Abigail: Six Years Old

This has been a major year in Abigail's life. There haven't been types of family changes she's endured in previous years. There were no overseas moves. No new babies born into the family. No cross-country moves. But, I think this year was a foundation for everything to come.


She's now school-age! Abigail's kindergarten year has been amazing. I can't believe how much of a difference a school year makes. After just a few months, she became an excellent reader. Although we still read to her regularly, she has now taken on the bedtime book reading for herself. Recently, she made the leap from Fancy Nancy books to Beverly Cleary chapter books. I think this is such a huge foundation for everything else she'll learn in the following 12 years. It's been amazing to see this whole new world opened up to her through reading.


As for being a girly-girl, even that has expanded. She still loves to wear dresses, and never prefers shorts or pants. (Fortunately, we own every color of leggings and tights to keep dresses an option through colder months.) This year she moved into real earrings with her ear piercings, and she's now too big for all the dress-up clothes and jewelry. It's all real, now! That's seems impossible...

There's been so many "firsts" this year...


Her first school dance.


Her first wedding party.


Her first sleepover


Her first swim team and competitive meet


She did learn how to ride a bike with no training wheels, but she's hardly ever on it. She'll take the scooter any day over the bike!

I'm sure I'm forgetting all kinds of "firsts," because she has truly grown up so much in the past 12 months. She shows no signs of the baby I birthed six years ago. She's a full-fledged little girl!


One of my favorite changes this year has been that Abigail and Cooper have become very good friends. They are not just related, but they truly love each other, protect each other, and have a blast together. Of course, they have their moments. (She did recently ask if I would send him to an orphanage.) But overall, they have become so close. I've loved to watch this change in their relationship.

My how time flies... It's so cliche, but still so true. I can't believe how much has happened in the past six years.

At the Pool

Abigail's first swim meet was a few weeks ago, and I know I already shared videos of her heats, but I finally have some pictures to share from the meet. This meet was the final meet for the Short Course season, which takes place through the indoor pool season and only includes 50 yard pools, as opposed to the Long Course season, which begins next month at 100 yard (Olympic size) pools.

Being Abigail's first meet, she was petrified. She doesn't like to show emotion that isn't self-confident, so she hid it very well, but she was scared. When it was time for her to enter the pool deck with her teammates who were also swimming the 50 Back, I was so pleased to see (from afar) that one of the older team members noticed Abigail's fear and was holding her hand as they walked to the natatorium. Abigail later told me that the girl was trying to distract her by asking her questions like "what is your favorite color?". I must say, I don't know who the girl is, but she must be a very sweet and observant child. (I took this picture from across a parking lot so it is not a great pic. Abigail is in the black swimcap and pink goggles.)


Once she entered the pool deck, I could tell from seeing her waiting her turn on the block that she was very nervous. But, there was another child who threw up from nerves, and even other swimmers who never made it to the pool due to fear. Since Abigail was just 5 and swimming in the 8 & Under group, I was so proud of her for being so brave.




Coach Adam was so attentive to Abigail, even with such a large team at the meet, he was by Abigail's side through both of her heats. Here, he's giving her last-minute instructions and distracting her from what was going on in the natatorium.


I wish I could show you more images from the rest of the day, but she was a completely different swimmer after completing her first heat. She was filled with confidence and enjoyment, but my camera was filled with a dead battery. (Ugh... Why didn't I think to charge my battery before such an event?! Lesson learned.)

In short, I think we've found Abigail's sport. I had high hopes for her to be a softball played, but her t-ball season last year gave no inclination of that ever happening. Seeing her determination, competitive spirit and work ethic come to fruition at this meet makes me think that I'll be spending a lot of time on the pool deck in the years to come.

Giddy-Up

Last month, Abigail's friend Maddie celebrated her birthday at a local horse farm. My kids were in heaven around their friends and the animals. It was one of the first warm days we've had this spring, and I think we all enjoyed ourselves.

They started the kids off easy with a few rounds of stick horse racing.


Abigail proved she is a true city girl, but she did give a good effort at her turn with roping.


Being the true science geek, my daughter loved the equine science lesson that was the most boring part of the day, in my opinion.


But, the true highlight of the day was just hanging out with the horses.








Cooper wasn't up for riding the same horse that Abigail rode. He stuck to a different breed.


He was especailly partial to some other farm residents.


Of course, there was the usual birthday cake,


...and laughter with friends,


...and sweet Maddie.

Going Underground

Last month we had a very special visitor, MAGGIE! Probably our favorite part of South Carolina, she gets to visit a few times a year and we always enjoy it. This time, it was cool and rainy most of her time in Texas so we were quite choosy in our activities, with the outdoors not being an option.

Kelly Ann and I treated her to dinner at Alamo Drafthouse. The movie wasn't great, but I loved the drafthouse. How can you beat dinner and drinks via a waitress while you're in a movie theatre?!

Kelly Ann and a friend took Maggie to a concert at a dancehall. The old fogies stayed at home and put the kids to bed.

We also enjoyed quite a few delicious meals like salmon, shrimp and strawberry shortcake. I think Maggie was concerned she would have to endure our restaurant hiatus, but I don't think we mistreated her.

Our only toursit outing was Innerspace Caverns, a nearby underground cavern. It wasn't as spacious as Carlsbad Caverns that we grew up going to, but the stalagmites and stalagtites were still impressive.









We can't wait for Maggie's next visit! Hopefully next time the weather will allow us to stay above ground.

Put on Your Dancing Shoes

Abigail went to her first school dance Friday night. Fortunately, she was escorted by her father as it was a Daddy/Daughter Dance.


I think the idea for the night was genius as the dads were given the chance for special time with the girls and, most importantly, time to show them how a princess should be treated. Obviously, she played the part of the princess beautifully.







I heard all about the evening's events of decorating a personalized crown, laughing at the ventriloquist, enjoying tea for two at a "cafe", the dancing, and a blissful carriage.


But, she was especially excited to have her daddy all to herself for the evening

Why I'm Here

My grandmother has been in the hospital for four weeks and I've been helping my mom take care of her for almost two weeks now. The kids each had classroom parties this week, and I was responsible for quite a few things for each party. We didn't even get to make it to Abigail's party, so I had to make sure I took care of the food platters before we left town in a rush. We left so quickly that I forgot to let the childcare coordinator know I wouldn't be there for nursery duty Wednesday night, so I had to give big apologies when I got the phone call from her that night. I've still been working full time while sitting at the hospital. My phone broke yesterday, and it was a pain to get Sprint to fix it. That was really stressing me out to be so disconnected.

I could go on and on with everything that is occupying my time as well as my mind lately.

Yet... A song in the Good Friday church service tonight reminded that this busyness, these responsibilties and even the caretaking of my grandmother is not my life's purpose. I hate that I have to be reminded, but am so thankful that I was reminded.

Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that You're my God.

Potpourri Blogging

I don't usually post when I don't have pictures or something personal to share, but I just don't have anything right now. Things have been beyond crazy right now. Life has been unreasonably out of sorts for a few weeks now, so my brain has followed suits and is terribly out of sorts. Thus, I haven't been in any shape for trying to right. I'm posting this as a form of blogging without having to think too much.

Instructions:
Copy the list, bold the ones you've done (with explanations if needed), share with friends.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars (in a tent near the Grand Canyon was my most recent adventure)
3. Played in a band (I was a bank geek as a teenager. I played the trumpet and was even a majorette for a few years. I know, what you're thinking and I can't imagine me in sequins and twirling either!)
4. Visited Hawaii (even better, I lived there!)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (obviously not more than I can afford, but have a regular tithing habit)
7. Been to Disneyland (went with my Mom and sister when I lived in San Diego)
8. Climbed a mountain (smaller mountains in New Mexico as a kid and then a dormant volcano in Hawaii)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a thunder and lightning storm (I live in TX. 'Nuff said)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (sewing)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (I was just telling Daniel yesterday that I want to do this. I'm starting with tomatoes this week!)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (Don't get any crazy ideas. I was a kid.)
27. Run a Marathon (that's just ridiculous)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (the best are in West Texas)
31. Hit a home run (only an in-park)
32. Been on a cruise (only whale watching)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (Does the exit sign count? I didn't think so. I'm still mad at Daniel that we couldn't stop for just a few mibutes to see it.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (Does the mancode count?)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (if those caricatures count)
48. Gone deep sea fishing (No, but I love laughing at my husband when he gets disgustingly sick while deep sea fishing. He's a sailor for goodness, sakes!)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (Snorkled in Hanauma Bay, Oahu, the Bahamas, and Cozumel, Mexico)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching (in San Diego, Oahu and Maui)
63. Got flowers for no reason (those are the best kind of flowers!)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (many, many moons ago. I was a terrible money manager as a teenager and when in college)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (my rocking chair I got when I turned 1, all of the books I owned as a child and my wooden toy box are now bequeathed to my children)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial (I've been three times and am always in awe)
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square (
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (it's lame, but my nose has been broken three times)
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (I've had two - my 2001 Jeep Liberty and 2006 Chevy Suburban)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (many times while playing softball)
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
(I had a great opportunity at Presidential Classroom when in high school)87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. had chickenpox (twice!)
89. Saved someone’s life (Does giving life twice count?)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (When I was a reporter, I did this on a weekly basis. It's not that impressive.)
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

How about you?