Whatever: April Favorite Photos

A few of my favorite photos from April...

 

 

  Steve and I each went with a girl last weekend. He went to east to watch our oldest set a school record as stroke in crew...I went north to watch our baby come alive in a sport she really loves. 

We both missed a great day, but thanks to technology...kept up with the goings on.

Life is really wonderful right now.

Cooking: Middle School is On Its Way Out!

This is the year things end. Middle school things that is. Last middle school swim championship, last middle school swim season, last middle school dances.... I am nostalgic for some of these  things. Middle school still sounds little kid to me. This will be the last year I have a little kid. I am happy for the growth and maturity that comes in the next stage in our lives, but for a few moments, I am nostalgic for the middle school years. They have been great learning experiences for us all.


This weekend we watched Ellie swim in her last middle school championship meet. She took time off both of her races and was part of a pretty great relay team. The best part of the whole day was watching her cheer her team with all of her heart. She loves being on a team and their 6th win (her second as part of the team) was a big deal for these girls. They went in nervous, worked hard and came out a winning team.

 

This weekend was a huge "Ellie weekend".  School dance, championship, talent show tryouts and cotillion just to name a few of the many things she did. Life is busy in middle school, that is for sure. Good thing we still have a full semester left to enjoy all the business of  middle school.

Casa Swann still in middle school Menu

•  Chicken ragu/ stuffed bell peppers/ creamed spinach
• swim meet  (Freezer pork soup/tomato soup)
• Veggie bowls
• Grilled chicken thighs/ Mexican baked sweet potatoes

Cooking: Would you rather be a Bruiser or a Honey Bear?

This weekend was dedicated to my sweet baby girl. Between her middle school swim team championship and Junior Cotillion, I spent most of the weekend focused on her. She rarely is in the spotlight due to her sister being such a spotlight hog, so I hope she enjoyed the attention. She had two PRs and climbed about 12 spots in ranking in both events. Also, a little fire got lit. We are thrilled. Also, for the fifth year in a row, GPS dominated. GO BRUISERS!

This week, we have a dual meet on Tuesday with another Tennessee girl's school and in typical southern girl style, we feed the visiting team after the meet. Love that I will get to see both my girls swim at a girls only meet. Both of their teams are undefeated and this is a big rivalry. So it should be fun.

Casa Swann It's All About the GIRLS! Menu

• Steak salad/rosemary potatoes (regular salad for me)
• BRUISERS VS HONEYBEARS meet and dinner
• Quinoa soup/salmon burgers
• Garlic shrimp/ spaghetti squash 
• Tacos

Dirt: School started, again

Well,it happened.

School started. 

Despite my foot dragging and deep sighing, my wistful thinking and my child's hopefulness that it would not actually happen. School started Wednesday.

 

This is the first year we were not ready. 

The first year that I wasn't annoyed by cries of boredom. 

The first year I waited until the day before to even look at what we needed for school, much less buy a thing. We went shopping for school supplies at 2pm the day before.

 

Still, it is  nice to have them back in the swing of things. I started a new job and it is nice not to have to worry about what they are doing and try to arrange transportation and what not. 

Time marches on and they are back in school.

Dirt: My job

It is pretty amazing being a mom.

My life is so different than I thought it would be. If I had actually given it any thought, or had someone giving me direction, I would have been a writer or gone into marketing. 

Instead, I studied anthropology, became a restaurant employee, a very mediocre auditor for a retail company, and then a mom.

I am struggling with what my next step is. My kids are at that crucial moment when they need advice and guidance and independence. The hand holding is mostly over. They can cross streets, cook food, dress themselves, and both are learning to drive cars.  

I have been a good mom. There is no doubt about that.

Gratituesday: Swimming

This summer, I have watched both my girls swim. 

 

I love to watch them swim in meets. Not because they win (which they both do sometimes) but because they are doing something, well. Something that I am not good at in the least. 

My girls are my heroes.

One goes to practice when she can, making the most of practices and often demanding that her coach make them harder.The other has been going twice a day, at first by my choice, but now by her own.

 

I am so grateful for swimming. The skill to swim along with the skill  to push oneself through the next level of ability are priceless lessons. 

PS These are photos of past years...this year I have taken exactly NO photos of my swimmers, with the exception of a quick instagram photo here and there...because I am too involved in actually watching them. It's been great.

Instgrafriday

A week in photos at Casa Swann...linking up with...

click to check out some awesomeness

 Friday was Decades Day at school. We rocked the 1980's AD and the 40's BC. 

Only my child would think of a toga for decades day. Actually, mine and one of her besties.

 

Cooking: Spring is here

The weekend was a beauty after a week of freezing temps, rain and snow.

Instagram Friday: My life on fast forward

Only one picture this week...

(Okay, two)...

One that makes me a little sad...

Daughters are growing up while I wrestle with things like writing letters about gun control, wondering how we are going to afford all the things we need like insurance, mortgages, and orthodontists.

Yesterday, they were this....

Now they are this...

Taller and growing wiser by the day.
 I sound like a mother.

Whatever: The good old days

Your kids don't change in front of your eyes. 

No, they are sneaky. They do it while you are sleeping, buying groceries, driving them to school or the million other places you go with them.

Then, one day while you are looking for a picture of something completely unrelated...

BAM!

The fact that they are so different and will continue to morph into something completely different later this year, next week, tomorrow slaps you upside  your heart. 

 

These little girls are not so little anymore.

 

Four short summers later...

 

Sigh.

I miss those little girl days of pink and stuffed animals.