I'm a bit overwhelmed at the idea of catching up the family blogs and starting a new one for our almost 8 month old. It has been such a busy year already. I am very much looking forward to a quieter summer and squeezing my kids - a lot.
January we had 7 snow days - 7 days of school canceled. This was just after their winter break. They were out of school almost a month during winter. Of course, it was Snowmagedon 2016-2017 which meant there was no going anywhere - just staying inside watching it snow day after day after day. And while with it being summer right now playing out in the snow sounds fun - days and days of it - not so much fun. We made the most of it but with it being right when I went back to work after leave it did have it's challenges.
January through March we were fully consumed with gymnastics. Little S did amazing. This was her first year of competition. Man that girl is tough! When I would go watch her at the gym I would often watch her fall flat on her face. She would jump up and try the same skill again and again, without tears, until she got it right. She is tenacious, that's for sure. She was so young and inexperienced but she did great for a first year. Her goal all year was to take first in something. She totally peaked by year end state competition. She took first in vault. Throughout the year she did well in the all around often placing 4th or 5th. She placed 5th all around at the travel meet in Salt Lake City. She almost always placed in vault. Bars was also a strong event for her. Bean started off being terrible and by year end she was also placing in it. Floor was always solid but there were always so many excellent floor routines that she never placed in floor. Considering she only learned her round off back handspring a month or so before she started competing it, we were all pleased. She was by far the youngest on the team - tiniest too. One of her coaches refers to her as a "T-rex" - she is strong and tough.
Gymnastics was a family event for sure. Although, we often tried to leave the toddler behind. little BB is a force to be reckoned with and there was a reason she only went to one competition. At State up in Moscow, Idaho several of the other gym families we would see each week explained "We didn't know you had a three year old!". After watching us chase her at the meet they understood why we never took her along. That one was out of town so we didn't want to leave her. For the meet in Utah S, baby W, and I drove down with my mom and sister leaving the rest of the family behind.
The older kids had a great year of school. Both were just perfectly placed with their teachers. Such a tremendous year of growth for both of them academically. They are both strong readers. Both need to focus a bit more on math but they still met or exceeded goals for their math concepts. It's just they are SUCH GOOD readers that being above average in math seems like they need work. But they don't. Still, if they can be as good in math as they are at reading...We are proud of them. They worked hard.
I did not volunteer in the classroom as much this year as I have in the past. I did not even visit Ss classroom this year except to drop stuff off a couple times. I know that teacher well as I used to be in there once or twice a week helping her. Plus, S is so independent that she didn't need me watching her. She actually won an award this year for being an "independent pioneer" as she is just a self driven person. T's teacher was wonderful providing chances for me to be in the classroom with parties (recall I did the Holiday party?). I was also a guest readers and a guest speaker. I taught the kids how I use math in my job. They actually really responded positively with that. T also had me come in with newborn Baby W for a share which was also nice. Everyone was blown away by how much knowledge of babies he has. I guess having three younger siblings he has picked up a few things along the way!
I was on the school PTO board this year. Last year I shadowed the VP of Art. This year I was elected and held that position. It's kind of a big deal at our school since the entire art program is parent driven so a lot of volunteers to coordinate. I think I had 80+. Lots of personalities. Sometimes I would get weird requests and sometimes some of the parent helpers were a bit demanding. Still, it was a good place to start. There are only 5 positions on the board and one can only hold them for 2 years. I will end up having kids at the school for 15 years straight so I need to pace myself! We accompished a lot as a PTO and I enjoyed the group of women I worked with. I will do art for one more year. It a bit more work than volunteering in classroom but just in a different capacity.
This year we also had a big effort to pass a school bond to get some improvements within the school district. At the beginning of the school year my husband and I began attending distinct sessions on planning. We gave input on what changes to make. It was determined that funding would be needed so we got approval for a bond election. We partnered with principals, teachers, and other parents at our school and did phone banks, meetings, door to door - all sorts of stuff to get the word out. The bond was passed. Again, different than being in the classroom but still important.
T is still in taekwondo. He hasn't tested for a belt in a while as there have been some changes in the club he is in but he continues to enjoy it. He even recruited little S to participate when she is not at gymnastics (which she always is - 20 hours a week) but she does have 1 night off during the weeks when she goes. She's doing pretty good, too.
Little BB started swimming lessons in April. It started off pretty rough. For the first couple lessons she refused to get into the water and would scream endlessly. Finally I asked the instructor what I should do. She suggested we just push through. There was a lot of thrashing around and screaming in the water and I think her poor instructor might have permanent hearing damage. Then she found something she liked and she took off. We had a small set back when a substitute stepped in one day. When it came time to move on we opted to just hire the instructor she loved for private lessons rather than deal with more screaming and thrashing. Funny girl. I never knew her to be so particular. She adored her teacher and just wrapped up those lessons as her beloved Annie is relocated to the mid-west. It has been fun to my little littlest girl - who does not have her older sister's gift of kinesology - progress.
Little W - gosh where to start. He is simply a delight. He smiles so much! He is growing, growing, growing. He is slow to take solids and we joke he has a milk addiction. It has been tough on me nursing him ALL THE TIME! Sleep is a luxury. I know it will pass so I am being patient. He is my loudest baby. When he's awake - we all are. He screeches, squeals, goos, coos, and grunts so loud that the entire house is up when he is. He's so happy though we cannot get too upset. We recently found out he's allergic to eggs. That was no fun. The kids adore their baby sibling and we all simply do not know how we existed without this person in our lives.
Life is crazy busy and crazy hard with four kids but it is pretty much heaven being surrounded by these loves. I know my husband and I look exhausted and probably older than we really are from all the sleep deprivation and exhaustion but we would not trade it for anything. It's why the blog has suffered. There is just not a lot of time for anything not kid related. I want to keep up on it, though. The kids often pull out the printed versions I made each year end and read through our adventures while reminiscing about the fun. I will endeavor to try harder.
