Swim Team: June3 - July 19, 2008

Swim Team 2008

This year the first seven weeks of summer were spent doing swim team (since there are only 10 weeks of summer this was a HUGE part of ours). Meg and Sam were in the older half of their age divisions this year, and did really well this year (I mean, not compared to Michael Phelps, but who can?). They both were on the A relay and made great times in qualifications, which enabled them to go to championships. Ben was in the lower half of his age division, but still made the B relay and continued to improve his times, especially in free style.

Meg doing her favorite stroke--the Butterfly

Winning a heat ribbon.

Getting some last-minute advice from the coach.

Getting a heat ribbon for the 25 free.

Sam diving in ready for the 25 free

Heat ribbon winner. Sam loves the green goggles.

These were the "older" boys (16-18 year olds) on the swim team. For whatever reason they started hanging out with Sam at the first meet, and their friendship grew. I did have to have a little sit down with them at one point when I heard my six year old son tell a girl that one of the boys thought she was "hot." Sam later that night asked me what a "hot girl" was.

Pirate meet. . .Arrrrrrrg.

Molly playing with her toys on the swim deck.

Molly hanging out with Meg before a race.

Molly hanging out with the 13 year old girls. Every time I couldn't find her, I went to where the 13-14 girls (and I must say boys) hang out. There I would find her.

Rusty is the Louisville Swim Association representative for our swim team, which means he's the referee for each meet. He also is the life of the party. Here he is taking place in a half time relay during the pirate meet. He came in first by the way, but didn't get a heat ribbon.

The best part of swim team however isn't all the practices and meets, it's the FUN! Every practice the kids get coins to collect and then on Fridays the "coin cart" is available with tons of fun things to "buy." They could also earn extra coins by helping with set up, clean up or anything else the coaches asked. Fridays were also "Donut Day." The kids got at least two donuts after practice (Sam usually finagled three and always got Molly one as well). Another favorite swim team activity was "weekly fun practice." The kids never knew which practice of the week this would be, but they would get to play games, have tube relays and wear their p.j.'s one day. And did I mention all the parties? Holy cow, does our swim team know how to celebrate. This is why we are on swim team.

Meg with her participation medal at the awards party.

Both Meg and Ben won the award for the "Most Improved" in their age divisions. They tried every week to just focus on beating their own times. They both succeeded.

We decorated our van the day before swim championships. Ben got the back window and drew a swimmer doing free style (his best stroke) and a gold medal.

We also had someone come and put "Gator" tattoos on the kids' backs.


Sam decided, (unbeknowst to me) to draw his own version of the "gator" on his tummy with a blue Sharpie.

The whole family at championships.

Ben earned one medal, and Meg earned three. She would have gotten two more (she qualified for the IM and the free relay), but she got a tummy ache right before the IM, and another girl on her 100 free relay got disqualified for jumping in too soon. They did win though. Bummer.

Our team won the division and now we move up to a much more competitive division , which none of us are too excited about. But hey, the O'Brien mob swims for the fun. Meg holding the team's trophy.

MoLlY iS tHrEe--JuNe 22, 2008

Three Weeks Old
Three Months Old--blessing dress given to her by her great grandma (Grammi).

Molly's first birthday.

Molly at the pool--1 year old

Molly's 1 year old picture.

Molly age 2 (obviously).

Molly wanted a princess party, and we were going to have a friend princess party (I had already bought all of the supplies), but somehow the days got away from us. We ended up just having this great family party instead (still princess themed). I'm sure she'll still be "into" princesses when she's four, and we'll use all the "stuff" then.

We ended up having a family dinner on June 22, and invited the Blackwells. Molly picked the menu: Hot dogs (I also made hamburgers), watermelon, corn on the cob and "gade" (Gatorade--she's OBSESSED with it).

Molly didn't want a cake. She wanted "pink cupcakes with sprinkles." Her wish is our command. I hadn't made a carrot cake for Rusty for Father's Day so I made this an additional option for those who don't particularly enjoy "pink cupcakes."

Molly diving right in. She hardly ate or said anything during dinner. We have church from 1:00-4:00 p.m. and I think she was too tired after missing a nap.

She perked up during presents however. Here she is giving a big hug after opening Aunt Valerie's and Uncle Mark's present.

So many of our family members sent Molly presents for her birthday. Here she is "hugging" a princess towel and flip-flops my mom and dad mailed. By the way, thank you everyone.

Grammi gave Molly a hat and shawl for all the tea parties Molly will be attending, beginning with one she and mom had the other day.

The Martin Family sent her this darling dress. She wears it ALL the time.

Rusty and I gave her a pink Barbie Jeep. She was so excited and seemed like she knew what she was doing at first, until we realized that she was in fact pressing on gas to make the Jeep go, but holding on to the "front window instead of the steering wheel. After almost crashing into Aunt Valerie's car. . ."

. . .we recuited Sam to give her driving lessons. Well, if any of you know Molly, she didn't want help, ESPECIALLY from Sam (he's too close to her age/size). Plus, as you can see, he was a little too preoccupied with the phone to really help. . .

. . .so we enlisted Meg as the trainer. Things went a little better (notice Meg's hand is actually ON the steering wheel). We had a fun birthday party, and she always talks about her presents and her "princess party." I can't believe she is three. She is so much fun, and watching how friendly, loving, and spirited she is makes me enjoy her even more (well, most of the time).

The Molly "look." August 2008
I love this picture of Molly because it captures her personality so well. Molly HATES shoes, and her feet ALWAYS look like this--dirty. We painted her toes (which she loves) for the picture and she wanted to make sure the photographer took a picture which showed her toes. She can be very demanding at times. I have no clue where she gets this.

"Things My Mom Always Taught Me"

I need to preface this post by saying that I've been reading different Ensign articles lately and it seems that most of the General Authorities have a story in their talks about what their mom's always said to them or taught them as they grew up. How influential and motivating their moms were in their lives. So, maybe out of desperation for positive feedback, I decided to see what my kids would say if I asked them this question.

Me: "What if someone in 20 years asked you to share something that your mom always taught you."

Sam: "How old will I be in 20 years? Oh yeah, 26. . .oooold."

Ben: "Sam, that's not that old, you'll just be getting out of college."

Me: Starting to get impatient and trying to get the subject off of Sam and back onto me, "Sam, so when you are 26, if someone asks you what your mom taught you, what would you say?"

Sam: Looking at me in a stupor, "Mom, what does that mean?"

Me: "Like, something I always taught you while you were growing up."

Sam: "Like. . .(looking around the kitchen for inspiration), I still don't get it." Getting a little more impatient with the discussion (and Sam obviously hasn't learned a lot), I move onto the other kids.

Me: "Meg, what about you?"

Meg: "To be kind, #1, then to be honest, #2." Okay, not bad. I'm feeling a little more confident, and knew she was my favorite child (today anyway).

Sam: "Oh yeah! You do say that a lot." Thanks Sam!

Ben: "Mom, I'm only 9, you still have A LOT to teach me." Can you say PRESSURE?

Me: Ignoring Ben's comment and turning back to Meg, "What if someone asked you if you always read the scriptures, had family prayer and Family Home Evening?"

Ben: Piping in, "Not always on the scriptures or prayer, but we DO have FHE every week."

Me: Completely defensive, "We have family prayer most days if not all, and family scripture study at least 4-5 times a week."

Ben: "Okay, okay mom, we do." Then rolling his eyes and giving Meg that "we'll just tell mom what she wants to hear" look.

Me: In a loud voice while they are talking to each other and walking away, "Well, I guess we have to step it up a notch on family scripture reading and family prayer then." That will show them.

I guess that conversation taught me not to go looking for compliments and that someday, when they are older (26) they may just remember something good that I really did teach them.

Meg's New Room/Bed

First, I want to preface this by saying I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT TO TAKE A "BEFORE" PICTURE.

For months, Meg has told us she wanted to redo her room. At first we told her she could change the bedding and accessories, but we weren't going to repaint the room. After telling us over and over she wanted a blue room, I finally gave in and said, "We'll do it for your 11th birthday." Well, one night we went to a bedding store and Meg saw this bedding and LOVED it. We bought it and the next thing I know I'm painting a blue room.

It turned out super cute and she loves it, and spends a lot of time in it playing with friends, dancing, and just hanging out, but doesn't sleep in it very often. She still keeps a mattress on the floor in the boys' room, (see earlier post) and prefers to sleep there.

However, last night even the mattress on the boys' room didn't do. She crept into our room when we were already asleep and slept on our chair. So, although Meg has two beds in our house, she's not sleeping in either of them.

July 4th Weekend

As with other posts this summer, this is better late than never.

Our family was divided this year for the 4th of July. Rusty and Sam went to Utah for an O'Brien family reunion. The rest of us stayed back and made sure we too had a blast. The weekend began on Thursday night, July 3, 2008. We met Rusty downtown and ate at a Mexican restaurant. After dropping Sam and Rusty off at the airport Ben, Meg, Molly and I made a trip to Hobby Lobby to pick out a few crafts to do over the weekend. (If I ever ask Ben what he wants to do in his spare time it's always "make a craft." Hence, the log cabin we made out of Popsicle sticks, the many molding clay people that are adorning his shelves and, my favorite, those darn beads that you make different designs and then iron them together to form an image). I hope that that he will always want to do this and not be embarrassed that I'm saying this. Anyway, we then rented some movies, got snacks and went home. After putting Molly to bed we watched Flicka.

Friday was the Fourth of July and we decided to go to the pool. The weather was overcast and it rained a sprinkle or two, but because of that NO ONE was at the pool. Therefore, all the games the lifeguards put on, my kids won. We won goggles, t-shirts, and other pool stuff. Here are some pictures of the events.

The "littlest splash contest." The kids that you see in this picture were the only ones at the pool that day.

The life guards only let us build "forts" when there aren't very many people at the pool. This is the deluxe model.

Monkey see, Monkey do.

Molly enjoying ice cream in her wing of the fort.

Later that day, we went to the Miller's house for a cook-out and fireworks.

What we "affectionately" call the "Molly Look."

It's sad with Sam gone. We miss him.

Doing "Pop Rocks."

Molly did a lot better with the sparklers than I thought she would.

Meg and Ben had a sleepover with Max and Dominique, and Molly and I went home.

Saturday we went and saw the movie "Wall-E." I drifted off to sleep after eating a tub of popcorn but was quickly awakened when Molly dropped her water bottle on my lap. We then went home and started on our crafts while Molly took a nap.

One of the activities that Ben chose at the first of the summer was make a "Castle" scene for playing with our castle guys "figures," putting on a puppet show or the like. Here is Ben's castle.We had to let Molly paint something, and I was too lazy to go upstairs and get her something else to wear, so I just took off her dress and let her go.

Sunday we wrote in our journals about our great weekend.

Meanwhile, Rusty and Sam went to Utah for an O'Brien Family Reunion. He and Sam went on a ropes course one day with many of the 125 (out of a possible 160) cousins, aunts, uncles, etc.

They also participated in a family talent show, Sunday testimony meeting, basketball games, and many "get caught up on your life" sessions.