Last summer Campbell made it to the last level of HawgStart but didn't graduate in time to be invited to join the Aquahawgs before the summer league season. This year, she blew through it and now she's officially on the swim team with her big brother. I have never seen her as excited or nervous as she was before the last session when she'd find out if she made it. So this summer she will swim with the Rookie Hawgs in the NWA summer league while Noah swims long course with the Jr. Hawgs. I'd say no one could be more proud of her, but she's awfully proud of herself.
Noah the 10 year old! Wait---what?
Sigh-I guess it was inevitable. Our sweet, baby boy turned a decade. By an unfortunate quirk of the calendar, Noah's birthday fell on Mother's Day this year. While difficult for his mother to share the day with him, it was fitting since his birth made her a mother. We were scared it wouldn't feel special to him so we decided to make the day before, Noah's celebration day.
He had a small swim meet that morning so he got some time with his buddies. Then the day became all about him. Jenna got 10 things that were either his favorite of something (i.e. candy) or an expression of a favorite. Then we put hints on strips of paper and put them in 10 balloons. He randomly got to pick a balloon, pop it, read the paper, and then collect the gift. They were all fun. He got Jolly Ranchers (favorite candy), a Camaro road sign (favorite car), a Sonic card (favorite drink), new athletic clothes that were neon green (favorite color), a caricature of him swimming (favorite sport), and on and on. It finished with favorite hobbies, climbing and gaming. For climbing we told him we were going down to Casa Pollo in Fayetteville to hit the walls and for gaming he got his own laptop. The day ending with tacos for his favorite food. It was a such a fun, creative day. Jenna was really on her game for this one.
The weekend was also full of messages, texts, and Facetimes of Happy Birthday's. He's a lucky boy to be loved by so many. Not as lucky as we are to have him though. I couldn't be more proud of the man he's becoming.
I can't wait to see where the next 10 years take him.......WAIT! I didn't mean that-please slow time down! I know it won't. He'll be our baby boy forever no matter what the calendar says.
Swim lessons 2012
Noah did group swim lessons for the first time this year. He was tested the first day and was the youngest kid in his group. This made Jenna both proud and nervous. He was nervous because he was the only kid in his group who couldn't touch where they met. So during instruction he had to tread water.
I'm always amazed how much kids learn from strangers. It's maddening. His lessons corresponded with the Olympics perfectly. At night what he learned was reinforced by seeing the best in the world.
This morning I stopped by for the first time to see him going off the high dive. He is such a good swimmer but I think this is his love.
Noah swimming-2011 edition
I really wish Noah would listen to us, take instruction from us, believe what we tell him...etc.
For the second year in a row, a complete stranger giving him swimming lessons has shown daily improvements in leaps and bounds. Before this year's lessons he was timid and didn't want to learn anything new. After 3 lessons this year he's diving, jumping in doing flips, swimming from one end of the pool to the other, and getting diving rings off the bottom in 4 ft. of water.
Go figure.
My boy!
Noah was in South Arkansas last week hanging out with Jana, Aunt 'Lissa', and all the grand parents. He was originally scheduled to come back Thursday but circumstances have held him down south til Friday-by circumstance I mean none of his grandparents wanted to give him back.
Here are some pics they sent.
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Once he got back he didn't want to leave the house the whole weekend. He pretty much stayed in his pajamas or Spider-Man costume. We even converted the living room for him so he could 'camp out'.
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The butterfly thinks Noah's sweet!
Too funny. One of those moments that make you glad you have your camera handy.
Noah's swimming
We've had quite the time getting Noah to learn to swim. He's had lessons a couple of times but he just wouldn't go with the flow so to speak. Jenna signed him up for private lessons this summer but I still had my doubts. About 2 weeks before his lessons he went on vacation with Jana. Watching Jana swim around like a fish sealed it for him.
These videos are after 4 lessons. It's a wonder what a little competition and a complete stranger can get your kids to do.
Water slide in the backyard
Yesterday, Noah played in the sprinkler while we worked in the yard. Inadvertently the sprinkler was hitting his slide. You could see the wheels turning when he declared he had a 'water slide.'. He went pretty quick but I'm not sure how much faster. He was pretty fired up about it.
Of course it ended badly when he decided to go down backwards on his back. Instead of landing on his back, he skidded on the wet grass and got a 8"X12" strawberry for his troubles. A small price to pay for a couple of hours of fun I guess.
Here's a video before it all went downhill.
Labor Day 2012-Des Peres Lodge
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