I am living the dream working all morning and playing at the pool all afternoon. I am almost at that sweet spot where Mazen can play with his friends and I can sit and read a book in a chair at the edge of the pool where he can touch the bottom, but not quite. He is still learning to swim, so I need to keep an eye on him, and I jump in to play with them a good bit. But the difference in his swimming after just one week of regular pool visits and two days of swim lessons is incredible!! He is a fast learner, and I’m sure by the end of the summer (or sooner!) he’ll be able to swim a whole pool length no problem.
I’ve been doing a Cook Smarts meal plan this week. We had these noodles with veggies and beef on Monday night for dinner, and I took them to the pool for lunch on Tuesday.
They were even better chilled!
We celebrated Lauren’s birthday while we were there!
I made this Cook Smarts meal — chicken in a sun-dried tomato and spinach cream sauce with pesto potatoes — for dinner last night, and it totally rocked!!! That sauce was out of this world. Mazen ate both meals no problemo!
Backtracking to breakfast, I had a chocolate peanut butter smoothie, a Thomas speciality, yesterday:
And today I’m having eggs + toast!
When we aren’t by the pool, Mazen and I have been loving this game called Zingo. It’s like Bingo with pictures, and he loves it. He had actually played it at school before, so he explained the rules to me, which was hilarious to listen to. Check it out!
Have a great day, friends.
Tonya says
Best cup o’ noodles I’ve ever seen!
KathEats says
🙂
Carrie this fit chick says
You ate living the dream! Very jealous of your pool time. Thats one thing I dont have access to here 🙁
Jessica says
PLEASE consider keeping a much closer eye on Mazen at the pool. A four-year-old – even one who is becoming proficient at swimming – is too young to be in the pool alone while you read a book. Most pools have rules that require parents of children under a certain height or age to be within arm’s reach of their children. Ours does, and it even has lifeguards who strictly enforce this rule. My daughter is a tall almost-twelve-year-old, and this is the first summer that she can go in without me. I’m still in the deck, though, keeping an eye on her. I’m not sure whether your pool has lifeguards, but even if it does, we, as parents, still need to help keep our kids safe. My uncle drowned as an adult, so water safety is especially important to me.
KathEats says
We do have lifeguards and I will be keeping a close eye, as I mentioned in the post.
KathEats says
Also let me emphasize that I’m talking about an entire pool where he can touch the bottom!
Jessica says
Small kids get tired, knocked over, or overestimate their own abilities on the regular. Here are some statistics on accidental water injuries. Drowning is so often preventable; I want to see all kids safe at the pool having an awesome summer!
https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/water-safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html
Mel says
Even if he can touch the bottom, you still need to remain fully vigilant! Things can happen in an instant and the results can be really scary. Leave the book at home, and read it after Mazen goes to bed. Water safety is paramount.
lois says
sounds like your summer is off to a great start!
i would urge you to abandon your plan of ever reading by the pool if you have a small child swimming. even the best swimmers can drown, and children often do not think to/are not able to call for help when they get in trouble in the water. public pools can be crazy places, and the only way to keep our kids safe is to keep a close eye on them, no matter how well they swim! i’ve heard too many stories of near-drownings (and even a few actual drownings) to do anything but be a little extra paranoid when at the pool with kids!
ellie says
Well, now I have the Grease soundtrack in my head — I guess there are worse things on a Wednesday AM : )
One of the things I miss most about growing up on the coast is the easy access to pools — and the time to go! Sadly, neither of those are as easy to find now that I’m a grown up working in the big city. Especially as DC keeps getting hotter and hotter lol!
I think it’s so great that you and Mazen have a mutual love of the pool, and as someone who grew up swimming/ended up getting my lifeguarding certification as a teen, I know how quickly things can go badly in the water. The combo of you + the other adults in Maze’s life + lifeguards will teach him water safety and how to have fun in the sun! I think my mom loved taking us to the pool as kids because we would nap hard core and she could relax with friends there!
KathEats says
🙂 I was a lifeguard too and am always on the lookout for other kids. I think a lot of moms watch around them. I helped a little girl who was struggling get over to her mom just the other day.
Mary says
I’d like to hear more about that! You helping the little girl, as well as you being a lifeguard. That might put things in perspective, for your readers.
Melissa says
I LOVE your nail polish! It’s the ideal color for summer! Also, I’ve never heard of that game before, but it sounds like fun, I’ll definitely have to check it out!
Linda @ the Fitty says
I was thinking the same thing about the nails. 😉 what a great way to accessorize yourself on a pool day, eh?
Jenny says
Glad to hear that Mazen is in swimming lessons. Swimming is such an important skill to teach kiddos. Our little girl is 18 months and she’s been in swimming lessons for the last 6 months! Pools freak me out so I figured teaching her to swim would be the best way to deal.
Linda @ the Fitty says
Oh wow 18 months and already swimming? I sense the new Michael Phelps here 😉
Kari says
It’s great that you still keep a close eye on Mazen in the pool but still allow him some independence to play.
Christina says
Your summer sounds great!!! Can you post what’s in the smoothie?!
KathEats says
Peanut butter, banana, milk, and vega chocolate!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
Zingo looks fun! Didn’t think Bingo could get any more exciting, haha!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Kelli @ Hungry Hobby says
I need to try cook smarts! Also your smoothie makes me crave more smoothies which is pretty much all I’ve been drinking.
Shirisha Shilajit says
Chicken in a sun-dried tomato and spinach cream sauce looks so tasty.
May you tell receipt?
I would like to cook it 🙂
KathEats says
It’s from the site Cook Smarts!
Shirisha Shilajit says
Oh, Thanks!