Learning our ABCs

or better yet, sticking our magnet figures in playdoh.

 

1st Grade

Oliver's 1st grade school photo. He's getting so big and looking less like a little boy and more like a big kid.

NY State Champion

This girl...she had a spin and win to take the New York State Championship title for MiniMax. This was also after she lost a chain during the pre-final and had a race delay because of snow (yes, snow in October).

She had a lock up at the straight, spun and went back to 3rd place only to catch back up, take the lead and win handily.

It was her final race of 2015 and what a final race it was!

Fitter & Faster Swim Clinic



Chloe participated with other members of her swim team in the Fitter & Faster Swim Tour clinic. She got to spend a day learning from three-time Olympian and silver medalist Kara Lynn Joyce and current National Champion Zane Grothe.

 

Kara Lynn let the kids hold her Olympic medals.

Getting autographs.

At the end of the day, the swimmers had a chance to race both Kara Lynn and Zane. Chloe got to go up against Zane. He underestimated her speed and she was the only swimmer of the day to beat him. We recorded the race, you can see Zane gives the kids a sizable head start, but Chloe still beats him to the wall. Not bad for a kid who is almost always the smallest at the blocks. Chloe of course didn't realize until she got out of the pool that she beat him. (Chloe is at the top of the frame, next to Zane in the pink swim cap).

First Haircut

Emma Claire got her first haircut at three years old. The orphanage shaved her head in China and its been a long time coming, waiting to grow her hair out. She had one long piece in the back of her head where it wasn't shaved evenly. Emma Claire was a little hesitant about the haircut, but big sister Chloe was next to her getting her haircut too. Also, a promise of a piece of chocolate never hurts either.

BEFORE. She was acting silly at the track.

AFTER.

The "Big Girl" Room

Emma Claire has moved from the crib to a big girl bed. Her room is still a work in progress, but the most important news is that she is SLEEPING in her big girl bed, not with Matt and I!!!!!

For two years Matt and I have had out little Emma Claire alarm clock that wakes us in the middle of the night (or morning depending on perspective) and demands to sleep in Mommy and Daddy's bed. Two years without an uninterrupted night of sleep.

But, it wasn't the big girl bed that made Emma Claire decide to sleep in her own bed through the night. It was a sticker chart with the reward of chocolate in the morning. It took two attempts with the sticker reward chart and she's been in her bed sleeping through the night ever since.

Who knew it would be so easy? Certainly not I or I would have done it a LONG time ago.

All About Oliver

Oliver completed his "All About Me" poster for his 1st grade class and presented it.

Lunch & the playground--those are Oliver's favorite school activities. Love it.