The Swimmer and the Screamer

About the poll- I really do not care. Valerie voted for next year because 2 years is just too long to wait (don't we all know that feeling, girls?! I speak in missionary terms, of course...)

Tomorrow is Valerie's last swim meet-- after tomorrow, it is preparation for Championships. Tuesdays are long enough- get off work at about 1, take Valerie to where ever by 5, then out till 10... she swims the 50 freestyle, 50 breaststroke, 50 backstroke and the 200m relay just about every meet. It is a long night, but not as long as championships.

Champs take all day. They are July 25.

Anyway, the kids get to go off the diving boards on Mondays. They call it "Manic Monday" and it is a super-special treat. This is Valerie diving at sunset.



Asher is a SCREAMER. He would not stop screaming all during sacrament... or gospel doctrine... or priesthood, apparently yesterday. He just sits there, tilts back his head and SCREAMS as loud as possible. I have been trying to ignore it at home, but there is no ignoring it at church. He made up the bulk of the foyer quorum yesterday.

I took the mid shift. He was crawling all over the place- tried to pull himself up using a baby who was walking by (also part of the foyer quorum) and she weighs less than 20 pounds, so I picked up his hands and ungrasped her dress from his hands. He did not mind, but I scared her so she cried. Then Asher crawled to her mom and was getting ready to pull himself up on HER skirt as she was consoling her baby, I could just see the consequences of that... so I moved him over to the omni-present floral sofas. He pulled up on those, then over to the table, where he pulled the tablecloth down... with the flowers, bulletins, and announcements... it was a fun hour, that is for sure. Anyway, in foyer quorum, he did NOT scream.

Anyway, tonight, I was taking pictures of the kids diving and that made me the cool mom. I am generally the cool mom, but tonight, I was extra cool. I am not, however as cool as my friend Kari who goes diving with the kiddos. I do not currently own a bathing suit, nor do I plan to.

Note** I am pretty sure that the lifeguard is not checking out the cool mom. I wonder if he knows they are TWELVE, hello?~**

PS- all of you have daughters, the fun is yet to come, dads. I say start practicing now for what is yet to come.




Valerie flipping off the diving board. This is a huge move forward, she used to do it all the time, then was "scared." I think she tried it tonight for the photo op. Works for me.

Matt continues to work at Ariake USA, I am now working in a lab at JMU. It is great, but very different (lonely!) from working at UVa. I start teaching again at the end of August. I will be teaching 6 classes (a first-ever feat for JMU to have) and Valerie will be starting 7th grade. Asher will be going to a baby sitter 5 days a week and that is KILLING me, but honestly, we have no choice. Maybe one day, but not today...

I am still the Laurels' advisor and Matt is a ward missionary at church. I was supposed to start up an LDSSA at Mary Baldwin, but since I officially quit there 2 weeks ago, that will not be happening now (I don't think).

That is what is up with us. How about an update from everyone else.