Swim Team 2008

Dawson and Dallon at the end of the season party. They both got trophy's. Dallon's just isn't showing in this picture. Dawson was so excited about his that it is front and center.

I guess I'll tell you a little bit about how our family first got involved in swim team. When we moved here two years ago we started looking for a public pool to swim in. It is very hot in San Antonio and water is about the only way to survive. So... in our search for a pool, we realized quickly that there aren't any. The only way to gain access to a pool is to buy in a subdivision that has one. We found a pool really close by - in a subdivision near ours - that accepted outside members. The catch is that your kids have to participate on the swim team. Swim team? That probably isn't anything we would have ever sought out. At that time Dallon was 7 years old and the only child we had old enough to participate. He was terrified at the idea. He didn't know how to swim that well and had definately not swam the length of this pool before without stopping. Anyway, to make a long story short. Dallon decided to give it a try and with the help of his coaches he was able to do it. He joined the team and it's all because of him that our family has had a pool to enjoy the past 3 summers. We joke all the time about poor Dallon's responsibility to keep his family in a pool. So initially the reason for joining was just to get to swim during the summertime. It has become so much more. I am truly so thankful that swim team has been a part of our life here. I think swimming is such a great skill to develop. I love that Dallon is such a beautiful swimmer. I love to watch him swim freestyle. I love knowing that my boys can save themselves. I love that all the kids on the swim team go to the same school as my children and it has helped them to make friends in this area. And I love that it has helped build their self esteem and they have proved to themselves that they can do anything they set their minds to and work hard for. Swim team is a big time commitment. They practice 5 days a week for an hour a practice. That is a great workout... just another thing I love about it.

Dawson was very excited for swim team "try-outs" this year. He knew that when he turned 5 he was old enough. He had made up his mind that he was going to be on the team and had gotten himself really excited about it. At the beginning of each season they evaluate the new swimmers to see if they swim well enough to be on the team. They need to be able to swim the full length of the pool without stopping. (for safety reasons) At try-outs he totally froze up and didn't swim more than a few feet. The coach told him that he could try out next year and he was totally devastated. That night when Aaron came home from work he asked Dawson all about try-outs and it just broke our hearts hearing Dawson tell him that he tried real hard but he didn't make the team. The next day I set up private lessons with the coach - in hopes that if he improved enough in a week or two she would probably let him join the team. After two weeks of lessons he swam the length of the pool and Coach finally asked him if he would like to be on the swim team. He was so proud. The first practice was so scary for him. Dallon and I were on the edges of our seats just hoping he would not sink. He really pushed himself at practice. The other swimmers were better and he worked real hard to keep up. He did great. He swam in several meets - the backstroke. He really enjoyed the season. He is still a beginner. In fact... at his second swim meet he had to be saved two times by two different coaches in their regular clothes. (and yes, they both had to wear those wet clothes all night) It was actually really emberrasing. (I can laugh about it now) He really improved this season. At the last meet Dawson did so great. On the way home Dawson said "Mom, when I was swimming in that race I was smiling because I was sooooo proud of myself." I'm just so proud of my boys for having the courage to try new things and working hard to be their own personal best.

held hostage

Sometimes before I wake, the house is real noisy and things get a little rough downstairs. I woke to hear all about this... Dallon holding Dawson hostage.

Melissa, does this look like something Aaron would have done to you when you were kids? For the life of me I can't figure out where Dallon gets this from. I mean, I never would have done something like this to Jaron.  ha ha!

easton - six months

chef's in training

I asked the kids if they would like to start cooking one meal a week. They could pick what it was going to be and help me with the shopping for it at the grocery store. They were so excited. I wish I could get that excited about cooking a meal. The truth is I don't like to cook. But this week this has been fun for all of us. I never realized how wonderful it would be. It has given Aaron and I a chance to teach them how to cook something. It has also made them feel so special as they have served everyone the dinner they have made. This is just our first week but I will definately continue to do this during the summer. It's really positive. Keep watching for more pics in the kitchen in the following weeks. I'm sure I'll post them.

Dallon chose to grill hamburgers. He was trained on the grill by none other than his Dad - the best grill chef in all of Texas.

Dallon brought the burgers back into the house so we could sit down to eat.  He said... "Look Mom, I'm carrying this plate like a chef."

Dawson was so proud of his pizza when he pulled it out of the oven. After all of the compliments he received at the table he realized there was an opportunity to cash in. He let us all know that the next pizza will be $4.00. I don't think so.

Happy Birthday Sis!

22 years ago my baby sister was born. I was almost 10 when she was born. I still remember when she came home from the hospital to us. I was so excited to have a baby sister. I'm still just as happy to have her. Happy birthday little sis. I love you!

six months and sitting

Easton is sitting up. It's so cute. He is also getting on his hands and knees and rocking back and forth. I don't think that crawling is that far off. Where does the time go?  He is now eating rice cereal.  It's hard to get it in.  His tongue gets in the way.  He's just trying to figure it all out.  I took him to his six month check up and he is doing great.  He is really healthy.  He weighs 20 pounds and is 27 inches tall.  That is about the 85% for weight.  And the 60% for height.  He is doing so good.  An update on the wheezing... it stopped.  Yay!  We are so relieved.  After the bronchoscopy and laryngoscopy he got really sick (about a week after).  I was worried it may be pneumonia since I knew there was a good chance of that after the proceedures.  It wasn't pneumonia but he was real sick and we changed up the breathing treatment medicine and sure enough it stopped.  So, what we know it this...  he does have mild trachea malaysia (flattened trachea).  He also did have bronchialitis.  Since he has trachea malaysia there is a chance anytime he gets sick he will wheeze.  But the doctor is hopeful that he will outgrow it in a couple years.  Only time will tell.  We are happy to have some answers and realize it is just a minor thing.

ice skating

We took the boys ice skating yesterday. It was the first time we have ever went as a family. They did so good. I was really surprised. I think ice skating is hard. Dallon took off and did just great on his own. He had a lot of fun skating around the rink. Dawson needed a hand. He held my hand the whole time except for the few minutes I took to snap these pictures. It was a little harder for him. He fell time and time again. But he loved every minute of it too. We laughed and had a good time. It's one of the funnest things we've done in a while with the boys. Dallon even said "Mom, I'm seeing a real fun side of you today." I guess I need to go ice skating more often right?

the things I hear...

We were getting ready to go out today and the boys had been waiting for us in the car and fighting with each other.  Just as I was getting in I over heard Dawson say... "Dallon, why don't you take a nap until christmas!"

mommy's helpers

I must be the luckiest mom in the world. I've got two big boys who love to help take care of their baby brother. Easton is very loved and taken care of. Most of the time I don't even have to ask for help. I'll just walk in a room and find one of them holding him, singing to him, or handing him a toy, etc. Just yesterday Dawson was rocking him in the rocking chair and I had walked into the kitchen. He didn't know I was there. I overheard him saying to Easton "I love you baby... I love you so much baby!" He and Dallon are always busy entertaining him and trying to make him smile. Dallon is so good to him. Easton just lights up when Dallon is in the room. It has been so touching to see the love my boys feel for each other and watch their special acts of kindness. Here are a few pics of Easton and his big brothers around our home during the first six months of his life.

red box

The boys and I shopped our hearts out today. We are more than exhausted. On the way home we pulled over to rent a movie. We have just recently discovered red box. What a find! I'm sure most of you have already found a red box near you and have been cashing in on the savings for a while now. If not, I recommend it. Well, I gotta go. We've got a movie to watch!