Mariners on the 4th

We got the pleasure of going to a Mariner's game with some friends in the ward on the 4th of July! It was a perfect activity for the date, don't you think?

We first made a stop at the Mariner's team store, because Richard likes to look around. We dressed Michael up in Mariners gear, and he only wanted to wear his hat backward, and he wouldn't smile, but suitably would only give me a classic look similar to the one below. He knew how to get into character--somehow. And then the music started playing, Michael enjoyed watching himself dance (as did many people around us). I luckily pulled out my camera to catch the last of it.

A fan nearby let him hold his #1 finger

Of course, some people preferred to sit inside the suite and just watch the game on the TV. ??? It was sure nice letting Michael and his betrothed play around up there. 9 innings is a little too long for his attention span.

Swimming

I have to say, these "free" swimming pools we have are truly awesome. Michael and I spent 5 hours there yesterday with friends, and his sitter took him again today. We are just soaking up the sun.

Typically Michael just plays in the knee-high kiddy pool, but occasionally I bring him in to the big pool for a swim. He is scared of it, clings to me tight and uses a lot of energy in just staying alive. It's at that moment when I finally get him out of the pool that he breaks into tears--and no, he's not sad that he had to get out, rather it's a release of the emotion that he couldn't manage while he was in the pool. It's sad to watch that.

But yesterday we had a breakthrough. We finally bought Michael some floaties (which he believes he magically transforms into the Hulk with them on. I mean, look at those muscles!) During our 4th hour at the pool, Michael asked me if he could go in the big pool! Away from the stairs, I let him go; he floated, he realized that he wasn't dying and it was a huge breakthrough. For the rest of the hour, he would jump in the water to me, swim to the stairs by himself and do it all over again. I was all smiles. He was all smiles. It was another fabulous Thursday.