our busy week

Gosh, I didn't plan very well because our past week was packed FULL of activity! Plus Daddy had a work trip on the other side of the planet (ugh...), but thankfully Nonny made another trip up to stay with us :) All the activity was good, but left me exhausted!

On Monday Violet had her last ballet lesson for the year. She has had such a wonderful time this year dancing every week with Miss Mary! She has enjoyed every single lesson and listened carefully to Miss Mary and following her direction (wish it was the same for me! ha!).

Nonny got to come to the final lesson and there sits little Weston smiling happily as usual (however I think he knew this was the last time and was extra happy!.. what a little trooper to sit through dance class )

Violet also had her final day of preschool on Tuesday. The above picture was on her first day of the year and the below is of her last day along with her two sweet teachers, Miss Keisha and Miss Janey. I have loved watching her change and grow. She has really learned a lot this year and has come more into her own. We saw her make new friends, her kind, gentle spirit, loving character with others, love for learning, but also a new realization for her own free will. We worked through some struggles with her teachers... like staying on her nap mat at naptime... and she proved to herself that she can learn how to make good choices and be proud of her good behavior :)

What kind teachers she had... (and just ignore the little guy in the back hanging from the rafters! maybe it was the ice cream?...)

And then... there was swim lessons... dom, dom, dom............... everyday last week for 30 minutes. The above pic was on day one. We were all prepped with our video from last year...

And this sad picture just sums it RIGHT UP! You see, last year, it was hard and she didn't like it, but she put up with it. This year I felt like we took a giant step backwards. BUT I've come to realize that for Violet swim lessons are not AT ALL about learning to swim. It's a total character lesson. Last year, bravery, this year survival? perseverance? It was hard for her and mostly mental because once she would get going with the swimming part it was good.

And with more practice in the water this summer I'm sure we will see more of these smiles :)

Daddy was able to watch on the last day!!

Another thing I learned about Violet through this is the she talks constantly when she's nervous!! She would talk all about what she was going to do before she did it. And Miss Sally learned all about Violet's ballet teacher Miss Mary and who knows what else! That part was endearing :)

And Miss Sally is super understanding and sweet with the kids :)

The really funny part is that EVERY day after it was all over and we were leaving she would talk about how THE NEXT DAY she would jump off the diving board! haha! didn't happen, although she actually did do it last year... This year we stuck to the side :)

The best part... prizes on the final day!! We made it! YEY!!! (longest week ever...)

And just so you know a little jr candy sundae at Sonic really hits the spot after a dip in the pool.

Even Weston got to participate in that part :) He was a trooper (yet again!) to sit through all the hoop-la... the least he could get is a taste, or two!

For now this is more our speed...
(except, shhh, I previously registered us for another week of lessons next month- uh oh... we'll see if that happens...)

I love this!!
And oh how going through these ups and downs with my kids makes me smile, my heart full and so incredibly happy that God gave me these babies! They are precious and sweet and learning new things every day :)