All five children swam in our the District AARPA swim meet this weekend. I expected the older three to qualify for state, but wasn't sure about the twins. Well, the older three qualified in all three of their events and swam very well.
Hannah swam slower than her best time, but qualified in the 50 breaststroke becuase the third place was disqualified. The top three in each event compete at state. She was thrilled!!
Haylee was back on her meds and swam like a different child. She knew what stroke to do, unlike the last meet where she would swim the wrong stroke. Not only did she know what stroke to do, but she did it very well and cut off about 15 seconds and qualified in the 50 fly. I couldn't believe it watching her in the water!! She was placed fourth going into the race. She was so determined and focused! She placed second in the event and will compete at state.
I am very proud of all five of them!!! My kids are five of the ten that qualified from our team. We are getting a shirt with the kids names on them. Well, when you divide the group into two columns you would have all five on one side. I changed it to age order to mix them up, so it doesn't look funny.
We will travel about four hours north next Thursday and compete Friday and Saturday. The older kids love this pool because they have water slides and diving boards on the pool deck. They allow all the meet attendees to play on Friday night after the meet at no charge.
However, we will be stuffed into one hotel room. Oh well, chalk it up as attachment and bonding!!
Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Beach pictures...finally
The last day at the beach, we took a trip on a large catamaran. I have never been on one this large before. It was a lot of fun. The kids all enjoyed it. Of course, they thought it was really neat that we ate lunch on the boat. It was just sandwiches, but they were very excited. We were able to take out paddle boards and kayaks in the bay. That was a lot of fun. My husband took the twins out with him. As you can see, the boys went together and Morgan and I went. I didn't want to get in the water because you could see jelly fish and stingrays everywhere!!
As you can see, they had fun burying Hannah standing up in the sand. Haylee is loving it. However, I think Hannah loved the attention just as well.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Things are okay
Morgan has been at camp since Tuesday. Things are going pretty well. It is funny how many times the girls would both say they didn't do something in their room and I would get to say, "You can't blame Morgan, one of you did it." I am really surprised at how many times that has happened. They have wondered around a couple times wondering what to do. We have spent the last two afternoons at the pool so that has helped. They are bickering more and more. It is definitely interesting.
I have received a letter each day from Morgan. She seems happy. I have a feeling she is going to be rotten when she gets home. She is blessed with so many wonderful activities all day long at camp that when she gets home she is going to have to remember how to entertain herself. I am so thankful we were able to send her. I think it has been a good thing for everybody.
My husband has noticed the flirting the last few times we have all been together. Today at the pool a new teenage boy started life guarding. He is a good christian homeschool boy. Well, she was trying to discreetly get his attention. She was the only one in the middle pool and she was swimming right in front of him. My husband noticed and told her to come play with him in the water.
I have received a letter each day from Morgan. She seems happy. I have a feeling she is going to be rotten when she gets home. She is blessed with so many wonderful activities all day long at camp that when she gets home she is going to have to remember how to entertain herself. I am so thankful we were able to send her. I think it has been a good thing for everybody.
My husband has noticed the flirting the last few times we have all been together. Today at the pool a new teenage boy started life guarding. He is a good christian homeschool boy. Well, she was trying to discreetly get his attention. She was the only one in the middle pool and she was swimming right in front of him. My husband noticed and told her to come play with him in the water.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Only one at a time...
As many of my blog friends have stated, with adopted children, it seems that only one of mine can "do well" at a time.
Hannah is usually my problem. Well, she has behaved pretty well and followed the rules the last few days. She has done well with her small amount of school work as well.
Haylee hasn't done well. She can't keep her hands to herself. She won't listen. She won't answer us when we ask a question. She just stares or looks at the ground. When we pull her chin up to look at us, she looks back down. She usually isn't in trouble until she starts not answering us.
We had to drive an hour in the car this morning for a doctor appt for the twins. The girls were all told to take their small amount of school with them. We start driving and I notice Haylee isn't working. I ask her why and she says she gets sick in the car. She hasn't ever gotten sick in the car with us. Hannah has, but not Haylee. So, she only brought one of her books. She had to finish her when we got home while everyone else played.
After completing her school, she wanted Hannah to play with her. They were in their room. I kept hearing Haylee yell at Hannah. After I heard a foot stomp, I intervened. Hannah was trying to control the situation by saying she didn't remember the "game" Haylee wanted to play. Haylee was frustrated and yelling at her. Haylee is now resting in her bed. I will not tolerate them acting in their "games" in ways they shouldn't act to anyone. I really don't like the "games" they play.
I am sure, since Morgan isn't home, Hannah was trying to control the situation. Well, it backfired. They aren't playing.
It may be a long 11 days while Morgan is at camp!
They may be having rest time while Morgan is gone. I try to have quiet reading time in the summer anyway. It doesn't always happen. It seems like we are always headed somewhere with a child for an appt or something.
I wonder if Haylee's medicine is helping control some other issues other than ADHD. I wonder if it is helping stabilize her emotions. We may not make it all summer without her meds. Any opinions from other Mom's of children that have suffered abuse and neglect? Children with FAE?
Hannah is usually my problem. Well, she has behaved pretty well and followed the rules the last few days. She has done well with her small amount of school work as well.
Haylee hasn't done well. She can't keep her hands to herself. She won't listen. She won't answer us when we ask a question. She just stares or looks at the ground. When we pull her chin up to look at us, she looks back down. She usually isn't in trouble until she starts not answering us.
We had to drive an hour in the car this morning for a doctor appt for the twins. The girls were all told to take their small amount of school with them. We start driving and I notice Haylee isn't working. I ask her why and she says she gets sick in the car. She hasn't ever gotten sick in the car with us. Hannah has, but not Haylee. So, she only brought one of her books. She had to finish her when we got home while everyone else played.
After completing her school, she wanted Hannah to play with her. They were in their room. I kept hearing Haylee yell at Hannah. After I heard a foot stomp, I intervened. Hannah was trying to control the situation by saying she didn't remember the "game" Haylee wanted to play. Haylee was frustrated and yelling at her. Haylee is now resting in her bed. I will not tolerate them acting in their "games" in ways they shouldn't act to anyone. I really don't like the "games" they play.
I am sure, since Morgan isn't home, Hannah was trying to control the situation. Well, it backfired. They aren't playing.
It may be a long 11 days while Morgan is at camp!
They may be having rest time while Morgan is gone. I try to have quiet reading time in the summer anyway. It doesn't always happen. It seems like we are always headed somewhere with a child for an appt or something.
I wonder if Haylee's medicine is helping control some other issues other than ADHD. I wonder if it is helping stabilize her emotions. We may not make it all summer without her meds. Any opinions from other Mom's of children that have suffered abuse and neglect? Children with FAE?
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
School is out for the summer...
Yes, we are finished with our "official" school year. The girls are all finishing their online history program for the year. They love doing it, so it isn't a problem. I purchased some simple math and literature books for them to complete this summer. I told them when they are finished with them, they are done until school starts in the fall. Morgan and Alex are doing well working through their books. I didn't expect any problems. Hannah and Haylee are working well, but struggling with the math. They have been taught the info, but when it is presented differently they struggle with "putting it all together."
Haylee has been off of her meds for over a week now. She did very well at first and I started wondering if she could stay off forever. Well, the longer she is off the more her symptoms resurface. She is struggling with the small amount of school she has and she can't sit still. She doesn't seem as hyper and wild, but fidgets all the time. I know they say this medicine doesn't stay in her body, but it sure seems like it took a while to totally be gone from her system.
The kids have enjoyed the cooler weather outside the last few days. It has given me time to complete grades and figure out and order school books for next year. I finally pushed the order button for the bulk of my books today. I have a few more things, but I can't wait on those.
Morgan goes to camp in two weeks. I can't believe it! What will I do? More importantly, what will the twins do? I guess they will learn to play together again. I wonder who will control who? Will it be like "old times" when Hannah took care of Haylee? Will Haylee stand her ground and be equal? It should be interesting.
I feel like Hannah, Haylee and I need to work on our attachment. When you have other children, it seems like the adopted children attach to them first. Well, Haylee has. I am not sure to whom Hannah has attached, if anyone. I think that will be easier when Morgan is at camp. I ponder attachment issues with Hannah often. They haven't mentioned Mother's Day. I think I may mention it to each of them alone and see if they open up to talk about anything. I am sure they thought of their birth mother.
Tucker and Alex finished their co-op classes with A's. I was very proud of them! As I helped Tucker review for his Biology final, I was really glad I wasn't taking it because I couldn't pronounce half of the words.
Tucker has an opportunity to go to Alaska for the Teen Pact Survival camp with some friends of ours. She and her dad are going. He can fly with them and participate. They used frequent flyer miles, which is great for them. However, for me to get him on the same flights, it is twice the cost of other tickets. We are praying about what to do. My husband and I think maybe it just isn't the right time for him to go. Flights went up today from yesterday. If it is meant to happen the cost will change or God will show us the way, I have no doubt. There is something wrong with paying for an airline ticket for one person when our entire family could travel somewhere for that amount closer. We are praying...
Haylee has been off of her meds for over a week now. She did very well at first and I started wondering if she could stay off forever. Well, the longer she is off the more her symptoms resurface. She is struggling with the small amount of school she has and she can't sit still. She doesn't seem as hyper and wild, but fidgets all the time. I know they say this medicine doesn't stay in her body, but it sure seems like it took a while to totally be gone from her system.
The kids have enjoyed the cooler weather outside the last few days. It has given me time to complete grades and figure out and order school books for next year. I finally pushed the order button for the bulk of my books today. I have a few more things, but I can't wait on those.
Morgan goes to camp in two weeks. I can't believe it! What will I do? More importantly, what will the twins do? I guess they will learn to play together again. I wonder who will control who? Will it be like "old times" when Hannah took care of Haylee? Will Haylee stand her ground and be equal? It should be interesting.
I feel like Hannah, Haylee and I need to work on our attachment. When you have other children, it seems like the adopted children attach to them first. Well, Haylee has. I am not sure to whom Hannah has attached, if anyone. I think that will be easier when Morgan is at camp. I ponder attachment issues with Hannah often. They haven't mentioned Mother's Day. I think I may mention it to each of them alone and see if they open up to talk about anything. I am sure they thought of their birth mother.
Tucker and Alex finished their co-op classes with A's. I was very proud of them! As I helped Tucker review for his Biology final, I was really glad I wasn't taking it because I couldn't pronounce half of the words.
Tucker has an opportunity to go to Alaska for the Teen Pact Survival camp with some friends of ours. She and her dad are going. He can fly with them and participate. They used frequent flyer miles, which is great for them. However, for me to get him on the same flights, it is twice the cost of other tickets. We are praying about what to do. My husband and I think maybe it just isn't the right time for him to go. Flights went up today from yesterday. If it is meant to happen the cost will change or God will show us the way, I have no doubt. There is something wrong with paying for an airline ticket for one person when our entire family could travel somewhere for that amount closer. We are praying...
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Fun Day
We had an enjoyable day today. We spent the afternoon at the pool as a family. We had two extra boys that are always a pleasure. Beth is doing little things to test the waters. She was sneaking up to the girls room to listen to what the other two were saying. My husband caught her. Anyway, she made up a story to him. She went in the room and told the girls he wouldn't let her get ice for her head. She wasn't headed towards the kitchen, she was standing outside their door listening. Anyway, she got in trouble for not telling him the truth or the girls. She didn't get to play with the girls for a while. She had to help get lunch ready, which she enjoyed. I tried to give her not so fun jobs and she obediantly did them. What she does just doesn't make sense sometimes. She is so worried about missing something or that someone is talking about her. I would have been harder on her, but he chose the punishment, not me. It seems like she is getting back into her old ways again. I guess I am going to have to be very strict with again for a few days. Anyway, we had a pretty good day.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Busy Days
I made it through my continuing ed classes. I had hoped they would be exciting, but they weren't. It was a VERY basic software class. I have used the software for years, so I didn't need the very basic stuff. It would have been okay but the teacher is very proud of his practiced and loved to tell stories to let us know that over and over again.
The kids all did great while I was gone. We are making progress. I was very happy to see all five of them when I returned home each night.
We had our district swim meet yesterday. The little girls did very well. My husband and I were working the meet, so I had all of our kids in a tent near me. They competed well. Tucker, Alex and Morgan each made state. You needed to place in the top three to qualify. he twins were very close. One girl placed third in an event, but did an illegal kick so she was disqualified. The other placed fourth in one event. She was so close. This is amazing for girls that could not swim when they came. They have been with us a little over three months and are swimming competitively. We are so proud of them!! They are proud of themselves also and they should be.
We had our first adoption support group get together in our county last night. We had a pool party. So, we were at the district swim meet all day, left there and went straight to the other pool for the party. It was a long day, but the kids had a wonderful time. Everyone behaved well. I hope we have crossed another hurdle. Usually when I say this, we take a few steps backward. I pray not.
My girls are continuing to adjust. We are having fewer and fewer battles. I can't say enough how proud I am of them!! I believe in a year, we may forget they were ever adopted. I am praying for this!! I am praying it will be as if I birthed them myself! One of the workers last night commented that they look just like our family. I have heard that so many times!! God is so good!! Looks are one thing that will not single them out as adopted. However, I don't want them to ever be ashamed about being adopted. It is all part of God's plan for their lives.
The kids all did great while I was gone. We are making progress. I was very happy to see all five of them when I returned home each night.
We had our district swim meet yesterday. The little girls did very well. My husband and I were working the meet, so I had all of our kids in a tent near me. They competed well. Tucker, Alex and Morgan each made state. You needed to place in the top three to qualify. he twins were very close. One girl placed third in an event, but did an illegal kick so she was disqualified. The other placed fourth in one event. She was so close. This is amazing for girls that could not swim when they came. They have been with us a little over three months and are swimming competitively. We are so proud of them!! They are proud of themselves also and they should be.
We had our first adoption support group get together in our county last night. We had a pool party. So, we were at the district swim meet all day, left there and went straight to the other pool for the party. It was a long day, but the kids had a wonderful time. Everyone behaved well. I hope we have crossed another hurdle. Usually when I say this, we take a few steps backward. I pray not.
My girls are continuing to adjust. We are having fewer and fewer battles. I can't say enough how proud I am of them!! I believe in a year, we may forget they were ever adopted. I am praying for this!! I am praying it will be as if I birthed them myself! One of the workers last night commented that they look just like our family. I have heard that so many times!! God is so good!! Looks are one thing that will not single them out as adopted. However, I don't want them to ever be ashamed about being adopted. It is all part of God's plan for their lives.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Pure Joy!
The girls played in the rain this morning and had a wonderful time! They laughed and giggled as they ran and played. What fun to see pure joy and innocence! I love the colorful panties! They were excited they were allowed to play in the rain in the "new" leotards their Nana gave them. (She found them at a thrift store for us.)
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Monday, June 14, 2010
Swimming
I am so proud of the twins. They have wanted to be on the swim team with their siblings since they joined our family. They could obarely keep their head above water and only doggy paddle. They couldn't stand water in their face when they came. They have completed two weeks of swimming lessons and a week of swimming in the ocean with older and taller children. Needless to say, they have risen to the challenge. The swim teacher is doing private lessons again this week to work on their strokes. She worked with them this morning and we thought they would do okay tonight for tryouts. Well, they did much better than okay! They each swam a lap of freestyle without stopping and a lap of backstroke without stopping. I was and am so proud of them! I was cheering and clapping for them from across the pool! The coach was impressed. He had seen them swim when they first came and said they needed lessons first. They swam for 1 1/2 hours. Hopefully they will sleep well tonight to do it all again tomorrow.
Bible School went well. The teacher said one of the girls was the only one who would answer the question, "What is the first book in the bible?" She answered it correctly. They seemed to have behaved okay. One girl didn't participate in the game during the outside time. I asked her why and she said she didn't want to play. I told her she needed to participate tomorrow. She said she would. We will see.
Bible School went well. The teacher said one of the girls was the only one who would answer the question, "What is the first book in the bible?" She answered it correctly. They seemed to have behaved okay. One girl didn't participate in the game during the outside time. I asked her why and she said she didn't want to play. I told her she needed to participate tomorrow. She said she would. We will see.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Light School Days
Today is Monday, which means time to finish up school. We are pretty much finished for the school year. We had standardized testing last week, we have finished all of our textbooks. During the summer all of my kids have to continue to read regularly, the girls will work in their BrainQuest workbooks that review all academic areas and the boys will work on their Boy Scout merit badges. We also will finish our History book. I am letting them play outside this morning and we will continue school after lunch. We will also have "home ec" once a week. We don't have any help with cleaning the house, so I have five great helpers that can help me get the house clean. We try to keep it pretty straight, but the toilets and sinks get pretty gross! We have cleaned the house twice since the girls have been here and it has gone pretty well. We are learning the difference in windows and mirrors, cleaning and straigtening, honesty and lying. Wow, isn't it amazing how the last one creeps into everything!!
Mother's Day went well. The girls seemed to handle the day well. One girl has asked to call the Foster Mom the last few days. We tried twice last night and could not get in touch with her. How long does this continue? How long should I allow this to continue?
Mother's Day went well. The girls seemed to handle the day well. One girl has asked to call the Foster Mom the last few days. We tried twice last night and could not get in touch with her. How long does this continue? How long should I allow this to continue?
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Lots of energy today!!
Wow! All five are wound up today! Everyone is ready for summer!! I am about to start reviewing for the SAT10 tests. Do I dare start after break? They are having such a good time playing outside TOGETHER right now that I hate to call them in. (My house is also very quiet. All I hear is the washer and dryer-I never thought that would be a pleasant sound!) School will be out before we know it and they can play all day...which hopefully means good nights!!
Praise God for my five blessings!
Praise God for my five blessings!
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