Brooke and the Swim Team

Classic Brooke Story:
Back in May when we were getting our summer plans in order, Brooke decided that she wanted to do the swim team this year with Hudson and Larkin because she was finally old enough (you have to be 5, and she turned 5 in January). I said absolutely not because, well,  she didn't know how to swim. Being the determined, stubborn, relentless, and driven girl that she is, Brooke eventually wore me down into making her a deal (arrggh... the deals.... I don't know why I always give in to the negotiation...)
I told her that she could join the swim team IF she could jump in the deep end of the pool, swim across the length of the pool, and float on her back (at the time, she could do none of those things).
Damn if she didn't teach herself and push herself to do all of those things within 2 weeks! No lessons and with no guidance from me at all. I have to admit, her determination really impressed me. So, we bought her a suit and a pair of goggles and signed her up.

So last week was her first swim meet. She was so nervous about the whole thing... being on time, knowing when her race was, diving off the starting block, etc etc. She had only been swimming for 2 weeks, and she was slated to swim the 25m freestyle and 25 meter backstroke. In our town, these swim meets are a big deal... lots of kids, lots of chaos, and really when you're 5, seriously intimidating.
Her freestyle comes up first. Her coach was next to her cheering her on and she had tears running down her face, but she did it! AND she was the heat winner in her race!! She was SOOO proud... Look at that face in the picture when she got out of the pool. We all had tears in our eyes watching her overcome her fear, and swim her little heart out.
Her response when she recovers from the race : I am done with swim team. I did it. I won my race. I got my ribbon. I don't want to do it anymore. I am not doing the backstroke race. done.
Gregor and I: We are so proud of you! You did it! You are staying on the team. You are swimming the backstroke. You worked so hard to be here, you can't quit now.
Brooke held her ground for over and hour, and we eventually gave in. No backstroke race tonight, but you are going to stay on the team for the summer.
Fine. Fine.
The next morning she woke up with a fever and strep throat. Hummm... maybe that's why she was so tired and didn't want to swim anymore....
Tonight is our second meet and I can't wait to see how she handles it.
Her stubborn determination is challenging to deal with as a parent, but I can already tell that she is going to be successful in whatever she puts her mind to and isn't going to let anyone push her around... ever.

Father's Day Backpacking Adventure

For father's day this year we had to bail on our plans for a beach day adventure due to Brooke's strep throat diagnosis and cooler weather than we would have liked. As a last minute plan b, Gregor decided to take Hudson and Larkin on their first backpacking trip to Sherando Lake. After a couple of hours of prep time time and digging through bins of old camping and backpacking gear, Gregor and the kids had everything they needed to carry with them into the woods for the night. Everyone was responsible for their own pack (no complaining allowed). 

Apparently all went even better than expected. Gregor will have to fill in the details here, but when we met them for lunch the next day at the lake, everyone was all smiles and full of stories. Nellie, Brooke, and I brought a picnic to the Lake and we hung out there for the day. I think it was really rewarding for Gregor to share his love of backpacking with the kids and to feel like they actually enjoyed themselves and were initiating great conversations with him. He said it was great to see that they could be entertained with cooking their dinner over the fire, playing cards, and setting up camp. All-in-all, hopefully this will go down as one of the better Father's Days for Gregor and the kids. Somehow, everyone seemed to get along really well today. The kids picked out this giant chocolate chip cookie cake and topped it off with crumbled oreos, which they thought their dad would absolutely love... with  great big #1 Dad written on it with icing... what I loved was their mutual excitement over it in the grocery store and the kid conversations about how much their dad would love it. It melts my heart really, and I hope they will always go out of their way to make their dad feel special. He really deserves it. Happy Father's Day Gregor! The kids couldn't ask for a better dad.

Relaxing by the pool... hud style

Ballet performance day

Nellie and brooke finished up a peter pan ballet camp today with a fun little performance... so so cute! Nellie was so excited to finally be able to participate after watching brooke and larkin do ballet all year.n She finally turned 3 and was able to join in all the fun. 

Quick 6 month review...

The Patsch household has been unusually busy over the last 6 months! So much so that I haven't done a single blog post or downloaded a single photo to the computer... much less actually get one printed! It makes me sad really. This blog is probably the one thing I will want as the days, weeks, and years move forward and it's the one thing I really can't seem to find the time to do (well, not the only thing... but one of the many things that seems to have fallen to the wayside). 

So, let's see if I can recap: 

1. Christmas in Hilton Head... Huge, hilarious, family gathering

2. Hudson, Brooke, and Nellie turn 9, 5, and 3 respectively in January and celebrate with a group party at the indoor pool... good times had by all... I'm a big fan of the group party

3. I teach my first Oceanography class and lab at Lynchburg College (way more work than I thought it would be, but also so much more fun too)... 

4. Gregor finally takes a surf trip with his buddies

5. Larkin turns 7 and celebrates with her bestie Ella with Mani's, Pedi's, fancy hair and clothes, and dinner at the Outback. I love that we've moved beyond toys to clothes for presents and smaller more meaningful birthday celebrations with her. It's so much more fun.

6. Easter in Florida with the Runyan clan, Mollie and Brian, and Debi and Mikie which included a slack line, an easter egg hunt with cousins (love you stelly, ronan and isla), beach time and a trip to LEGO LAND (hud's dream come true... thanks brandon and cat, love you too!!)... all that followed by a little time in Hilton Head.

7. A couple of teeth fall out (larkin's i think... maybe it was hud's?)

8. Brooke had kindergarten orientation (I can't believe I am going to have 3/4 of my kids in school!!)

9. Memorial day in Ocean City, MD with Oma and Opa... a cool, fun start to the beach season

10. Official opening of my new business venture with a friend see. vintage rentals 

11. A couple of trips to sugar hollow, a few walks in the woods, kites, gardening, basketball games, forts by the creek, snacks, bacon, lots of ballet for Larkin and Brooke, karate and basketball for Hud...

12. Skiing and snowboarding as a family ... we've got to get Nellie out there next year, and we will all be able to go together. Brooke had her big start to skiing this year, Larkin is confidant, and Hud has already passed me in his skill level! I see fun ski vacations in our near future!

I know I am forgetting "everything in between" but at least it's a start to getting caught up.