Summer Swim

Atlanta is known for tennis and swim sub divisions.  All across the Atlanta area, neighborhoods are built with the facilities for tennis and swim leagues.  Our subdivision was built with both of these offerings which is one reason why we chose it.  We were looking for a way to connect with our neighbors and make friends. So, as it would be...swim team, is a big deal.   We signed all 3 kids up for the Harrington Falls Hammerhead swim team.  Mostly for the kids to learn proper swim strokes and to make more friends.  Well, I was in for a rough start when on the first day S. decided he didn't like it, didn't want to do it. Which was accompanied by a few days of the water is too cold, I'm too tired etc. That of course culminated with "the protest" when he hid out in the bathroom instead of swimming during his lesson time.  A "come to Jesus" talk (a popular phrase here in the south) later and he changed his attitude and started riding his bike to the pool every morning by 8:00am.  That was HUGE!!!  Needless to say the kid has improved a ton, earned many different ribbons, even 2 first place finishes and he actually enjoys it.

M. of course, just couldn't wait to swim.  She has always been a fish and even spent more time in time out as a toddler during swim lessons because she would swim off the "tadpole" deck. She was so eager to ride her bike to the pool she finally learned to ride without training wheels.  She would practice in our driveway at every available moment, determined to ride to the pool with her best friend.  She took a 1st place in Backstroke at our first meet and has continued to improve and do well.  We are just working on her attitude about her disappointment when she is not in enough events.    

N. relearned to swim (yea) and is doing well. She has not participated in a meet yet but says she will during the last one.  If she does I will video it, because the little kids are hysterical to watch. 

John and I have been taking it all in. We've met a lot of new people and are having fun.  The hours at the pool are exhausting but I wouldn't change it.  We are in lock down down (that means no playdates, no friends just quiet relaxation at home) because we have spent so many hours at the pool these past weeks.

Deer

One of things I have enjoyed most about Georgia so far is the wildlife and nature.  Although, I am by no means a "tree hugger", I do enjoy seeing animals in their habitat.  After a lifetime in So. Cal and its "cement jungle" cities it is always nice to see more than snails, worms and possums.  :)  We enjoyed the frogs this summer that would hang out on our windows during rain storms, small garden snakes while gardening, lots of birds, squirrels playing on the slide, an occasional wild bunny and of course deer.  Which everyone in the neighborhood would tell me they would see all the time. S. would see them on his way back from tennis crossing the street by our house. John would see them at the neighbors house on his way to work.  My friend Trina was always seeing them hang out in her cul de sac.  It was really starting to drive me crazy that I was missing these wild creatures.  Now, I have seen deer before, in the mountains, Lake Tahoe and even on a few golf courses.  But I have never seen one where I live, so the novelty of deer in your own yard was exciting to me.  Fortunately, last weekend my dog Tessa (the beautiful black girl in our pic.) was barking out the window a lot.  It was early on a Sunday morning and I realized it just wasn't right, she never barks at the squirrels or birds out side, so why was she barking now?  It was too early for neighbor kids to be playing.  When John looked out the window he could see 2 deers walking thru our neighbors yard, which is fenced, ours is not.  After watching them for quite a while we realized they were not able to get out of the yard.  They obviously jumped in but wouldn't jump out.  So  I sent John outside to go in their backyard and try and "push" them down towards the neighbors house and out the fence that was open a bit.  Of course, the kids went too.  Eventually the deer made their way down the yard and one came over to the fence where the opening was.  Before I knew it this deer was running thru the opening and jumped literally like a reindeer in flight over our hedges, running thru our yard, along our path and out the back of the property where the wooded forest is.  It was amazing!!!!!!!!!!!  Even though I was in the house looking out the window the deer jumped right in front of me.  We were all so excited to watch these deers, especially since it was cheap entertainment for all of us, 25 min. worth.  The ONLY bummer was... I never took out my camera so I missed all the photo and video opportunities.  Next time, next time.

All I want for Christmas is a robot.

Christmas? Yes.  The beauty of kids is that they think everything is just a few days away. Although a year seems to take for ever to come around the anticipation is always so exciting. So my kids, like others I imagine think of Christmas a year in advance.  Tonight we did errands.  In the car, on the way home, M. started talking about how great it would be if Santa brought her a robot for Christmas.  You know, the kind of Robot the Jetsons have.  She was dreaming of one that could get her some ice cream, take her trash out, open doors etc.  When S. piped up that a robot from Santa was impossible.  He goes on by saying, "Science hasn't even developed a robot yet and so Santa couldn't get give you one.  The Elves have to read up on these scientific things and if it hasn't been made then you can't get one".  He went on for about 5 minutes regarding light sabors and other sci. fi. inventions that are at least a century away form being made.   I just sat there and smiled and let the conversation go on between them.  Since S. is almost 10 I figured this may be one of the last times the conversation will be so pure and innocent.  When S. was done explaining the operations of Santa Claus Inc. M. just said, " Well maybe we need to move to Poland".  Why Poland? Because maybe they have already invented robots.  LOL