Swim Team 2010

2010 was Molly's first year on the swim team.

Rusty thought I was crazy to register her since he had witnessed her two months earlier, during spring break, unable to even get in the pool without a floaty or me holding her. But I was not about to let that deter my goal of having Molly be a proud member of the Glen Oaks Swim Team. I really wanted her to learn to swim, and another HUGE deciding factor was our swim teams policy: pay for three kids and the fourth one is free. I am all about getting something free.

Therefore, I went on the hunt to find someone to teach Molly swim lessons three times a week during the month of May so that she would be able to "pass" the tryout and swim the length of the pool by June 1, 2010. After paying a small fortune for intense private lessons, she was accepted as a Glen Oaks Gator. In hind sight, I wonder if the swim lessons were worth the free swim team season.

Our swim team does a lot of fun things throughout the season (these enticements are the only way I am able to convince Meg to swim. . .that, and promising her she only has to go to practice two times a week with one of the practices being the "fun practice". . .I'm just picking my battles:). They have a pirate swim meet where everyone dresses up like pirates, we have an Amazing Race party which ends with a pudding drop, and a great awards banquet right before championships (see pictures below).

Most improved for the 11-12 year old girls.

Ben's 5th Grade Celebration

Ben at his fifth grade "graduation." He is such a stud!!!

Ben and some of his buddies.

Ben recieving his "diploma."

Ben had just started wearing contacts a few weeks before this. He still looks a little weird to me. I miss my "four eyed boy" (I didn't call him that to his face by the way).

Ben's friend Tyler (the short one).

Ben's friend August (the tall one).

Sam LOVED coming to the "graduation" because he got out of class and was able to eat 6 green glazed donuts. Oh, and to see Ben get his diploma.

Easter 2010

School Easter egg hunt

We spent Easter in Destin, Florida. The first day of our spring break.

The Easter egg hunt was the best. Our condo was on a golf course, the Easter bunny had PLENTY of room to hide eggs.

Of course Meg got three times as many as anyone else. I made her "re-hide" some so Sam and Molly could find a few more.

Post hunt hug.

A LOT of Ben--Working Backwards in 2009

Ben is 11 years old

(October 11, 2009)

Some of my favorite things about Ben this past year are:

*He wanted to learn a duet on the piano with me.

*He took up running and triathlon, and really worked hard at it.

*He was sad (and shed a few tears) at his last Pinewood Derby, his last first day of elementary school, and when Meg told him about Santa Claus ("Damn Meg". . .that was Rusty).

*He can't wait to see Molly after school, and she him.

*He will eat anything I put on the table and never complains.

*He asked if dad and Uncle Mark could give him a blessing before his surgery.

*He became converted to jeans from "swish, swish" pants.

*He still loves to do crafts with me.

Ben chose Chili's to eat out for his birthday. Uncle Mark, Aunt Valerie, Paul and Lisa came.

Ben had to have surgery on a hernia this past October. It was one week before Halloween, but he was still able to trick-or-treat a little.

Before going under the knife . . .

. . . and after the surgery. He did great, but had A LOT of pain. Let's just say that because Ben is NEVER sick, he isn't the easiest patient (kind of like his dad. . .oh wait, did I just say that?).

Ben and his best buddy Max got their Arrow of Light the same night.

Ben joined the school X-Country team this year. Wow, it's a whole new world. I'm used to baseball, soccer, swimming, even dance. . .but cross country at our school is intense (I think due in part to a few of the moms), and the meets last FOREVER!!! Hence, Rusty took Ben (with Sam tagging along) to all the away meets, and Meg, Molly and I enjoyed the "home" meets.

What form!

Ben placed in the top 20 of this race. And no, I never did get his shoes clean. He just ran in them the rest of the year, and post-season I went and got him a nice new BLACK and red pair of running shoes (how come none of those "intense" moms told me not to buy white shoes?).

Ben's support staff.

Ben did his first triathlons this year. He first did a small one: 50 meter swim, 2-mile bike and 1/2 mile run in the sub-division where our school is (see pictures below). Then he participated in a regular tri in our county. The distances were 400 m swim, 8 mile bike, 3 k run. He did great and really liked the sport. I'm sure it's no shock to anyone that Rusty couldn't be happier.

Before the smaller triathlon. Ben, Max, Sam, Dominique and Meg all participated as well. Meg didn't have a great experience (of course it was my fault). . .just wait until her post next.

Ben earned this cap at a swim-a-thon, and LOVES it.

This past summer was Ben's last Cub camp. He is in a great pack (mostly boys from church), and Ben ALWAYS loves to go to Cub Scouts.

This was the first year I went without being a leader. It was great just being a mom at Cub camp.

Ben and Adam (cousin)

One of the highlights of summer 2009 for us was having our cousin Adam (Ben's age) come and stay with us for a few days. We did a TON of fun things with Adam including camping out in the basement.

Two days before school got out, Ben got a wicked case of poison ivy. He came with me to Meg's 5th grade graduation, but felt horrible and we went home right after. He was put on a topical and oral steroid to help speed up the healing process. Unfortunately, I left to go to Las Vegas with Rusty and my good friend Judy was watching my kids. Luckily she's a pro at taking care of this kind of thing, and helped Ben through his ordeal.

The good ole' Calamine Lotion. . .relieves the itch.

Ben's favorite book in the Book of Mormon is Enos. Ben told me once that he loves the story because Enos prayed so long in repentance and "His sins were probably no big deal."

Ben did an indoor YMCA swim team from January through May. The team's name was the ORCAs and Ben LOVED it. Ben got the Most Improved Swimmer of the season award.

Here Ben, Max and Dominique are with Coach Scott.

Ben's Science Project.

In January, 2009 Ben decided to participate in the school science fair. Unfortunately for Ben neither his dad or I know anything about science. I don't even think Rusty took science :) and I got a "C" in Chemistry and I think a "D" in biology. Therefore, Ben really had to do his project on his own (Rusty did step up and help him . . .thank goodness for Google). He did great. The project had something to do with aerodynamics, and I saw a ton of paper airplanes.

Celebrating the science fair with a little DQ.