Sleeping, Sweating and Selling

Saturday was very busy for us. We usually try to keep our Saturdays stress free and quiet, but sometimes ya just can't help it!

I went downstairs to wake Beth up and I even turned on my camera before I got there so it wouldn't wake her. But she heard me anyway and put her pillow over her head! The turkey.

We had breakfast, then it was time for Athletics. The coach had called us the night before to tell us that Beth didn't make it to State. In the past, any athlete who got a gold or silver medal, went on to the State Tournament. We don't know if it's due to a lack of volunteers or budget cuts or what, but a lot of kids don't get to go this year. It's kind of sad and some of the coaches are going to complain. One of our coaches had to tell his daughter that for the first time in 7 years, even though she got a silver medal, she couldn't go. This is Beth's first year in Athletics so she doesn't know what she's missing. We'll keep taking her to practice so hopefully next year she'll make it to State.

I keep forgetting to put Beth's location on the photos.

In this one she's near the center of the picture, in the pink hoodie, purple sweat pants and the teal headband.

After Athletics practice, we headed home for lunch. I had promised her youth choir director that we would take a turn manning the flower sale. For a fundraiser, some of the youth sold flowers for Mother's Day and people could pick up their flowers on Saturday or Sunday. Most people opted for Sunday; can't say I blame them. But that sure made for a pretty boring Saturday afternoon!

When someone came for a plant, we'd put their receipt into the envelope, then put the envelope into the folder.

The long list of plants and all the people who bought them.

Just some of the plants waiting to be picked up.

We left the church and went to the grocery store. Came home, put away all the groceries, then fixed dinner. It was a long, fun day!

New Kid on the Block

I had a meeting on Saturday so Chuck and Sharaya took Beth to Athletics. They said that Beth was the newest one to join because the coach introduced her to everyone! Sharaya brought her camera and took lots of pcitures for me! Well, and for you too when you think about it! :)

Everyone gathered for instructions.

Stretching. We need to work on technique.

Plus her clothes weren't appropriate. I had seen some sweat pants at the store and had the girls pick some up when they took Beth shopping. Unfortunately the store was out of them so they got some that looked the same. We'll need to find something different before next Saturday.

The 100 yard dash.

Getting her instructions for the softball throw.

You can see the ball between the trees just above her hand.

Papa's pen!!

Allison running like Aunt Bethy!

On the 500 meter walk.

Did You Ever Spit Wash a Smudge?

Yesterday was the first day of Athletics! We were so excited! Even Sharaya and Allison decided to come watch Beth practice. (Diana had to work so couldn't come with us.) The pounding rain should have been our first clue. We hopped in the car and drove to the school. No one was there. The place was empty except for two people running on the track. We thought they were absolutely out of their minds. It was pouring!!

We decided to drive over to a far corner of the parkinglot where two guys were standing out in the rain next to their cars. I opened the door (our windows don't always roll down. Sometimes they do. But our windows don't always roll up) and asked if they knew where the Special Olympics were practicing. Turns out he was the coach! Given the pouring rain, they decided to cancel for today. We'll all meet again next week. Same bat time. Same bat channel. (Does anybody else get that?) Anyway, at least the seagulls were having a great time!

 

Today was youth choir rehearsal. I had a meeting after church for work (I work at our church) so Chuck brought Beth to choir. I waited in the foyer for her then walked her down. I should know better. She's grown up here. Why on earth would I think she wouldn't know where the room was?! As we're walking down the stairs she asked me, "Same room?" Um... yea. I felt like I was treating her like a 7 year old. Cause I was.

The door way was filled with kids in and out, lots of noise. I asked her if she wanted me to come in. She shook her head no and kept walking. I sort of yelled after her, "Remember to turn off your cell phone!" She looked back at me like I had just spit washed a smudge off her face in front of Nick Jonas.

She's Coming Out of Her Shell

Beth's alarm went off at 8 this morning. Her second alarm went off at 8:30. (She has a new alarm clock, but we're trying it out to see if she can work it. It doesn't look like it's gonna work for her.) I went down at 9:00 and she was still alseep. I woke her up, turned on the light, took off her covers. At 9:15 she was STILL asleep. Sure enough, her bus came right at 9:29. She scrambled, well... she moved around while grumbling, but she made it out on time. Whew.

And now, the house is quiet. I'm alone and will be for the next oh, 5-6 hours. That doesn't happen very often. Chuck's at work. Wednesday is Beth's long day. She goes to karaoke and art with All Aboard and it's about 20 minutes north of us. Beth is usually the first to be picked up and then they pick up others along the way. Karaoke doesn't start until 11, but Beth is picked up at 9:30. Then art class ends at 4:00 and by the time Beth gets home, it's sometimes close to 6:00. She loves it though! Diana and Sharaya have gone to Canada for the day. Just to do some shopping and hang out together. The border is a 2 hour drive from here so they'll be gone a while.

Beth had her first choir rehearsal on Sunday. She was so nervous. She wanted me to stay with her, but I'm too shy! There was no way I was going to be the only parent sitting in a room of high schoolers! But I went in with her. She took her choir application (she filled out the whole thing by herself!) to Miss Terri and she found a seat in the Alto section. I stayed until rehearsal started then went upstairs to wait. She came out with the music to Step In Time from Mary Poppins! She was so excited! I asked if Miss Terri had given it just to her and she said, "They passed 'em down to everybody." I asked her if they were singing it on Sunday (highly unlikely) but she said, "I dunno." I asked what Miss Terri said when they passed them out. "I dunno." (Beth doesn't have good recall skills. She can answer the phone, talk with the person, but even as soon as she hangs up, you'll ask her what they said, "I dunno." Then we play 20 questions trying to figure out who it was and what they wanted.) I haven't told Beth this but I think they're singing that song in their big fundraiser coming up in a few weeks. They've been working on it for months and Beth won't be doing it since she just joined. So we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

I've been trying to get Beth to open up more and talk to people. Which is really hard for me because I'm more shy than she is! I told her to say hi to the person who sits next to her. "All you have to say is, 'Hi I'm Beth.' But she said no one sat next to her. Sniff. :(

BUT, on Tuesday we were on our way to the grocery store and she says, "I told Tammi about choir." After a little investigation, "Who's Tammi?" She told one of her teammates at bowling, that she has joined the youth choir!! She said Tammi said "Cool" and gave her a high 5!! I understand her not talking to anyone at choir cause she doesn't know them yet, but she took the initiative to talk to someone she is comfortable with. I'm so glad! She was too! You could tell. She had the look of, 'I talked to someone and it worked!'

And this Saturday starts Athletics with Special Olympics. It's Track and Field but for some reason they call it Athletics. I'm a little concerned because we need to bring a copy of her sports physical but she didn't get one this year. I know, I know. Bad parenting. I called to make an appointment for one but their next opening isn't until April. So I scheduled it, but I hope they still let her participate.

But for today, I'm all alone. In the quiet. Can you see me smiling right now? :) Sigh. No deadlines. No meetings. No requests. Just.... quiet. (I even bought some chocolate at the grocery store last night! Didn't tell anyone!) So now I'm going to go put in a movie, grab a big fuzzy blanket, hop into Chuck's recliner (best seat in the house!) and open that chocolate!!

Wanna join me?

Big Changes on the Way!

No, no I'm not pregnant. My kids are having kids. I'm a Nana, remember? :)

There are some big changes on the way for Beth.

Diana has recently lost about 30 pounds and is getting the rest of us excited about changing our food and exercising more. She bought Beth a food journal and she's writing in it every day. She's going on the treadmill a few times a week, she's sleeping in her bed again; she's starting to make good choices about her life.

The youth choir is singing in our Sunday services next week so Beth will start rehearsing the following week. You have to rehearse for a few weeks before you're able to sing on a Sunday. Too many people only want to sing in front of the congregation without putting in the work. She was a little disappointed that she couldn't practice with them tonight, but she understood. Her first rehearsal will be on March 6.

I called yesterday to sign Beth up for Special Olympics Athletics (Track). She says she wants to run and do the shot put. I'm afraid her weight will keep her from doing well in the relays, but if she wants to try, we'll definitely let her. So on March 12 she starts Athletics!

With her new diet and all the extra exercise I know we're gonna see a huge change in her. We're planning a trip to Colorado and California in September to visit family and I can't for them to see her! I know she's gonna feel better, her clothes will fit better and she'll have more energy. I'm hoping too that it'll get her out of her shell. She's so shy, maybe all the extra activity will make her talk more and she'll have more friends.

I am so absolutely excited about what this year is gonna hold for her!