It’s Summer Time!
OMG! My first year with the girls all summer, every day, all day long. I’m freaking out. How is this going to go. I’m use to having a break, and time to focus on me. I’m preparing myself for the worse. However, it has turned out to be a great summer, one of the best! I take my “me time” in the morning with my walks and workout then off to the races. I can’t believe how busy we have stayed. Month of June flew by, and I’m not really sure what we’ve done. I wanted to sign them up for a bunch of things, but man it’s expensive! So I picked what would be best, and then decided I’ll fill in the gaps with something. We started summer off with Volleyball camp and their dance recital. As always Payton does it again and does well listening and participating. She may not always get it, but boy does she try, and that’s all any of us ask for. The girls have their first dance recital in the books, and they did great! Payton was all about the make-up, but Olivia was not. Which is fine and what we love about our dance studio is that is was ok to not wear. We then started soccer on Saturday’s. I think Olivia has found her thing. I have never seen the girl be so competitive and run. She cracks me up! She said she doesn’t want to do tumbling anymore because her legs get too tired, but she wants to do soccer. Ok girl!
I went with some other moms who have special needs kids to a painting night for special needs parents. It was fun! We got to talk and then just paint and be in our own moments. Another parent from Axis was there who I haven’t seen in forever because we’re at different locations now. I had so much fun catching up with her. We reconnected and it was so good! We made the tough decision to have Olivia start therapy. When we went in there I wasn’t for sure if it was the right decision. The therapist was great though. She said we’ll see how it goes, and if it doesn’t work that’s ok. She really put my mind at ease. I know Olivia struggles with all the emotions and attention. I don’t ever want her to feel like we don’t care. We try so hard to make it even, but we’re far from perfect. Sometimes I suspect we expect too much from Olivia, and that’s not fair. She is a great sister! However, I feel she needs an outlet too. I know when I go to my therapy I feel better. It’s nice to talk to someone who has no opinions and listens. So far it’s going well. She doesn’t mind going. I am thinking she likes it, because it is “her thing” that she gets one on one time with someone. She sees Payton getting one on one time at her therapies, so I think she feels this is hers.
On Monday’s we’ve been going to a friend’s house in the afternoon. It’s fun for us to catch up and see each other. During the school year we both teach; so it’s hard for us to find the time. The girls love her to death. They finally get to spend the night! Oh boy what fun it is. Vacation Bible School has come around again and yep! They are in love with it. Olivia has already asked what the theme will be next year. I’m so glad they love the program. I have started making it a goal to go back to church at least once a month then keep moving up from there. I know that may sound weird to some of you, but it can be difficult. A cool new thing our church is doing is a program on Sunday’s where the kids can go out during the readings and gospel then come back. Awesome! We will make a Sunday. So far I’ve been reaching my church goal.
Next up swim lessons. Oh boy we’re going to the public pool for this. I’m nervous. We’ve done private lessons for the last three years at my parents’ pool. Payton needed the one-on-one and it was great for both kids. Not to mention, at the public pool there are slides that they won’t be able to go down. A pretty big ask for a 6 & 7 year old. This public pool will be another adventure I’m not sure I’m ready for. The beginner’s lessons were too beginner for them, so I decide to sign them up another two weeks for the intermediate. It has been a great experience for them to be introduced to the public pool plus I made a new friend. It was so much fun talking with her during lessons. Now at intermediate I’m by myself, not great, but it’s a good time for blog writing. They are doing great at intermediate! So it is time for me to face my fears and take them to the public pool. Thank goodness for my amazing neighbor. I’m asking her so many questions. She responds and doesn’t seem to mind. She tells me pool check is every hour 20 minutes after the hour. Ok. I can do this. We go right at 12:30 when the pool opens, and we can leave at pool check. Day 1 and it’s not that busy. OMG though I forgot about all the rules! I mean we have rules at my parents’ pool, but it’s a little different. They want to go into the deep end who can blame them. They are used to going into at least 6 feet and diving for sinkies; however, at the public pool we can’t just jump in so trying to explain that was difficult. I told them they had to stay in one area. They did ok. Then of course Olivia sees the slide. She’s begging me. OK let’s go see if you’re tall enough, and of course they are. So they are going down it. I said ok time to be done for a while. Then Olivia this me with, “Mom I want to go down the slide, but I don’t want you right there.” Ok my independent child. So both girls go; and of course, I’m watching like a hawk. They do well. I’m watching Payton, and she is cracking me up. She checks her height each time like she has shrunk or something. The pool is starting to get busy, and I’m having a hard time keeping them entertained. So pool check came, and we left. I took them to my parents’ pool to run out some left over energy. They are in Heaven here; and they get to use the deep end. I survived! I know now I will be ok.
With our Big Cat team getting ready to join the Special Olympics bowling competition, we start using the Kids Bowl Free. It’s amazing they get two free games, and we pay for the shoes. The girls love it. I did another first. I let Olivia invite a friend, and we take another one of Payton’s softball teammate with us that will also be a Big Cat. I decide ok, I’ll take them to McDonald’s first and then bowl. Ok me and four kids by myself. I can do this. It turned out great! I survived again another new experience. They loved every minute of bowling. Then of course we had to play some arcade games.
We have a sleepover with our cousins. I picked a weekend where Jimmy is gone. Not great planning on my end. I again survived with 7 kids by myself. Of course it rained so we couldn’t go to the pool. The basement kept them occupied for only so long. Then it cleared up, so we were able to go outside. Olivia has been practicing riding with no training wheels on her bike, and she’s doing great. We have a bigger bike that we’ve had, and she hasn’t been ready for it. Well the time has come, and she’s ready. She sees her cousins riding them, and she jumps on one and takes off. Way to go girlfriend. Payton has not shown any interest in taking her training wheels off, so we’ll wait another summer to try. Her attention span makes us scared that we’d be forcing it; and we don’t want to scare her away by trying too early.
