2 Many Kids 2 Little Time

Girls' First Swim Meet

Tonight the Marlins had a "mock" swim meet for all of the first-time swimmers to get the experience of a meet before the first "real" one on Saturday.
Asher had a baseball game so Dyron to him to the ballpark and I took the girls to the pool. On our way from the Suburban to the pool Lil said she had a "nervous stomach." I explained to her, "God made us that way. Being nervous before something new or a competition helps us. It makes our body more alert so we can think better or swim faster." She seemed to like this explanation and walked on with seemingly more confidence.
I was a "timer" so after I showed the girls where to wait until their event was called I headed to the opposite side of the pool. Lil was up first in Heat 2... Lane 4... for the 6 & under kick board/freestyle. She didn't use a kick board and she kicked butt! It was fun to watch her jump in the pool and take off. She swam the 25 meters in 33 seconds! I was so proud of her! She was the one who wasn't going to be on swim team... until the last minute. I'm glad we signed her up. I think she will learn a lot from competing.
Eden was up for the same event in Heat 4. She was swimming in Lane 6 so I wasn't timing her... but I was cheering for her! When she lined up at the start I immediately noticed she was doing the "pee pee" dance. I thought, "Oh no. She really has to go." I wasn't the only one who noticed... other people around me were starting to giggle and I said, "That's my daughter. And, yes... she has to go to the bathroom." Having to pee didn't stop her... she also swam with no kick board and kicked butt! 
After her race, I quickly took her to the bathroom. She asked, "Do I have another race? That was fun!"
I can't wait to watch the girls learn more of the strokes and get more confident in their swimming. This is going to be a great season!

Snack Drawer and Big Box

I have devised two new items to my summer "survival with three kids" agenda.
1. The Snack Drawer - the kids accompanied me to the grocery store on Monday to select snacks for one of the bottom drawers in the kitchen. I wanted something accessible to all three children. We selected boxes of raisins, cereal bars, pudding, goldfish, fig newtons, etc. There are two rules: only two snacks from the drawer per day per child (one between breakfast and lunch and one between lunch and dinner) and all wrappers/containers must be thrown in the trash. (I always have fruit, yogurt, cheese and crackers, etc if they are still hungry.)

2. The Big Box - I have decided the only way to keep my sanity this summer and to not have to be constantly telling the children to "pick up after themselves" is the "big box." I am going to get a big box from Kroger today and place it in the house. Whatever is left out at night (on the floor, couch, or table) will be placed in the big box. I will keep the items in "jail" for one week. I hope this works. Has anyone else tried it?

Here's to a good summer!

Different

Discussion in Suburban on the way home from morning swim practice:

(Asher rode his bike and I drove the girls.)

Lilli: "Oh, no! It's going to rain (it was only sprinkling) on Asher when he rides his bike home."

Me: "That will be okay. Boys are different than girls. They love things like riding their bikes in the rain. Thunderstorms. Danger. God made them different than girls."

Eden: "Yeah... like how they pee. They're different in the front but not in the back!"

Lilli: "Yeah... they pee like a fountain and we pee like a waterfall."

Bathroom Play-by-Play

Eden is almost independent when it comes to using the bathroom. She still needs assistance from time to time. This is the normal play-by-play from the bathroom at least once a day.

Eden's running to the bathroom at the last possible second... she has almost underestimated her need to go to the potty... again.

"Oh...oh...oh...I need to go to the potty."

She makes it just in time!

"I just have to pee!" she yells at the top of her lungs.

A minute goes by...

"No. I have to poo-poo."

Another minute goes by....

"Mama, come wipe me!" she yells. (Again, at the top of her lungs.)

Mama comes and wipes her bottom.

"I love you, mama," she says.

Turd Ice Cream

I purchased "Brownie Moose Tracks" at the store a few weeks ago. Eden was eating her ice-cream cone a few days later, made her famous "wrinkled-nose" face, took a half-chewed brownie bit out of her mouth, and said, "What is this?"

Asher replied, "It's a turd."

I gave him a look and quickly let Eden know it was a piece of brownie. "Put it back in your mouth and chew it up. It's good."

So, now "Brownie Moose Tracks" ice cream is referred to as "Turd Ice Cream" at the Hamlin house.

The Big Box is getting very full...

And the snack drawer is getting very empty...

Needy

I had a low day last week. Dyron had been away for four nights and I was missing him terribly. Asher and Lilli were out of school and still adjusting to the extra free time called summer vacation. I had a messy house and piles of laundry because of a trip to Fayetteville. I had to take the kids to their first swim meet of the season by myself. I was hormonal...
Basically, I was tired. I felt overwhelmed.

I didn't take the time to breathe. I didn't take the time to enjoy my cup of coffee. I didn't take the time to pray. I couldn't turn my mind off and wasn't getting enough sleep. I just loaded it all on my shoulders and I could barely carry the load.

I can't do it all by myself. I need my husband. I need my mom. I need my friends. I need my God.

When I close myself to others, I find it difficult to get through my trials. When I try to do it all alone, I can't.

I guess sometimes I forget how frail I can be... it's good to be reminded...

A little back-tracking here...

Lil graduated from Kindergarten. She loved Ms. Matthews and made many new friends. Lil is reading everything she can get her hands on... I have loved to watch her confidence grow over the past few months! She has accomplished a lot of learning in six years. I love her so much.

More back-tracking...

Asher finished the third grade with all A's! I am so proud of my only son. He learns from his mistakes, faces challenges head on, and keeps a positive attitude (most of the time)! Asher was challenged this year with a teacher he didn't "like" and he had to learn how to make the best out of a (sometimes) hard situation. I worried about it but ultimately Asher showed the maturity to handle most of the difficult situations. I love him.

I've...

had some good runs lately. Despite the heat. Despite my own laziness. Despite my hectic life.

But, I've been having some distinct soreness in my right leg. And in my right buttock. (Yes. Be mature. I just used the word buttock.) So, I'm headed to the chiropractor tomorrow morning. I'm hoping she can "fix" me because I've been thirsting for a good, long run. I'm ready to get back into some serious training for another half-marathon. I'm already thinking ahead to my full marathon... when I'm 40. Anyone want to join me?

Eve

"No. I won't. I can't. I wouldn't. I shouldn't. I'll just walk by. I'll just look. I'll just...no... don't touch. I can't. I won't... I might. I can't. What if I did? No. I shouldn't. Just. a. touch. Just keep walking. Where's Adam? I need him. No, I don't. I'm fine. I can't. Just a touch. A quick touch. Mmmmm.... it smells good. Different. No. I can't. Oh! I picked it... put it down, put it down, throw it down, throw it away. I'll just lick it. Maybe a taste... just a bite. What could it hurt? What have I done?"

Have to... want to...

A good "mama" philosophy for me and my children is the "You've got to do what you have to do so you can get to do what you want to do" of "If you don't do what you're supposed to do, you don't get to do what you want to do."

Mama "got to do's" are cleaning the house, cooking, washing clothes, getting kids to school, driving the kids to lessons, scheduling, etc.

Kid "got to do's" are being respectful, obeying parents, keeping their clothes and toys picked up, and practicing their piano, etc.

Realizing there are things that "have to be done" is am important concept for children. If everything is done for them, they never realize the "have to" part of every day living. I think this is where irresponsible adults come from...

In understanding that work comes before play, an important concept of "real life" is taught. The concept of responsibility! Imagine a world where every single person believed they were responsible for their own actions. Imagine a world where the "work before play" concept was understood and practiced by everyone! Imagine a world where everyone (who could) did their part and didn't expect (unless absolutely necessary) someone else to pick up their slack.

Wow... could it be possible? I believe it can be. And it all starts with this simple "mama" philosophy...  "If you don't do what you're supposed to do, you don't get to do what you want to do." Try it!

.... natured

Lil is driving me crazy with her continued insistence on wearing a hoodie despite the extremely HOT temperatures! She keeps claiming she's "cold-natured." She and Eden were discussing this in the Suburban today on our way home from the library...

Lil: "Eden... you're hot-natured."

Eden: "No. I'm both-natured. Sometimes I'm hot. Sometimes I'm cold."

Some Summer Pictures (taken with my new camera)