Spots of Time

The swimsuit drama unfolds

This week began with what KR and I now refer to as the great swimsuit debacle of 2008.  Since wonderkid is part of the swim team we were required to purchase a team suit, which had a price tag that was so astronomically high I can only assume was sewn by swiss dwarfs using thread spun from gold bearing spiders (at least this is how I make myself feel better about the purchase).  We brought the suit home to try on for size, but as soon as my sweet little daughter found a moment where I wasn't paying attention she dug the suit out of her bag, ripped off all the tags, and pulled it on over her clothes (we're all about making new fashion statements around here).  As most of you know, once the tags are off the suit is yours, so for better or worse we are stuck with this suit for the next 8 months.  I was a little upset by this development considering the suit turned out to be a little on the baggy side, but sometimes you just have to go with the flow, even if it means your kid has to wear two bathing suits to every meet for the rest of the season. 

While this turn of events was by all means unfortunate, it wasn't even the worst part of this whole experience. When I went to bed later that night, after a huge debate over weather or not it's a good idea to sleep with your bathing suit over your pj's, I looked up at the ceiling and saw this:

Yes, that's the hygienic liner from the crotch* of the bathing suit (which may or may not have been tried on by a number of anonymous kids)  STUCK TO MY CEILING!!!  Keep in mind the only way my six year old could have gotten that up there was to jump on my bed and slap it on at the very height of her bounce.  I'm sure she really had to get herself going to jump that high, and I have no doubt she had the time of her life.  When I questioned her about the misplaced "sticker" the next morning she just looked at me and matter-of-factly explained that she didn't know what else to do with it. The only silver lining in this story was that I left it up there for KR to peel off, and I just might have forgotten to tell him what it was until it was all said and done.  Sorry Babe...

Anyway, somehow this whole ordeal was forgotten when we arrived in style (two swimsuits is the new cool, you know) to her first official swim meet of the season.  She did a great job and we couldn't have been prouder:

 

 

Here's to hoping she has many more successful races in the future (because she's probably going to be wearing this suit until she's 12).

*Sometimes it's necessary to use ugly words for dramatic effect...

So this is what its all about...

Even though she has been on the swim team for two months now, I don't think Wonderkid really understood the sport of competitive swimming until today.  She's spent countless hours learning the various strokes and techniques needed to be a good swimmer, but she just couldn't seem to visualize how it would all play out until she got to her first meet, which took place earlier today.  She was really excited until about two minutes before her first event, when she understandably got a little nervous.  It didn't help that the meet started with the under-18 boys freestyle either;  If I had to race after some of those kids I would probably cry too. 

As nervous as she was, she still got up on that block (along with a bunch of other kids who were at least a foot taller than she is) and swam harder than I've ever seen her swim.  After that first race everything became fun again and she was back to chatting up the middle schoolers and making funny faces at her sister.  Her subsequent races (she competed in the freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke) were much less dramatic.  I didn't take a whole lot of footage, but I did capture her back stroke, and also managed to record some of her between race antics (you can hear MJ egging her on in the background).

In other news KR was really upset when he found out he had to "work" this weekend.  This is almost as bad as all those yankees and patriots games he's had to sit through for the sake of his job.  Hmmm, the only work-related field trips I get involve libraries and census reports... 

Kindergarten trend setter

 

Despite having seemingly perfect vision, Wonderkid seems to think she needs glasses.  In her mind, donning a cute pair of spectacles is no different than wearing a headband or necklace; it's just another accessory.  I, on the other hand, think that it's slightly ridiculous and impractical to wear glasses if you don't actually need them.  After months of telling her we weren't going to buy her glasses that she didn't need, I finally caved when I saw this particular pair at the mall for $5.  She couldn't wait to wear them everywhere, and even managed to procure her own case (which was really one of my makeup bags) to hold them during swim team practice. 

I debated letting her wear them to school, but I finally compromised (are you seeing a trend here) and told her she could only wear them on the bus, but had to take them off at school.  I knew she would have fun showing them off, but I didn't think the other kindergartners on the bus would think much of her pink eyeware.  Today, however, when the bus pulled up to our house I was shocked to see two little newly spectacled faces staring out at me.  Apparently a couple of the boys in her class liked the idea of having their own pair of fake glasses so much, they went out and got a pair for themselves.  When Wonderkid stepped up on the bus, one of them excitedly pointed to his face and said, "Look, I've got glasses just like you!" (I should add that theirs were not pink).  I asked wonderkid about the new kindergarten trend when she got home today and from what I can gather, she told the whole class to go to claires boutique and get themselves a pair.  I can't help but laugh when I picture some of the boys in her class going home and begging their parents to take them to Claire's... hehe.

Locks of Love

MJ has been growing her hair for over a year in anticipation of this event.  I'm proud of her for wanting to give of herself (she's been so excited to do this), and help those who are in need.  It's an added bonus that she looks so darn cute with her new do.

 

Father Daughter Dance

KR and the girls got all gussied up earlier today for their school's annual Father/ Daughter dance:

When I first saw these Paris dresses I was really thankful that I have daughters; I'm pretty sure I still would have bought them, but it would have been a tougher sell on KR if we only had sons. 

Wonderkid is still coming off of her ear infection fiasco, and slept most of the day.  She was determined to go to the dance, but was still being a little clingy: 

I have a feeling she might be sitting in her Dad's lap the whole time, but knowing KR, he won't mind a bit.  In a few years she'll be going to the prom instead of the daddy-daughter dance, and I highly doubt she'll want him to tag along then.  I think we'll enjoy this while it lasts.

Happy Easter

An update on my eldest girly girl

My oldest daugher has a new blog name.  I know it is kind of confusing to have nicknames, but it's a blog tradition and I just won't do away with it (no matter how much certain family members complain).  Since supergirl and wonderkid are so similar it's easy to mix them up, so I've decided that from now on Supergirl will be called MJ. 

Anyway, no matter what her nickname happens to be (KR calls her squirt), she'll always be a supergirl in my book.  This is the kid who makes up math problems for fun (unfortunately she likes to "test" me, and I admit I'm a little rusty with my long division), and is several chapters into her first book.  Even though she tends to be a little more serious than the average 8 year old (she writes down her soccer plays and keeps them in her own little binder), she always knows how to make us laugh.  Every time she reaches a milestone or enters a new phase in life I think, "This is my favorite age,"  but then she grows and changes just a little, and I find myself even more amazed at the person she is becoming.  I always thought I would love having daughers, but I never really realized just how fascinating and fulfilling it would be to watch them grow.

I took these pictures of her today after school (these are her new spring outfits):

Speaking of changes, she's recently informed me that when she grows up she wants to live in Alaska and be a volcanologist.  She's been on a bit of a volcano kick lately. If any of you are looking for interesting sites on geology or volcanoes, let me know, we've visited hundreds of them.

Happy Valentines Day

Even though Valentine's day will never usurp Halloween's position in my "favorite pagan holiday" category, it still has some redeeming qualities.  Take these cuties all dressed up in their adorable valentine garb:

Throw in some adorable presents from grandma (check out that sparkly purse), chocolate, jewelry, canneloni, and some benedryl to get the kids to fall asleep early (seriously, I'm just kidding, but it's fun to pretend), and you've got one pretty awesome day. 

Birthday Bash

Yesterday was Wonderkid's long awaited pool party.  Most of her classmates and a few other friends and family member's joined in on the fun.  Here is the birthday girl enjoying the water:

I thought cupcakes would be easier for this party, so I made little people on floaties.  If you look closely you can see that one of them is just a tad bit angry.  This was my attempt at humor while in the midst of a cupcake induced stupor.   

Getting ready to blow out the candles:

The kids seemed to enjoy dismembering and eating the happy swimmers.  Here is one of Supergirl, eating one of the heads as ladylike as possible while her cute cousin looks on:

We got plenty of extra special gifts too (I say "we" because most of these toys are loud enough for the whole family to enjoy*):

Finally, just because she is so darn cute, here is one more picture of our 6 year old:

*I would like to give a special thanks to the friends of ours who gave us the singing Sharpay doll with accompanying microphone.  That song is now permanently engrained into our heads; even KR is walking around the house singing about how he wants "fabulous"...

Happy Birthday Wonderkid!!!

In honor of Wonderkid's 6th birthday tomorrow I thought I would post a little video montage that includes footage from her earlier years.  I chose a few clips that demonstrate (in order) her athletic prowess, musical talent, quick wit, and, um, well I can't think of anything for the last clip, you'll just have to watch and enjoy. 

Now you know why we call her Wonderkid... I'm sure you are also wondering how such a chubby baby ended up to be a scrawny little pip squeak of a kid, but I promise we aren't starving her.  Notice how she is sitting in her high chair singing instead of eating.  She pretty much hasn't stopped singing since (except when she's talking).

Happy birthday baby girl, we love you!