Day3 of the Owens Olympics

Is it time for the closing ceremonies yet???

I kid, I kid.

Sorta.

Hand stands

This is Nate's version of hand stands since he still doesn't like going under water.

Crazy hair

Water polo

Water volleyball.

So, today we did Olympic games with swimming as our theme.  We did synchronized swimming (aka who can do the best hand stand), who can hold their breath the longest, the craziest hair do, who can swim under water the longest, water polo, and water volleyball.

The kids enjoyed themselves and the rainy looking clouds left so we could enjoy the warm sunshine while we swam.  We stayed in the pool for about two hours.  The time really flew by.  Now the O'villers are resting up for BJJ (Brazilian Jujitsu). 

And yes, the kids want to know what we are doing tomorrow.

If I only knew..

Day 2 of Owens Olympics

Instead of doing so many games today I kept it down to just two.  We swam with friends this morning after hitting up the gym.  So yeah, I am tired.  BUT the kids were so excited about doing more games that I had to do something.  So today we did the long jump (3 different ways) and then a basketball shoot out.  Again, they had a great time and again they are already begging to know what we will be doing next!  My creative brain just can't keep up!!

Long jump

"Hop jump"

"Backwards hop jump"

Basketball shoot out

Olympics.. O'ville style

My kids are all into the Olympics.  This is the first time they are all old enough to really appreciate all the hoop-la. Jon Kent is definitely more into it than his younger siblings.  On the first day of the games we were watching the USA's men archery and they were playing against Italy.  They lost by 1 point.  I was in the middle of folding and putting away laundry and didn't really think much else of it. A few minutes later Jon Kent comes up to me with tears in his eyes and says, "I'm kind of embarrassed and sad that the USA didn't win.  We are supposed to win everything."  I explained to him that we can't win at everything, but the USA still won a silver medal and that's a lot to be proud of.  He still seems to get nervous for the athletes when they are competing but he has a better understanding that they aren't going to win every time.

So in the spirit of the London games we decided to hold our own Olympics here at home.  I told the kids we would do a few different games every day and tally up the score at the end of each day. *Yes we do keep score.  The whole point is to have fun, but I am also not the type of parent who thinks everyone is a winner. Sorry, just not. It teaches them good sportsmanship and how to handle a loss.*

Today we did 5 games (planned on only doing 2, but the kids were having so much fun.. must find more games to use for tomorrow.).  We played hurdles, discus, soccer shoot out, one foot stand (left side and right side), and swimming.  All the kids had a good time and can't wait for the games tomorrow!

"Show me your muscles!"

"Hurdles"

"Discus"

"Soccer shoot out"

"One Foot Stand"

3 years.. really?

Three years ago today we were making our way down I-20 to new lives.  We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.  We knew no one, all our stuff would be in storage for the next month, we still hadn't closed on our house, we would spend the next month in an apartment, and we were all full of nerves.  But in the last 3 years we have met tons of new people, made friends who feel like family, found a wonderful church home, made a house into a home, and have all but forgotten the nerves.  I can honestly say that moving to South Caroline was one of the best things we could have ever done.  Very thankful that God had a plan for our lives that brought us here.

Beach Trip

Since moving to South Carolina almost 3 years ago we figured our trips to Panama City Beach would come to an end.  Since we would be living somewhat closer to the Atlantic ocean beaches we figured we would be going to those from now on.  So we tried one last summer in Hilton Head, SC.  We were not impressed.  We've heard better reviews about Myrtle Beach, SC but we didn't want to take any chances.  So we made a long vacation out of it by stopping in and visiting the grandparents and great grandparents in 'dega before making the 5 hour drive down to Panama City Beach.  We had a good visit at "home" and we had great time at the beach.  My daddy came down for a few days and besides a couple days of rough water it was a great vacation.  The only draw back was the 7 hour drive back home to South Carolina straight from the beach.

Some of the things we did besides play at the beach were:

Fun Land Arcade- This is a tradition that dates back to when I was little and I went to the beach with my parents.  When Kent and I got married and honeymooned in the town next to PCB I introduced Kent to Fun Land.  And now every time we go our kids beg for multiple trips there.

Pineapple Willy's- They have some of the best ribs in the world.  Or at least in the world that I live in.  We go there every year.  My first time going was during my senior trip and now we go every year.  It's another one of those places that the kids just expect us to go to.

Pier Park- It has great places to eat like Margaritaville, which we eat at every time.  It has shops and now they have expanded their throw back to Miracle Strip Amusement Park.  They have brought back several of the old rides and even the Ferris wheel.  The kids had a blast and I am sure it will become part of our traditions.

Wonderworks- We tried this place out on a day that the beach patrol closed all the beaches because of dangerous rip currents.  Apparently everyone else had the same idea.  It was extremely crowded which made for a somewhat miserable experience.  I am sure had there not been so many people that it would have been a lot better.  However, what we did do we enjoyed (well minus the virtual roller coaster.. me and my equilibrium could have done without it).

Air boat ride- It was extremely boring.  It took all I had to not take a nap!

We also rode go-karts and played putt-putt.  Kent and Jon Kent won the go-karts and my daddy won the putt-putt.  Zoey is still fussing that I wasn't driving fast enough! Pedal to floor.. can't get much faster than that!

All in all it was a great beach trip. I am looking forward to our next one!

Another year.. another milestone

Well, another chapter of O'ville school years is in the books.  I am now a momma to a 2nd grader, 1st grader and a 4K preschooler.  Wow.  Time is flying, my kids are growing up, and I am just not ready for any of it.

 Jon Kent had a great year in 1st grade.  He made the A honor roll for the year, passed all his testing with flying colors and well above grade level and just thrived in all his subjects.  I am very thankful for his teacher who encouraged him all along the way.  We have been so blessed with amazing teachers at the kids' school.

Zoey had a great year in kindergarten.  She went in hardly reading and came out a great reader.  Her confidence in herself academically has soared and I give my thanks to her teachers for fostering that in her.  She really blossomed this year in the classroom.

Nathan took his test to get into preK at MCE and he will be joining his brother and sister for half a day at the elementary school.  So for 3 hours every day I will be completely alone during the school day.  That hasn't happened in almost 8 years! :)  I will be busy though with PTO stuff since I was sucked into that new role.  I am actually looking forward to it though.  It allows me to be at the school a good bit and volunteering around my kids.  Can't ask for much more than that!

Now to enjoy summer break!

First and last school day pictures

First and last school day pictures