2010 Race for the Cure

Another amazing year for St. Louis' Race for the Cure!!  Lauren, my awesome niece, talked me into running the 5K with her.  Well, I work out 2-3 times a week doing a "fit camp" - some running, sprinting, weights, etc., but I had not trained well for a specific race.  That didn't stop me! Ha Ha!  VERY warm day on Saturday, June 12th!!  I was not ready for the heat & humidity, but we made it!!  Thank you Lauren - it was a rewarding run & so inspirational!

Group picture in our pink gear!!  Love the pink!!

Another cute one!!  Rosie went with me since Anna had a softball game.  She had no problem waking up early and had a lot of questions about breast cancer.  She said she is so happy Grandma Carollo is a survivor & said she doesn't want to miss a year doing the walk/run!  Love you Rosie & love you Mom! 

Brentwood Swim Team

Our first season on the Brentwood Gators Swim Team, and Rosie & Anna love it!  They are doing awesome - Pete & I cannot believe how great they swim each week.  It started the first week of June (when they officially ended school), and they practice every morning from 8-9:15.  Rosie is now swimming against the fastest swimmers in the 9-10 year old group, and her butterfly ROCKS!  She looks beautiful swimming any stroke - very smooth, fast & perfect.  Anna is a freestyle maniac - she flies!  Her butterfly has improved immensely, and her backstroke is as fast her freestyle.  She just needs to work on her dive, and she'll beat anyone.  She still wins, but she has ground to make up after her half-belly flop into the pool. 

Our friends have wanted them to swim for a few years, but the girls hesitated (plus I had issues with getting them there with daycamps & me working).  It worked out this year as we have a "nanny" all summer - so much easier for all of us!

We just finised our 6th swim meet, and conference finals are on Saturday (tomorrow).  It's been busy for all of us, but we are excited to hopefully win the conference. We definitely have the potential & it is at our pool!

Here are a few pics & many more to follow after Saturday!  Go Gators!

Anna doing her backstroke - ahead of the others!

Bug eyes!  My mom laughs at how many times Anna "adjusts" her goggles!

Breastroke - major concentration!

Ready to go - my favorite part!

Beyond disappointing

I have been coaching for years now, and tonight I witnessed a setback that still has me disturbed.  We are in 2010, but I heard someone sound like it was 1910.  There was a conflict at our softball field - a makeup game for 3rd grade boys & our scheduled game for 4th grade girls.  After some discussion & calls, the boys knew we had preference since we had the scheduled game.  It was a beautiful night as well - the humidity left for a few days & a great night for baseball or softball!  The boys were packing up, but another gentleman said he was "2nd in Command" and declared the boys would get the field because they "hit harder than the girls" and "he was making the decision."

I almost had an uprising with many of the parents, so he said "we won't have this & the game is canceled."  I told him that I wouldn't argue right here about girls being inferior to boys, but we would play in the grass.  We were all there, and it is so hard to makeup these games.  The other coach agreed, but it was beyond degrading & frustrating.  What a terrible message for both the boys & the girls.  We work so hard on empowering these young women, and they heard a terrible message.  Needless to say, parents are writing letters as I am.  The worst is that he had a daughter on our opposing team - does he really believe what he said?  I just can't understand it, and I am so disappointed.

By the way, we won 18-11!

Softball Update

Saturday morning, 10am, softball game at Brentwood field (a field as in grass field not a true diamond).  The little kids get the worst fields, but they don't care.  Anna is doing great & almost threw a girl out from short stop on Saturday.  The team did great, and she loves playing.  Awesome hits from everyone - especially Anna!  Go Chargers!

They can only take one base per hit, so it is slow moving. They are learning the game though!

Just finished a very hot game with the 4th grade girls, and we lost 15-20 (ugh!)  Our defense was lacking today, but as you can see, both teams pounded the ball.  Rosie had 2 triples!!!!  She did great, but we made way too many errors in the field.  I know what we need to focus on now at practice....  Record is now 4-2 - I can't believe we have been playing since April & have only had 6 games - way too many rainouts.  Trying my best to reschedule games, but these teams are not as diehard as us!

Vacation at Gulf Shores

We headed to Gulf Shores, Alabama the day after school ended!  We went with our good friends, the Gombas', and their family.  It was fabulous & we missed the oil (thank goodness).  The beach is beautiful, and we were far down the beach & very secluded.  It was so quiet, and we had a wonderful time hanging out, eating great food & enjoying time away from it all!

Our house was awesome with 7 bedrooms - we loved it!!

Our very own pool too!  Gabby & Rosie goofing around on the day we arrived!

Gabriella's cousins, Jack & Luke, and Rosie hit the waves every day for hours & hours!  So fun!

Anna & Caroline & Jo in the sand on Day One - time to build some castles!

Jack & Rosie & Gabby with their creation - pretty cool!  I think this was Jack's specialty!

Jo caught a fish & was so proud - that was a staple of fun everyday - crabs and/or fish catching!

End of the School Year

We now have a 5th grader & a 2nd grader!  Anna's teacher was the most amazing 1st grade teacher I've met, and the kids were devastated to leave her (I'm not joking). Anna was not even excited on the last day of school because she did not want to leave Miss McNair.  I could not believe it!!  Rosie was ready for summer though - it was a tough but good year with Mrs. Jorcke. 

I have to boast that Rosie got straight As, and she worked hard & should be rewarded with As for her effort.  Jorcke is tough & gets them prepared for "upstairs."  Anna, of course, did so well.  Her teacher told me that whatever they were working on, Anna wanted to do the next step.  So true - she has a lot of drive! 

Good job to my two hard workers!! We are very proud of them & look forward to the next year at St. Mary Magdalen!

Mrs. Jorcke grabbed me to take a quick picture for her - I knew the shade was going to do this to the picture but she didn't mind.

Jo's Birthday Surprise

Is there any more to say?  This car rocks!!!  She loves it, and it actually has a radio!!  On Day One, she did not mind her sisters driving her around.  Totally different now, she is a maniac driver & somehow she never crashes.  I think Pete & I are going to have a heart attack if she crashes this shiny pink thing!!  It is so cute!