That stinks.

To my surprise the other day I hugged the girl and caught a whiff of a stinky pit!  Needless to say we looked at a variety of 'scents' and ordered girl some deodorant.  I'm not ready for all of the growing up stuff.  Make it slow down.

18/2

9, half way to 18 is what it really is and it makes me sad.  Girl took the school transition like a trooper.  I lost our quality time waiting for the bus, which I hadn't really thought much about before the year started.  We're working on our new routine.  I can't believe she's in 3rd grade.

Major Improvements

We missed the first two swim meets this year due to vacation, but were able to attend last night's home meet.

Overall her relay teams didn't have the greatest showing.  For the 100 yard freestyle relay they came in 12th, but her split was 26.16s, not too shabby.  For the 100 yard medley relay they came in 9th and no clean split time was reported for her leg (she swam butterfly).

Independently her times are greatly improved over last year.  More practice and skill, for sure, but coming off of the blocks well makes a huge difference:

• 25 butterfly she was 3rd place scoring 3 points for Kraken with 26.74s.  For comparison, last July 10th she swam this in 33.00s flat.
• 25 free she came in 5th place adding 1 point with 22.25s.  Again, looking back to last July 10th, compare that against her 36.99!

She 100% earned 2 ribbons on her first meet of the summer on her own.  That's a big deal and I'm very proud of her and she seemed pleased.  I reminded her it isn't about the overall place, it's about improvement and beating herself.  Fact is a few of the swimmers that edged her out were less than a second faster.  Improving starts and driving into the wall harder will resolve that 100%.

Last full day of 2nd Grade

Today is kiddo's last FULL day of 2nd grade.  We have 2 more half days, but heaven knows there isn't much going on this week.  Her class earned an all day game day today too.

As the year wraps up and I look through the treasures she brought home from school I can't help but smile.  There are adorable and amusing drawings, elegant cursive practice sheets, and even a few love letters!  My kiddo had an amazing year.

She's already a bit sad to be leaving what she knows as "her school".  She'll miss her friends, she'll miss her teacher - even if she wouldn't have her next year because "at least I could see her in the halls".  It's sad for me and a bit scary - but I think I'm making the right choice for her.  Now if June 1 would just go ahead and roll around so I can get her registered.  The waiting is unnerving, even if there isn't a way they could decline her.

First Holy Communion

This past weekend kiddo celebrated her first holy communion.  It was marked with a small gathering (given the limited space we had available to us at the church).  She looked beautiful in her dress, veil, and blinged out shoes - and a good time was had by all.

This is symbolic also of the end of the 2nd grade school year which is quickly approaching.  She had a field trip for her enrichment class on Monday to the science museum and will be headed to the Bradford house with her class later this month.

It is also the time when I need to get her booked for the summer.  She is interested in swimming on Kraken again, so I registered her there last night.  I still need to figure out when she can go for Camp Splash for a week or two amongst the other summer activities already on our calendar.  I also want to be attentive to ensure we schedule some time with friends this summer before the big school switch happens.

Last week she got her top/front braces put on.  It was crazy how much those teeth moved in the first day.  Fortunately, that was the only time she indicated some pain, the first morning after.

Jiu jitting Time Away

Last post I mentioned girl got her first red stripe... since that post she tested and was promoted to her gray and white striped belt AAAAND she got her first stripe on it.  She's locked in on some aspects and I've seen a leap forward in her skills there.  I'm very proud of her progress and persistence.

Developmental swimming has ended.  The 3rd marking period is over and we had straight As again.  First confession is in the books and her first communion is coming up soon.

Summer weather is creeping in, so the evenings are drawing us outside to play or to walk/ride bikes.

The expander sits in place still at this time, but we're getting ready for the braces to go on at the end of the month. It has given enough space that the top two teeth are finally coming (they've been missing since August/September). She's definitely had another growth spurt.  All... the... things!

Full Steam Ahead!

This year has been charging forward quickly.  The second round of developmental swimming classes is well underway.  We continue to go to jiu jitsu and muay thai.  At jiu jitsu she recently got her first red stripe on her white belt and then tested for a new belt.  Much to my surprise she was presented a gray with white stripe belt last night.  She also was invited to join in the advanced striking (muay thai) class and went to the first of that last night.

We're getting ready for her first confession at the end of the month in preparation for her first communion.

To my shock last night she asked if I knew what a "first period" was.  Oh no.  My heart sank.  Turns out a girl in the other second grade class got hers.  I feel so bad for her, that's so young, ugh.  I did my best to explain to girl and answer her current questions.  We watched a couple of videos too.  Hopefully it's a few years off for my gal.

Merry and Bright

Christmas vacation has been great.  Both kiddo and I have taken advantage of our time off.  She asked for three things from Santa and was happy to receive all three -- none of which were big price tag items, so I can't complain.  She has her new games for the Switch, a holder for those game cards, and reader books to enjoy.  She also noted her favorite gift was one she didn't even ask for - her first few Pokemon cards.

Today we took a perhaps premature run to a local store to assess what is out there for first communion dresses.  To my surprise not only did she like several dresses ("I love it") but we ended up leaving with one!  I'm thrilled with the price point and she was comfortable in the dress - win, win.

As we move into January the next session of developmental swim will spin up.  Their focus will be on breaststroke and butterfly.  I'm looking forward to seeing her progress further.

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.

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.