frozen february

The last six weeks or so have been pretty brutal around here.  Currently we officially have 21 inches of snow in the metro - with more expected this weekend.  The temps have been averaging 20 below normal - which means hovering around 0. Still, despite some cancellations (5 days of school so far), our calendar has remained full, and for that I am thankful. Lydia and I went to see a play - Mr. Popper's Penguins - after reading the book and watching the movie.  Of the three, I liked the book the best.   Lydia had a Valentine's party with some of her girlfriends - and Brett.  Milo got a pet fish - Odell.  The kids had their school carnival and won lots of sugar.  The neighborhood turkey couple got displaced from their normal path.  We went to five films at the omni-theatre at the science museum. There's been plenty of sledding and playing in the snow, and, obviously, wrestling!

Next week is "spring" break.  We're hopefully taking a break from winter and enjoying some "spring" elsewhere!

she did

Who just completed the American Red Cross Learn to Swim Program?

She did.

In order to pass, she was required to:

• swim 500 yards continuously using 3 different strokes, swimming at least 50 yards of each stroke
• jump into deep water, perform a survival float for 5 minutes, roll onto back and perform a back float for 5 minutes
• retrieve an object from the bottom of the pool at a depth of 7-10 feet, and return to the starting point with the object

She knows how to swim 6 different strokes, survival float for 10 minutes, and do different turns while swimming.  And on the first day of her level 6 class, who was the first to confidently stroll down the diving board and dive off?  She was.

And, standing just a smidge over 4 feet tall, who spiked the ball over the net with authority?

She did.