School Time/Bed Time

Why is it so difficult to make the transition back to school? No more staying up late, and sleeping in. I have been struggling all week with trying to enforce an earlier bed time in order to get back into the routine of early to bed, early to rise again.
It's still light outside, or I'm not tired yet. Can I just have 5 more minutes outside? I'm sure I'm not the only parent who has heard these lines.
My goal is to have this complete transition by next weekend. I could use as many prayers as I can get.

I have decided that this school year, I'm going to be a little more involved with school volunteering and projects. So I have volunteered myself for quite a bit this year, and I'm not sure how I'm going to work this all in. I signed up for the walking program (count the laps around the track that kids do), Thanksgiving feast, accelerated reader program, star cafe, book fair. As you can see, I'm doing my fair share. Ugh, let's hope I don't go loony by winter break!

Natalie is going to continue swim team, diving, and of course, horse riding. Let's fit that all in the mix too. So how many days till next summer?

I'm going to take some advice from a song I love by Trace Adkins:
You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this

Swimming Benefits

As you all probably figured out by now, Natalie is on the swim team. Having such a difficult school year, I struggled to find her something that she could do, stay healthy, and keep her focused. I needed something that she could say that she did other than "I'm a second grader." Of course, we've tried the normal things, gymnastics, soccer, softball etc. But these sports were good one day, and the next day, who cares attitude. Until swimming......
She's in the pool every day. Of course there has been disadvantages as well, mainly her hair damage, but all in all, who could ask for a better solution for all her issues she was dealing with in her life. So I thought I would do some research as to what swimming really does for your body/mind, this is what I found.

• Promotes physical development


• Develops aerobic endurance and is the most beneficial form of cardiovascular exercise


• Enhances flexibility and promotes muscular development and posture


• Develops superior coordination


• Learn life skills like: Time management, self discipline, sportsmanship


• Teaches how to set and achieve goals


• Swimmers do better in school vs. non-swimmers

You can view Natalie's swimming accomplishments by clicking on her "swim team link"

Our Summer so far

Well, I have to say the summer has been all about Natalie. After the very bad school year we had, this summer certainly has made up for it. To sum it up, she has practiced so hard in her swimming, that it paid off by placing 3rd in freestyle event and 10th over all (out of 35) in the backstroke event.

Then of course we have the diving. She placed 2nd place. This of course wasn't an official meet, but the coach wanted them to see what an event would look like etc.

Next, we have her and Gholli. Those two are finally getting to know each other and the trust and bond grows stronger each lesson. I'm so thankful she has Gholli to come to when she's having a rough day.

Now, this week at the fair, she received the grand champion ribbon for her dish garden entry. AND tonight, she got to meet Corbin Bleau. Of all nights, I forgot my camera, so I had to borrow one. So that picture is coming. I think that pretty much topped off her summer!

I don't remember having summers quite like this. She's a lucky girl.

I'm Back!

My computer part has finally arrived, and I again have Internet access! It's been a rough couple of weeks, but I have endured the pain!

Yesterday was the first day of the county fair, and Natalie made a dish garden to enter for judging. She was so excited, the got the Champion ribbon this year for her efforts, way to go Nat!

We usually spend the whole week at the fair every year, because Anthony works the fair all week long. So if we want to see him, we have to go there to see him. It's very long days for him.
Today is Natalie's diving meet, so the day at the fair will be a bit broken up. I'm secretly happy about that. I'm usually all faired out by Monday afternoon at 3pm!

I'd rather be school shopping!

Disconnected

I feel so disconnected. I have not had Internet at home in over a week. Anthony's laptop works, but my computer has "special" needs and cannot connect to the Internet until we get an adapter. So here I sit, at my local library, checking my email and blogging. Natalie is going through withdrawls because she can't feed her pets on Webkinz world. It's amazing how much we depend on our computers and what we miss about the Internet.

I'm so used to just sitting down, typing google, and getting the information I need. Now, when I want to know something I write it down on a piece of paper and go to the library to "google." And what's really bad is no shopping! UGH

Gosh, just put me out of my misery!!!

One Summer afternoon

Since daddy had to leave for work early this afternoon, Natalie and I took a different approach to the afternoon. We decided to go get a bite to eat and then went to feed the ducks in St. Joe.

Here are the bachelor's

The next thing we did was look at the sculptures along the river. Some of them are a little strange, but if you are artsy, you might like them.

Did you loose your muffler?

Natalie thinks this looks like a toothbrush, I think it looks like a pelican, what do you think?

Natalie and I love to go to St. Joe, so much to do, and she has already asked me to take her to the Venetian Festival this weekend to see Mitchel Musso. I'll have to see about that, fighting crowds and heat is not my version of a good time.

Natalie asked can we go to the beach tonight? Ok, let's go, just for a 1/2 hour. I love taking her to the beach, but I cannot relax when I am there. I fear Lake Michigan. About 4 years ago on the 4th of July, Anthony was working and there were 6 lives taken within 2 hours because of the rip. I have respect for the lake. Let's go!

While Natalie went swimming, I paced the shore watching. I thought I would look for rock glass along the shore. I found quite a few pieces and Natalie was thrilled! She asked me if I was wearing my contacts tonight!


Did you know that you could hide in the dune grass, totally camouflage yourself? Tell me what you see?

Funny story about dune grass. Once upon a time, not too long ago, there was a 20 year old girl visiting our side of the lake, from her side of the lake(Chicago). Anyway, she had too much to drink one night, and passed out in the dune grass. At 2:30 in the morning, a sleepy fireman I know, was abruptly awakened to the sound of the pager going off, needing his help to find a missing girl. Her cell phone was found by the water, her friends were frantic with worry, listening to the sounds of the helicopter searching the waters, the state police with the dogs, and the fireman with flashlights. Anyway, enough drama, she passed out in the dune grass, woke up, wandered up to a fireman and asked, what's going on man? 15 fireman, 3 state policeman, and the coast guard made it quite clear to her what was going on. tee hee

It was a good summer evening, I hope to have more of these this summer

Birthday Blues are done

Well the birthday party was a smash, and I ended up getting him a Nerf gun that shoots big nerf type balls. I think I made a good choice, because after I thought about it, I realized he is more of a outdoors sports type kid. Not too many action figures for this little guy.


Speaking of Little Dudes, we have a new member to our family. His name is little dude, and he belongs to the amphibian family, please welcome "Little Dude"


Little Dude is a tree frog, that got swept into Grandma's House, so Natalie had to rescue him. I guess they eat crickets?? Will keep you posted on Little Dudes life. We may be setting him free soon. I don't know if I want to feed something live crickets everyday, pardon me but I'm more of a city girl......