March Moments

DB getting some advice from Mr. Holland. He is full of swimming wisdom

 Facetime with Papa. Showing him who is missing teeth.

 Working on her selfie

 Minus one front tooth!

 Looks like it was a rough night for EL

 Letting them have ice cream for dinner. 

 Afternoon swim

 Lunch date in the city with Matt

 My workout partner

Club Championships

  MA participated in our swim club championships on Sunday. Each week she has been improving her times and putting in 100%. The meet was the first time she has ever really competed for herself and not for team points. Friday night club nights are more geared towards a friendly atmosphere and competing against your own personal bests. Kids swim in heats based on their PBs, doesn't matter age, boy or girl. The club championships were set up by age, split boy and girls. Because of MA's age, she could have swam in the 25m or the 50m races. Only the 50m races counted towards the overall age categories. So at the suggestion of her coach, we put her in the 50m races for all strokes and also the 100 IM.
  She had never done butterfly or breast stroke at that distance before and only the Friday before did she swim her 1st 50m backstroke. The IM was also a new race to do. MA was nervous, I was nervous, but she went out there and did her best. We are very proud of her for trying something that was new and a bit scary for her. It was one of those situations where she could have swam the shorter distance and maybe ended up placing a bit higher. Sometimes in life you shouldn't take the easy way, it's OK to push yourself. It's the only way to get better!

Party time

  On Saturday, we spent the evening helping our friend celebrate her birthday. They are wonderful hosts. Yummy cocktails made by Damo, plenty of food, & great chatting with friends.

 

Nippers

 As nippers finished up, I realized it would be the 1st thing that has become part of our life here that we may never have the option to do again. I sat down to sort through the crazy number of photos I took (a prime example of why I don't like to have the camera in continuous photo mode) and it made me realize how much we are enjoying the Aussie life and how much it has to offer us. Our original assignment was 12-18 months. We are going on 21 months now. Most days it doesn't seem like we have been here that long but at the same time, it really does feel like we have been here for so much longer. We have really lucked out with making great friends, getting involved in school and sports and embracing the opportunities as they present themselves.
  I am trying to look at our time here now as a bonus. We have stayed longer than we originally thought we would. So things that we get to do now are things we wouldn't be able to do if we were no longer living here. And yes, I realize that if we lived some place else we would be having different opportunities. Today, I am going to be thankful for what we have right in front of us.

Nippers Round Up-MA

  MA has such a great positive personality. She became more confident out in the water. Braver with the boogie board and learned how to body surf. She will give 100% every time until you say she is done. The last week of nippers, she hurt her knee the day before. I gave her the option of sitting out and taking it easy. She opted to keep going and just do the best she could do under the circumstances.

Nippers Round Up-DB

  DB had so much fun at Nippers this season. Going from not wanting to do it at all to wearing a smile on his face the entire time. Before nippers he would rarely go into the water, didn't want to get wet at the beach. Now he dives right in with his boogie board and has even done some body surfing. We had to drag him out of the water more times than not when it was time to go.

Nippers Round Up-EL

  While she wasn't old enough to officially participate in Nippers this year, EL was a trooper. She hung out and watched every Sunday. Sported her Nipper togs and had fun!

 After Nippers finished up, we celebrated with ice cream and a cold beverage!

Swim Carnival

  MA participated in her 1st swim carnival. It was a 3 way meet with Cannon Hill, Morningside, & Normal Park. The kids got ribbons for each race they did and there were trophies presented to each team for overall points.
  It was great to see all the kids compete and have some fun. MA did a couple relays. Some of our friends swam for Norman Park, so we got to hang out with them during the meet.

 Here are a couple from Friday night club. MA brought her friend. Matt started being a time keeper. And EL makes herself at home with a cheese toastie!