Thursday, June 30, 2022

June 30 - June Wrapup


I've been slacking on the blog lately so here is a quick update!!

Julia
Julia's schedule consists of swimming from 6.30am-7.30am and then volunteer coaching until 9.30am, Monday through Friday. She also swims 3 days a week from 5.30pm-7.30pm and has 3 swim lesson clients during the afternoons. She recently found out she made the varsity swim team for HS so that is pretty exciting! She is now about the same height as me (OMG!) and getting more into hair, makeup and clothes. She is definitely a teenager! 

Luke
Luke's schedule consists of swimming 2 mornings a week from 7.30am-8.30am and then 3 evenings a week from 6pm-7.30pm.

He recently decided to focus on swimming so he is taking a break from tennis. Last week he did a virtual reality programming camp at the local college and had a good time (would have been better if he wasn't paired up with a kid who picked his nose, gross!). He is excited for the robotics team at middle school in the fall and is loving snuggling with his cat this summer while playing video games. 

Jillian
Our little sprite swims every morning from 7.30am-8am and then goes to summer camp for the rest of the day. She absolutely loves being an "Explorer" and has 2 field trips every week. We went to Claire's at the mall this past weekend and she was obsessed! She has a diary that she carries around everywhere and a pair of fake purple glasses that she won't take off. She's still our little chatterbox!


JD
JD has been super busy at work lately. He was on a boat off the coast of Mississippi a few weeks ago and this week has been working in west Houston. He recently bought a pair of rollerblades and has been going around our neighborhoods and some surrounding ones to workout. Oh-and for father's day we went to a really cool arcade, JD loved it!!

Yours Truly
Nothing too exciting to report here. I am busy working, shuttling kids around, walking the dogs and reading. I have been having hip issues for quite awhile and finally went to the doctor yesterday and discovered I have a torn labrum. I will start physical therapy for that soon. 


Misc
Many of you know we were searching for a new house over the last few months. We were looking to move into a neighborhood across the street, primarily for more closet space and a different zoned HS. But we were outbid on every house we liked and with interest rates rising, decided to forgo the search for now. I did pull the trigger on plantation shutters for our current house and those will be installed sometime in August or September. I cannot wait!!

Have a wonderful 4th of July weekend everyone!!


Arcade Fun




Monday, June 27, 2022

June 27 - I Love You Momma


Jillian fell asleep in the car one day last week while I was shuttling the big kids around. I took her out of the car and carried her inside. As I was carrying her I whispered "I love you sweet girl" and she whispered back "I love you momma." As a mom, you remember the "firsts" but you never remember the "lasts." She's getting bigger (and difficult to carry) and I realize this might be the last time something like this happens. Oh my sweet girl, I love her so much!

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

June 21 - Happy Summer


Happy first day of summer! Here in Houston we are celebrating with record breaking heat. Yesterday we broke a record from 1902! It's August/September type heat so I'm a tad worried about how hot it will be in 2 months. We are also in a drought (no rain in the near forecast) but looking on the bright side, "no rain" means "no mosquitos" so I'll take that as a win!

June has been crazy with morning swim with all 3 kids, summer camp for Jillian all day (complete with 2 field trips per week, she's having a blast), evening swim for Julia and Luke. Luke also did a soccer camp at the high school 2 weeks ago and this week he's at a local college doing a virtual reality programming camp. Julia has also started working and earning some $$! She's teaching private swim lessons and has 3 students so far. She is focused on saving money for a car in 2 years. 

Summer Swim fun







Soccer



Feeling hot, hot, hot!




Tuesday, June 7, 2022

June 7 - Orcas vs Pirates


Our first official swim meet was this past weekend and everyone did great with the 5.45am wakeup. We listed to the motivational "Rise and Shine" in the car per Luke's request and got to the meet early to set up. The weather was beautiful for June-overcast and really  not that hot at all. It was an away meet at an indoor pool where Julia used to dive, so everyone sets up outside and comes in to cheer on their swimmers. 

Julia: Julia had a great meet. The dream team relay was back together (Julia, Danielle, Reese & Kennedy) and they swept the relay events. Julia won the 50 free and fly (best time in fly) and was out-touched by Reese in the breast. She was super happy with the meet, especially the fly! She had a personal goal to break 30 secs in the fly and got a 29.44. Wowsa!


Luke: Luke also had a great meet. He swam "up" for the relay events as a 13-14 and they won the medley and came in 2nd in the free. He was super excited to swim with the older kids! He had an AMAZING IM but was unfortunately DQ'd for an illegal turn from back to breast but something to work on this week. He did fabulous in his breast and fly, earning a champ time in his fly too. Great job Luke!

Jillian: our little spitfire swam in her first ever relay! She did so good! There is nothing cuter than a U6 relay. She did great in her 25 free too! She decided a few days ago she didn't want to swim backstroke anymore but she did it in the meet and wasn't DQ'd, so that's a win! And even more special, Julia helped out at the meet with the younger kids and was in her lane getting her ready for the backstroke, giving her encouraging words. So sweet!

It was a great day at the pool!

Dream Team


Love her



Love the little ducklings holding hands


Advice from Julia


Julia & Jill






Luke & Jillian