Toast 2 Mom

Toothless Heat Winner!

It's 11:30 a.m., and we're back home after our early morning wake up to our first swim meet.

In all the prep and hype yesterday for our first meet today, I did not get an opportunity to share that we now have another missing tooth. Sydney lost her 5th! tooth yesterday, and I continue to be perplexed how a child that has not even started school yet has lost so many teeth. But I guess it is OK. She's always been advanced. :)

So our toothless shark awoke with the best of them today for the first big meet. It was early, I'm not gonna lie - but it went by so fast - and was SO much fun. Watching these little kids (and big kids too) fly through the water is very exciting. Sydney had two races today - 25 meter freestyle and 25 backstroke. I am a gloating parent when I announce that my child was a heat winner today. There were several heats for a single race, but my girl took a ribbon for her heat in freestyle! Yay!! The backstroke was not as strong - BUT - she did not touch the ropes.... a very big deal for her age.

So, first meet - nicely done! Below are a few pictures of my toothless girl from yesterday, gearing up for her race today and showing off her first ribbon.

 
 
 
 

5:30 a.m. Gonna Come Early

I have a cooler, a swim bag, an entertainment bag, a miscellaneous bag, a blanket, a chair and a flashlight packed and waiting by our front door for our 5:30 a.m departure tomorrow for Sydney's first swim meet.

She needs to be at the pool by 5:45 a.m. and in the pool by 5:50 for warm ups. The meet begins at 7:00 a.m. We got our heat sheet tonight, and Syd will be swimming the 25 freestyle and the 25 backstroke. We should be back home tomorrow by 11:30 or so. And so by lunch, it'll already feel like a full day.

I think I was born to be a swim mom. Well I'm sure there's more to life than being a swim mom. But it did allow me to bring my major organizing and packing mojo into full force. There is nearly a daily, if not two times a day, email about the specifics of being a part of the Sharks swim team. I truly had no idea the level of practice, communication, organization, preparation it takes to be a summer swimmer.

One of the nice parts, my kids are already asleep tonight - and it's not even 8 o'clock.

I think Sydney is excited. When I told her tonight about her events, she was enthusiastic - though disappointed that she didn't get to swim butterfly. She just swam the butterfly kick for the first time ever two days ago....but dog-gone it, she's ready to swim that race.

There is a high level of competitiveness in Sydney - but it only surfaces when she knows she's good at something. As a runner, her need to win is fierce. And if there is something she is so-so at or has only practiced every once in awhile, she is reserved and claims to be uninterested.

Swimming is showing different signs. I know she really likes it - even though she's not super strong yet. So some days she says, "I don't care if I win or not." Then she'll learn something new, and I can see that eager, winning fire in her eyes.

So, needless to say, this is going to be a great experience - one way or another - this summer..... And it all begins a dark o'clock in the morning.

Little Miss Sunshine

 

Just Because

No more school. No more classes. What will we do to fill the time? Lots!

We did have swim practice today, and another mother and I got to talking about how we spend our time during the day.

When I worked full time behind the desk, with two babies, my schedule was quite full. My evenings were brief and my weekends were bang-bang-bang - one task after the other. And before I knew it, it was Monday all over again.

When we determined that I was going to stay home with my girls, I worried about having too much free time. I was able to get it all done working. Man, what can I NOT accomplish staying home? The answer to that question is still "a lot!"

This other mother from swim team today and I agreed on one thing first - the days absolutely fly by. I mean, I try and try to figure out why and how my list never seems to shrink - but it doesn't. There is always something on my plate.

There are two main differences about staying home versus working full time with children. 1) I can go to the grocery store at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. 2) My children are able to be in activities. My children were able to do activities before, but the options and the timing for many of them just did not work. If I was working now, there is no way my daughter would be on the swim team.

So clearly the flexibility of staying home is a major perk. And of course all of the extra bonus time with my daughters is key - before we blink and they're leaving for college. And the opportunities I now have to share with my girls. But the days and the time and the task list and the guilt and the feeling of constant responsibility - it's always there - no matter what.

So what did we do today on this no school/no classes day. We finally cleaned out my filthy Vanna the van. We went grocery shopping at 10:30. We ate sandwiches for lunch. We helped out a friend and watched her little girl so she could take her other little girl to a doctor appointment. We played outside. We took some pictures. We colored a bit. We did laundry. We cleaned out the refrigerator. We paid two bills. We started making a list of to dos for this weekend. We made a dentist appointment. We went to swim team practice. We exercised at the gym. We made dinner. We washed dishes. We cleaned the table. And another day filled us.

The Graduate

I am so full of emotion today. My girl has graduated from pre-school. I am as proud as the school mascot peacock, Kevin! :)

Her program was so sweet today. And just when I think my heart cannot get any more filled with mama-loveness, I am swallowed by moments like this...and I thank God for giving me this opportunity to understand true love, nurture and life's beauty.

Here are a few shots of my girls from the day!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sharks and Lollipops

When I talk about our busy weekends, this one might take the cake. Grandpa and Grandma came into town on Friday, and we have been go-go-go ever since.

Friday night was Sydney's first swim meet. It was a practice meet - but an important one. She was a champ! For the past few weeks, we've gone to practice every day, hoping by this first meet she'd practice enough to make it across and not touch the ropes.... Not only did she do all that, she also dove off the race block. It was so fun to watch her gear up before-hand and her excitement of the accomplishment afterwards. It's going to be a fun swim season.

On Saturday was Cheekers' dance recital. Of course this is my blog and my brag space, but I have to say, I was a pretty proud Mama to be video-taping my girl in the front row and listening to other show-watchers say, "oh, look at that little girl, isn't she precious". Cheekers had some super cute moments, and I was proud it was more than me that noticed - awwww.

Today was a roasty-toasty day outside - and definitely a day to hit the pool. The girls enjoyed extra attention of Grandpa and Grandma in the water for splashing around with and showing off mermaid skills too.

Photos below from our weekend of activities.

 
 
 
 
 

The Mothership

I didn't wake up in a very happy mood this morning. Maybe it was the cloudy sky? Maybe hormones? Maybe a bad hair day?? Some days are just kinda like that. But you get going anyway - and get on with it.

I knew I had a few "should do's" on my to-do list and a few "want to do's" on my to-do list. I went with the "want to do's" today. I found a certificate in the back of my dresser drawer a couple weeks ago. It was $40 to a mani/pedi place I had gotten for my birthday two years ago. The expiration date was over a year ago. I thought I'd see if they'd honor it anyway.

So first thing, we took Sydney to preschool. It was "hat day" today, something different each day this week for the graduates (weep). Oh, that leads me to another story that made the beginning of my day not so great. We walked into Syd's class. She chose to wear her cowgirl hat to school. When we arrived, there were about seven boys and maybe two girls already in the classroom. Most of the kids had on baseball caps. One kid had on the Cat in the Hat hat. When Sydney walked in with her cowgirl hat on, proudly, one of the boys said, "it's not cowboy day, it's hat day." Sydney's shoulders drooped. (That little punk! I said under my breath.) Her teacher heard the comment and set the kid straight that Sydney had on a perfect hat. I also said how AWESOME she looked...because she did!

The first stop after school, was our "want to-do" of getting our toes done. Cheekers and I went to the spa and found out they would honor my gift certificate - yay! For an hour Cheeks and I sat side by side at the spa for a beauty treatment. I picked a fancy-named orangey-red color for my toes. Cheekers picked a sparkly purple color for her toes - perfect! And the certificate covered it all. Things were beginning to look up.

But we weren't done with our beauty to-do list yet! I ran out of make-up remover yesterday. So what better than a trip to Sephora (or as I like to call it, "The Mothership") to keep the happy vibes brewing.

Sydney really never got into make-up when she was Cheekers' age. She liked jewelry and shoes (still, very good choices:) But make-up and clothes definitely seems to be Cheekers' thing (and of course shoes...and purses...and...) So when Cheekies found out we were going to the "make-up store," excitement could barely be contained. She marched her purple-sparkled toes into the joint like she owned it...and maybe some day, she will!

And below are a few photos from our trip to The Mothership. But let me answer some of your questions here first. 1) Yes, Cheekers' shirt is a size 2T and should be the last day she'll be wearing it. 2) No, I did not let her keep that color on her lips. What kind of a mother do you think I am? 3) No, I am not prepping my baby to be on Tiaras and Toddlers. She likes to pose with her hand on her hip - and frankly, I like to watch her confidence (and wish I had a little more of it). :)

 
 
 

So, needless to say, my day got better as it went on...