About Those Swimming Lessons

When Bree finished her last session of swimming, she actually got an evaluation of her skills. We had actually received one the time before, but it had a different child's name on it, so it was given to us in error. Because Bree has been the only child in her class for the last two sessions, so it was a bit odd to get someone else's evaluation.

Anyway! On to the most recent evaluation! These might be a bit hard to read, but you might be able to click on them and enlarge them. Bree got all "completed" for the skills for an Eel. But note the blue box at the bottom of the page that's titled "Swimmer Attitude." All "Yeses" and one big fat "No."

I do think think it's a bit odd that she did get a "yes" for "Swimmer listens to instructions" but got a "no" for "Swimmer follows directions." So basically, she'll listen to what you say, but she won't do as you ask. Oh wait - yeah. I could have told you that. :) But half the time she doesn't listen to me so I was a bit surprised that she got a "yes" for listening.

The one comment in the Ray section that says "Bob and get a breath 10 times in shallow water without PFD" (personal flotation device). This is actually more of a happy accident rather than any specific skill. It's because Bree is completely and utterly convinced that she already knows how to swim. And I say that with 100% seriousness. Which is why we have her taking lessons - she has no fear of water, no concept of "deep" water, and will tell anyone who asks that she knows how to swim.

She started telling her instructor that she wanted to swim all by herself. So as soon as the instructor let her go, Bree would go down, come up, go down, come up - it was like watching Bree try to ride a bike in the water. I would hold my breath as she bobbed under, and then release it as she surfaced. I wasn't worried, the instructor was right there the whole time. I was impressed by the fact that Bree was swimming through sheer force of will. So I was pleasantly surprised to see that "skill" recognized as an achievement for the next skill level.

Bree was signed up again for the 9 a.m. class that started on January 8th. There were two other children in the class. One child was a little boy who was just dropped off by his dad. With a "see ya!" to his son, he was gone. Well, the first 10 minutes of the class were spent trying to get the little boy to sit down. Then he wouldn't stay with the class, he kept getting up and walking away, it was a disaster. Bree got in the water twice during her class time. I was so disappointed. I called later on in the week to get Bree into a different class.

So we showed up last Saturday, ready for our 10:45 class . . . . which turned out didn't really exist! That was not fun. Bree cried all the way back to the car. I called the Aquatics Director on Tuesday of this week and got Bree into an actual class. One that exists. Or so she says. We'll find out on Saturday when we show up!

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Bree has been pretending to write letters. She just brought a piece of paper to me and said, "Mom, read this letter I wrote to Baby Beary." So I gave it a whirl: "Dear Baby Beary, you are my best friend in the whole world and I love you very much."

Bree said, "No! That's not what it says! It says, "Dear Baby Beary, if Blue Beary doesn't behave, he's not getting any presents for his birthday. And NO PARTY!"

Who knew? I guess that Blue Beary better shape up!

Yeah, Even I Have No Clue About This One

I am often given a script to follow. Tonight, Bree yelled from her room, "Mommy, you say, 'Here comes a pretty princess!'"

So, I complied and said, "here comes a pretty princess!" And this is who/what came out to greet me.

A naked girl with a tutu and Cinderella slippers. Because of course this is how princesses dress. Not Disney princesses, mind you, but some twisted kind of princess from Bizarro Bree world.

Notice how in this next picture she's holding on to Sly's collar - that dog will be sainted upon his passing because Bree has not been the best friend to him lately. I'm forever telling her to let him go. He tolerates it fairly well, but it drives me crazy to see her grab his collar like that.

Because it has been so cold here, and then so rainy, Bree hasn't been able to play outside as much as she'd like (or I'd like). I really really really need the weather to get better so that Bree can burn off some of this energy by playing outside. There is no guarantee that she'd be keeping her clothes on, but when she's worn out I get less of an argument about putting them back on.

Keep your fingers crossed for warmer weather to come our way soon!

So, About Wrapping Up 2010

Well, my computer finally crapped out about two weeks before Christmas. And while I'd like to say that's the sole reason I haven't updated this blog in a few weeks, it's not. I've had a touch of the lazies.

I took Bree to Busch Gardens' Christmas Town one weekend day. It was open from 3 to 10, and the day we went was clear, but very very cold. I really enjoyed it. I couldn't get Bree interested in seeing Santa at all. But we did enjoy the beautiful lights and the fun of Christmas Town.

When we were leaving, I asked her if she had a good time. She said, "Well, I had more fun at that party at the house." Duly noted. Next year I'll save myself the cost of admission and the drive!

Bree was very excited for Christmas this year. But the closer we got to Christmas, the more upset Bree would get whenever I bought presents for other people. I tried to explain to her that she was going to be getting lots of presents, but she didn't really understand. She was so upset, she cried all the way home from the store after we bought some Christmas presents one day. I just couldn't seem to get her to understand that it was fun to give other people presents for Christmas.

Bree woke up at 7:30 on Christmas morning, wondering if Santa had come. So she ran out into the living room, and the first thing she saw was the big gift bag with princesses on it. Santa got Bree a Radio Flyer Scooter that was pink! with pink flowers! And that just started the present bonanza.

This year Bree got lots of Barbie dolls, puzzles and games. You can see her above ready to play "Don't Break the Ice." She also got Candy Land, Chutes & Ladders, Connect Four, Hi Ho Cherry-O, and Princess Yahtzee. We put away Chutes & Ladders and Connect Four because so far, Bree's favorites are Don't Break the Ice and Hi Ho Cherry-O. I've played every day since Christmas! (Hint: I may be good, but I'm no match for a cutthroat 4 year old. She's ruthless. And shameless about cheating.)

As for the Barbies, Bree likes to swim with her Barbies. So they are perpetually naked, and littered throughout the bathroom. So they're ready to swim at A MOMENT'S NOTICE. She takes two baths a day on the weekends. One thing she likes to do with them is synchronized swimming - yes, Kathy, really! :) One of her favorite shows on PBS is Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman. It's like a game show with kids as contestants, and they have to complete different challenges. On one episode, the contestants had to learn synchronized swimming. It really made an impact on Bree, because she has quite the synchronized swimming events going on in the bath tub!

Bree was able to try out her scooter and her coaster car on Christmas Day. Then it started snowing that night and didn't stop until we had 13 inches of snow on the ground. So then we had fun in the snow!

To add insult to injury, my camera's batteries died, so I was left with my cell phone camera to capture Christmas & Birthday 2010. Yes, I forgot to buy batteries before Christmas. There's only so much my brain can fit in there during the holidays. Something's going to get missed. Okay, a couple of things got missed.

I kind of forgot to get cake for Bree's birthday. I know. I KNOW. All she wanted was chocolate cake with pink frosting. I even went to the store on Christmas Eve with the specific intention of buying chocolate cake mix. PURCHASE FAIL. I got home and realized that I had forgotten it completely. But I DID get stocking stuffers. CANDY WIN.

I tried to make a chocolate cake from scratch, but it did not turn out well at all. Bree ate the frosting off her cake and left the rest. I will definitely be buying chocolate cake mix EARLY next year. (It's on the calendar already. For November.)

We had a very nice holiday season and I hope that yours were great as well. I did buy batteries but haven't yet put them in the camera. (see what I mean about the laziness?) I'm getting around to it. Soon. :)