Still swimming!

Madeline is still making great strides in her swimming. She has had three meets I think and continues to push herself. This past week was tough since we didn't get her enough sleep, but she still managed to bring in a competitive time. This Saturdays meet is away and the feature is the 100 meter freestyle. It will be tough, but she's scheduled to be at practice all week so she should be well prepared. 

Softball is going really great as well. She is improving in every way and we are very proud of her. She continues to amaze me with her bravery.

Field Trip

Yesterday, Madeline's 4th grade class went on a field trip to Lansing to visit the Capitol building and the Historical museum. The Capitol was a beautiful building and Madeline was able to get a few good shots of the dome. The tour guide (Carl) instructed the kids to lay down in the center of the floor and look up to take the best shots. So, they did!

The kids were granted a couple of surprises yesterday. One was just after we got there. We were just about to start our tour when Representative Jeff Irwin came in and took a few questions from the kids. Then, we were there in time to see the Senate in session and voting on House Bill 4743 and amendments thereof. That was exciting. Then, just as we were leaving the building, Governor Snyder was walking in! Madeline's teacher was opening the door to step out and Gov. Snyder's security was opening the door to step in! How fortuitous! So, he came into the hallway and talked to the kids for a minute, took a couple photos (to be posted later) and left. I wonder if his ears were ringing, because the Senate was just discussing the matter of his transparency in the Detroit Financial Manager issues! dun, dun, dun...

So, from there, some much needed lunch on the grass near the Historical museum. The museum is a few stories with a lot of great Michigan history and exhibits. Definitely worth a return trip for a more in depth visit. Madeline was able to get a few good pics here too. I think this one is in front of one of the great lakes. I'm not real sure, because she did NOT hang out with me. It was all about friend time, and interacting with friends which was very okay. She had a great experience and a great time.

I think this field trip will be fondly remembered.

Rough Start

So, this is the second night of swim practice and it was a challenge getting in the pool. They worked her pretty hard on Tuesday so she was anticipating the same level of coaching tonight. So far, it seems a bit more technique focused, not so much on speed yet. We are still in the first 20 minutes though.

I have realized that I need to get her dinner sooner. Eating at 6:00 and swimming at 7:00 is tough of the digestive tract. Kudos to Madeline though. She got in and started swimming which is more than I can say I would have done tonight!

Softball practice was fun last night. For a girl who hasn't really done much focused playing, she has come a long way. She kept pace with the girls from the team as if she'd been playing with them all along! Good fielding, good throwing, good batting, good running! That's my girl! She is looking forward to a great new adventure in softball!

Growing...

Madeline has been doing some serious growing both physically and emotionally. Last summer, Madeline joined the Veterans Memorial Swim Team - Dolphins and had a good time while finding her inner competitiveness! She won her first heat at her first meet so that was super exciting! She had a few more successes through the season with a heat win at the championships to top it all off. I'd say she did really well for her first time out!

This year has been an interesting one, while a lot of fun and a great learning experience. She began public school after being at Montessori for 3 years and it's been really wonderful. Her teacher, Mrs. Cooke, is absolutely fabulous! She has 27 kids in her class and all are really great kids, so well behaved for Mrs. Cooke; she's just a little thing, but has established the boundaries very well.

Anyway, Madeline really likes her school and classmates and her teacher. She's learned so much this year. I'm just really glad we made the switch. The open learning environment of the montessori was fine for the lower elementary years, but she still needed established boundaries and direction as she progressed to the upper elementary and she wasn't getting it. She adapted quickly and successfully at public as expected.

She's made a few friends, tried out some new attitudes, some new styles, and we have ended with a happy, pleasant, beautifully coiffed child! yeah! She is looking forward to the end of the school year and spending some time with swim friends and making some new softball friends!

Madeline is stepping outside of her shell a bit this year and joined the local softball team! She's been practicing with Dad on catching, hitting, pitching, etc. She is a natural, I think and will do very well. We've told her to keep an open mind, allow the mistakes, and just have fun. I hope she can take that advise. She's ready to go! Practice starts this week!

Swim team starts this week too! Info meeting tonight and practices begin tomorrow! Madeline's excited to see her old friends and win some more heats this year! She's been working really hard all winter and stroke technique, endurance, and flip turns through a Fast & Fun program with Bethany Williston, and we've seen big improvements in her time, technique and stamina. She's really an awesome swimmer! She's already blowing doors! She's ready!

Oh! Our omnivore girl (emphasis on carnivore) has gone Vegetarian! Her only crutch is cheese. That's all she isn't able to give up. She's given up the ribs, bacon, burgers, etc. She was a bit unsure about the bacon and ribs part in the beginning, but then quickly converted. She has solidarity with her dad who went Vegan in January for health reasons. They've both been an inspiration to me. I have been able to go 99% as well, but my crutch are my over-medium eggs in the morning.

Anyway, Madeline is an awesome kid with strong convictions. We are looking forward to summer and all of the growing it will bring!

Piano Recital 2013

Madeline had her third piano recital this afternoon and she was awesome! She played Folk Dance and The Hunt in case you can't understand what she says. Turn up the volume and Enjoy!

Note: The video is loaded from YouTube, so after you view it, a quad of other videos will appear. Just refresh the page and the original video will return to view again.

Piano Recital 2012

The second recital went just as well as the first. The piece Madeline decided to play this year was Can You Feel The Love Tonight from The Lion King. She did a fabulous job playing, too bad I didn't do a great job taping. I have loaded my version, but when Gretchen gets back from Washington, I will ask her to upload her version. It is much clearer! Enjoy!

Roller Coaster Action!

Well, this birthday gift was a huge hit! Madeline has shown everyone that comes by how cool her Knex Roller Coaster is. Every play person from polly pocket to playmobiles have "ridden" the roller coaster and continue to enjoy the new amusement park in the playroom. Thank you Grandma & Papa Brown! This is awesome!