Yesterday was another silly January "weather event". Ben had to take a school admissions test in the morning. I was pretty annoyed it wasn't postponed, but it ended up working out since the ice didn't really start until noon. Everyone arrived home safely and we had a great day hanging around the house. The little boys didn't even get out of their jammies.
I made blueberry pancakes for them and set up the moonbounce in the basement. It kept them busy most of the day, along with a showing of Empire Strikes Back and experimenting with the 3D printer. There are things I don't mind about winter and the occasional day spent in jammies is one of them. :)
Made an easy dinner that everyone ate without complaining.... pork tenderloin, mashed sweet potatoes, and asparagus. I love those homerun dinners! They are few and far between at our house. Someone is always complaining about something!
Today, we're definitely getting out. Headed to brunch and then Ben has swimming a little later. Tom has a work party tonight and the little boys and I will probably settle in with a movie or something. :)
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Saturday, January 14, 2017
Just Keep Swimming!
Last weekend, Ben had a swim meet at Loyola University. I've been excited about this meet since I saw the schedule back in August. Loyola is where Tom and I met. Tom is still very involved there and well, we'd be pretty excited if any of the kids wanted to go there too! Also, the original swim coach who got Ben into swimming when he was 9 years old swam there. It's all a pretty fun connection.
He was in the morning group both days, so we had to drag him out of bed at 6am to be there by 6:45. That part was rough. LOL. The facility (Loyola built a new Athletics and Aquatics center a few years back) was AMAZING. Nicest one we've been to so far. Ben swam great and even got his best time in 50 fly, and swam 100IM for the first time without disqualifying. Great experience all around.
His times have ended up qualifying him for two different championships. One is the B championship, in which he would be really competitive, because most of his times are on the fast side of "B", close to BB. (it goes B, BB, A, AA) The other is Junior Champs (only qualified with his 50 back and 50 fly). He would be on the slow end of the swimmers there, but it's a huge deal that he qualified! I asked him which one he'd rather do.... the one where he could likely place and win some medals, or the one where he could swim his fly and back and he chose the tougher one. I was surprised and proud of him!
So just when I thought the season was kind of wrapping up for us, it looks like we have at least 3-5 more meets between now and April. Hoping he can qualify for Junior Champs in a couple more events between now and that meet.
He's already looking forward to summer team and his goal is to take all the 13-14 records. ;)
It's neat to see your child love something so much they are as driven to succeed as Ben is with swimming. We struggled with drive and Ben for awhile (still do academically) and worry about the other two in this respect too.... but I guess they all just need to find their thing... their confidence... and their groove.. :o) Definitely one of the most fun parts of being a parent!
He was in the morning group both days, so we had to drag him out of bed at 6am to be there by 6:45. That part was rough. LOL. The facility (Loyola built a new Athletics and Aquatics center a few years back) was AMAZING. Nicest one we've been to so far. Ben swam great and even got his best time in 50 fly, and swam 100IM for the first time without disqualifying. Great experience all around.
His times have ended up qualifying him for two different championships. One is the B championship, in which he would be really competitive, because most of his times are on the fast side of "B", close to BB. (it goes B, BB, A, AA) The other is Junior Champs (only qualified with his 50 back and 50 fly). He would be on the slow end of the swimmers there, but it's a huge deal that he qualified! I asked him which one he'd rather do.... the one where he could likely place and win some medals, or the one where he could swim his fly and back and he chose the tougher one. I was surprised and proud of him!
So just when I thought the season was kind of wrapping up for us, it looks like we have at least 3-5 more meets between now and April. Hoping he can qualify for Junior Champs in a couple more events between now and that meet.
He's already looking forward to summer team and his goal is to take all the 13-14 records. ;)
It's neat to see your child love something so much they are as driven to succeed as Ben is with swimming. We struggled with drive and Ben for awhile (still do academically) and worry about the other two in this respect too.... but I guess they all just need to find their thing... their confidence... and their groove.. :o) Definitely one of the most fun parts of being a parent!
Friday, January 06, 2017
First Snow!
The first snow came overnight... a 1-inch or so dusting. You know, the kind where you look out the window the houses and all the evergreens have the pretty ice cream frosting on them, but on the ground, blades of grass are still sticking up through the white. It was enough to make the Hereford Zone schools delayed though. It's an annoying delay, though probably for the best because the road to Ben's school at 8am can be treacherous when there has been snow or ice recently.
Unfortunately, I let both my computer and phone both die overnight, so I had to get out of bed to find out this news and now I'm wide awake.... so much for sleeping in, the one perk of a delay! ;)
Not much else happening. Ben has a swim meet this weekend, Jonathan has a birthday party for a classmate on Saturday. And actually, I just got another invite reminder for ANOTHER birthday party for ANOTHER classmate. (the first one must have gotten hidden in my inbox somehow!) I turned down that one because it was actually at the SAME bowling alley as the Saturday one. LOL.
I should definitely start taking Christmas down today. Meant to do it yesterday but time got away from me. Time to settle in for the longest two months of the year!
Oh! And in fun news, yesterday I found out my youngest sister-in-law is pregnant, so another niece or nephew will be added to our big and crazy family in July or August. So exciting!
Unfortunately, I let both my computer and phone both die overnight, so I had to get out of bed to find out this news and now I'm wide awake.... so much for sleeping in, the one perk of a delay! ;)
Not much else happening. Ben has a swim meet this weekend, Jonathan has a birthday party for a classmate on Saturday. And actually, I just got another invite reminder for ANOTHER birthday party for ANOTHER classmate. (the first one must have gotten hidden in my inbox somehow!) I turned down that one because it was actually at the SAME bowling alley as the Saturday one. LOL.
I should definitely start taking Christmas down today. Meant to do it yesterday but time got away from me. Time to settle in for the longest two months of the year!
Oh! And in fun news, yesterday I found out my youngest sister-in-law is pregnant, so another niece or nephew will be added to our big and crazy family in July or August. So exciting!
Tuesday, January 03, 2017
Back to Routine....
Today was everyone's first day back at school after the Christmas break. Things were a little rough around the edges -- namely that I forgot to make sure I had something for Ben's lunch. (Tuesday is the one day he doesn't buy) So, we had to make a detour to the bagel shop on the way to school this morning.... then I realized my van was nearly below empty, so had to also detour to the gas station. After THAT though? Smooth sailing back into normal life.
Everyone had a good day back at school, I think. I volunteered in the library for a little while and then spent the rest of the day catching up around the house. I feel like I'm always catching up these days. Some days, I'm try not to look around the house too carefully because it only adds ten more things to my to-do list.
Today's funny -- Jonathan brought home a book he wrote about technology for a school assignment. (They had to write about and explain something) We got a good chuckle out of it, as I'm sure his teacher did too.
Everyone had a good day back at school, I think. I volunteered in the library for a little while and then spent the rest of the day catching up around the house. I feel like I'm always catching up these days. Some days, I'm try not to look around the house too carefully because it only adds ten more things to my to-do list.
Today's funny -- Jonathan brought home a book he wrote about technology for a school assignment. (They had to write about and explain something) We got a good chuckle out of it, as I'm sure his teacher did too.
Monday, January 02, 2017
New Year's Day....
Well, we spent the first day of 2017 doing a whole lot of nothing. I was still tired and achy from this cold we all had, though everyone else seems fine.
We played some games and Tom and I watched an episode of Travelers. (which, if you haven't watched, is an amazing show on Netflix we've gotten into!). Simon went over to his friend Nick's house and ran around with nerf guns outside for awhile.
We picked up Simon around 3:00 and headed out for dinner at Nandos Peri Pari and frozen yogurt just to get out of the house. Back home to more games. Today, it's sleeting outside, so will likely be more of the same. We have definitely squeezed every ounce of relaxation from this Christmas holiday. Tomorrow.... back to the normal routine.
We played some games and Tom and I watched an episode of Travelers. (which, if you haven't watched, is an amazing show on Netflix we've gotten into!). Simon went over to his friend Nick's house and ran around with nerf guns outside for awhile.
We picked up Simon around 3:00 and headed out for dinner at Nandos Peri Pari and frozen yogurt just to get out of the house. Back home to more games. Today, it's sleeting outside, so will likely be more of the same. We have definitely squeezed every ounce of relaxation from this Christmas holiday. Tomorrow.... back to the normal routine.
Sunday, January 01, 2017
Happy New Year!
Hello all and happy 2017! I've been gone a whole year! Well, not really, I have been on Facebook.... a LOT. But one of my resolutions for 2017 is to start putting things back on here too.
Quick summary of 2016? It was BUSY! We had a blizzard in February, all three boys had a blast with summer swim team and got some hard-earned trophies, Tom and I went to NYC in April, and we went to Disney in August. Lots of day trips and family time mixed in there too.
School started and is getting busy and complicated for everyone. Ben hates middle school, but does anyone ever actually enjoy it? Simon is enjoying his 4th grade year. It would be impossible for him not to, he has three of the teachers on my JES "dream team", and all of his best friends are in his class. Jonathan loves first grade (also has one my dream team teachers, so no surprise there either)
Simon still plays the cello. He graduated from book one earlier this year and is 3/4 of the way through book 2 and is playing much more complicated things in 2nd position now with extensions and shifts. I hope he sticks with this. He doesn't always love practicing, but we use practice time as screen time currency, so he is motivated. ;) He also loves programming and has been teaching himself lots of things!
Ben is still swimming. He joined winter team in August and LOVES it. He goes 2-3 times a week to practice and has done four meets so far and competed in events that used to really make him anxious. We have a meet coming up this next weekend at the college where Tom and I met and where Tom graduated from. Super excited for that one!
Jonathan is... definitely his own person. LOL. He is very into programming and technology. He also loved swim team over the summer and talks about wanting to swim on winter team with Ben someday. Definitely influenced by his brothers, but with his own twists. Keeps us on our toes for sure!
Last night, we had a laid back NYE. My parents, brother and SIL came over. They all left by 8:30 and 9:30 and we were in bed by ten! We've all had colds, so everyone was wiped. (not that we would have lasted until midnight anyway.... )
Hoping this is the first of a year filled with posts!
Quick summary of 2016? It was BUSY! We had a blizzard in February, all three boys had a blast with summer swim team and got some hard-earned trophies, Tom and I went to NYC in April, and we went to Disney in August. Lots of day trips and family time mixed in there too.
School started and is getting busy and complicated for everyone. Ben hates middle school, but does anyone ever actually enjoy it? Simon is enjoying his 4th grade year. It would be impossible for him not to, he has three of the teachers on my JES "dream team", and all of his best friends are in his class. Jonathan loves first grade (also has one my dream team teachers, so no surprise there either)
Simon still plays the cello. He graduated from book one earlier this year and is 3/4 of the way through book 2 and is playing much more complicated things in 2nd position now with extensions and shifts. I hope he sticks with this. He doesn't always love practicing, but we use practice time as screen time currency, so he is motivated. ;) He also loves programming and has been teaching himself lots of things!
Ben is still swimming. He joined winter team in August and LOVES it. He goes 2-3 times a week to practice and has done four meets so far and competed in events that used to really make him anxious. We have a meet coming up this next weekend at the college where Tom and I met and where Tom graduated from. Super excited for that one!
Jonathan is... definitely his own person. LOL. He is very into programming and technology. He also loved swim team over the summer and talks about wanting to swim on winter team with Ben someday. Definitely influenced by his brothers, but with his own twists. Keeps us on our toes for sure!
Last night, we had a laid back NYE. My parents, brother and SIL came over. They all left by 8:30 and 9:30 and we were in bed by ten! We've all had colds, so everyone was wiped. (not that we would have lasted until midnight anyway.... )
Hoping this is the first of a year filled with posts!
