On Summer ’23

Boys,

I’ve said this before, but I think sometimes posts don’t need to be anything more than “this is what your life was like in this moment in time.” So, this post will hopefully be a snapshot of what you’re both into and some of the fun things we’ve done recently. I’m writing this in July, so there is still a lot of summer left before fall, when Reagan will head into Kindergarten and Koen will (hopefully) head into Pre-school.

The big ticket item this summer has been swimming. Reagan, you finally have swimming mostly figured out — at least enough to get from A-to-B under water and not have the fear if you get into deeper water. You haven’t gotten to the diving boards yet, which was always my favorite part of pools, but you’re basically dating the slide at Kinsale and it’s hard to break you two up.

Koen, you also like to go to the pool. You’re mostly still my velco-baby and just want to be around me and jumping into the pool by me with your floaties on, but I have to admit that the pool is so much more fun with where you boys are this year versus last year.

Reagan, you and I also went out on Father’s Day and got to play 3 holes together. You might have been more interested in sitting on my lap and driving the cart, but we played a scramble and you were so excited to come home and tell mom how you made the par putt. You also were pretty happy to stop the cart girl and get some sprite and chips. I was very happy you enjoyed being out there and playing as much as you did, and I hope it’s something we can do for a very long time.

Koen, you’re kind of the center of your own universe. You’re happy to do most things, but you also are a touch demanding on doing things on your timeline. That is, when it’s time to leave the pool, and you’re not quite ready to go, you have a way of letting us — and the rest of the neighborhood — know that you’re not quite ready to go. Some ways you express your frustrating include:

• Screaming “NO!!!” at the top of your lungs
• Not getting out of the pool when they blow the whistle and giving no F’s that there is no one else in the pool but you
• Raging as I football carry you and simultaneously push the stroller home while other parents give me the “we’ve all been there” nod.

You’re also doing soccer shots which I think I’ve mentioned in an earlier post. Basically, they put 7 or 8 3yo’s in a field with some cones and have you run around like cheetahs and dinosaurs toward little cones. The first time we went was a disaster, but you’ve gotten better since. The last time we went sucked because they stuck us in a field that hadn’t been mowed since school let out. I was frustrated because there was some tiny bug issues around the sock line, but watching you try to kick a ball and have it barely move because the grass was so long was a little bit funny.

Reagan, you’re in a “friends over everything” phase. All you want to do is hang out with friends, invite them over to your house, invite them to the pool, invite yourself over to their house, etc. I know your mom and I don’t always OK that everytime you ask, but I think we all do a decent job.

You guys also got to spend the night at your grandmas (Tutu’s) — just the two of you. You guys got to play on bulldozers, throw rocks in the pond, play with her chickens and goats, and just had a great time. On a different weekend, we all went out to your Uncle Jordan’s and he set up a giant slip n’ slide in his back yard. Reagan, it goes without saying that you basically were glued to that the whole time. I was excited that you both did so well and we definitely think you’ll be back again before school starts.

Another fun thing that Reagan got to do the other day was go to LegoLand with your mom. I don’t want to get too deep into the specifics of that because a. I wasn’t there and b. (see a.), but the point I would make is that I’m proud of you for the fact that you’re actually out in the world doing things. I think it’s really cool to see you grow up, and I love seeing the bond you and your mom have when you do cool things like that.

OK, so always more I could say, but will wrap up with this thought. This has been one of the best summers ever, and getting to see you two grow up and explore who you are and grow into those boys is really special for me. I love you both so much, and can’t wait for more fun ahead!

Love,

Dad