I never knew.....

I never knew being a swimming parent would be like this

I never knew it would take up so much time

I never knew I'd enjoy being at the pool from 7 am - 9 pm all weekend long

I never knew I'd feel so disheartened about a timer telling my daughter to swim on the left when they meant the right

I never knew how hard it would be to get that straightened out mid-race

I never knew it would be so fun to cheer all the kids on the team on

I never knew there'd be so many good races

I never knew I'd be so glad I'm good at packing lots of food to take with us

I never knew my daughter would take off time practically every time she raced

I never knew it would be so heartbreaking to see your daughter get DQ'd

I never knew I'd enjoy visiting with other parents so much

I never knew it would be political

I never knew there was so much to learn

I never knew my 7 year old would enjoy having out watching swimming and playing with friends so much

I never knew my kids would form such great friendships with their swimming friends

I never knew those close races would give me such a flipsy stomach

I never knew I'd end up being a treasurer and spend hours volunteering and at meetings

I never knew I'd have to help with the coach evaluations and contracts

I never knew I'd appreciate coaches so much

I never knew it would be so inspiring to watch these kids compete and train

I never knew I'd get such a hoarse voice from all the cheering

I never knew I'd spend so much time driving to and from and watching practises

I never knew the coaches would be so influential in my kids

I never knew kids would make such amazing improvement from meet to meet

I never knew I'd rely so much on experienced parent swimmers

I never knew I'd form friendships with parents from other clubs

I never knew I'd see people so often that I don't know but recognize them since they're at every meet I'm at

I never knew owning a DS would be so handy

I never knew I'd want one of those big long lenses to get better pictures at meets

I never knew there'd be so many tears

I never knew there'd be so much joy

I never knew it would so great

I never knew I'd feel so proud









Jill's Meet Results from this past weekend:

100 free: seed time 1:33.13 new time: 1:23.84 (B time is 1:21.90)
400 free: seed time 6:26.41 DQd (time was 6:22:23) *Would have been a B,
but is a MQT
100 back: seed time 1:36.86 new time: 1:32.73 (B time is 1:32.60)
200 back: seed time 3:30.00 new time: 3:12.12 *B
50 breast: 51.04
100 breast: seed time 1:46.04 new time: 1:44.04 *B
200 breast: seed time 3:50.00 new time 3:44.63 (B time is 3:44.00)
100 fly: seed time 1:52.00 new time 1:32.76 *B
200 IM seed time: 3:21.99 new time 3:28.78 DQd (MQT is 3:26.90 and B is
3:22.70) Jill said she realized she was going to DQ and so he figured why push
herself on this one :0)

She also swam 2 relays....so with the preliminaries and getting into the finals she ended up swimming 12 races this weekend. WOW! What a weekend!

Two Tests Tomorrow!

We have two programs at our kid's school. One is the French program that our kids are enrolled in. The other is called TLC, or Traditional Learning Centre. It is an alternative program within the board and is apparently academically rigourous...but not reserved for elite students. They have a bunch of things that parents have to agree to - most of which make me squirm. And whenever I get into a discussion about a parent to find out more about the program I become less and less interested.

One of the things that really gives me the willies is the emphasis on daily homework. Right from kindergarten they do homework every day. I often hear parents complain in casual conversation about the homework - but whenever I say something about it they're quick to jump to the defense and say, "Oh, it's really not that big a deal."

I'm not sure why I get some different responses. It's those casual conversations that make me uncomfortable.

Yesterday when we were going into the gym I ran into a friend whose child is in the TLC program. She said to me, "Man! The buses were sure late today."

I had to stop and think....they were? Oh ya...maybe they were.

She added, "Oh ya! Totally stressed me out. My sons has two tests tomorrow you know! There isn't much time to do homework when the bus is so late."

It really took me back. Her son is in Grade two. I had to wonder...two tests? Are these tests in a doctor's office? Allergy test? What are you talking about?

Nope. She was talking about school tests. A spelling test and a math test...for her Grade Two child...that they had to study for. Seriously.

I couldn't really say anything so I just gave me best, "Oh really" and tried to sound sincere.

But my thought was that if you're hurrying your child home from his 7 hours at school, to do some homework and prep/studying for a test to ensure he does well...something is wrong!

1. I don't believe kids need homework...especially in elementary school. I think it's nice for the parents so that they know what's going on in school - but I don't buy that it helps them be more successful in school.
2. If your kid hasn't learned the stuff after being in school all day, it's too late. So what's the point of the homework? Maybe it should just be assigned to mom and dad!
3. If your kid has been in school all day - don't you think he should have a little down time to play with his/her siblings, roll on the floor, chase the cat, make a snow fort, or maybe even watch tv?? I would dare say that these days especially, kids need time to just be kids! There's too much structure and planning and hurrying.

Life's too short!! Lighten up! Let kids be kids!

Seriously. Those push push push school programs make me really uncomfortable. And the funny thing is the more I talk to parents about them, the less I like the idea. We're just really glad to be where we're at!

Miracles

"A miracle is an extraordinary event caused by the power of God.
Miracles are an important element in the work of Jesus Christ. They include healings, restoring the dead to life, and resurrection. Miracles are a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Faith is necessary in order for miracles to be manifested" (Guide to the Scriptures, 165).

Last Sunday in Primary we got talking about miracles. Since the conversation miracles have been on my mind a lot.

In Primary we were actually talking about remembering the Savior during the Sacrament. I found a great talk by Elder Holland that really helped me realize how I could do a better job of being focused during the Sacrament. He said:

• Think about the Savior's childhood - and think about your own childhood


• Think about the Savior's parents - and think about your own parnets


• Think about the Savior growing up and learning - and thinking about your growing up and learning.


• Think about miracles he did - and think about miracles in your own life


• Think about how he taught - and think about lessons you need to teach


• etc.

When I got to the miracles all the Senior Primary kids gave me this look like I was speaking Greek. I said to them: "What? You guys haven't seen miracles?"

We got into an interesting conversation about miracles and whether or not we have miracles today. It made me think that we need to make sure we're telling our children when we see miracles happen!

I think we had a bit of a miracle this week. We drove back from Lethbridge in the middle of the biggest snowfall we've had here in 10 years...and the roads were amazing. And when we got home there were no drifts blocking our way into our neighborhood, like so many other people in Calgary experienced. The sidewalk and roadway in front of our house was actually almost bare! At least there was enough bare space that we could park, unpack, and move the car with no problems at all. All this week I've gone to places where the roads are just terrible and people get stuck in huge piles of snow....but we haven't had any of these problems. It's a miracle!! I really think the Lord has been looking out for us this week. It's like we had a cloud of safety over us - while the clouds showered down snow everywhere else. I can't say if it was a real miracle or not...but I sure am grateful

Reminds me of the Israelites:

Ex. 40: 34-38

34 ¶ Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.

38 For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

Good Books!

We are reading the greatest books these days!! It's funny how reading goes through phases. We sometimes travel through these dry deserts where there's nothing great to read anywhere..and then we suddenly find we're in a feast of great books! We're feasting right now. :0)

A friend introduced us to the Hank Zipzer books. They're hilarious! Peirce and I are reading Niagra Falls, Or Does It? They're by Henry Winkler...and if that isn't cool enough by itself I don't know what is! The books are laugh out loud funny. We get a good chuckle going every chapter, it seems!




Jill and I are reading Number the Stars again. We picked that book for the school book club. Can't wait to discuss it with them! I love reading books with Jill.

Not since March 1998!!

In March 1998 I was pregnant with Jill - and we had a doozie of a snow storm. The one this weekend rivals that one!! It's not that cold...but man, is there a lot of snow! Today we drove from Lethbridge back to Calgary. The highways were good...but when you get into the city streets, especially the side streets, it's a challenge! So much for our mild winter!

Here are a few pictures I borrowed from other websites! The links are noted under each picture.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/your_weather/details/620/1665440/3/caab0049?ref=ugc_city_thumbs

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/your_weather/details/620/1665448/2/caab0049

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/your_weather/details/620/1665460/lethbridge,%20ab/upload/

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/your_weather/details/620/1664508/5/caab0049

School Book Club

I've wanted to do this for so long...and finally have the chance!



I'm paired up with a teacher and we're doing an extra curricular club....grade 4-6 book club. It's so fun!



Today we discussed The Invention of Hugo Cabaret. It's so fun to discuss books with kids! For an activity we played, "I'm reading Hugo Cabaret and I've read about....."


A=Automaton
B=Booth (as in toy booth)
C=clocks
D=drawings
E=Etienne
F=France
G=gar (as in train station?)
H=Hugo
I=

....and so on and so on!

It was fun!

Sunday Seven - November 29, 2009

This is what I'm grateful for this week!

1. Recreational Therapists. I have marvelled for days, at what a wonderful surprise we got visiting my dad on Thursday this week.

2. In-laws who let us stay at their house so often these days. We go visit my dad every week and tend to stay at their house during our visits. They're so accomodating, and kind, and provide great food! :0)

3. Amazing Weather. I am stunned at how warm it still is! Up until now we've had no snow on the ground here...and most days my kids just wear a hoodie to school. It's a nice change after last winter! We got some snow Friday. How long will it stick around??

4. Flexibility. I'm so glad that we have flexible work schedules. Of course, that sometimes means that we work far most than most people, it seems. But on days when we can take the kids out of school and take off for the day, I'm so grateful for it! Just have to keep that in mind on those long working days I guess!

5. Christmas Lights. My neighbors have their Christmas lights up and on nwo and it's so nice when I'm working late at night to sit and look at the lights. I remember when Peirce was younger and was so crazy about Christmas lights. I think I'm crazy about them too! (Well, to be clear, I'm crazy about looking at them - but apparently NOT crazy about putting them up!)

6. Good health. I seem to be surrounded by all sorts of people with health challenges these days...and I'm so grateful that I've enjoyed good health. What a challenge it can be for some!

7. Skype. My sister made me download Skype a little while ago. I can't believe we didn't do this sooner! It's so fun to talk on Skype to my dad and mom and my sister and her family. I have a friend that is living in Australia right now and we talk on Skype too. Amazing little tool!! And the best part: it's free!!