Mom fail.

Girl lost her 8th tooth on Tuesday at school.  She promptly placed it for the tooth fairy when she got home.  I knew it was there.  I even told myself what to do and I prepared the materials.  This did not however translate to me taking care of business after she went to bed.  Nope, I played with the kittens, got a shower and zonked.  I didn't even realize until we were outside the next morning waiting for the bus.

But that's it, she hadn't said anything.  You'd think she would have been bummed and mentioned that the tooth fairy passed her over.  I was fretting, but maybe she didn't notice.  I consulted a friend and the bad mom decision was made like the icing on the bad mom move cake -- gaslight.  So I put the things out by the door off to the side and slipped the money into the tooth holder.

By the time she got home guess what?   I forgot again.  She went to change and came down with a smile and her goods in hand.  I said "what is that?"  She said "from the tooth fairy!"  I said "didn't you get it this morning?"  I swear she said "I didn't notice it this morning, I must have walked right by it."  She gaslit herself.

Success?

Birthday Girl

Today Avery turned 8.  I'm so very proud of her.  She's sweet, she's kind, she's smart, she's funny, she's helpful.  She is everything.  She still humors me for photos and the like.  I love that she'll still sit on my lap both at home and during the homily at church.  I know the time for that is growing short.  She asks for hugs and gives the best hugs back.

This year is an interesting one as she will be starting to do chores.  While we went over the things on her to do list and I explained that she would get an allowance (and what an allowance is) for completing her chores, she never once asked how much money -- so we still have that to negotiate.

2nd grade!

 And she's off!  Bus number 14 again, but not our beloved Miss Dawn.  We met our teacher and she seems delightful.  I think it's going to be a good year.

Kennywood's open

We didn't let this summer get away from us without visiting Kennywood.  With her now being "of height" (52") she was eager to ride coasters, and boy did she.  Avery rode every coaster including the Steel Curtain and she wanted more.  Her bestie is still a bit under that magical height, so that tempered some of the coaster-riding.

Butterfly!

I used to call Avery my butterfly when I felt her moving in my belly.  This week she swam like one!

At this week's meet she swam the following:

25 x 4 Free relay - 2:24:47 - she was the first swimmer.  Overall 14/16.  She's been working on her start from the block, but hasn't quite gotten it down -- YET!

25 Free - 36.99 - Overall 21/21, dead last, but that's ok.  She's still keeping the time under 40 seconds, so that's solid.

25 Butterfly - 33.00 flat - Overall 8/10.  GIRL IS GETTING HER FIRST RIBBON!  I didn't tell her.. I'm waiting for her to find the ribbon at practice next week.  I'm so excited for her.  It isn't a relay, she did this, she earned it.

25 x 4 Medley relay - 2:09:11 w/ the second 50 split being at 58.71 - she swam butterfly (3rd swimmer).  Overall 8/14. I got to watch her make up ground on the lane next to her too.  If they do the first 8 for relays she'll get a second ribbon for this event too.  She did awesome!

Keep in mind that for the individual event it is 7-8 year olds, but for relays it is 10 and under.

I'm so proud of her.  I'm so HAPPY for her, she wanted that ribbon and I am so glad she achieved that goal.

Schwim some more!

Avery's second swim meet!  We set goals to get the 25 free under 40 seconds and the 25 back under 50 seconds -- both of which she succeeded in, actually she killed it.  I know that the Upper St Clair pool is yards, but I'm not sure about the CM pool.  Even if we had to convert to meters for an apples to apples comparison I am happy to report that she did make her goals.

25 Free - 34.01 - Overall 29/35.  Converted to meters that equates to 37.75.

25 Back - 42.18 - Overall 32/34.  Converted to meters that equates to 46.81.  Until 3/4 of the way across she had a solid chance to win her heat, but didn't hold it.  I'm hoping for a heat win so she gets a duck -- that will hold her over for a while until we can get her to the point where she can win ribbons.

25 x 4 Free relay - 1:22:49 - she was the first swimmer.  Overall 16/21 and a crazy better time than her first relay.

She was having fun.  You could tell from across the pool area as she was nearly vibrating.

I'm hoping she can make progress on her breast or butterfly as those events are less frequented and would give her a better shot.

Town Pool

Friday afternoon we took to town pool.  She goes all this week for Camp Splash, but I wanted to spend some time with her there first.  I got to see her going off the diving board, rope swing, and deep water slide with confidence.

Girl is officially able to swim.

Schwim!

The first swim meet is complete and she said it was "fun.  no, it was fantastic".  She looked so at place and at ease as she mingled and chatted with different kiddos and coaches between events.  They put her in the 25 free, 25 back, and 25 x 4 free relay where she was the 2nd swimmer (so she started in the pool off the wall).

All that matters is that she had fun.  It's exciting that she did great with her starts (although we haven't mastered diving much less diving off of the block, but we're working on it) and finishes (pushing those hands into the wall fast and hard) - even in the relay.

The times to beat (as she now competes against herself) are now set:

25 Free - 40.54

25 Back - 52.87

25 x 4 Free relay - 2:19.22

I'm pleased to say that the relay team wasn't in last place.

I wish I had more free time and easy access to a pool (why didn't I buy a swim-spa?) so we could 'practice' more together as we did in Cococay.

Start of Summer

Summer is busy for us.  We already took our first cruise where girl had a blast.  She was tall enough for the Flowrider, so she was out there perfecting her boogie boarding skills.  She still loves the rock wall too.  Without hesitation she's doing the water slides and even the Abyss dry slide w/o fear.

A pre-vaca trip to the library and she checked out 7 books.  Granted, she only got through 2 before their 2 week due date, but now that she learned about their reading challenge she's even more committed to get through the others -- and win some prizes.

The first week of swimming went well, she loved it!  The first practice she swam 300 meters!  I'm impressed.  We missed the second week, and the first swim meet, due to our vacation, but we're back to it today.  While we were on vaca we worked on her freestyle a bit together and instantly saw an increase in speed with better breathing practices and she worked worked worked on her freestyle in Cococay's swimming pool.

Today is her first day of 'schoolwork'.  I love that she's to the point with her personal discipline and reading abilities that we were able to create a to do list that she can refer to each day.

1).  Reading for 20 minutes.

2).  2 pages from her bible workbook

3).  2 pages from her handwriting workbook

4).  2 pages from several sections in her 2nd grade workbook (Writing, Grammar, Space/Science, Math)

Matter of fact she's out there right now reading - and she even set herself a timer.  I'm almost obsolete at this point.  I'm proud, but sad at the same time.

Next week she has Camp Splash at the town pool.  I hope our weather stops acting a fool so the pool isn't freezing and she can get more practice and play in.  This will disrupt some of our 'schoolwork' but we will still get some learning in.

Goodbye 1st Grade

Poof.  First grade is finished.  The girl reads remarkably well and is interested in it.  She's outstanding on spelling and digs math.  Her bestie at school was Leah.  I've heard nothing but good things about who she is - she's sweet, well behaved, smart, all the things.  I couldn't be more proud.

Splish-splash

Next week the girl will step away from Jujitsu/Muay Thai during the week to give swim a try.  She wanted to do the Kraken swim team, so here we are.  This of course means I need to hurry and get some supplies (flippers, backup goggles/cap) but also a racing suit.  She's not going to be happy about that last one as they aren't as modest as she prefers.  I'm hoping if she gets to pick which ones she wants she'll be more filling to wear it.

A day off

Memorial day, quite literally the start of summer.  This year it marks the last week of school.  Girl had a great weekend sleeping in, hanging out with her bestie and neighbor friends, and -- best of all -- not doing homework.  They've already brought home some books that we keep too.

I started to make a lunch for tomorrow, the next to last full day of school, and I had a moment.  I realized that as annoying as it can be on busy days to need to make a lunch and snack before I can call it a night - before I know it this will end.  For now, just for the summer, but at some point there won't be lunches to pack.

I am just a few days away from having a second grader.  That doesn't sound bad, but 8 is looming, half way to driving!  She's so tall and her voice is even changing.  She is, by far, not a little girl any more.  Slow down.

All the things

Here I am, very behind again.  Avery is doing quite well at school - to a fault honestly.  When she had a B on something she brought home she was rather displeased.  It's hard lesson when things come pretty easy most of the time and one she doesn't like to hear - but some things require practice and you won't be good at everything.

Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai continue to go well.  She has her days where she doesn't want to go, especially if it is gi on, but for the most part she seems to enjoy it.  At this point she is a 3 stripe white belt.

She is in the midst of another round of swimming lessons at the high school - I think this will be her last set.  She successfully swam the full length of the pool with a few head pop ups to breath.  I think she is on track if she wanted to try out for Kraken's swim team, not that we have enough hours in the day for all the things.

Catechism wrapped up the week before Easter, giving us the chance to sleep in on Sundays.  ... and let's be honest, first grade is almost complete.

Her summer is starting to shape up.  Again she will go to our church's summer fun week, and likely the presby church's vacation bible school (depending on when they're having it -- yet to be announced). We have two weeks of vacation planned again as well.  In between those things we will squeeze in 2-3 weeks of Camp Splash. Polish it off w/ a couple of weeks sleeping in and chilling... and her summer is completely spoken for.

I'm fine. *swoon*

Girl was up before me this morning.  I came down to find her fully dressed for school and watching TV.  I guess she got a good night's sleep.  Her eyes were still watery and she wasn't reading the fever she had last night, but still I convinced her it was best to stay home.  She is a trooper.  We'll see how well she is feeling based on how much she fights me on the nap I told her she had to take mid-day today.

Fever!

This weekend was packed.  Avery got to spend time with her bestie.  Saturday we went bowling, out to eat with his family, and then to an arcade.  She brought along his Valentine gift with a homemade card.  God bless the gal, she's bold - she straight up asked him to marry her and said if not, you're my boyfriend.  Today (Sunday) we went to a local fundraiser event called Sweet Sunday and sugared up.(after cathecism and church).

She was off all day, but went down hill fast later in the afternoon.  Before I knew it she was cold and was asking to go to bed at 6:30pm.  By the time I tucked her in she had a 99.5 reading at her ear and a 98.6 at her forehead.  She doesn't get sick often, I'm not used to seeing her like that.

I guess I need to look up the procedure for school if she wakes up not where she needs to be.

Growth

Last night she got on the scale and weighed in at 59.5 #.  How?  She is still so trim.  I had asked her in the morning if she grew again as she looked taller, so we measured - and she sure did - 4'3".  One more inch and she can ride a ton of other amusement rides.

Muay thai and Jujitsu are going well, it is easy to see her improvement.  Managed to secure her second stripe even.

Music lessons have been so irregular due to the teacher fighting off sickness and she hasn't grown to enjoy that yet.