Swim!

We got home from Key West about three weeks ago, and dove right into the summer swim season.  Two days after we pulled in, my boys were swimming in their first meet.

I love to see how hard these kids work all summer.  No lazy summer mornings around here - we're at the pool by 8:00 every day. And thank goodness these boys love it, 'cause nobody wants to get up early in the summer!

They're getting really good, too.  Their times are improving with every meet and I love to see the increase in their stamina.  Jake even swam his first 100 meter race last night.  Against 11- and 12-year-olds!  Despite being so nervous - and so tired by the end - he made it.  And this is one proud mama!

Jake's relay team.  What a great group of boys!

Our little competitor. Cam wants those ribbons so bad - and works hard to get them!

Swim team is not for the faint of heart.  Or the tired.  We may start practice at 8 am, but don't be surprised to find us at a meet until well after dark.  10 pm with little ones?  No problem.  (Not my favorite part.)

Seasons

Some people measure the seasons by the weather.

Some, by the calender.

Around here, we measure the seasons by which sport we're playing.

Right now, we're deep into Basketball Season.

What I Didn't Post

It's 3 am on December 31st.  I'm nursing my baby.  And I've decided I have to catch up on the ol' blog before the new year.  It's been a while.  And I've got a lot to share.  But I haven't edited a photo in two months (coincidentally, that's how old my baby is!) I'm typing one-handed, and I can't see the keyboard (a challenge for anyone, but for those of us who never bothered  to learn typing it's really fun...).  So what I'm trying to say is, here's what I wanted to tell you but didn't.

We had a baby.  I guess I did tell you that.  But it was kind of a big deal.  I love him.

His brothers and his Daddy love him, too.  What is it about seeing your big kids with your new baby?  Pure bliss.  And your husband with his new little one?  Swoon.

 My brother is an artist.  And thank goodness for that, since we had a boy who needed to be Darth Maul for Halloween.  

My house has been taken over by Pokemon.  Camden was having some, let's call them "discipline issues," and needed an "incentive.  He worked hard on his behavior and finally earned the pack of Yu-Gi-Oh cards he'd been wanting.  Upon getting to the store - and figuring out he could get either ten pokemon cards for the price of five yu-gi-oh... we've become a pokemon family.  Mandisa doesn't quite get it.  But she's willing to give it a try for her boys.

I took photos of my sweet little one-week-old Nick.

Then I took pictures of my sweet little two-week-old Nick.

Speaking of two-week-old babies, how many do you know that were already smiling?  Because mine was!  Have you ever seen anything so cute in your whole entire life?  

I kinda like my siblings.  Just a little bit.

Camden played soccer.  He is awesome.  If I do say so myself.  His biggest problem this fall was that sometimes he played too well.  And then his coach would tell him to hold back.  No need to run up the score in U8 soccer...

Jake's class gave a concert.  There is absolutely nothing more entertaining than watching a bunch of third gators stand in front of a crowd.

Twenty-five cents a bag and the chance to use "power tools" means Mommy gets an almost clean yard.

Move over Michaelangelo.  Nick's discovered ceiling fans.  Your Sistine Chapel's got nothing on these things.

Twelve years ago, as I was getting ready to go out one evening, my grandmommy asked me where I was going.  I told her I was going to be Mary at the Temple.  She looked a little shocked and asked, "With who?"  "Dan."  She thought I had said I was going to be married at the Temple, and was just a little surprised since at that point I had only been out with this guy once.  No worries, Grandmommy.  I was just going to freeze my bum off being Mary in the live Nativity.  But I got to look at those pretty blue eyes while freezing my bum off.  And went to be married at the Temple - with Dan - the next Christmas.

This year we got to hold a real live baby.  And we were inside, so no freezing bums.  But he's still got those pretty blue eyes.  And I think his new baby might be lucky enough to have them, too.  Maybe...

Jake turned NINE.  We celebrated with a Harry Potter party.  It was pretty much the coolest party ever.

Camden is - hands down - the best, most attentive big brother ever.  I'm so glad he gets to be one!

And then there's Mandisa, who takes her responsibilities very seriously.

Okay, the baby is going back to bed, and so must I.

There's a heart attack in my future.

Jake has been waiting for years to play football.  Our county league starts at age eight, which seemed like a good age to this mommy.  At least, it did when he was five.  Several years down the road.  Until then, we could stick with soccer and baseball.  I, for one, am much more comfortable with those no-pads-needed sports!

But guess what.  Years do go by, and cute little five-year-old boys do grow up into big kinda-tough eight-year-old boys.  And mommies find themselves registering their babies for the local tackle football league.  Oh goodness.

So, here's where I admit my bad mothering thoughts to all the world.  On Jake's first day of practice - a 100+ degree day in August - I sent him off with his daddy for two hours of real football drills.  I knew there would be yelling coaches and hot sweaty bodies under heavy, uncomfortable pads.  I knew he would get hit and knocked down.  And while I hoped and prayed he wouldn't actually get hurt, I also hoped and prayed that he would hate it.  I had my little speech all planned out.  You know the one... "You made a commitment to the team, and you will play - and give it your all - for the whole season.  But then you never have to play football again."  It would be a teaching moment and my heart would only have to suffer through one season of tackle football.  Oh, and did I mention I really hoped he would sit the bench all season?  It's true.

But here's the kicker.  That first night after his first practice, Jake walked in the house beaming.  I've never seen him so happy - no, overjoyed - about anything.  Ever.  And after a shower - I couldn't actually stay in the same room with him due to the overpowering smell of hot, sweaty boy - he told me how much he loves football.  Later, his daddy told me how practice went down, and yes, my boy got yelled at, and run hard, and hit and knocked down a-plenty.  But my boy also got to hit and knock down somebody else's boy.  And he liked that.

It's been over a month.  Jake's practiced three times a week for two hours at a time.  He's played in two games.  Should have been three, but now we're all sick - except for Camden, of course, who started it all - so the Wildcats had to struggle through last night's game without their star second-string offensive lineman.  Sorry Wildcats.  He really wanted to be there.  And after all these hours of the hardest work this little man has ever had to do, he's even more in love with football.

This mommy's dreams of not worrying about concussions and broken bones and torn whatnots have been successfully dashed.  I've got a lot of worrying in my future.

But when I see that boy's gleefull face, I figure I'll gladly worry.  He sure does love the game.

I think it's a good thing these boys wear helmets.  Because that cute face couldn't possibly cause the fear and intimidation he'd like to instill in his opposing defensive lineman.  But I sure do think it's sweet!

Fearless

Every evening after dinner we played soccer.

And every evening after dinner Camden got hurt.

But that didn't stop him.

Because the boy is fearless.

And really, really good.

Volleyball

There is something so satisfying about spiking on your big brother.

The Greatest

You know that feeling you get when you do something really well?  It's the greatest feeling in the world, isn't it?

Nope.  Almost, but not quite the greatest.

The greatest feeling in the world is watching your children work hard and accomplish hard things.

I am awed by these little boys who can do so much.  They work so hard.  And they accomplish great things.

And as I sit on the sidelines, watching and cheering - whether they're reading the longest book they've read yet, eating a whole dinner without complaining, or winning swim races - I am so grateful to be their mom.

Disney World post(s) coming soon, Bob.  I promise!

Summer Swim

I have never - nor will I ever - entered the water head first.

But my children?

They do it every day.

Busted

Remember when I said we play a lot of baseball?

Proof.

The American Passtime

We take our baseball very seriously around here.

And we spend a lot of time playing the game.

Both on the field and in our own backyard.

This has several consequences...

1. I do a LOT of laundry.  I promise you, no sport gets you dirtier than baseball.

2. We are forever praying that those balls hit over the fence will continue to miss the neighbor's car.

3. My boys are REALLY good at baseball.

Cape Cod, I'll see you in about ten years.

PS. You may someday get to see pictures of Jake.  If he can snap out of the attitude he developed at team picture day.  There is one very definite reason my photo portfolio is not filled with pictures of my own children.

Six Weeks

The next six weeks are some of the only weeks during our year that we don't have a sport going on.  Because Jake's first basketball season is officially over (and because our gymnastics coach quit).  But no worries, it definitely won't be his last.  He's already counting the days to next season.

Oh, and that photo?  Yeah, he made the shot.

Basketball

I know sports. Really. You think I'm joking, but I'm not. I may be the last one you'll find actually playing sports, because I'm just not any good at them, but I know my stuff. I know how to play sports. I know how to throw, hit and catch a baseball; how to control a soccer ball; how to sack a quarterback, throw a football, and make a touchdown. I know the details and the rules of each game. I also know what is going on in the world of sports. Kobe, Landon, Ichiro, and Tom? Yeah, we're old pals. Tiger? Not so much. (I'm not so much into golf or infidelity.)

My sons think I'm pretty great.

Or, they used to.

Turns out, basketball's not my strong point. Sure, I can dribble a ball. I can follow a game - and thoroughly enjoy it. But when I'm watching my boy attempting to play on his first basketball team, and my other boy asks me, "What just happened, Mommy?" well, I don't have a clue.

Let's hope for a steep learning curve. For all of us.

Why I Love Soccer

We've come to the end of another soccer season. And we still love it. More than ever.


Soccer gets my kids out and running. Hard.


Soccer gives them just enough of a competetive outlet - without getting too competitive. Actually, this is all thanks to the coach. We really like Coach Bruce.


Soccer has given us some of our favorite friends. And the bonds between these boys (and their parents) has gotten stronger with each season.


Most of all, soccer is fun! (Especially when you win. Which isn't technically possible since at the U8 level they don't keep score. Technically.)

During soccer season, the sport consumes a lot of our time. But now the trophies are on the shelf and it's time to unwind and enjoy the holidays.

Except that basketball season started the day soccer season ended...

Thanks Poppa!

My boys went to a Nats game...

... and all I got was this picture of a sidewalk.

But the happy faces I saw when they got home more than made up for the lack of photos. They met a few presidents (of the big-headed, racing variety), ate hotdogs and cotton candy, and saw several home runs.

And best of all... they got to see Strasburg (the Nationals' new wonder-boy) pitch. And... the right team won!

Summer Swimmin'

Summer swimmin' had us a blast;

Summer swimmin' went by so fast.

I had two boys, crazy for laps;

I had two boys, never took naps.

Summer days practicin' away;

To uh-oh those summer night meets!

They swam by me, never got cramps;

They swam daily, kept their suits damp.

They're great swimmers, not gonna drown;

They show off, splashing around.

Summer sun, pool's lots of fun;

But uh-oh those summer night meets!

It's not yet colder, but here's where it ends;

So I told them, we'd still be friends.

Then we made our coach a vow;

Next year she's gonna say wow.

Summer dreams, all 'bout the team;

But uh-oh those summer night meets!

This summer was Jake's first time on the swim team and he LOVED every minute of it! We're so proud of all his hard work! He practiced hard, learned a lot, and can beat me in a race any day of the week!

Camden continued lessons this year, in preparation for his team debut next summer. After a rough start last year (he repeated the same level through all four sessions of summer swim), he blew us all away with his determination and progress this year.

Way to go Wahoos!

Wahoo!

Can I share a little something about me (because I know we all love to learn more about me)? Something I didn't totally understand myself until fairly recently.

I have a real problem with crowds and chaos.

This doesn't seem to fit with my personality, since I'm a total extrovert, I love to be busy, and I figure, the more the merrier. But I guess we all have our limits.

And apparently, my limit is a swim meet.

Several weeks ago, Jake joined the local swim team. He's now a Wahoo. Kind of a goofy name, if you ask me, but since nobody did... He loves being a Wahoo. And I mean, really loves it. I love Jake being a Wahoo, as well. Because he is working hard - willingly!

Last night was Jake's first meet. When the boys and I walked into the pool - when I saw the crowd of people and not one square foot of space to park my family - I got a little panicky. Or maybe a lot panicky. My panic only increased as I had to figure out where to put us. What events Jake would be swimming (25 Freestyle and 25 Backstroke). Where he was supposed to be, and when. I better stop. I'm starting to get all worked up again, and we've got six more of these things before August.

Suffice it to say, it was very crowded. And very crazy. Oh, and did I mention it's Virginia in June? Yeah, it was 100 degrees. And no, that's not a dry heat. It's a very wet, sticky, humid heat. (Call me crazy, but I actually like Virginia summers. But nobody else does. And usually when I'm at the pool I can get in - not last night.)

But guess what! Despite the fact that by the time Jake finished warming up (still not sure why that was necessary) I was ready to go home, dish out a big bowl of ice cream, and watch So You Think You Can Dance, the swim meet was a blast!

Good people. Cute kids. A general feeling of summertime excitement. And best of all...

My Wahoo won his first race ever!

It's amazing what one's Mama-Pride can do for one's agoraphobic issues.

Festivities

We've been busy.

Busy having fun!

First there was Field Day.

We all came home wet, sticky, and happy.

Some of us with blue tongues.

Followed closely by a very wet birthday party for a very special best buddy.

And guess who got to come home on leave!

We got to see Uncle Clark while he was visiting from Iraq.

Baseball season (at least for us little-leaguers) is officially over.

As is this school year!

We loved our teachers this year!

This wonderful lady taught both of my boys in kindergarten.

She's a saint.

I'm not sure why I don't have a picture of Jake with his first grade teacher.

She's pretty amazing herself.

I think I've mentioned before how much I love our neighborhood.

Here's one example of how great it is.

We do ice cream at the bus stop on the last day of school!

And finally (and some would argue most importantly), Cam turned SIX!!!

He celebrated in style with an Indiana Jones treasure hunt party.

And then ate dirt.

(It was really an ice cream cake.

I don't make other people's children eat dirt.

Only mine.)

The summer has now officially begun.

And it's off to a perfect start!