Swimming Lessons x 4

 In April I signed all four kids up for swimming lessons.  Bree was so excited to actually have a class that she got to participate in like the big kids.  I was excited to see her from a distance, taking directions from someone other than me.  This was the first time all four kids were participating in something at the same time and I could just sit back and watch.  I actually got a half hour to myself twice a week with no one touching me.  It was total bliss.  Until Bree decided she was going to act up.  She and Darcy were in the same level 1 class which had a girl teacher for the first lesson but then a boy took over as the permanent teacher.  She whimpered through most of lesson #2 and was straight up bawling through all of lesson #3.  It was funny though because she would do exactly what the boy asked her to do, she just cried while doing it.  I didn't want to pull her out, I was hoping she would suck it up and be OK but she wasn't.  The lady in charge switched her into a class with a female teacher and she was just fine for the remaining lessons.  It was really fun to watch her interact with her teacher and the other kids.  I don't give her enough credit for being the big girl she is.  She is way more functioning than I usually believe her to be.  But then there were times that the teacher would ask her to do something and she just stared at her blankly.  She kept me smiling the entire time.  Darcy was not thrilled at first when she realized she was stuck with a boy teacher but she composed herself and she ended up having a good time with him and even said she liked him!  That is a big step for Darcy.  She showed some improvement in her water skills by the end of the session, whereas Bree was just there so get wet.

 Drew and Mason were both in the same level 2 class together.  Drew finished advancing to level 3 and Mason stayed in level 2.  Drew is a decent enough swimmer that I won't worry about her in the water by herself, and I doubt I will pay for more lessons for her next year.  She can improve on her own.  Mason finally jumped into the deep pool at the very last session.  He also went down the small slide they had set up on the last day.  Those are big steps for my cautious Mason.  He did great but isn't quite as driven as Drew.  She approaches things with a business like attitude and tries her hardest to master things as quickly as possible.  Mason likes to have a little fun along the way.  Two very different kids.  We only did one session this year, last year we did three.  For three weeks, four nights in a row we had activities at dinner time along with Mason's baseball and it got very old very fast.  We got the basics down and the older kids got a good reminder of swimming mechanics before we set out on our summer trip.  Hopefully we will find lots of opportunities to use their new swimming skills.

Happy 9th Birthday to Drew!

 Drew's birthday always seems to play second fiddle to Mason's baseball.  This year was no different.  We decided to celebrate Friday night instead of Saturday so we could avoid conflicting with Mason's game.  My parents were able to come and celebrate with Drew and then attend Mason's game the next day so I think it actually worked out well.  Drew chose Angel Delight for her birthday cake, which is what I always have on my birthday.  But, since we will be on the road this year on my birthday and I won't be able to make it, I was more than happy that she chose it for hers!
Last June Drew started reading the Harry Potter books.  She just finished the series about a week ago.  Her room is all decorated in things she has made from the books, including a very long paper chain Nagini slithering along her wall.  So for her birthday I got her a Hogwarts Banner, a couple chocolate frogs, and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor jelly beans.  The beans were a hit.  I tried a soap flavored, Paul had black pepper,  Mason ate grass, and Darcy said she loved the vomit flavored bean.  Yuck.  No one else would try that one.  She also got a new bike since she had outgrown the one she got on her 5th birthday, and also an area rug for her bedroom.  On Saturday, her real birthday, we went to Mr Fultano's so she actually got to party for 2 days straight and she wasn't complaining.

Drew is one wonderful kid.  I am so proud of her.  She is the biggest sweetheart, cares so much about others, always willing to help her siblings, always willing to give something up if another wants it, she is a great student, enjoys church, sports, reading, playing with siblings, camping, and playing computer games.  She started playing the piano this past year and is pretty good at it.  She is a driven young lady and I rarely have to remind her to do her homework or practice the piano.  She is able to manage her time well and freaks out, just like me, if she can't be somewhere 10 minutes early.  I love my Drewsy so much and I love watching her grow and become the wonderful person she is.  What a blessing!