Swim Lessons

Arianna has gone to swim lessons the last 5 days.  This is a different experience for me because my other two never went.  They both learned to swim in the pond and were taught by my mom and I.  Well Makenzi's swim team team coach was offering swim lessons this summer.  They are doing 30 minute one on one sessions.  I signed Arianna up for 2 weeks and Braxton is going 1 week (just to reinforce the freestyle stroke).  Arianna was all excited about swim lessons until the morning of.  She just wasn't sure on what to expect. 

Well we got there and her instructor Miss Caylee (who Arianna knows very well from Swim Team) came and got her and took her into the pool.  Arianna was very happy and doing great.  She swam on the kickboard, a noodle and then by herself for a short distance.  Then they wanted her to jump in..and Arianna panicked.  Kicking, screaming etc.  Well she went in anyways with Miss Caylee jumping with her and holding on to her. 

Tuesday she improved as well and tolerated jumping in the deep better as long as Caylee was going with her.  Wednesday she did wonderful.  She swam across 3 lanes of the 6 lane pool all by herself multiple times.  She was just enjoying the water.  She jumped in with Caylee again with no tears or fits.  On Thursday I took the video camera to capture it all on tape and she didn't want to perform.  She had a different instructor since Caylee had to help a little boy that was terrified of the water.  Well Arianna didn't trust the new instructor.  She swam the length of 2 lanes and grumbled every time he wanted her to do something saying it was too far.  At the end I did get to video tape her jumping into the shallow end (holding onto Caylee's hands) and then jumping into the deep end with Caylee.  On Friday, she had Caylee again and showed off big time.  She swam half the pool again, swam in the deep end by herself, jumped off the diving board with Caylee, and worked on floating on her back. 

I am so impressed with everything she has learned.  I can't wait to see what she accomplishes next week.

First Communion

Makenzi made her First Communion on April 22nd.  She was so excited to make this sacrament.  She had an amazing day and enjoyed her family gathering afterwards. 

Family Vacation

Scott and I have finally decided it is time for a Family Vacation!  The last time we took a family vacation where we left Michigan was January 2007.  We went to Texas at that time to see Scott's sister and her family.  Well at that time Makenzi was 3, and Braxton was 11 months old.  Not much memory there for either of them.

So we are heading to Disney World this year.  We figure our kids are at great ages (8,6,4).  Arianna loves Mickey and Minnie.  All the kids have been talking about going for a couple years but it just
 never worked.  We want them to some what remember it.  We are planning to surprise the kids with the trip...mainly because I do not want to listen to them talk about it for months and months.  They would drive me crazy. 

We decided to stay off site.  We rented a house with a private pool and bedrooms for everybody.  We planned to drive but once we discovered Arianna gets car sick that was a no go so now we are flying.  Plus it will give us more time in Florida to enjoy instead of traveling to get there and home.  We will see how Arianna does on the plane...thankfully she is old enough to take medicines to hopefully combat it.

Our park plan...Magic Kingdom (2 days), Animal Kingdom and MGM (if that is what it is still called).  We have been to Epcot a couple times ourselves and have never really enjoyed it.  So we plan to skip it this time and maybe hit it when the kids are older.  I looked up the ride information for the 3 parks and it looks like Braxton and Makenzi will be able to ride whatever they want and since Arianna makes the 40" requirement she will be able to ride tons of stuff too!

I am hoping to get a Chef Mickey dinner reservation for the one night we are there as well.  Hopefully they don't fill too fast!

Oh I can't wait to see the excitement in my kids eyes the morning we leave when they find out we are going to the airport to go see Mickey!

A busy busy weekend

has come to a screeching halt.  This weekend didn't go quite like I had it planned but we survived. 

Friday the kids got off the bus at 315pm.  I had the van packed and we were ready to head to Midland after we had to drop the dog off at my parents barn.  Well I got delayed there because the puppy freaked out and cried like a baby, which led to Braxton crying because he didn't want to leave the puppy behind.  Finally I was able to pull Braxton away.  It was 4pm by this point.  I called Scott to see where he was and what time he would be meeting us at the hotel to find out he wouldn't be anymore.  He had another run to do and he was going right into a major snow storm.  Thank you employer.  So then we were hoping he would at least make it to the hotel by Saturday morning to go to Makenzi's South League Championship.

We made it to the hotel in Midland safe and sound but I was a >little< stressed.  I fed the kids dinner and we headed to the pool to relax.  We met some swim friends and hung out.  I finally got the kids to bed after a serious battle but man it was finally quiet.  I was praying the snow storm we were predicted to get would miss us.  Well we decided we would met up and leave at 6am.  Which meant I had to wake 4 kids up at 515am.  That was loads of fun but we survived. 

Makenzi was in 4 events at this meet.  She did the 25 yard freestyle, the 25 yard breaststroke, the 50 yard freestyle and the 200 yard freestyle relay with 3 other girls.  She placed 3rd in her 25 yard freestyle, 10th in her breaststroke, 8th in the relay, and 7th in her 50 freestyle.  She was so much fun to watch.  This was the slowest run swim meet ever.  It didn't help that it was 100 degrees in the pool area and I had 3 kids in the stands with me...even though they were extremely well behaved.  We didn't get out of there until 1pm and by this point we were hungry and exhausted.  Well Scott was leaving Saginaw and headed to Midland to hang out with us. 

We ended up swimming and relaxing.  We met with some friends at their hotel and swam and had fun and joined them for dinner.  It was a lot of fun.  Around 830 Scott, Braxton, and Arianna took off so Braxton could go wrestling the next day.  The girls and I went to bed since we were having another early day.

Sunday we headed to state and it was a whirlwind.  Makenzi was in 3 events.  100 yard medley (Kenzi did the backstroke, 1 girl did the freestyle, another did the butterfly, and a fourth girl did the breaststroke), then a 100 yard freestyle relay, and the 25 backstroke.  The girls placed 6th place in both relays.  Makenzi had a total of 50 girls in her backstroke and Makenzi placed 42nd. 

The whole time Makenzi was competing I was getting updates on Braxton.  He lost his first match by points 14~4 and then lost his second match to a pin.  Braxton worked hard and had a fun year. 

Sunday, I could not wait to get home and relax.  That night I got a horrible migraine (coming down from all the stress???) and Braxton didn't tolerate the greasy pizza we had for dinner. 

I need another weekend please!

Makenzi is headed to STATE

At practice last week the coach came and talked to me and another mom about sending our girls to the state meet on a relay team.  This would give Makenzi the chance to go to state this year (her goal) and give her the experience of what it is like.  Plus it gave me a week to get a hotel booked.  So Makenzi is going to state for 2 relays.  She is so excited to be headed to state. 

At this point Makenzi had 2 more chances to qualify for state time in her individual events.  She needed the time of 21.50 seconds to qualify for her 25 yard freestyle.  She also needed the time of 26.50 seconds in her 25 yard backstroke.  Well I have said since the beginning that if she were to qualify for state it would probably be in her backstroke.  So this Sunday we headed to SVSU to a meet.  I was hopeful she would qualify but figured if not no big deal since she was headed to state anyway. 

Well her 25 freestyle came up first.  She did great.  She ended up getting 14th place.  Her time came in at 24.59 seconds.  3 seconds off from state time but she was having fun.  Her second event was a 50 yard freestyle.  She placed 9th in this event which was awesome for her.  Then came the backstroke.  I was nervous for her, she wanted to make state time so bad and I wanted to watch her do it.  Well the whistle blew for them to enter the water and I could see her shaking.  The official hit the buzzer and they were off and swimming.  I was cheering and so was her coach...telling her what to do every stroke even though she can't hear a word we say.  Well she finished and climbed out of the pool.  Then we wait for the results.  I clocked her at 25.89 seconds on my cell phone but it isn't reliable at all because I can't see when she hits the wall at the other end.  We had to wait about 45 minutes for the results.  Makenzi and her coach went to check.  Absolutely no emotion came from Makenzi or the coach and I just knew she didn't make it after all.  Kenzi came back over and said she didn't know.  I supported her and told her well you have next week to still try.  Her coach jumped into the stands and I asked her for the time.  She just looked at Kenzi, finally Kenzi says my time was 26.44 seconds.  My jaw dropped and screamed...you made State!  She squealed in delight.  She was so excited and had no idea she had made it.  She placed 6th.  She is so excited.  So Proud of Makenzi Anne!! 

Now we are praying she stays healthy.  Braxton came down with the norovirus a week ago and then on Saturday night Arianna came down with.  So please pray for health for Makenzi and me (since I am taking her).  We need to stay healthy and strong for this busy weekend.  Swim meet on Saturday and State meet on Sunday.

Braxton is headed to regionals for wrestling!  He will have some tough matches ahead of him but as long as he tries his hardest he has won!  So proud of my little guy! 

8 years later

8 years ago my husband took a job that put us working opposite schedules.  I worked 830am to 530/6pm and he left for his job at 5pm and would come home at about 3am.  It was the greatest decision at the time...Makenzi our 8 week old baby at the time had mom or dad watching her at all times minus the hour and a half that she was at grandma and papa's house.  We did this until after Braxton was a year old.  At that point Scott decided he wanted to go for his CDL and drive the big trucks.

In April 2007 Scott started classes to earn his CDL.  This meant Scott would leave our house at 6am go to class and work his job that night (because we still need his income).  He would get home at 230am and leave again at 6am.  He went to class 6 days a week and still worked 5 days.  I was working full time as well.  Thankfully, we had an awesome daycare for the kiddos and the other 3 days grandma and papa watched them for us.  It was stressful and tiring but we survived.  In May 2007 it all paid off and he got a job at Werner.  We were told he could be gone for the next 8 weeks without ever coming home.  I was stressed and freaking out.  We set everything up that I could survive and keep the house up as well.  Well about 3 days later I got the call that he would be home every weekend because his trainer was living close by!  It was perfect.  Thankfully for that 6 weeks of training I got good and used to surviving on my own.   Well he stayed with Werner for 4 years.  We went through a lot of changes during those 4 years but it was a good steady job.

Well in August 2011 Scott changed companies.  The new company is nice and we are still adjusting to the changes that came with it.  It is turning out to be a good move that still has a few bugs to work out.  The health insurance is great and the home time is good.  Scott is home on the weekends and we have gotten blessed with him being home a night a week on occasion. 

After 8 years though I am ready for change.  Unfortunately that change will not come until I can get through my nursing schooling.  Only a few more years....ugh it sounds so far off.  I am just ready to have a "normal" family.  Yet at the same time I am so thankful for him having a job and being able to support our family.  Also blessed that he isn't gone overseas for months or a year at time fighting for our country....(thanks to all of you that do this). 

Life is Always changing

It is hard to believe how fast life changes.  I remember all the details of bringing home my first born child 8 years and 1 month ago (to the day actually) and now she is growing into an independent little girl who feels she can accomplish the world.  Makenzi is almost done with her swim season and her heart is just broke over it.  She can't believe that the 6 month season is coming to an end but she has done amazing.  She has participated in 6 meets so far and still has 4 more to go for sure and possibly a 5th.  So I guess if you look at it meet wise the season is only half over.  Makenzi has learned so much and has become such a strong swimmer.  She can swim 150-200 yards at a time and she has been able to fully compete with all the other teams she has come up against.  In the last 5 meets (still waiting on results from the 6th meet) she has brought home 13 ribbons (some meets place to 12th place) and 1 medal.  She is currently 1 second away from qualifying for the state meet in her backstroke.  We will see if she can make it this year. 

Makenzi is also doing an amazing job in school.  She loves to read and has been to be reading at a 2nd grade level (on the high end for where she should be) but she has an extremely high fluency level at 110 words per minute (so basically she is a fast reader and still comprehends everything).  I have listened to her read stories out loud and I can barely keep up with her reading.  She tolerates math and does well in it but it isn't her favorite.  Her favorite subject is actually history...which is so boring to me.  She may have a "little" bit of her father in her after all. 

6 years ago we were anticipating another 2 months of waiting until our son would join our family.  Well we got the surprise of him coming 1 month early and he is still full of surprises.  Braxton struggles in school compared to Makenzi (I know never compare your kids..a lot easier said than done though).  Braxton hates to read, he hates to write, but he loves numbers/math.  I catch him counting to 100 + all the time, skip counting by 10's, 5's, 2's just as much (he also has some of his daddy in him).  Overall he is doing just fine in kindergarten...hopefully the rest of the year continues this way.  Braxton has joined the wrestling team.  I wasn't a 100% sold on this sport but he has 2 cousins who wrestle and it was just bound to happen.  I was worried about injuries, about how successful he would be at it and so on.  Well he started practices in November and they wore him out and he was pretty hateful.  I was quickly losing hope for an easy season.  But finally we realized he was sick with ear infection and pneumonia and he has been 100 times better now.  Braxton has worked extremely hard during practice and every coach has told us he is doing great.  Well we went to Braxton's first tournament on Sunday.  I was a nervous wreck for him.  He had 7 kids on his chart.  He went out and won his first match by points (13-6) and he was feeling pretty good about things.  We got paired for our second match and talking to his parents quickly made me realize Braxton was out of his league in this match.  The kid was a second year kid but I just told Braxton to have fun and do his best.  Well he held on well but got pinned right at the end.  He came off the mat and I told him he did a good job, his response "just not good enough".  Well we had no tears so I was thrilled.  The 3rd match was a super close match and unfortunately against a kid from his own team.  Braxton lost by 1 point in the end.  It was disappointing but still no tears!  Everybody was thrilled at how well Braxton did for his first meet ever.  This weekend we are headed to another tournament.  We will see what he can do.  I am honestly praying for only 3 kids on his chart (automatic medal) just to keep him encouraged, but we will take what comes.  Braxton did get a participant ribbon so he was thrilled).

Arianna is our little girl who is always filled with surprises.  She keeps me on my toes.  She attends a school program one day a week for just a little while.  She loves this program.  She loves to show that she knows all of her shapes and colors.  She also knows all of the letters in her name.  She can spell her name as well.  She is such a miracle and blessing!