Author response

I previously blogged about Zach at the YMCA and shutting off the water before it flooded.  Matt has met the author of The Dog Poop Initiative.  So he wrote the author, Kirk Weisler, on Facebook and told him about Zach taking the initiative and shutting the water off after some kids just point at the mess being created and walked away.  If you haven't read it, I recommend reading it to your kids and even yourself.  It's common sense stuff, but it's the civic responsibility our society is lacking.  If you see a mess don't just point it out, complain and wait for someone else to take care of it - CLEAN IT UP!
Kirk Weisler, was impressed with Zach and sent him a signed copy of his book!  He wrote:  " Zach, You are a Super Scooper.  Continue to take the initiative and be a LEADER." - KW

Sam's 9th Birthday - update

Like I had posted before, Sam didn't get much of a birthday.  But she did get a special birthday trip with her Aunt Kiki to Build-a-Bear when she got better.

Here they are with Sam's monkey, Alana.

Aunt Marybeth's blanket did finally arrive along with the pillow she made for Zach.

Ignore the picture's date.  My camera went wonky that day.

Sam's 9th Birthday

Sam had a very sickly birthday this year.  She started her illness(fever, sore throat and sinus infection) on Sunday January 9, right after Mary Beth arrived for her visit, and after several trips to the doctor's office and lots of sleep, her fever finally broke January 15.  So she didn't get to celebrate her birthday like she would have wanted.  But she did get her favorite breakfast, crepes, and her gifts from her family.  From Zach she got the pillow pet pictured above.  She named it Mutt.  I bought her the fuzzy pink pants in the picture above.  And from the doctors she got a myriad of meds.  Mary Beth made her a blanket but it hasn't arrived yet.  When it does I will add a picture to this post.  I promised her she could have her bff Lily for a sleep over for her birthday.  Once her stuffy nose is gone she will finally get to do that.  I feel so bad that she didn't get much of a birthday party.  I think this year we will have to throw her a party in the summer to make up for it.

ultimate motivator

Nothing motivates an older brother like his little sister passing the swim test before him.  Zach was determined to pass tonight.  He worked himself to near exhaustion that when he said he was ready to take the test I thought he might be too tired- but he did it!  I don't know who was prouder him or me :).  Plus, now I can drop the kids off at the pool and exercise alone.  Ahhh, blessed freedom!
Then Zach goes and proves he's a good citizen.  There were some rowdy boys in the boys lockers who noticed that part of the locker room was flooding because some showers were left on.  they commented how cool that was but didn't do anything about it.  Zach went to investigate and couldn't believe these kids just saw the problem and walked away.  So he goes in and shuts all the showers off.  Moments like these reminds me why Matt and I work so hard to educate our children to be responsible respectful citizens of the world.

Swim test

We joined the YMCA last week and the place to be, for the kids, is the pool.  But, I have to be with them until they pass the swim test.  Sam was sure she could do it right away.  So she tried and failed.  Mostly because she didn't breath while swimming.  Zach saw Sam fail and told me, "If Sam can't pass then I won't either."  But they both started working hard to improve their swimming each time we went to the pool-which has been like 4 times.  Sam choose to practice the back stroke since she was told she had to swim the length of the pool and back again whichever way she wanted to just as long as she was swimming the whole time-no touching the walls.  So today she practiced and practiced when she was confident she could do it, she told the life guard she wanted to take the test again.  Now this was a different life guard from last time so as Sam is finishing her test he says.  "She has to swim on her front to pass the test."  I'm like no way is this guy going to dash my child triumph because he decided her way was not good enough.  So I told him of the last guard who said it would be fine and he let her pass.  I was so happy for her and could see how proud she was of herself at succeeding.  She never knew that the life guard almost didn't pass her.