Surprise!!!

Today started with Dustin & I having to break a promise to Josiah.  Our subdivision has a huge pool, but you have to pay to be a member.  We were so busy last summer & didn't have the hundreds of dollars they charge for membership, so we didn't join.  We promised him that we'd put some money aside for next summer, though.  Well, next summer arrives in two weeks & we don't have the money.  Knoxville is much more expensive than we anticipated & we didn't know we'd have another little bundle of joy when we made that promise.  Dustin & I talked it over for weeks & finally decided that we'd go to a store & look to see if there was a pool that would be big enough for Josiah to play in, but not too big for a lot of maintenance.

Well...we found such a pool.  We even bought a couple of floats & some toys to play with as well.  We barely spent much money (especially compared to the subdivision fee) & we get to keep the pool & toys for as long as they aren't torn apart.  Upon making this decision we realized that this was the perfect solution for our current family situation.  I kept thinking that by the time Ethan got fed, changed & down to the neighborhood pool, it would almost be time to turn around & come home for his nap.  We knew this wouldn't go well with Josiah.  So, with a pool in our yard, Ethan can be napping & Josiah can keep swimming.

We placed all the items on Josiah's table for him to see when he walked through the door from school today.  We talked with him in the kitchen about not being able to get a membership to the neighborhood pool & he took it surprisingly well.  He is maturing so much in matters like these.  I think our Seattle experience taught him a lot of life lessons.  When he walked down the hallway & into the living room, he flipped out.  He couldn't contain his excitement about having his very own pool.  We can't wait to use it.  We are so relieved that Josiah enjoyed his surprise!!!