Go Meghan, Go! First Swim Meet

Tonight was Meghan's first swim meet. She has been swimming in pre-team for 4 weeks now with her peers, but based on her skill-level she was able to swim in the last B-meet of the season. We were all very excited and without trying to talk it up too much encouraged Meghan just to do her best. Not only did she swim the Freestyle, she also entered and swam backstroke, the only 4 year old to do so in today's meet! She did awesome. Placed 3rd in freestyle, not sure of the results for backstroke. We are so proud of her and she had a great time, but when asked at home how she was feeling she said, "Mom, I'm tired!" This, after a 2 hour nap this afternoon, too! With the end of swim season this Friday, we are eagerly anticipating the fun swim meets of next summer! Look out for Meghan!



Warm-ups with the team


Nathan passing the time in the little pool
Take your Mark...




Meghan's swim coach (and favorite babysitter, I m ight add...) Christine has been super instrumental in helping Meghan to swim and we are going to miss her as she goes off to college this fall!!!

Meghan and her pre-team coach Kara. There were so many 'older girls' holding Meghan's hand through every step, it was great to see such comraderie amongst the team.
Meghan and Christine after she swam. Note, Meghan wore Christine's cap, even!




Meghan even entered in backstroke. She came in first place, although a little crooked at time, but as the only 4 year old, what can you expect???

The meet results, for 6 and under, Meghan placed 3rd!!! Way to Go. I have to admit, tonight opened a new world in parenting... the pride you feel when your child works so hard and completes a race. It was a thrill!!!

Go Fly a kite

We spent this windy afternoon at the park flying a kite. This was our first family kite flying outing and I was a little concerned I wouldn't remember how, but it all comes back to you. Meghan was thrilled to fly the kite and we all had a lot of fun.

#1 Grandpa

Today it was sunny and warmer than in weeks and we were all healthy. So after we picked up Meghan from school instead of rushing the kids inside for lunch, I sent them out to their new sandbox to play while I made lunch watching them from the kitchen. Last Christmas Grandpa Jack made a fabulous sandbox for the kids. And, not a little sandbox, but a big 8x4 foot sandbox, and he even helped us to fill it up at a local quarry with the sand. the kids LOVE it, and so do I. We have a nice little cover and the kids can play in it while I watch them from the kitchen if need be.

Well, it sparked a spur of the moment picnic on the deck, which of course the kids loved as well.

We all enjoyed a bit of vitamin D. So, here's a big shout out to Grandpa Jack. We all LOVE the sandbox and thanks for all your hard work and efforts you put into it!

Going in for the Kiss

Nathan has been very lovey lately. He loves to run up to me and give kisses and hugs and then go off back to playing. So this morning, with a prompt to give Meghan some hugs and kisses, he was up for the task. Meghan was busying herself with buttoning her new sweater and was more than willing to accept the hugs and kisses.

Last week, when Meghan was really sick she was sitting on the floor one day and un-prompted, Nathan walked up to her and gave her a big hug. It was the sweatest moment ever and I hope to remember it forever. Kids can be the best sometimes!

Cupcakes and Preschool

Birthdays are a big deal when you're in Preschool. On Sunday, Meghan seemed well enough to assume she would be going to school on Monday to celebrate her birthday. So, she helped me to frost and decorate her cupcakes. She loves cherries, so it was obvious that a cherry would be on top of the purple frosting.

Birthdays are one of the few days parents are allowed to visit school since she attends a Montessori, so that makes it special to begin with. The students get to wear a special birthday crown and go over their answers to a slew of questions... where do you live, who is in your family, what is your favorite color? Pink, purple, blue. Etc.
Then as the teachers are taking role, the students come up to shake the birthday girl's hand or give a hug. This is Vasilli, Meghan's dearest friend who gave a HUGE hug

They have a special table where the birthday girl got to choose her friends to sit with her. This year her brother Nathan was even able to join her at the table. The kids all loved the cupcakes, and Meghan had a great morning at school

Happy Birthday Meghan

Last weekend we celebrated Meghan's 4th birthday with a small dress up party. All the kids arrived in various costumes and had fun changing over and over at the party itself. We had princesses, fairies, cowboys, pirates, etc. A great time was had by all. We had some face painting and cake, too of course.

A trip to see Santa

This week I took the kids to visit the friendly local mall Santa.  It's always been an experience trying to determine Meghan's mood and approach to Santa, and now I have two different ones to contemplate...  Meghan this year walked right up to Santa with a little prompting from my part and told him she was hoping for a Tinkerbell costume.  Thankfully we have dispensed with the desire for 'real wings that can fly'.  Even though she told us numerous times that Santa and his elves can make anything, we have informed her that his presents have to be real.  Anyway,  she had a nice little chat with Santa Claus being that there was no one in line (a miracle).  Talked about how hard she's been working in school reading, etc.  Nathan on the other hand was not overly fond of Santa.  I tried my best to sit on the stool while Meghan was chatting away and let Nathan warm up to the fellow, but he would have none of it.  Finally when someone did show up in line and the employees were indicating it was time for our photo, I sat him down in Santa's lap (er... the stranger in a big red suit), and Nathan proceeded to scream.  I indicated for them to just take the photo, screamer and all because that's how it is this year, and next year who knows, he may refuse to sit in his lap as Meghan did at 2 years old.  So, here you have it, this year's Santa photo.  Of course, our visit was not complete until the friendly photo employee loudly proclaimed to all in earshot range, after that Santa looks so thirsty he could die.  I nearly fainted and was glad that Meghan did not hear it and could not yet spell d-i-e because I turned to the lady and tried to nicely say (spell what she had said because she had forgotten how she phrased it) she needed to watch what she said around the kids because who knows what nightmares might ensue if Meghan thought Santa was going to die.  Geesh... and I didn't even get a free photo.  Parched Santa did get a drink of water though.

Finding Fossils

Meghan is currently studying dinosaurs in her preschool, so last weekend we went in search of some local fossil sights. Michael found one about 1.5 hours away that fit the bill perfectly. The kids were in heaven in a massive sandbox, and we even luckily found a fossil. Luckily I say because I just looked down and there one was. I told Michael I honestly had no idea how to look for a fossil or find one, so Meghan was thrilled to have one to take for show and tell this past week. We now have a book on fossil hunting so as to read up on the procedure. At any rate, the kids were thrilled and really enjoyed the family time

Meghan is reading

Meghan has learned how to read basic 3 letter words in this past week. It's very exciting to see the pieces click together and she is thrilled... Sounding out words all over the place. She has been practicing reading lessons at her school recently and brought this one home this week.

A visit with the Alpacas

Every time we visit Santa Fe, we go and visit the Que Sera Alpacas . The first time we went, Meghan was about 18 months and she loved them. They gave her kisses and were so cute. This photo of her was even used on their business cards and website. Last summer, she was quite fearful of everything, including the Alpacas so the visit was more about overcoming fears than anything. Today however, Meghan was having the time of her life playing with the baby alpaca as if it was another child. Several times the 2 month old Alpaca snuck up on her and nuzzled her neck, and once chased her around in circles around my legs. I felt like there were 2 three year olds in the pen instead of just my Meghan. When it came time to leave, Meghan was so sad to say goodbye and she begged for more visits. They are headed to the New Mexico State fair later this week.

More Smores Please

We (Meghan, Nathan and I) are currently visiting my parents in Santa Fe. What a lovely thing it is to have two other adults present and actually outnumber the children! Anyway, today we went up into the Santa Fe National Forest to go 'day camping'... no tent, and come home for baths at night, but all the fun of camping. We had a blast. We arrived and grilled up some hotdogs. After eating our fill, Meghan and I walked to a little bridge to play 'Pooh Sticks'... a favorite past time for Winnie the Pooh. Anyway, we got sidetracked by some beautiful wildflowers and amazing dandelions. They were the biggest dandelions I think I have ever seen and Meghan had a wonderful time blowing them everywhere so there will be plenty more of them next time we are there. Meghan and Nathan played nicely together which is always a wonderful thing to encourage. Meghan had a blast picking wildflowers and making a beautiful bouquet for Grandma. We also found some cool rocks (always a highlight), and by the end my pockets were full of things... seeds, flower petals, and rocks, and her hands were full of flowers. Time to return for Smores. Meghan of course LOVES smores. Tonight she told Grandma when she was getting tucked into bed that her favorite part of today was the Smores. Being that we are on vacation, I stretched the rules and Meghan probably ate more marshmallows than are considered healthy, but hey we're at Grandma's house, and rules can be broken within reason.