My family

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

First Swim Meet of 2015

Our first swim meet of the year was an away meet. Sophia has been doing great on pre-team and was asked to swim in two races. Her first race was the 25 meter backstroke but little Miss was all tears. She was scared. After an Italian ice, a 5$ bill and a reward of Princess perfume Sophia was ready to try the next event. She swam the 25 meter freestyle and got 5th place! She was so happy to complete her first race. Her coach gave her a high five and was impressed. Despite Sophia being scared she did wonderful. We were all proud.

Isabella was in three races; a freestyle relay, a 25 meter backstroke and 25 meter freestyle. Isabella even started her race with a dive from the side. Will and I both enjoyed seeing our girls swim. We are proud to see them do their best.

Once we came home from the swim meet Isabella wrote a very sweet letter to Sophia. It's okay to be afraid! The day after the meet Isabella and Sophia received a few ribbons at the ceremony which are proudly displayed in their rooms. Swim on sisters!

The girls with the coaches

Isabella 25M Back

Italian Ice time to cheer up a scared Sophia

Sophia 25M Free and her FIRST swim on the team!

Isabella diving in for freestyle

Bella 25M Free

My swimmers after the race

After swim meet letter from Isabella to Sophia

Girls with their first ribbons of 2015 swim team

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

School Daze

School is out for summer! Before first grade ended we made a few more memories at the school. Sophia and I visited Isabella for lunch. The day we showed up happened to be a "lunch in the library" reward for reading books. Sophia enjoyed learning how to navigate the cafeteria and ice cream with Isabella in the library!

Sophia visits Bella for lunch at Gayton

Lunch buyers on pizza day!

Walking the halls at school

Ice cream in the library for reading 50 books

In addition to our lunch date, we also went to Isabella's school for her principles surprise retirement presentation. Isabella and members of SCA were part of the sign saying We Love Mrs. Wingfield. Sophia and I helped with watermelon for the event and were able to surprise Isabella whose class was outside reading that morning.

Reading time outside the last week of school

Isabella is letter "f" in the sign for her principle

Isabella was excited to head to school on the last day as 1st grader! She woke up early to take the bus. She knew that Sophia and I had a surprise for her at the bus stop after school. Operation Water Guns & Popsicles was a success. Plus, it was a fun way to kick off summer vacation.

Isabella is excited for the last day of school!

Photo from the first day and the last day of 1st grade

Headed to the bus stop for the last time as a 1st grader

Operation water guns and popsicles was a success!

School is out for SUMMER!

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Scouts in Action

June was the end of scouts for the school year. Isabella's troop went to Dave and Busters for cookie rewards. The girls enjoyed playing games, though the choices for ticket rewards at the end were hard for some girls. Isabella made me very proud when she told a daisy in our troop "Congratulations on winning 1000 tickets. I am proud of you!" Once in the car, Isabella admitted that she would have liked to win that amount also but that she was happy for her friend. Isabella was proud of her friends winnings yet I was proud of Isabella's kind heart!

Dave and Busters end of year party!

Isabella was thrilled to get 66 tickets at one game!

Isabella requested a photo with this prop. Love the expression!

Our bridging ceremony was the first weekend in June. Isabella and our troop would be bridging to Brownies. Since I will now be leading a troop for Sophia we added the siblings of scouts into the ceremony. Sophia was excited to finally be a Daisy. It was sweet that Isabella could bridge her little sister into scouts. I also enjoyed bridging Isabella in Brownies. Unfortunately, Sophia took a fall going up to the bridge and was upset, especially with the audience watching. So after the crowd had left the girls re-enacted the ceremony for photos. We all learned the great lesson, its not falling down that people remember but getting up and moving on.

Starting the bridging ceremony with siblings

Sophia fell on the way to the bridge and needed love.

Isabella welcomed to Sophia to Daisy Scouts.

"Twist me, turn me show me the elf. I look in the water and saw myself"

Part of our Brownie troop after bridging

Congrats to our New Daisy and New Brownie Scouts.

The Schaefer Scouts!

Re-enacting the bridging ceremony

We are proud of our little Scouts!

Monday, June 8, 2015

Marine Corps and Memorial Day

Marine Corps Half Marathon

Another 13.1 race in the books. On the eve of the race I realized that I might not be getting enough sleep or have trained the best but I was darn lucky to get out there and run a half marathon. I dedicated my run to all those who can't run now. The military support was wonderful. The race started with a cannon shot. My favorite part of the race was the mile of flags for fallen soldiers.

Waiting for the race to start

A mile of Flags and photos for fallen soldiers

A big smile finish at the steamy hot half marathon

Memorial Day

We enjoyed a nice low key memorial weekend at home. We are thankful for all those that serve or have served our country. The girls and I went on a run and found 65 flags in our neighborhood. God Bless America! We also enjoyed some time at the pool. Three day weekends are great!

A run in our hood with the girls

We and our shadows

Spotting lots of flags in our neighborhood!

Sophia warming up by the pool

Isabella cooling off on the high dive

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

May Miscellaneous

May went by in a flash! Sophia graduated from preschool, the girls started swim team, the girls have enjoyed fun with classmates, I cut 5" inches off my hair, Marathon training started and we went to a wedding for a special couple.