The Winder's Circle: May 19, 2013

Whew! Has it really been another week!   We seem to be catapulting towards summer with breakneck speeds. This was an especially busy week for Miss Talia. First she ran the North Park Mile. In this area, the grade school kids from grade 3-5 walk to a park where they participate in a mile race. Parents come, they have an official timer and it is a big event. Talia was nervous going into the race telling me that a certain boy was her main competition. TUrns out they ran girls and with girls and boys with boys so that competition didn't happen. However, I talked with Tal about not sprinting out of the starting line and pacing herself. Tal started out nearly dead last and calmly kept that position for about 1/3 of the race. Then accompanied by a friend she began gradually picking people off till she and her friend Jaycee were in the lead. Then about at about 3/4 a mile Tali took off and with an awesome stride and still a calm demeanor began the finishing turn. It was so fun to watch her all by herself turn the final corner and while being cheered on by everyone finish so strong. She was probably 30 seconds (Craig says 1 minute) ahead of the second place girl. We aren't really sure of her time (the timing was pretty loose and unrecorded) but we think it was around 6:28. I was so proud of her and even got choked up watching her labor and work so hard. Then THursday she played in her classes talent show. The talent show was a darling event with all the kids sharing talents and interests varying from rock collecting, to piano, dancing, etc.... Tal got up near the end and played her La Folia by Corelli and kind of shook the place up. It was fun for her to share the reason she has to miss school every week with her teacher and friends. I think they recognized that it was probably worth the sacrifice! She had worked feverishly to learn all the notes for this fun song and I was so impressed with her work ethic. It was by no means perfected, but she desperately wanted to share so I just let her.

Breck is slowly completely her school classes for the year. I think she completed two or three different classes. It is exciting to anticipate the summer. She has worked very hard with this online schooling and learned a lot about self-discipline. I am very proud of her development in this area. She and Lan also had a swim meet this week. They both swam well, Breck taking the cake by shaving 20 seconds off her 100 freestyle race. She also took a brave leap and participated in a 200 IM which is very grueling.   She is so focussed and really beginning to see the results of her efforts. Landen also made PR's in all of his events. As your times improve you are moved to faster and faster heats. Now he is swimming against the fasted heat and getting creamed which can be difficult to take. But we are so impressed at his ability to improve and compete with kids who have been swimming seriously for a very long time.

Talia had two soccer games this week-one in the rain and I think is now done with her season. She is a great player, fun to watch and really beginning to get power behind her kicks. She is often the one asked to kick the corner kicks or penalty shots because of her powerful kicks and accuracy.

Breck and I and Craig had an awesome date ( a Christmas present) on Friday to SLC. First we hit Olive garden, and then went to the Pioneer Theatre to watch Les Miserables. Both of those places have fun memories for our family. It was fun to just spend time with Breck, enjoy the beautiful music and powerful show and think about the poignant messages of the story. I came away with a number of ways in which I wanted to change and improve my life. Landen did an awesome job babysitting late into the night. He is really growing up. He even helped me move a sprinkler line. He is very dedicated to his mowing job and takes it very seriously.

We are also enjoying having Brielle here for the week. She adds a level of intensity and drama that keeps everything fresh. She and Rhyse could literally be sisters. They have such fun and naughtiness together!

Capriel's dance class waiting to take class pictures. Her BFF is directly to her right;Katelyn.

I finally got a coat of the green on. I adore the color. Subtle and nuetrally without being distracting or too dated. The picture seems more sage than I see in person.

Breck enjoying her olive garden experience! We had a bite or two of dessert left on the plates as the waiter was coming around to clear our plates. After he'd taken the plates Breck looked up at him somewhat abashed but very sincere and said, "Uh, I'm not quite done with those."! She'd been saving up her "blow it" day for quite a while and she wanted to make the most of it! She looked so beautiful that night with her new earrings, cute flats, and beautiful smile!