My 4-Year-Old Won a Wet T-Shirt Contest

Really. Oh, but it isn't what you might think. She has been taking swimming lessons this summer, and her class had a relay race involving swimming in a t-shirt. Grace's team won. Included in this post are some pictures of her class. She is coming along "swimmingly" and is doing far better than I expected. I think that she has a bit of a crush on her coach because she goes beet red everytime he says her name, "Miss Grace".

I'd Turn Back if I were You!

Castellamare: Also known as the Worst Beach Ever! When Aimie was here this week, we decided to go to Amalfi (a cute little coastal town on the Sorrentine peninsula). Got lost, kids got whiny, and we stopped at what looked from the road to be a really cool beach. Good rule of thumb--if you don't pay to access the beach, the beach sucks (as Grace put it, in an ever-so-ladylike manner). It was rocky and crowded, and had dangerous oversaturation of Speedo levels. Great view of the volcano though......Won't be doing that again!

Negombo Hydrothermal Spa, Ischia

This past Sunday Aimie (my sister who lives in England) and I went to the Negombo hydrothermal spa in Ishcia. Ishcia is an island in the bay of Naples. It is the biggest one, I think. Anyway, the whole area is a volcanic hotspot full of thermal pools. Negombo is a botanical park/spa on the coast of Ischia, complete with a private beach in a little bay. There are 20-something pools, including pools in caves, super hot and then freezing cold pools, and a Turkish bath (for those of you who do not know what a Turkish bath is, it is a room with steam that is 58 degress celcius. I was not even able to enter the room. It felt like an oven.). Negombo is a gift from God, as is my husband, Anthony, who kept all 3 kids all day long so that I could enjoy this little slice of heaven. The best part: the sea water had no creatures and no seaweed. I want to go back again, without the kids and with Anthony. Does anyone want to babysit?

Hawaiian Night at the Pool

Last week we went to Hawaiian Night at the pool on base. It isn't anything exciting.....they just dress the place up a bit and are open later. The kids can also use rafts, which they aren't normally allowed to do. Anyway, I got some good shots so I thought that I would post them. Grace has been getting brave in the pool, and as you can see she has started swimming. I have her in swimming lessons four days a week now. It only took Sophia a few minutes to fall asleep in the "Moses Basket" (yes, she is sucking her thumb--it is her new favorite thing). Joseph would not get in the pool. I was only able to start getting him in this past weekend. By the way, it was freezing cold! Hope you enjoy:)