July 26th, 2007 - Sloan at Cheer Camp

Yes, it's been another very busy week. I am getting anxious for school to begin - I need some rest!

Sloan had Cheer Camp this week. She was at MRA (her school) Monday through Thursday from 8am to 11:45am (11am today though). She really seemed to enjoy Cheer Camp more this year than she did last year. I think it may be because she actually knew a few people coming into it, last year she was brand new to the school. Regardless, this year the pictures turned out much better.

Will & Evie waited for Sloan to finish yet another performance this week.

Sloan is getter her certificate for attending the camp this week.

Sloan holding her certificate outside on the school grounds.

Evie has Cheer Camp next week. Her program is only 2 days, and for a shorter time period. I am sure she will LOVE it though.

July 25th, 2007 - Belt Ceremony

Sloan's TaeKwondo testing went well & she did get her Yellow Belt. We are very proud of her!!!

Here she's preparing to go in & be presented with her new belt.

One of the Black Belts actually puts her new belt on her.

Sloan steps to the edge of the stage with her new belt on.


Then the students come back out to sit & wait for the rest of the belts to be presented. Evie & Will did not enjoy the wait at all.

July 21st, 2007 - Sloan tests for her Yellow Belt in TaeKwondo

Sloan tested for her Yellow Belt in TaeKwondo today. Now that she's in the junior program these tests appear to be much more serious. She had to perform her "form" and 3 "one-steps". She also had to answer a question from her TaeKwondo manual. While Sloan does read, she's not at manual-reading level by any means, so I was very worried about this segment for her.

Sloan is beginning to perform her "form".



Partners come out for those testing to perform their "one-steps".

These partners are of a higher ranking belt, and know how to perform the necessary moves for the White Belts to be able to react with their "one-steps".


I am not sure what stance this it, but at least I got one out of her...

July 18th, 2007 - teeth & hair...

Sloan lost another tooth today, her upper, right, front tooth . That makes 3 total, and she has her molars coming in right now as well. Faster than she is losing teeth Will is getting them. He has all 8 of his front teeth, 3 back teeth with the last one trying very hard to poke through.

And on the same day Sloan lost a tooth, she lost some hair. Yep, that's right, HAIR. She has cut her hair before, but it was easily fixed when we got her hair cut this summer, it was short, but not THIS short. She has gone and sheared herself down to her scalp. right in front! I have explained to her that this will take a long time to grow out, and it will not look "normal" in time for Cheer Camp or even school for that matter. She told me that she's sad now, not because of her hair, but because I was so dissappointed in her that she won't be able to get a puppy. I know I have said it before, but, I really don't know what I would do if I had more children!

July 17th, 2007 - Another rainy day

It's raining again. Another day spent unable to get errands done. My kids have cabin fever.

So we paint. Sloan got the background of her canvas done & then decided she would like to continue painting. So we used up some of those small containers of paint.

Sloan painted a lion.

Very carefully.

Evie painted too.

She even painted the table some.

I get the feeling Sloan enjoyed the painting.

July 15th, 2007 - End of season Swim Team party

The girls had their end of year swim party for the Cypress Lake Sea Lions. They got to swim, eat pizza & get their trophies. It rained some (but it's been raining for almost a month straight here), but they still got to get everything done. The girls are so proud of their trophies & ribbons that they got this year. They both really did very well.


Sloan with Coach Brea. Brea is so sweet, Nate & I were able to catch one of her swims at a meet & she's very talented as well. The kids keep us so busy at the meets that it's very difficult for us to catch the young coaches swimming, so it was great to get to see at least on of them.


Coach Mary Mac. The girls, especially Evie, would talk about Mary Mac almost every day.

Coach Bethany.

Coach Laurie, the Head Coach. She & her team did such a great job with the girls. Sloan & Evie started out the summer unable to swim the length of the pool & finished the summer swimming the length without any help & able to compete in 2 swim meets!

A group shot of many (not all) of the coaches.

July 14th, 2007 - Don't cry over spilled olive oil...

The culprit getting away!

The mess he left behind!

This is what a full bottle of olive oil looks like when it's been poured out onto the ground... The floor has to be cleaned at least 5 times before it's not greasy anymore. I don't know how I would keep up with more than 3!

July 13th, 2007 - Meet Blondie!

No, we did not get another dog, we are dog-sitting. Nate considered getting one of the dogs from the same litter, but eventually decided another dog would be too much for us right now. Blondie belongs to our friends David, Melissa, Elizabeth, Danielle & Katie. You can see their pics in other posts. Blondie is very sweet - they had actually bathed her before she came over, but you see how long that lasted. It has rained here for WEEKS now!

Blondie likes to perch on things; this table, the backs of sofas & chairs, your lap, and so on.

Blondie & Sunny have SO much fun playing! They make each other very tired. It's so cute.

July 13th, 2007 - Evie goes to Dance Camp

Evie had dance camp this past week, and on Friday, at the end of class, parents were allowed to observe.

Both Miss Jennifer & I noticed that Evie has made a lot of progress since the spring.


Last time I observed a class Evie wouldn't cooperate & I couldn't get any really good pictures.


This time I was able to get quite a few.



They were teaching their teddy bears to dance.


Notice the tap shoes placed on the wrong foot. Very Evie!

And the skirt caught up in her leotard.


Will enjoyed the show through the mirror.


Sloan was not very impressed. As usual.

July 12th, 2007 - City Championship Swim Meet

The girls had their championship swim meet! The last meet of the season! We made it!!!



Evie entering the water during warm-up.


Sloan entering the water during warm-up.


Evie's the one under water with a swim cap on.


Sloan is face down, with a cap & goggles on.


Evie getting ready for one of her races. We couldn't get her to keep her cap on so she's borrowed one of the coaches' caps for each of her races.


Sloan getting ready for her first race. She had misplaced her blue goggles & was a little nervous.


Sloan in her first race, the 25 yard freestyle.


Evie in her first race, also the 25 yard freestyle. Sloan and Evie were in the same heat as well.


Evie getting ready for the 25 yard backstroke.


Sloan getting ready for the 25 yard backstroke.


Evie swimming the backstroke. She came in dead last, but she finished & all the coaches were pulling for her. Very few 4 year olds even compete, so we are so proud of her. Sloan surprised us both with how well she did, especially in the backstroke which she'd never raced before!

Both girls dropped at least 3 seconds from their previous freestyle times!