Aaaahhhh! Sigh, relax...
Today I "checked out" at work. I still have two days this week that I need to work (to make up for the two days during Thanksgiving Break that I'm going to "miss")... weird system I know.
But I'm officially done for this school year so now I need to make some decisions:
Pool time
Cleaning house
Planning meals
Learn to save money at the grocery store
Find some good deals at Silver Dollar City (for our summer family vaca)
Packing for summer trips
Organizing phot0s
Finish cleaning out boxes from G'ma & G'pa's house
Did I mention cleaning?!
Reading books
Oh and to leave the best and most important for last (only on this list):
Playing with my wonderful children
Let's all hope that this summer is enough time for me to get all of this done. Ha ha!
I will try to upload pictures as all of these things happen.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
5 days and counting
... until I get to do the "job" that I love most in the world. I'm often asked if I teach summer school, this usually makes me giggle and say, "I have 4 kids!" So yes I teach summer school - swimming, exploring, exercising, reading, and we even do math (lots of elapsed time!). I teach and I love what I do - but this last week of school is painful. It is painful to watch my students who I have grown to care about leave (saying goodbye is never easy) and it is painful to watch them so anxiously waiting to be DONE! But all of this leads to two things that enjoy - playing with my kids all summer AND a new group of kids next year to learn from and share with.
Last weekend my brother came to town to take B scuba diving AND to share a special moment with Z&A - he camped out with them in the backyard! I've said it before and I guess it will come around again but I've become a fan of this guy, Mark. He's not nearly as irritating and horrible as he was when I was 10!
This weekend we celebrated Family Sabbath at our church - Pastor Kyle has spoken often about the importance of the sabbath and I'm thankful to be a part of a church that believes practicing what they preach. I am especially thankful for my church family that helps me and loves me so much.
Yesterday Z decided that he wanted to jump off the diving board and into 9 feet of water (be reminded that he no longer wears a SEAL - life vest - and he is generally not fond of getting his face in the water). Thankfully we had friends that could support me as I went to wait and watch and encourage him to swim from the middle of 9 feet of water to the edge of the pool. Thank you Mr. Curtis!
A is learning to use her SEAL and had lots of encouragement from our church family too.
Finally - B&K were surrounded by their friends as they wandered from the pool, the lake, swimming, jumping off a rope swing and canoeing.
KZA and I also went canoeing yesterday - my little sailors did a great job.
We stayed the night in a cabin and it was quite an adventure. I am greatly and truly blessed with my wonderful family & church family.
Thank you all!
I don't have many pictures but here are a couple.
Last weekend my brother came to town to take B scuba diving AND to share a special moment with Z&A - he camped out with them in the backyard! I've said it before and I guess it will come around again but I've become a fan of this guy, Mark. He's not nearly as irritating and horrible as he was when I was 10!
This weekend we celebrated Family Sabbath at our church - Pastor Kyle has spoken often about the importance of the sabbath and I'm thankful to be a part of a church that believes practicing what they preach. I am especially thankful for my church family that helps me and loves me so much.
Yesterday Z decided that he wanted to jump off the diving board and into 9 feet of water (be reminded that he no longer wears a SEAL - life vest - and he is generally not fond of getting his face in the water). Thankfully we had friends that could support me as I went to wait and watch and encourage him to swim from the middle of 9 feet of water to the edge of the pool. Thank you Mr. Curtis!
A is learning to use her SEAL and had lots of encouragement from our church family too.
Finally - B&K were surrounded by their friends as they wandered from the pool, the lake, swimming, jumping off a rope swing and canoeing.
KZA and I also went canoeing yesterday - my little sailors did a great job.
We stayed the night in a cabin and it was quite an adventure. I am greatly and truly blessed with my wonderful family & church family.
Thank you all!
I don't have many pictures but here are a couple.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
The low down on H2O
Let me break this down for you:
B - fish
K - fish
A - fish
Z - terrified of water!
This year we have been to our local pool once (busy mom syndrome) and in that one visit I became convinced that this is the year that Z will learn to love (okay maybe accept is a better word) the water. Why?
1. He asked me on the way - where is my floaty mom? Um you are 6 years old - too old.
2. B trying to coax Z into the deep end, but Z's momma didn't raise a fool he wouldn't have anything to do with B! Good for him!
But as you can see I knew it was the year - we've catered to the fear for too long. So I signed him up for classes at the YMCA - Tuesday & Thursday once again would have an event to keep me running.
Last Tuesday I loaded them up and off we went, me singing praises of swim lessons the whole way - telling Z&A what big kids they were and how good they would do. Teacher introduction was the deal breaker for A - Mr. Michael, big guy, young, smiling but completely uncomfortable with small humans (A and I could both see it and feel it) so A did not jump up immediately and go, sort of hung onto my pants until I pealed her off and threatened her with sitting by the pool for the entire summer (good thing she didn't push that threat!). Z actually went very willingly to Ms. Peggy and I was thrilled. A finally got more comfortable with me standing right beside the pool. I thought we were good to go - first mistake, me thinkin'!!
Thursday - we (being good little students) got to the pool early. A was nervous about Mr. Michael and Z had a bad cough that made him more tentative than on Tuesday. Suddenly a siren began to wail and life guards were running, yelling, grabbing equipment and we saw a woman floating in the pool. E-gads!!! We were assured that it was a drill but that didn't calm my already stressed kids. After all the hoop-la we were introduced to A's real teacher, Ms. Dani and Z now had Mr. Michael who promptly took him to the "big" pool and plopped him in - he turned and looked at me, red eyes as big as quarters and began coughing. He looked terrified and I couldn't blame him, he was holding on to the side, no floaty, no body fat to keep out the cold and a rope between him and the stairs to freedom. I did what I never thought I would do - I pulled him out of the pool (I had told him that if he coughed I would get him out - of course I meant a coughing fit). A loved Ms. Dani and did great.
Fast forward to today - Tuesday, May 10 - we started to the car and the tears began. See Z had a run in with a friends head today and had a double nostril nose bleed so his nose hurt and so of course it would probably be a bad idea to swim... ugh! I assured him he'd be fine and that it was important to go and try to learn to swim. A's only concern today was that she was able to wear her pretty blue cover-up. We got there and I assured Z that I would make sure Mr. Michael knew he wasn't comfortable in the water, so he could be a little more gentle then plopping him in the water without ceremony. We found out that Ms. Peggy was actually Z's teacher and that was a relief, she was very gentle and gave him a lot of freedom to say what he wanted. While I was talking Z began to cry and with that came yucky red snot (oh lovely), A walked briskly to Ms. Dani (happy little girl) and I went to sit right by the pool so that Z could see me at all times. He started with feet in the water and then began to get in when Ms. Peggy asked him to, finally swimming with assistance - successful day (thanks to a very patient Ms. Peggy!!!) But we had catastrophe on the other side of the pool - right as A was getting out she swallowed some water and got choked. Quick reminder A has a REALLY good gag reflex and when I say really good I mean this is really bad! I could see she was coughing and through sign language with Ms. Dani I was able to determine that she'd swallowed some water, I got her out and sent her toward the bathroom. She didn't make it - blah! Thankfully it was on the side of the pool not IN the pool but still. I am convinced that I heard applause and some cheering as Z&A and I left the premises! Goodness - never a dull moment! Not complaining - just saying!
I think he liked it!
B - fish
K - fish
A - fish
Z - terrified of water!
This year we have been to our local pool once (busy mom syndrome) and in that one visit I became convinced that this is the year that Z will learn to love (okay maybe accept is a better word) the water. Why?
1. He asked me on the way - where is my floaty mom? Um you are 6 years old - too old.
2. B trying to coax Z into the deep end, but Z's momma didn't raise a fool he wouldn't have anything to do with B! Good for him!
But as you can see I knew it was the year - we've catered to the fear for too long. So I signed him up for classes at the YMCA - Tuesday & Thursday once again would have an event to keep me running.
Last Tuesday I loaded them up and off we went, me singing praises of swim lessons the whole way - telling Z&A what big kids they were and how good they would do. Teacher introduction was the deal breaker for A - Mr. Michael, big guy, young, smiling but completely uncomfortable with small humans (A and I could both see it and feel it) so A did not jump up immediately and go, sort of hung onto my pants until I pealed her off and threatened her with sitting by the pool for the entire summer (good thing she didn't push that threat!). Z actually went very willingly to Ms. Peggy and I was thrilled. A finally got more comfortable with me standing right beside the pool. I thought we were good to go - first mistake, me thinkin'!!
Thursday - we (being good little students) got to the pool early. A was nervous about Mr. Michael and Z had a bad cough that made him more tentative than on Tuesday. Suddenly a siren began to wail and life guards were running, yelling, grabbing equipment and we saw a woman floating in the pool. E-gads!!! We were assured that it was a drill but that didn't calm my already stressed kids. After all the hoop-la we were introduced to A's real teacher, Ms. Dani and Z now had Mr. Michael who promptly took him to the "big" pool and plopped him in - he turned and looked at me, red eyes as big as quarters and began coughing. He looked terrified and I couldn't blame him, he was holding on to the side, no floaty, no body fat to keep out the cold and a rope between him and the stairs to freedom. I did what I never thought I would do - I pulled him out of the pool (I had told him that if he coughed I would get him out - of course I meant a coughing fit). A loved Ms. Dani and did great.
Fast forward to today - Tuesday, May 10 - we started to the car and the tears began. See Z had a run in with a friends head today and had a double nostril nose bleed so his nose hurt and so of course it would probably be a bad idea to swim... ugh! I assured him he'd be fine and that it was important to go and try to learn to swim. A's only concern today was that she was able to wear her pretty blue cover-up. We got there and I assured Z that I would make sure Mr. Michael knew he wasn't comfortable in the water, so he could be a little more gentle then plopping him in the water without ceremony. We found out that Ms. Peggy was actually Z's teacher and that was a relief, she was very gentle and gave him a lot of freedom to say what he wanted. While I was talking Z began to cry and with that came yucky red snot (oh lovely), A walked briskly to Ms. Dani (happy little girl) and I went to sit right by the pool so that Z could see me at all times. He started with feet in the water and then began to get in when Ms. Peggy asked him to, finally swimming with assistance - successful day (thanks to a very patient Ms. Peggy!!!) But we had catastrophe on the other side of the pool - right as A was getting out she swallowed some water and got choked. Quick reminder A has a REALLY good gag reflex and when I say really good I mean this is really bad! I could see she was coughing and through sign language with Ms. Dani I was able to determine that she'd swallowed some water, I got her out and sent her toward the bathroom. She didn't make it - blah! Thankfully it was on the side of the pool not IN the pool but still. I am convinced that I heard applause and some cheering as Z&A and I left the premises! Goodness - never a dull moment! Not complaining - just saying!
Right before swim lessons the FedEx man made Z's day -
delivering a present from G'ma Bonnie & G'pa John.
(look close you can see the watery eyes & bloody nose - sniff sniff)
delivering a present from G'ma Bonnie & G'pa John.
(look close you can see the watery eyes & bloody nose - sniff sniff)
I think he liked it!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Gymnastics
Z swingin'
K can touch the ceiling!
Coach James helping Z to swing.
A on the balance beam.
More swingin' with Coach James.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now for the silly ones...
Put your feet in the bucket and use your arms to spin around - simple...
Hi Mom! 
Hey this looks like more fun -stick my head in the bucket that 100+ kids have put their feet!
Gross!
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