She might look exactly like her father but...

As a child I was painfully shy but I was usually up for adventure.  I also was not the biggest fan of school and I was a fish in the water.  I also was very silly and showed it mainly to close friends and family.  I am starting to think that maybe my youngest is just a little bit like me...  Maybe, things change!!

Today was her day to plan and she said "I want to go to the treehouse place and climb".  I thought okay.  I had no idea it was really climbing!!  She was pretty good too.  As a child we just climbed the trees though, no safety harnesses.  Maybe she got a little higher then me though...

Confidence

I don't know why but I feel like this picture pretty much sums up my eldest.

She has no idea that someone is snapping that picture.

The coach behind her is not saying anything to make that cute little smirk.

She is just plain content with her little self and I love it.

Swim Champs

We just finished up the morning session of our league swim champs.  Both girls made it to champs this year.  Audrey made it back this evening for freestyle and Celia made it back as an alternate for free and in a relay.

Our swim caps our for Scott Elliot who passed away 2 weeks ago.  He was a swim coach for one of the league swim teams.  The league is donating 50/50 sales, shirt sales, and wrist band funds to the family this year.   We all bought these swim caps and they are great but BIG!

See swimmer in the farthest lane?  That is Celia.  When she started there relay team was behind the lane next to her.

Look where they finished!!

I posted pictures now because the weather forecast has us in the rain the rest of the evening and tomorrow.

July 19

Maybe when the kids go back to school I will update the blog more!!

It is that time of year and we are knee deep in all things swimming so I always think about my Dad around this time of year.  Both girls have had an awesome swim season and Audrey has had so much fun at meets.  It is cute to see her branch out a little with a new friend or two and Celia has her group of friends too.  Most of the time both girls are with each other in the pool but sometimes they separate.  At meets, they barely know where the other one is as they are too busy with their own friends.

This year I am especially reminded about my Dad because the league lost a member.  I did not know Scott Elliot however he was a coach for another team and a coach for a winter team and an assistant swim coach for a local university and a father and a husband.  The league will be doing a few things for him and for the family.  We received an email in the fall detailing his cancer battle and sadly he lost that fight a few days ago.

So Dad here's to another year.  Cecelia reminds me of you with her creativity and her kind heart, the little one has for certain your sense of humor.

Last day of 3rd grade

This year has been a learning experience for us all, Celia is growing up and entering into that tween stage.  We have to give her some independence but still deal with the fact that she is a little girl.  Anyone that questions that their 9 year old is still a little girl needs to eyeball a 16 year old.  They are still little.

But Celia has grown in all areas, she is so much taller and she has matured.  She is compassionate and bright.  This year she gained more independence in doing school work on her own.  For the 2nd half of the year I felt as if I barely had to deal with her school work, she just did it.  Of course 3rd grade did have to throw in a big project during the last weeks of school.  Don't they know we limp to the finish line???  

First day

Last day

Last day of Kindergarten

It has been quite a year but looking back I can't really say Audrey has changed and to be honest that is awesome.  I was worried that the push for academics would crush her spirit a little.  Audrey is still Audrey.  Eventually she will have to settle into the fact that school is for learning and not for playing.  Maybe it is because I work with preschoolers but I am 100% okay with the fact that at age 6, Audrey feels that the number one priority in life is to have fun.  Actually maybe that should be her philosophy for life.

I originally thought that after a few weeks her shyness would wear off, it took until May...  But as her teacher put it "she is all out now".  As of the beginning May Audrey was showing her true personality at school, her sense of humor, and her free spirit.  Maybe we will hit that in April next year???

First day

Last day

She grew of course this year but nothing dramatic, but she has slimmed out a ton.

So Hello summer!!  Bring on the pool, the swim meets, trips, visiting with cousins and the beach.

Audrey has been asking me since December when we are going to the beach.  We have it marked on her calendar now but clearly that is her goal for the summer.

My new favorite picture of Audrey