Summer Wrap up, and Bratting

It is hard to believe that school is in full swing and it is only August 19th. I have three kids in elementary school now, their school started on August 2nd, yikes that's early. Bella is in her second year of middle school at Basis, she started a week later on the 9th.

This summer we were crazy and did two swim teams. Olivia started a year round swim team in December of last year and the other kids joined her in the spring. They still wanted to do swim team with their friends and cousins so they did the county league too. Don't judge me, it is hot in Tucson, what else should they be doing? An hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon and County swim team is just $20 per kid for the entire summer!

Now to bore you with highlights of my swimmers, this is mostly for me so that I will remember how awesome my kids are, and so that my kids can remember that for the summer, life revolved around them. One of my nephews calls bragging, bratting, that word seems more accurate. So sorry in advance.

Bella: In the year round league they drafted her from relay team B to compete in the realy team A, unfortunetly she had to swim anchor because the girl who was absent was anchor on the relay team, our team lost their lead before she entered the water and out of no where she kicked it in to high gear and ended up winning the race for her team, it was a great victory. But my highlight race for her was at the County Finals. She was swimming the Individual Medley and was exhausted she was on her breast stroke lap and I saw her visibly breakdown it looked like she was going to cry. I started yelling you can do it, don't give up! She saw me and I swear she got the eye of the Avatar, on her next pull up she was determined and focused she was neck and neck in 5th place, but once she locked in she ended up getting 3rd. It was the best 3rd place finish I have ever seen , one minute she was so low with doubt and the next she was determined. Later she said the look of urgency on my face made her focus, I knew she was so close to the end and I could see she wasn't as far back as she thought she was. It really is a metaphor for life.

Olivia: this girl has the most beautiful butterfly, every time she swims it I am in awe of her strength. The older kids on the team love to race her and she gives them a run for their money.The best thing about Olivia's races is her routine when she gets up on the block, She gets her goggles and scoops the water up with them, she drains them then spits and rubs them, then she flexes her guns when she stretches, it is almost better than her races. She too had some awesome victories and walked away with more metals than any one kid should :)

Holman: On the county team Holman was one of two 8 and under year old boys. So come relay time him and the other boy would swim two lengths of the pool. This little duo was so fast that the two of them broke the county record in the freestyle relay, they smoked um! He was also really good at the IM in one race he had finished his 100 before the other boys got to the 75. The best part of Holman swimming is his naturally bleached hair, luckily he doesn't know how handsome he is.

Parkin and Anna were awesome travelers form car to practice and practice to the car. I am still not over Parkin going to Kindergarten he is such a love that I miss during the day, this week he has been calling me his beloved, ahhh...At least I have Anna who sometimes wants to cuddle. She has been doing so well this year in school, she really has not been the little kid at preschool but rather just a preschool kid.

This year I have three preschool classes with a total of 32 students! With about half my students being military I know that number will change with people moving and transferring, but for now it is busy. The kids are great and the parents are amazing and I am so lucky to be able to teach from my home, making extra money and being able to accomplish some financial goals.

Benjamin is busy too with being called as the Bishop of our congregation at church. He says its still so new, he doesn't know what to be overwhelmed with.