All Big Girls Now

So the big girls have become tweens, and the little girls have become big girls.

I would definitely say their adjustment to the move has been easier than their big sisters, which is about what I expected. Their new school is not a whole lot different from their old school - just a lot newer but since it's in the same district, things operate relatively the same. They are in 2nd grade and this year ride the bus home. After a fiasco of not getting off the bus in the right place the first two days of school, they gave it another try about a month later and now get off where most of the neighborhood kids get off. The kids often run around and play. Reagan begs me to stay every day, and Ashley begs me to go home every day. She's ready to go home I guess. Ashley has a really good friend, Robyn, that she met at swim team this summer and they have been great friends this year. Ashley loves it that the girl has really blond hair like her. And they are both nutty so they get along great. Reagan is mostly friends with a bunch of boys this year, with her closest friend being Tate. They are just adorable and love hanging out together.

They've each also had a bit of stardom this year. Last summer they both went to musical theater camp and got to do the play Frozen. Is that not every little girl's dream? Well, Reagan had several smaller parts, including a brief Teen Elsa, a Troll, and a snowflake in Let It Go. Ashley, to our surprise mainly because of her young age, played Anna!! She was grown-up Anna, and came in at the part where the parents died. For someone who is terrified in front of people, but has an AMAZING voice, she did fabulous. I don't know how she did all those lines, except the fact that she's seen the movie 1,000 times probably helped a lot! It was very cool to watch my littlest child up there on stage singing her heart out as Anna. She caught the bug and wants to do more so hopefully this next year we will get her more involved with acting and singing. 

Reagan, too, is a born performer. This year she is part of the dance studio company with her big sister Mackenzie. At 7 years old (now 8), Reagan is the youngest girl in the competition group but she is just as good as her whole Apprentice Company group. In fact, she has tremendous stage presence! I always tell her I'm not letting her ever quit dance because I think she really shines. So she got to go to San Antonio this past December for their big competition. They received the Judges Choice Award for their category, dancing to Kids in America!

They also are in Girl Scouts this year as Brownie Scouts. Just as we retired from my older girls' troop, I started over and am now one of the co-leaders of Ashley and Reagan's troop. It's going ok - once again the troop needs some work, not a lot unlike the last one at first, but I think they are overall enjoying it. Sometimes I personally tire of it, but I think it's a good experience and they will look back on it with fond memories so I guess for now we will keep going.

Also this year Reagan played on an all-boy basketball team (thanks to me not signing her up on time in the girls' league) and she did quite well. I've realized she plays great defense in sports. She misses soccer but it doesn't quite work out with dance. Not sure if she'll go back to basketball but she was an integral player for the team. 

Ashley has been taking a tumbling class. She says she doesn't like it (though I think she would say that about anything she has to go to at this point - just like her sister Kaitlyn was!). But I see potential for her in gymnastics and I think it suits her. Not sure if she will do it next year or not. 

So this has been what these girls have been up to this school year, which will be coming to a close shortly! That and these girls turned 8 in January! So that means they are finally in Senior Primary at church and they were baptized in February! (But I'll save all that for a separate post.)

The Tweens

Shortly after we moved, my big girls turned 11, and shortly after that they started middle school. I've already written about some of the adjustments of going to middle school and having to make new friends. Overall it's gotten better and I'm proud of the choices they are making. It is still weird to me that they are growing up this fast. Phones, lockers, FaceTime, ID badges, occasional makeup. 

They had a pool party for their birthday and that included a lot of their elementary school and dance friends plus a few boys.

They went to sleep away camp for the first time and had the time of their lives!

Shortly after it was back to school. Middle school. In a new neighborhood. They spent a lot of birthday money decorating lockers. Apparently that is the thing but they've quickly realized how some of it just gets in the way and isn't functional. And yet the kids still do it. But the chandeliers have come down. Pretty sure I predicted that one. They've both made some new friends and overall are liking middle school. Kaitlyn LOVES how it is structured. She is very happy to be out of elementary and enjoying a few new friends that she has made. Mackenzie kind of misses the old structure plus her 5th grade year she had really good friends so she misses them too. But what amazes me is her constant keeping up with her old friends. How lucky they are to have modern technology that keeps them in constant contact. But she's made  a new group of friends at this school as well. And both have found a great group of girls from church, most of which are in their grade at their school.

Mackenzie has joined the book club, Kaitlyn has joined the art club, and both recently participated in the school musical, The Little Mermaid. Both were sea creatures in the chorus. Mackenzie was some type of coral perhaps? And Kaitlyn ended up being a squid, though she oddly resembled Captain Jack Sparrow!

I think they are doing well as they head into the home stretch of 6th grade. They had New Beginnings at church last night, which is a special evening where the new girls going into the youth program are presented to the Young Women. It is just around the corner! We are all excited!

And this picture makes me realize it is worth mentioning - in the last 1.5 years, Mackenzie has had major growth spurts. She is 5'5"! Of course we are a tall family. What is kind of more odd is that Kaitlyn has not grown all that much. So right now they are at about a 5" difference. Twins! It's kind of crazy. But they are both beautiful and adorable. (I know - how could I not think that?)

OK, I keep ending my post and then wanting to add to it. The other thing I would like to mention is that almost immediately upon moving last summer, and these girls finally getting their own rooms, these two have developed an actual friendship. They get along so much better now! They don't really have that much in common, but last summer I noticed them watching TV kind of with their legs resting on one another (a shock as you can imagine!). And would you believe that on weekends, they take turns sleeping in each others' rooms? They told me that even though they don't have much in common, they realized they can have fun just hanging out. What a blessing and answered prayer! Makes my heart so happy! They for sure still have their moments, but honestly most of the time they are getting along just fine. Score for our family!

Comfort Zones, Insecurities and New Beginnings

So we've been in our house for 7 months now. I finally feel like I am starting to belong. And I think so are my kids. But it has been slow. Even though I only moved 10 minutes away, that 10 minutes meant new a new neighborhood, new neighbors, new schools and a semi-new church (we knew a handful of people at church already). And we know lots of people across the neighborhood, but in my little section of our neighborhood we really didn't know anyone. 

So the little girls (who I think I'm going to have to come up with some other term for because they just turned 8 and they really are not babies) have probably had the easiest adjustment. They have each made a handful of new friends. They do talk about missing their old school, but I think their new one is just as good. 

The older girls started middle school and barely knew anyone. Now THAT was hard. I knew it would be. All the girls from the 3 feeding elementary schools really stuck together with the kids they already knew, and so it's been hard for my girls. And then there was some girl drama that we had to deal with too, which I won't go into but made it even harder, particularly for one of mine. But at the same time they have slowly been getting to know people and have made some friends that they seem happy with and enjoy being around. It does make me wonder if the "click'y" girls' walls will ever come down. I'm sure for some it will. For others they will probably always remain that way.

And then there's me. I, too, have had my adjustments. I haven't gotten to know many people at church yet, even though I've MET lots of people, because I've been teaching primary (again) for the last 6 months. Though I've just been asked to work in the women's activity committee and already I am getting to know more people. 

I have volunteered a little at the elementary school, and around November I noticed that the lady at the front desk knew who I was. That felt good. It started giving me a sense of belonging.

But in the neighborhood, well, it's been a bit daunting. I have met several around me and on my street that are all very nice and easy to talk to. Not too many on my street with kids the same age. We talk here and there. 

And then there is the bus stop. That's where MOST of the elementary kids get off - like 20 kids at one stop. So it's been a great way to get to know people. And everyone's very nice. But I will be honest - for the first time in a very long time, I have felt pretty intimidated! We moved from what is basically

a sister neighborhood, developed by the same company. In my old neighborhood though, it was very diverse with many people from many different countries. Talk about a melting pot! But I also felt like it was so easy to be me. In my new neighborhood, where I have more in common with people around me, it is also a bit more keep up with the Joneses. I knew it was and I've never been one to really care, but I find myself caring. Caring in the sense that I wonder how others are perceiving me because I don't wear designer sunglasses (guess what I got for Christmas), I'm in my on it's last leg mini-van that probably only has another year to go, and I don't get my nails done. I have no problem with these things, but I don't really get into them. 

So I feel a bit like I'm trying to fit in with the popular moms. But the truth is, I bet they don't care or even notice. At least most of them. So it's me and my own insecurities. It has made me feel a bit like I'm in high school. Maybe it's because a lot of people FROM my high school live out here! (NOT the reason we moved over!) But seriously, it's me. I think as I get to know them better and develop genuine friendships that those things will slowly melt away. 

But it's funny what change can do to you. Being the new girl on the block is always tough. It's exciting though, too. I needed a change in my life. I don't regret my decision at all. And it's good to stretch and grow. I really didn't like the prospect of staying where I was for 10+ more years while all my kids went through school. I felt like I would always wonder how it would have been different if we had done something different. So we did. And we live in this gorgeous, wooded neighborhood that is hard to find in the suburbs. So glad for our decision! Here's to stretching and growing and doing something new!

I'm Not Much of a Mama Bear

For the last 6 weeks, it seems I've had numerous circumstances arise that require the mama bear in me to come out. Only there's one problem - I'm not much of a mama bear. I absolutely hate conflict. It gives me anxiety and makes me feel like I'm going to pass out. I also tend to shrug a lot off because things just don't affect me that greatly most of the time. Don't get me wrong - I will speak up when I need to, I just don't like to. It doesn't come naturally to me. I stay away from conflict for the most part. The unfortunate thing is, sometimes it may not be necessary but maybe what I have to say or my opinion might be valuable. In fact I know it is.

But back to what's been going on lately. I'm having to speak up and deal with so many things and people. Some of this goes back to the girl drama. That was one of the hardest issues for me. And I won't disclose too much to protect those involved but after a month of my daughter coming home with all kinds of stories, I finally knew it was time to speak to the mother, who was my friend. All in all it went well, thankfully. I'm glad I said something. Still not sure how it will all come out in the end, but I know I did the right thing. 

But now there's another kid with another daughter. She'd been telling me things lately too. While out trick or treating, I saw him push her the minute she came near him. For no reason. It was all kind of chaotic and I was right there so I gave him a bit of a talking to. It's hard because the parent in this case is someone I'm just starting to get to know and don't know how to even approach it. 

Then in gymnastics I had to speak up because I don't think my daughter's instructors who are more interested in chit chatting with each other than they are teaching the kids should be allowed to continue to do that. So I addressed it. The gym is offering me a few free makeup classes. Glad I spoke up. 

In my 6th grader's ELA class, they read a book aloud in class and she told me about a line in there that I find to be inappropriate. Sigh. Why? Why is there something inappropriate for required reading? This is the last thing I want to let go, but after looking fort her into it I think it was pretty much one line in the whole book said by a character that's supposed to be kind of a jerk, so I'm going to let it slide. I probably shouldn't, but I am. 

There have been a few other things as well. Things just keep happening and I'm tired of it. But I also think I guess I need to just suck it up and deal with what I gotta deal with. I know - I'm my child's biggest advocate. Don't worry - I AM speaking up - I just wish the world were perfect so I didn't have to. 

A Simpler Time

So, I obviously am not doing so well on my blog anymore. It has been more of a chore to keep up with, I feel like I just always have other things to do. No harm I guess but I regret that too because I LOVE going back through my blog books and reading the craziness that was and is our life.

But for the last several months I've wanted to write several entries, none of which are about our crazy life. They are more about thoughts that I have. I want to write about what I feel I've been enlightened on regarding sacrifice. I want to write about girl drama. I want to write about the state of the world. And I want to write about lamenting over a simpler time.

Sometimes I feel almost sad about the complexity of our lives. We're busy, and that's fine. But it's all the excess of everything. Everything is over the top. Over done. Parents wanting their kids to do all the fun stuff before they are ready. Because I think it is the parents who just can't wait.

I took our older girls who are 11 to the recent Taylor Swift concert. Our 7-yr-olds, who like Taylor Swift, were left at home. Why? Well, for 4 girls plus 2 adults that's a lot of money. But also do they really care if they miss a Taylor Swift concert? No. They will barely remember it and doubtfully appreciate it. We got home at 12:30 on a school night. Um, that would not have worked out too well for those little girls. There was a child that looked to be about 4 not far from us at the concert. At 10pm the child was crying and so miserable. Of course they were! What did the parents think? Not trying to judge others - I'm sure they were well-intended, but really it was poor judgment to bring a young child to a late and very loud concert. How about the many groups of elementary age girls who came together with their moms in limos? Seriously? And at the same time, if my daughters had a group of friends who all wanted to do that and someone put it together, I'm not sure I wouldn't let them. But I would think it was silly and excessive. I might make them pay for their share of the limo.

I know it's all in fun but why do people get so caught up in this kind of thing? Why are many 40-year-olds STILL obsessed with going out and having a good time, constantly? We all like to have fun, but you know what I mean - the ones who it seems every weekend they are going to some place and posting about and they're all decked out. Is this lifestyle really this important to them?

Why must in some sporting games the snack parent of the week have two bring two snacks per child? Why must we provide pizza and dessert in girl scouts unless it's a special event? Why must a birthday party at 2pm provide pizza? Why must a holiday party at school provide an entire meal with chicken nuggets and 2 capri suns per child when it is after lunch? Why must we have more stuffed animals than a zoo has animals (because everyone keeps giving them to my kids)? It is insane.

And there's technology. Ugh. I have a love/hate relationship with technology. I LOVE social media. I was hooked on email before most people had email. What can I say - I was in college and a boy at a different college talked me into getting set up with an email account. I was the only one of all my friends that had one at first. Facebook - hooked. Candy crush - hooked. Not a huge texter but do it plenty. Do not care for iPad. Staying away from Twitter, Instagram and all other similar stuff, for now. Thankfully pinterest only frustrates me and I really only like it if I'm looking for ideas for something specific. But I check my phone now all the time. I hate it. And I can't stop. At every red light I look at it. Why?? We watch TV now and play on our phones at the same time. What are we doing? I carry it around in my pocket all the time. Is that what my children constantly see of me? Me looking at my phone or me at the computer. I hate it but I don't know how to not have it. And now my older girls have phones. I think it is the smartphone that I hate. I hate what it has done to our society. I hate trying to figure out how to monitor all this with my kids.

I want to go back to the 80's. Not because those were my coming of age years, but I honestly loved that decade. Yeah it definitely wasn't perfect, but it was awesome. I miss the culture. I hate the "anything goes" culture of today. I'm tired of looking at women on TV with their dresses cut down to their belly button. I hate all the piercings. I hate all the tattoos. I hate the division within our country. I hate the disrespect. I hate the apathy of so many. I hate what's on TV. I hate the movies. Everything pushes the limit and goes beyond what I ever dreamed would be a reality. Tried watching the new Muppet Show with my kids this week. Had to turn it off after 7 minutes. Not only was it not funny but I found about 5 inappropriate moments that quickly. Did I miss something? Was this marketed to adults? And if not, then what are these writers thinking? The lines were subtle, many of which would go over a kid's head, but it was like slowly infiltrating the kids without them knowing it.

I hate all this terrorism crap. Who doesn't? I hate the political correctness. And don't get me wrong - I am not one to be insensitive and offend people but our country has lost its marbles. And what about now the city of Houston is voting whether or not men should be able to go in women's restrooms? Are you kidding me? Are there no limits to anything anymore? Are there no boundaries?

I truly lament a simpler time. Yes we have made progress in areas that I'm so thankful for. But I don't like all that comes with it. All I can do is teach my kids what's important in life, how to stand up for what's right. I feel sad that they are growing up in this insanity that now is. Yep. I miss the 80's. I miss 20-foot long phone cords and answering machines. I miss call waiting. I miss rock bands. I miss appropriate TV and good family shows (not the stupid crap that comes on Disney and Nick now). I miss patriotism. I miss simple VCR's and even DVD players. Now we have 5 different ways to play movies and half the time can't get it to work right. I miss there being no such thing as iCloud (which I'm pretty sure comes from Satan). I miss getting filmed developed and not taking over 1500 pictures per year. I just miss a simpler time. And the 80s had really cheesy but awesome music.

I'm sorry if this post was really negative. It is frustrating to me. I think every generation kind of misses the way things once were, or thinks the generation before was maybe a little better. At least I have my memories, but it gets to me. Ever wonder what things will be like when we're old? What a crazy world we live in. I am thankful though - our new home is on this huge lots and has dozens of super tall trees. It is so serene out here, and yet we are right in the suburbs. I feel like our move has at least brought a little bit of good old USA back into my life. My kids get off the bus stop with about 20 kids and they all play and moms bring out cookies and cupcakes. It's like a little slice of heaven. So I will end there. But my life is blessed. I'm happy and I am thankful. But miss a simpler time, for sure.

Getting Used to the New House

The first half of the summer was really spent doing swim team, unpacking (slowly) and swimming outside in our new pool. And I must say it is so nice to just step outside and swim when you want, without packing up all the gear and all the kids. But we are loving our new backyard. It's huge and heavily wooded and feels almost like a little resort.

My friend Gena and her daughter Julia came over and brought us this yummy cake to welcome us - so thoughtful! We are happy to be here. And we've met a few of our neighbors and so far everyone seems really nice.

Along with the house came a play set and fort so the kids have enjoyed something new to play on.

And then there's the pool. Lots of swimming going on.

The previous owners had a party before they left and left us a ton of beach balls that just spin circles in our pool all the time. Are you impressed that Kaitlyn can hold 5 of them at once?

Mike got a hammock for Father's Day. The kids are thoroughly enjoying his present.

Cousins came over on July 4th. Love having a pool to entertain with! It's so great when people come over and we can just swim and hang out by the pool. We ARE discovering what it's like to be pool owners though. We've had no rain and the water keeps evaporating and then the cleaner doesn't work when that happens. And then our deck actually sunk!! After all the flooding 2 months ago and now the ground is dry and cracking, it cratered! So...that was great. But we'll deal with that later I guess. But still enjoying it overall!

And lastly I must mention all the creatures. Lots of creepy crawly things, especially lizards (Kaitlyn was so happy!). Also large bugs like this one (stink bug maybe?). Squirrels of course. And rabbits that actually hop around our back yard! What's up, doc?

It's kind of like living out in the country, only we're close to everything! Not complaining! 

A Different Kind of Summer

Between us moving and all my many ailments that, while somewhat better, are still plaguing me, we are just having a different kind of summer. 

We don't really have a vacation planned, mostly to save money because, let's face it, moving costs a lot. We will probably go somewhere small later in the summer, but it's already the second week of July and nothing is planned as of yet.

I am having problems with my big toe and have been limping around for 7 months too. So lots of things I think about doing (like waterparks and anywhere else that require a lot of walking) sound like torture.

So what HAVE we been doing?

We joined a new swim team. In some ways it was better and in some ways left me missing Sugar Creek. Our new neighborhood has two swim teams. One competes in the same league as our last, but the team had filled up and we couldn't get in. So we tried the other one. The other team only swims within itself. I have to say, I loved the coaching and practices and it was a great fit in that sense for my girls. It also was less intense than swimming in the league and allowed particularly my older girls to shine a little more which made it a good experience for them. Plus the park right next to the practice pool was a lot of fun and my girls enjoyed playing around there every day while the others were in practice. 

The downside - the team just wasn't as fun. The meets were quick and just a few of them (which many see as a plus) but there was no team spirit, no rivalry, no RELAYS, and you just kind of went and swam and went home. No Friday fun days, no team breakfast or pizza party day. Ribbons were awarded differently and took some getting used to.

The younger girls are now proficient in backstroke and can kind of breaststroke. Learning the strokes always makes for a challenging season but they did well.

Mackenzie made great improvements this year. She has also become quite competitive in breast stroke and she is really holding her own now in swimming.

Kaitlyn had a great season. She swam consistently all season and qualified for the Meet of Champions in all 4 strokes PLUS in a 50 free that she/we chose not to swim so she could not wear herself out for her other events. It paid off because she won the gold in backstroke!

There WAS an end of season awards party that basically got rained out. But my kids DID get some nice awards and it WOULD have been a lot of fun had the weather cooperated. Kaitlyn won MVP for her age group on the Red Team, and Reagan won Most Improved for her age group on the Read Team.

We will most likely switch to the league team in this neighborhood next year. Not sure if the older girls will do it. Otherwise we've been hanging out at the house, and going to their regular dance and skating activities. A few camps are planned but not as many as in the past. (Those camps are so darn expensive!) But the girls all tell me they're enjoying summer so I guess all is well!