Beeba and Budgie come to Asheville

We were more than happy to host Libba and Parker for a long weekend, where we smothered them both in hugs and kisses, practiced yoga, showed Parker some of our interactive toys and let my kids try Pop Rocks for the first time. Yeah... It was pretty awesome. 

Five year old problems

Um... What if I don't want to go to kindergarten anymore? Do I still have to get all those shots?

Spending the Fourth up north

After our memorable weekend of Majeski family fun in Nashville, Chris's parents took the kids and drove them 18 hours north to their house in Lake Nebagamon for ten days of grandparent fun. Yes, it was very sad to say goodbye to my little people for such an extended amount of time, but Chris and I were eager to have the house to ourselves and be able to do things like walk around in silence, play lots of golf, go out for dinner without having to pay a babysitter and lounge by the pool and read a book. And while we were indulging in our freedom, our kids were being spoiled with unlimited amounts of sugar, movies, trips to the zoo and many, many boat rides.

But for as much fun as it was to take a break from the stresses of parenthood for ten days, the reunion with my precious babes was that times a million. I missed them dearly.

And following lots of hugs and kisses was an epic family vacation up north with Chris's parents and the extended family. 

Those Majeskis know how to party

We took a long weekend to drive to Nashville and celebrate the Majeski family reunion with Chris's mother's side of the family tree. It was so wonderful to see and catch up with so many family members, and the kids had a blast meeting all their extended cousins.

Blowing bubbles. Kinda.

Taylor the dolphin

Sometime early spring I started receiving a few mass-generated emails from our country club about this summer’s CCA Swim Team. Taylor was now five and swimming relatively unassisted, and the only prerequisite to join the team was to be able to swim half the length of the pool. I asked her if she wanted to do it, even naming a few of her friends that would be swimming, and she threw a giant fit, cutting me off before I even finished the word Team, waving her arms in the air, screaming NO! NO! NO! I’m NOT doing that!

So I signed her up.

Well, actually Chris and I had a long talk about it and thought that it might be good for her to try an organized sport in a comfortable environment, especially after such a successful dance season. Plus, if anything else, she would end the summer feeling totally confident in the pool. We don’t do camps. I take my kids to the pool. A lot. I needed her to love the water and want to be in it as much as possible. So I signed her up for swim team.

And I didn’t even tell her until a few days before the season kick-off party. And, OH MY GOODNESS!, the tantrum that followed. And I was all, WHY ARE YOU UPSET? You get to go to the pool and swim with your friends. And people are able to coach you and show you how to become a good swimmer. And you get a special fancy swimsuit and sparkly goggles.

SOLD!

So we went to the kick-off party, got our Dolphin team sweatshirt, ordered our Dolphin team swimsuit, met Coach Cook and then even ate a piece of a cake that was shaped like a Dolphin. Taylor was smiling from ear-to-ear... She was SO excited. And then I browsed through the team info packet and realized that she was scheduled to have swim team practice five days a week. FIVE DAYS A WEEK. What, what?

But then I was assured that it was NOT MANDATORY and she really only needed to come to one or two a week. Which was way more my speed. Especially since the bulk of them were from 6-7 at night.

So the first practice came, and instead of wrangling Luke on the pool deck, Chris stayed home with the little man and I brought Taylor. She was so nervous in the car ride over, and so was I. She kept asking me questions about what they were going to do, and I had really no idea. So I just kept saying, Well, it’s swim team. So I’m sure you’re gonna SWIM. You’ll be awesome! You’re so good at swimming! This is going to be amazing!

But she didn’t just swim, she had to warm up. Like for real warm up. Burpees, y’all. I watched someone teach my five year old daughter how to do a burpee. And she LOVED it! Are you kidding me? The same girl who cries if I put spinach or broccoli on her plate LOVES to do burpees. I don’t even know what to do with that.

So they did some burpees and then bear crawled around the length of the pool. Seriously. I don’t know if I could bear crawl around the pool. That’s hard core.

And after all these tabata-like shenanigans, they tell the kids to jump into the pool and start swimming laps. And I was all, Wait! I was told she only needed to swim HALF the length of the pool. But before anyone heard me, Taylor jumped into the pool and SWAM THE WHOLE LENGTH. And then slapped the edge of the pool and swam back. Without help. All by herself. After doing a crossfit workout.

She did amazing. And even though she didn’t need me to, I walked up and down the length of the pool while she swam, right next to her just so she knew I was there. Smiling at her if she ever got a chance to glance my way and pumping my arm in the air and whooping, Good job, Taylor! I’m so proud of you!

And I was. It was one of my favorite mothering moments yet. That girl is amazing.