Water country

Friday Brent took a much needed day off and we took the kids and a neighbor to Water Country.  Somehow we got lucky and there was hardly anyone in the park that day. The most we had to wait was 10 minutes for any ride.  Norah can do all but 3 rides I think so it was fun doing them all together. She was so proud when she got to ride an inner tube by herself. 

We put sunscreen on at least 3 times and still got burnt. I felt bad I sent Tanner home with a sunburn. 

Swim Team

We've basically spent our first week out of school swimming. Swim team is in full swing and all the kids are really enjoying it.  One day we had a swimathon to raise money and Colin swam 270 laps. He swam three sessions and even towards the end was swimming IMs and never seemed to get tired. He did sleep in the next day but that could've also been the late night swim practice.  There are afternoon practices from 1-3 and also night from 8-10pm. We've gone back at night a few times after the boys beg and beg.  Joel doesn't want to do a second practice - he just wants to swim in the guppy pool with his friends while their older siblings are swimming. 

This little girl is doing amazing! We are so proud of her. She's become such a strong swimmer already.  She and I would go at least once a week during the winter to swim and its paid off.  She does have the older girls wrapped around her fingers.  Norah gets cold very easily and the last three weeks of school they only had night practices. So it would be past her bedtime and also freezing water.  She would start shivering and the older girls helping in her lane would ask if she wanted to get out and of course she would always say yes! Her mommy would've kept her swimming.  But now that she does afternoon practices she stays in the whole time.

She did come home from a swim meet and tell us she had a crush on a boy.  Brent about had a heartattack! ha! And I'm sure Brent will keep an eye on her tonight at our swim meet!  Brent and I both volunteer during the swim meets so Norah just plays with all her friends. She loves the older girls and hanging around them. 

Colin is so focused this year. He moved up an age group and thats always hard.  He is determined to beat this kid Shaun on his team. Shaun swims year round and is around 10 seconds faster.  So he has a lot of work to do this year. After a swim meet Colin asked to go swim laps with me and we swam for 2 hours after all he swam that morning.  There are 5 boys that are the best in that age group and Colin and this boy Max are both trying to get on the All Star relay.  They choose whoever is fastest that week in Free.  Both boys are within .20 seconds of each other so we will see how the summer pans out.  Its fun to see Colin so focused and pouring over the meet results.

Joel is doing well.  He also moved up but I don't think will go to All Starts this year.  There are a ton of kids in his age group.  He likes swimming Butterfly each meet.   He was "retired" from swimming - since he has been to All Starts twice now.... but I convinced him to come out of retirement and swim because we would be there anyway.  He's having fun with all his friends.  At the first meet he taught all the little 7-8 boys how to make farting noises with their arm pits.  His little group of friends all love him.

I joined the swim team board this year and have been super busy. Its a lot more work than I thought but its fun seeing a different side of the swim team.  It does however mean we don't leave the swim meets until midnight so I'm very glad my kids have mainly started to sleep in. All but Joel. He's up at 5;30/6 every morning regardless of when he went to bed.  At least he knows how to turn on the wii and plays until the rest of us wakes up. 

Summer Beach Nights

This past weekend we went down to the beach with some friends of ours. We've reached the stage where we can actually sit on the beach and just watch the kids play.  It was fun to catch up with our friends and the kids had a lot of fun playing.

And the sunset at the end was the perfect ending to a great afternoon/evening. 

Last Day

We surprised the kids the last day of school with a water gun fight.  Another parent and I had a bunch of water guns filled and ready.  Norah showed no mercy and got it started right away.

Then a few minutes later they waited for Joel to get off the bus

They all then waited for the middle school and high school bus.

It was a fun way to start the summer.

Last days

The boys on the last day of school. They are both going off to new schools next year.  Joel heads to the intermediate school and Colin is off to middle school.  Norah will be at the primary school. 

Brent and I went to Colin's graduation from 5th grade.   They had the kids walk in while playing Pomp and Circumstance and I teared up. Especially when Brent leaned over and said only 7 more years until the music is for real!  

This kid has done so well in school. A perfect score on his social studies SOL and advance passing on all the rest.  It was no surprise he got several awards.  He also earned the PE award as well.  He was excited to have broken a school record on one pacer test. 

Colin loved the end of 5th grade. For basically the last two weeks of school they did no work.  One week was spent in a 5th grade kickball tournament where they were either playing kickball or watching a kickball game.  Colin wasn't sure how his class would do as they were the underdogs but they came from behind and won the entire tournament.  There are 6 5th graders on our little street so it was fun hearing all about the tournament each day.  Then the other days they just played games and watched movies!  Not a bad way to end his elementary years. 

Joel had an AMAZING teacher this year.  I think he's very apprehensive about a new school because the last time he moved schools he ended up with a very strict teacher in 1st grade. 

Joel adored his teacher and she was just so wonderful.  I loved her too and also wish she could move up to 3rd grade. 

Joel did really well academically and was tested into the gifted program for next year.  When I asked him if he wanted to go into the class he just asked if it meant people wouldn't talk so much and disturb the class.  I said its usually filled with people who want to learn and he was all for that. 

I survived the 2nd grade field trip this year as a chaperone and when I went back to Joels end of the year party all my group of kids from the field trip came running over and gave me big hugs.  He might have had a bunch of kids always talking but he did have a great class this year.