to RELAX. Time for a jump start on that summer suntan! Hasta la vista!

Easter Fun

This was the first year we kinda actually "did" Easter, sort of, kinda, not really. Isabelle got to participate in her first Easter Egg Hunt at Selby Beach, our community association organizes it. She also got an Easter Basket (I wasn't going to do one but then got chastised by several friends so I had to make her one). We also cooked an Easter Ham. But we didn't make it to Mass...tsk tsk, I know. We're really going to start trying to get there in earnest starting next week (fo'real).

Because Isabelle's birthday is just a month before C'mas (which is kind of a bummer for a kid), we have decided that we'll do gifts for Easter every year. It's kind of the half-way point for her so we can get her some Spring-time gifts. Like this year, the tricycle. It would be kind of silly to get her a trike in November and make her wait 5 months to ride it, no? And I can't justify an expensive trike "just because".

We had beautiful weather this weekend, got to enjoy some beach time, and some good fun relaxing family time.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

We start "real" swim lessons tonight! The last 6 weeks was the baby/toddler class where one parent gets into the over-chlorinated 95-degree cesspool with their kid. Because Isabelle is so tall for her age, and mastered all of the baby steps that made up the intro class, they are letting her go into "Level 1" which is normally reserved for 3+ year olds.

Tonight is our first class, we're both going to go to see how our girl does without any M&D in the pool with her. After this week, we'll probably take turns the remainder of the class. I mean, it's not like she's going to be doing the backstroke next week or anything, hehehe.

No Way, Jose!

When I was getting Isabelle dressed for school today, she asked me if she could have a cookie (at 7:45am). I laughed and said, "No way, Jose!".

Her face scrunched up in what I thought was about to become a temper tantrum attempt to get her way. But there was no tantrum, she just distinctly explained to me, "No, Mommy, I'm not Jose. I'm IZZI!"