CHEER CAMP (6 YRS, 2 MONTHS)

Bowie high school cheer leaders sponsor a cheer camp, for one week during the summer. Cheer camp has everything that S likes -- gymnastic (which she's a natural at), dance, and songs. Unfortunately, the one thing she doesn't like is performing.

Despite "show-time", she has liked cheer camp so much that she's asked to do the all day camp next year and asked for pom-poms and hair ribbons. Every day there's a craft, games (e.g. chicken dance), and cheer and tumbling. Right before lunch, the Bowie cheerleaders do a little show and all the girls are star-struck.

Mama's not sure if she really has a cheer-leader on her hands or not, but think this is a great experience for her.

SLEEP (6 YRS OLD, 2 MONTHS)

Amazingly after six years of life, one of the biggest issue is still sleep. Despite showing signs of sleepiness, S tries her best to put it off, talking and rolling around in bed. She wants mama to snuggle with her and lie with her to go to sleep. And, she often crawls into bed with daddy and mama in the middle of the night. How old will S be when she finally falls asleep by herself?

GREAT WOLF LODGE (6 YRS 1 MONTH)

S's first summer vacation trip was to Grapevine's Great Wolf Lodge. S has been looking forward to it for weeks. The biggest issue was finding a friend who wanted to go with her. Talia couldn't go and many of her friends were not good swimmers. In the end, Odessa accompanied S.

Both girls had a great time! Odessa did not like water slides as much as S, but both girls loved the lazy river and (water) play house. S was much more tired and whinier at the end of the day than Odessa, but somehow managed to stay up to story time.

The best part of the trip was that Mimi and Poppy could come. Mimi spent the most of the time relaxing and reading and Poppy acted as surrogate when mama couldn't go on because of her knee.

CITY OF AUSTIN SWIM COMPETITION (6 YRS 1 MONTH)

S participated in the City of Austin swim competition on Saturday, July 7th. She was excited about the big day. Mama was pleased to have S take part in something "big" and thought it would be an exciting memory to look back on. Daddy was please to have S be so responsible for herself. She was on the pool deck by herself and had to get herself ready for each heat. No parents were allowed on the pool deck.

Mama and daddy were proud that she wanted to participant. Many of her peers dropped out of the City wide event because they didn't think they would place. Even though she knew beforehand that she wasn't going to "place," she was still excited about it and wanted to participate.

UNDER 40 SECONDS (6 YRS 1 MONTH)

At her fourth meet (and last local meet), S did her best times in her free-style, breast and back stroke; all under 50 seconds. Before hand, she was in the 50s and 1 minute times for her three strokes. She even described herself as the "slowest" at the swim meet. After doing so well in her fourth swim meet, S set her goal to be be less than 40 second, in the 30s for her swim strokes.

Mama was encouraging but doubtful that S could do it. Amazingly, at the City of Austin swim meet she did the best time ever, all under 40 seconds. She was third in her heat in the free-style and first in her heat in the breast stroke. Later, she was disqualified for a minor technicality in her breast-stroke, not having the stroke pulled correctly. Momma and daddy were amazed to be able to cheer for S and see her be so proud of herself and feel so proud of her!