Straightening Things Out

Last week we went for an orthodontist consult.  Surprising no one, kiddo will be getting an expander in January and then first stage braces.  I told her to eat up all of her chewing gum and starbursts now, while she can

Tomorrow we wrap up the developmental swim session.  I've seen tremendous strides.  She's swimming with her face in the water and mostly breathing to the side (although pulling herself upward too much, but we're getting there).

Since my last post she has gotten another Fruit of the Spirit award at school for integrity.  She was also invited to participate in an enrichment program that will expose her to more STEM activities etc.

Field Trip

It's field trip day.  I'm not going on this one.  The weather has definitely cooled off, but the rain seems to have held off for them - so I am sure she'll have a blast at the farm with her friends.

The first marking period is over.  While I don't have the report card in my hand we can monitor along the way.  She has straight As with a few A+ / 100%s!  She loves math and walks around singing (as she always has, but now it's songs they've learned for an upcoming Veteran's Day celebration).

90%+

School is going well. We have solid As and A+s in everything.  Turns out as of her pediatrician appt this week she is also still in the 90th percentile in height and weight, which is surprising given how trim she is.

Trouble... trouble trouble trouble

It's very rare, but as with any kid, sometimes Avery gets herself into trouble because of her choices.  I am not going to talk about the specifics and no, I'm not trying to put her on blast for getting in trouble, but rather for who she is in light of these moments.  When she gets herself into these spots it tends to be because she was following someone else's lead.  That does not excuse her from responsibility; it makes me worry about her all the more because it shows how susceptible she is to peer pressure.

What I can say is that she often tells on herself, she trusts me to come to me with those things -- for which I am so grateful.  She's contrite about what she's done as well.  She listens while I explain the repercussions and potential impacts, albeit with her head hanging a bit and tears.  Together we come up with a plan and she is diligent to do her part to try and make it right.

With each incident, even though they are far and few between, I think lessons are being learned that she will carry with her.  I pray that the message I gave her about God setting her apart to be unlike others and the encouragement I gave to stand up against things that are wrong rather than following along were absorbed.  Please say a prayer for my girl.  It's a hard world to be in when you are not of this world.

Water is expensive

Developmental swimming starts tonight.  Last night they had an hour and a half telephone call that made me want to weep.  Like I don't get enough meetings during the day?  They also mentioned the fundraisers that they do for the regular team and the volunteer requirements, lest you need to pay another $400 - and this is on top of the fees to participate to begin with.  It's insane.

I know for a fact we didn't have to deal with this when I was a kid.  What gives?

Also, this past weekend Avery went to Castle Blood in Monessen.  She liked it, I loved the decor, but she said it was boring.  I am translating that to mean it wasn't scary.  We're going to have to do a real haunted house and recalibrate.

Kick and Swim, Water and Ice

This week Avery got her 4th (white) stripe at jiu jitsu.  We'll be slowing our muay thai training here in October as a developmental team for swimming is spinning up and she wanted to partake.  It's two nights a week and focused on getting better, not on meets; that seems just like what we need - the in-between from lessons to swim team.  Hopefully then we will be ready for the swim team in the spring (if she's still into it).

Swimming will overlap through this month with her ice skating lessons.  She's doing great on the ice and was pulled from the group she was in to work independently with one instructor.  She's not quite as capable as the next group which is skating backwards etc, but she's working on it already.  Most importantly, she seems to enjoy it.

School is going well.  She loves her teacher.  Life is good.

Fruit of the Spirit - Helpfulness

Girl got her first award from school for fruits of the spirit, this time for helpfulness.  Of course, she can't remember what she did, but I guess that's a good thing, right?  It's just her being her - and she gets spotted.