Weekend in New Orleans

Lunch with the Fam

We have had a very nice weekend in New Orleans.

We came on Thursday, because Regan had a swim meet at St. Martin's on Friday evening. We had a successful afternoon family nap which was good for Regan, because the swim meet wasn't over until well past her bed time. I think Addison actually naps better by herself, but we all have to make sacrifices. : ). Regan had a great swim meet. Her dives have improved immensely! She is diving out and streamlining past the flags which gives her an advantage. Right before her breast stroke swim she told me that you don't kick during your streamline for breast stroke. She was telling me, but it was like she was verifying. I told her that she should do whatever her coaches tell her to do, because I don't know how to swim breast stroke. She won her heat in butterfly and swam a personal best in free style and butterfly. In this swim meet she was swimming against 7 and 8 year olds. We are really looking forward to her swim meet in July when she will only be competing against 6 year olds.

After the swim meet we went over to my cousin's house for pizza and beer while granny babysat (thanks granny). We had fun, as always. I had planned to go to lunch with Meredith by myself the next day, but when the girls heard that Meredith was here they wanted to go.... So we all went and then Meredith and I went to coffee afterwards. : ). I'm amazed Meredith got to eat at all, because the girls wanted to sit next to her and I'm not sure that they stopped talking the entire lunch. Especially Addison. Meredith said that at one point Regan said to her "I like to do art. What are your talents?"

We had a wedding on Saturday for one of Matt's former co-workers and granny babysat again (thanks again granny :)). We met a very nice couple that the wife of that couple is still in public accounting. We were reminded, as we always are, of how glad we are that Matt is no longer in public accounting. It's great experience, but a very hard life. We are glad we got that out of the way before kids.

Future Foodie

Addison has been interested in food and cooking since birth, it seems. When she was a baby she would stand at the stove and "help" me make her egg. Today while I was cooking dinner, she pulled up a chair and was watching me cook and asking questions. Eventually, she wanted in on the action and helped put in ingredients and stirred.

Library

Computer Time

Three weeks into summer and we finally made it to the library and signed up for the summer reading program.

Conversation of the Day (yesterday)

Yesterday we were driving home from swim practice and Regan started to ask me about when Matt and I first met.

Regan: Mommy did you and Daddy meet at UNO?
Me: yes
Regan: How old were you when you first met?
Me: I was 22 and Daddy was 20
Regan: Did you have play dates together?
Me: No. We went on dates to restaurants.
Regan: And you decided to become best friends?
Me: Yes.

Fun Weekend

Nail Salon

Baseball Game

Some of the Phil Manning's came to visit this weekend. The boys took the kids to a baseball game while I went to get a mani-pedi. After the game we had a dance party that was both hilarious and fun. Regan had a salon birthday on Saturday. They were picked up in a limo and taken to the little girl's house for facials and nails. It was cute and right up Regan's alley! Saturday Matt and I had a party which required a lazy Sunday. We went over for dinner to our Scottish friend's house. His wife and kid's are in Scotland for the summer and we have had him over a few times and he wanted to return the favor. Even though Regan and Addison are missing their friends, they were perfectly happy to play with their toys without them.

Finally this week we start our low key (for us) summer. We will still be on the go with swim team, piano and my tennis. But it's much more laid back than camp or school.

Another Busy Week

Regan and a friend

For some reason the two camps I signed the girls up for fell in the first weeks of Summer. This past week Regan did a sports camp and Addison did a camp at the school that she is going to in the fall. They both had a really good time, but their camps started at 8am and 8:30am. Which is not easy for me to get them there on time. We made it, but Mommy is ready for a break next week. Regan may do another camp in July, but for now we are done with camps! Camps are hard for us, because the girls still have swimming three days a week in the afternoon and Regan has piano one day a week. Throw in a play-date or two and it is a recipe for exhaustion.

So far, Regan is really enjoying piano. She practices on her own and will work at it until she gets it. It is amazing the difference in her determination in something she wants to do vs. Something we want her to do. Take learning to ride a bike without training wheels, for example.

Funny Conversations

Some delightful conversations that I have had with my children lately.

Me: Meredith is a College Graduate.
Addison: Oh. She's a grownup now?

Me explaining to Regan that we lived in Mandeville and worked in New Orleans
Regan: You lived in Mandeville and worked in New Orleans?!?! That doesn't make any sense! You must have had a long drive to work!
Me: Yes, we did.
Regan: And Will and Mia must have a long drive to swimming because they live in Opelousas and swimming is in Lafayette. And one time we had to go all the way to Opelousas for Will's birthday party.

Addison: I'm going to swim like a shark, a dolphin, an octopus ( etc...)
Regan: (deadpans) or any Ocean Animal

Swim Meet

Today was Addison's first swim meet and she did awesome! She swam the whole way for backstroke and free style. She also got ready when they blew the whistle and started when the horn blew. She was so cute and little that everyone was impressed that she made and were high fiveing her. She was thrilled! Poor Regan did not have her best swim meet, but she managed to rally. She was in every heat with the coaches daughter, so did not get any coveted heat ribbons. She will get ribbons, but that won't be until Monday. All of the kids have a hard time when they don't win heats. They don't care how they do overall. I think it's a hard concept at this age. Luckily, the coaches daughter will age out by the next swim meet. It was a hard life lesson today and it wasn't helped by the fact that we have been going strong for two weeks. She has a much harder time dealing with things when she's tired, much like her mother.

Vacation Bible School

Regan and a friend at the pool

You're probably wondering why a post that is titled Vacation Bible School starts with a picture of Regan and a friend at the pool. No, VBS was not at the pool (although, it could be argued that it would be better if it did). The girls loved VBS. They love crafts and singing, so VBS is right up their alley. I volunteered this year and all I will say is I was right not to go into education. And anytime I am in a situation that resembles teaching it makes me have that much more respect for teacher. Every one should try some form of teaching (especially small children) once so that they can see how hard it is. I was exhausted!

I put the picture of Regan and her friend up, because we did something every day after VBS. We were exhausted by the end of the week and it really came out today. The girls had a swim meet and we had an enforced and much needed family nap. Regan resisted, but we bored her down.

Meredith Graduates

Whew! It has been a busy two weeks! Last week I traveled to Vermont for my cousin's college graduation. Seeing as she was five and my first college roommate when I started college, it made me feel more than a little old to attend her graduation. The girl's were with Sue during the week and Matt met them in NOLA for the weekend and took the girl's to see the Broadway version of Shrek. I think the girls had a really good time spending time with Sue and their cousins (thanks Sue!). I was glad to see Vermont and to see Meredith graduate.

NOLA Children's Museum

Regan getting measured

Dancing

We met up with some old friends today and went to the Children's Museum. I think the last time we went there Addison was a baby. The kids had a ton of fun and the adults did, too. : )

Shopping

Regan being silly

Regan's new shoes

Reading

Regan and I went shopping today. Addison didn't want to go, so she stayed with Granny. She may never make that mistake again. Regan got new shoes and Addison was not happy that we didn't get any for her. My kids are starting the whole it's not fair bit. I'm trying to teach them that life isn't fair, but I guess it takes a long time to learn that. She was trying to make me promise to take her to get a pair tomorrow. Ahhh. the joy of having two girls. It was nice to have just Regan. I don't get a lot of alone time with her. Plus she can get herself in and out of the car (a big plus) and she can keep up. Addison likes to tell me that "she's tired of walking.". The shoes were not a planned purchase. But her friends have had them for a while, so when she asked for them I figured... Why not? They're cute in a flashy sort of way.