Swim Meets

Chad and Halle took on a new challenge this summer - swim meets.  They started participating in swim team last summer.  But, they only went to the practices and didn't want to compete at all.  This year I decided they needed to do the meets.  Chad was very excited and Halle did is grudgingly after accepting many bribes.  The meets were much more fun than I thought - I really got into them.  Chad and Halle did really good too.  Unfortunately all the swimmers are inside the pool and all spectators have to stay outside.  That means there is a fence between you and your child - doesn't make for getting good pictures.  Oh,well.

Halle competed in the medley relay, the fly, the breaststroke, and backstroke.

Halle gets ready to breaststroke in the relay medley.

Halle getting ready for her next event.

A smile for the camera.

On her marks for the fly.

Great dive Halle.

Halle comes in for her finish.

Ready to start her backstroke.

Chad competed in the fly, butterfly, and breaststroke.

Chad lines up in his assigned lane.

Coming in with the fly.

Almost at the finish with his butterfly.

Aaronic Priesthood Scout Encampment and Cub Scout Day Camp

Our whole northwest region had a huge Scout Encampment for the Aaronic Priesthood this summer.  As Chad had not turned twelve yet he was invited for just the weekend (Friday through Saturday) with his dad.  There were a number of different activities going on  (Chad's favorites all involved weapons), they got to camp out, and there was plenty of food to eat (that made it all worth while for Chad).  It was also very hot, dry, and dusty.  Chad and Chris came home having had a great time and also covered in grime.

It was also a very spiritual experience as well.  Chad actually got up and bore his testimony at church the next day about his time at camp, what he had learned there, and what he was feeling at that moment (the spirit prompting him to bare his testimony).  It was a wonderful moment for both Chris and I to see our son be touched by the spirit and to do something he has never done before.  Chad is really growing up!

Chad shows me his how dirty he got on Friday.

And this is how dirty he still is on Saturday.

Right after Chad's adventure Sean got to have an adventure too.  Sean turned 8 years old - just in time to become a Cub Scout and attend Cub Scout Day Camp.  He was so ready to start doing things he had seen his older brother do.  He joined right in with everything and had a great time for 3 days of Cub Scouting.  It is still hard for me to believe that my youngest is getting so big.

Sean is ready for a full day of Cub Scout Day Camp.

August - Fishing Fun at the Kemp Property

I love summer and I love the heat.  The end of July and first part of August are my favorite months here in the northwest.  I can finally be warm and enjoy the sunshine.  School is out and it is play time for the Caviness Family.

We started this August out by doing some fishing.  Herm has a friend who has his own pond and frequently invites us all up there to go fishing.  The kids have a great time and it doesn't usually take very long for them to catch a few fish.  I'm glad the kids enjoy the experience - as for me I've never enjoyed fishing.  I don't like putting worms on hooks, I don't like waiting around, I don't like pulling the hook out of their mouths, I don't like watching the fish slowly die from lack of oxygen, I don't like holding fish, I don't like the way they smell, I don't like gutting fish, and I don't eat fish.  So what is the purpose?  I don't know yet. (I guess sometime in the apocalyptic future my husband and kids will be able to fish and feed us - I would have to be desperately hungry to eat fish!)  But it seems like a summer activity that just has to be done.

Sean catches the first fish and dad helps him get the hook out.

 Sean has a starring contest with his fish.

 A proud moment for Sean.

 Looks like Chad has caught a fish.

 Chad holds his prize.

 Halle is next with a catch.  I'm so glad that Chris helps the kids.  My job is to just take pictures.

 One happy girl.

 Sean with another fish and the evil eye.  Watch out fish - Sean is going to get you.

 Halle catches another fish with the help of her Bompa.

 Another happy moment (at least for Halle - not for the fish).

Sean wants to try fishing from the bank instead of the dock.

 And yes, Sean catches yet another fish.

 Way to go Sean.

Halle takes a break from fishing to jump on the trampoline.

Halle going for a front flip.

Over she goes.

Another rotation.

And she lands.

Halle goes for a back handspring.

And there you have it.

Sean's next catch is a wild mob of 'seaweed."

Chad's turn on the trampoline.

Doing a front flip.

And down for the landing.

Sean's turn for some action.

Over he goes.

A sideways landing?!

Chad catches a huge one.

Making sure the fish gets a good camera angle.

Sean enjoys swinging on the rope.

Halle stands on the the rope platform.  The older kids use this platform to start their swing on the rope, swing through some trees and then splash into the pond.

Sean likes being king of the tower.

Chad takes a turn on the rope swing.

Hang on!

Halle's turn.

Come back - don't jump into the pond.

Dad and Grandma watch Sean fly through the trees.

Chad is now king of the tower

Mom's turn.

Bompa had to try too.

Time to Blog

My stretches in blogging are getting farther and farther apart.  My goal is to write everyday this week - hopefully kick-start myself into being a little more vigilant.

Today I am in a wonderful mood.  It is warm, the sun is shinning, I heard the birds tweeting all morning as I had the windows open, and there are blossoms on the trees and my tulips are about to bloom into color.  It is always amazing to me what warmth and sunshine can do to perk me up.

So - to catch up with myself.  I am currently serving as the 1st counselor in Primary (the one that gets to be over Scouting - yippee - sarcastic, sarcastic).  I love primary and all the kids in our ward.  I learn so much from them and love the primary songs too.  I'm currently working with Staci Baker, Stacy White and Toni Rathbone.

Unfortunately we are loosing lots of families - our ward is forever getting smaller.  Recently we lost the Powells and the Welshes.  Soon we are to loose the Rathbones, Cummens, and Bakers.  All such great families.  I hope and pray Heavenly Father blesses us with more families to come into our ward.

I am also the choir pianist.  It is sometimes challenging but I love to hear the beautiful music we all make together.  The only down part is having practice at my house.  My house is always so messy and disorganized that it always takes all morning (even thought I have cleaned all day on Saturday) to get cleaned up enough to have people come over.  So it feels like my whole day is taken up by choir - and I don't get to spend good Sunday time with my kids.  So I need to work on how to make this situation better.  I need to be spending time talking with my kids and helping them with their Faith in God and Scouting.  I want to show them how to have a "good" Sunday and not just leave them to their own devices all the time.

At the moment I am also the Bear Den Leader - until another person can be called.  Another family in our ward moved out until fall.  And I am also unofficially the Cub Committee Secretary.  How I always get these extra jobs - I don't know.  Just glad that Sean will soon be in Cub Scouts and then it will seem worth it (I hope).

I'm still teaching piano (my 4th year in a row now).  It too has been challenging this year.  I had a lot of students drop throughout the year - which made my schedule less busy - but doesn't help with saving up any extra money.  I hope I can find some new students for next year.  I hope to keep learning and improving myself.  I love music so much.  I am so grateful to have a job where I teach others about music.

Today is Monday - so that means as soon as it turns 2:30pm it is busy time.  At 2:30pm I drive to Adams to find a parking spot (there is only one small street to park on by the school).  If you don't get there soon after 2:30pm you have to park another street or so down the road.  At 3:00pm I make sure the kids do NOT get on the bus.  It is time to drive them home so that we can get home quickly, have a snack, and get Halle ready for her gymnastics class.  Halle and I will leave at 3:40pm.  Chad will babysit Sean while I am gone.  And then Grandmas will  pick up Sean to be at soccer practice at 5:00pm.  When Halle is done I will go and pick up Sean.  Hopefully we will be home by 6:15pm and I can get dinner started.  Nice and easy for tonight - spaghetti and garlic bread.  Then it will be time to check kids homework, and chores.  Then it will be family home evening and family scripture study - Yeah! - love time with my family and so far they all enjoy FHE too.  Then it is time for getting ready for bed.  Then - like always, I will turn into a vegetable - no thoughts what so ever - and read a book (I hope) and go to bed myself.

Already today I have sent out a bunch of emails for Cub Scouts and Primary, helped out at the kids school, passed on music to our new choir director (another yippee!), done some laundry, taken care of dishes, tidied the house - and am now blogging.

Nothing real exciting - but I have written for today.  Goal - check!