Since my good-high-school-friend-and-blog-commenter asked (and since my commenters are few, I am loyal to no end to them), I had to post the group pics.
Memory Lane delivered from my computer to yours, Leslie.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Speaking of Sadie's
The 2-hour school delay today got me off to a good start, but then I started perusing old photos, and just couldn't stop. I tried to go to work. I really did. My car is stuck down by the mailbox to prove it. I just couldn't quite make it there. So I came back home and perused more old photos. Instead of sorting laundry and doing the dishes. And now I just have to share a few I found, since we were speaking of Sadie's, right?
I found this little gem:
This happened to be my first Sadie Hawkins dance AND first date. I had just turned 16, and was thrilled to join the dating scene. Too bad the guy I asked turned out to be a {JERK}. Not worth the Marie Callender's dinner I splurged on. I worked hard for that money, you know, and at $2.85 an hour (at Hardee's, no less), I had to work a dang lot. He split during the dance, and I don't even think we went home together. The whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth.
Around the same time, Bill went to a Sadie's too.
They ate at Godfather's Pizza before the dance, had banana splits after, and Bill got home at 3 am. (How did his parents ever allow THAT?) How do I know? Because Billy was a record keeper back then. He detailed all kinds of fun informational tidbits almost daily in his journal. His 1984 Sadie's date now lives in our Stake here in Colorado (we actually used to be in the same ward years ago, before a split).
It's a small world, after all.
It's a small world, after all.
I didn't attend Sadie's my junior year... I still had that bad taste in my mouth.
But I got over it, and attended THREE girl's choice dances my senior year.
A Halloween dance at a neighboring school. I think my date {overdid} the special effects, don't you?
A Christmas dance at the Utah State Capitol. My date was a tad younger than me... a sophomore.
My girls used to think that was {odd}, until one of them (NAMELESS) started liking a boy several years younger than herself.
My girls used to think that was {odd}, until one of them (NAMELESS) started liking a boy several years younger than herself.
And my final Sadie's: Under the Sea. My mom made our shirts... how nice was that?
And my date? Like a swig of Scope. The bad taste was gone.
(Ignore the water damage on the picture... it's been through a rubber cement/construction paper scrapbook, a flooded basement, and years in between wax paper in a file box.)
So when I talk about back in the day, I know what I'm talking about.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Week {end}
Shilo's meet came and went. I lost my voice yelling the team on (there's even more yell satisfaction in an echo-y area like an indoor pool, and, according to Shilo, the swimmers actually hear very little of it, so the embarrassment factor is decreased), but in the end, the State qualifying time was still illusive.
Rats.
There's always next year.
But Shilo got a picture with Missy, so life is good.
(Seriously, watch for Missy at the Olympics.)
And while we were at the meet, Lexee headed off to the Sadie Hawkins dance.
Not like in my day, where you would take a date. About half do, half don't, according to Lex.
The girls were excited that they were allowed "casual" dress, which meant tennis shoes were permitted (why do I still call them that -- oh yeah, I'm old. But I no longer call flip-flops thongs, so no worries).
If they would just allow jeans, the girls would be so much more covered up. However, we concluded in our discussion of "dress code," that would probably lead to even more disgusting dancing behavior. Let me just say, I'm not a fan. Of uber-short (don't bend over or your thong might show) and/or strapless (pull it up before you pop out) dresses OR of what kids today consider "dancing." I would elaborate more, but this is a family blog.
Church on Sunday. That always feels good.
Post post: In my efforts to blog efficiently this morning, I neglected to mention that Shilo's 200m relay team, although not receiving a state-qualifying time, placed 6th out of 12 schools. They got the final heat fanfare, a podium picture, and a ribbon.
Nice job, girls!!
Post post: In my efforts to blog efficiently this morning, I neglected to mention that Shilo's 200m relay team, although not receiving a state-qualifying time, placed 6th out of 12 schools. They got the final heat fanfare, a podium picture, and a ribbon.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Just Keep Swimming
The meet was as long and as hot as I anticipated.
But it was worth it.
Shilo did great, improving her times, and qualifying for finals in every event she swam. The illusive state qualifying time still... illusive. Her relay team improved their time by .02 seconds, but need another 2-second improvement to reach their goal. They get one more chance today, and Shilo, on the cusp of qualifying for finals in butterfly and back, almost wishes she didn't, so she could just focus on swimming the relays.
But she took 4 seconds off her butterfly time, and over a second off her back.
You can't shake a stick at that.
(Shi is in lane 1. Her time didn't show up on the board, but was 1:10:00)
Shilo really hasn't been swimming that long, in the whole scope of things. She swam a few seasons on a summer league. We've fondly recalled her first swim team experience. She was 8/9 years old, and couldn't (could NOT) swim. A friend recommended a swim team over lessons, guaranteeing that by the end of the season, Shi would be able swim across the pool. Those summer mornings as I sat and watched her struggle at practices, swimming with the 6-and-unders, taking a couple strokes, then grabbing on to the edge of the pool, I suffered. The kind of suffering only a mom can do. Wanting to rescue your child from the difficulty, stress, and embarrassment (and guarding her life, since drowning was a possibility, especially in the 12ft end of the pool), yet knowing that IF she was going to learn, she had to go through it.
The first few weeks of that season, she begged every morning not to go.
The first swim meet loomed. She stressed. I stressed. She had to swim in her age bracket (she practiced with the younger group), and hoped to be able to make it across the pool without grabbing a lane rope. Just thinking about it brings back that anxiety for me. But she did it. Her confidence grew, and she had a very successful season -- she learned how to swim.
Shilo received the BIG trophy that year. The one for Most Improved Swimmer.
Shilo was pretty much a summer leaguer, and we were hit and miss, not letting meets or practices interfere with our family's vacations or plans. We even skipped a year. It was low stress (after that first season), good exercise, and a great way to fill up some of those lazy summer hours.
After the 09 summer season, Shilo mentioned that she was interested in swimming on the high school team. In order for her to be somewhat competitive, we decided that she should join a club team. She could try it for a year, then make a decision on whether to continue or not. But if she signed up, she had to commit to the year. It wasn't easy (remember this?), but she made it through, which led to a very successful summer season, even with an injury (refresher here, here, and here). So she signed up for another year on the club team. Technically, then, Shilo's only been swimming 1-1/2 years on a year-round team, and she's competing against many girls who have lived in the pool for the better part of their lives. (Maybe that's a bit exaggerated... but they've been swimming club teams for YEARS.)
I have to be impressed with her.
So a little later today, after Bill's early morning church meeting, some house-cleaning, possible Christmas light retrieval, a haircut (Bill STILL needs one), and hopefully a nap, we will be back at the pool, to breathe in the atmosphere of the A League finals (an honor, I've told Shilo), along with the steamy, chlorinated air.
Note to Bill: Don't wear a sweater.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Ode to a Swimming Pool
O, pool, so calm and peaceful now,
Whence soon a swimmer's dream will make
So cooling, quiet underneath
Yet heavy, heated, overtake
My hours, as I sit and view
Could you be my refuge too?
Engulfed by air of laden breath,
Sweat beads running down my spine,
Oh, I could honor what you give
If only I could call you mine
To enjoy, alone, with only me.
Alas, it isn't meant to be.
I'll sit, encourage, praise, and cheer
While others do your gifts partake
Red-faced, longing for a breath
Of outdoor freshness. Can you make
My child's efforts all pay off?
If so, I'll ne'er again breathe a scoff.
(This is totally reminding me of high school English class... I wasn't good back then, either. It seems unfinished, yet will have to do, since my time is GONE.)
So I'm off to a long afternoon/evening at the League swim meet, then back there again tomorrow for relays in the finals. Here's to humidity, the smell of chlorine, crowded sitting areas, and scantily clad girls who look much better in a swimsuit than I do.
Good Luck, Shilo!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Yes!
We made it through January. And as a reward, I get today off.
(Maybe the snow day from school is really due to the predicted -31 degree windchill today, but I choose to see it as a tender mercy, intended just for me.)
I'm ready for the rejuvenation of a new month. Like a mini new year. Starting over with a renewed energy to make this particular month great. I've been talking to my kids a lot lately about the power of positive thinking, which I heard from my own mother on countless occasions growing up.
A PMA, she would call it: Positive Mental Attitude.
I truly believe what I tell them, so now it's time for me to put it into action myself. Tell myself things like, "I can do it," and "You are a child of God with great strength. You have the ability to choose righteousness and happiness, no matter what your circumstances," (a favorite quote from For the Strength of Youth).
So in the spirit of positivity, here are the good things about the weekend:
I baked 160+ cupcakes. I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't take very long, and only required 4 boxes of cake mix.
The trick is to not fill the cupcake liners as full as the box suggests. I've found that filling them about 1/3 full is optimal. That makes them easier to eat (slightly smaller size, cupcake papers are easier to remove), and not only makes them easier to frost (IF you are using a decorator tip), but requires less frosting.
Triple bonus.
We sent packages to our college kids.
They had a rough January too. Happy February, guys!
We attended what is very likely our last cheer competition.
High school cheerleading this year has not been an overall positive experience, unlike the previous 4 years, so we are glad to have it come to a close. Now Lex just needs to go on cruise control until the end of the season. About three more weeks. You can do it, Lex!
The New Member Reception that Bill was in charge of turned out great.
As for my part in the whole affair, the cupcakes got frosted,
and the refreshment table was ready on time.
I couldn't have done it without the help of these fine gals.
Mauri was a big help too, but the only picture we captured of her was this one:
(Can you see her?)
Today, the tablecloths are washed and folded (folding those large round church tablecloths can be tricky, you know), and ready to be returned from whence they came. The dishes are washed (thanks, Bill), and things are boxed up and ready for storage until next year. Yes!
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