Summer swimming

 

This summer marks Kippy's second season of swimming on the Fergus Falls Flyers swim team.  She started swimming the first week in June.  Her age group swims 4 days a week M-Th for 45 minutes each day.  With Steve teaching summer school and my work schedule, Kippy has had to ride her bike to the pool.  It is pretty obvious that she loves swimming because she never complains about going nearly every day. 

This photo collage is from the Alexandria swim meet on June 23rd, which was the first time she swam the 100 breast.  She did really well and got 6th in her heat of 8.

The chlorine has really done a number on her suit as it is so very faded, but her joy of the water has not diminished a single bit.  Her favorite stroke is the breast stroke.  She competed in 3 swim meets in June, but won't be able to make any of the swim meets in July because of going to Long Lake Conservation Camp.  That suits Kippy just fine because she doesn't care for the meets AT.ALL!

An update on the Lori-love (RAK)

I am happy to report that more Random Acts of Kindness have been spread as we count down the days leading up to Lori's 40th birthday! We are over half way through our 10 day count down to June 28th and having a wonderful time focusing on doing good deeds for others and spreading Lori-style love.  Here is what has happened in the past 6 days.

Day 1: Delivered 4 loaves of fresh baked banana bread (made by Abby) to neighbors, who were happy and surprised, although one loaf ended up being gifted on the front step of an unsuspecting acquaintance.  Hopefully it was enjoyed as well!

Day 2:  A large donation of clothing and household goods was taken to Goodwill.  Inside 4 clothing items I stashed Random Acts of Kindness cards with $

Don't you just love when you find surprise $ in a pocket?   I hope others feel the same!

Day 3: Kippy was a helper for Day 3 acts of kindness.  We went to Target and got 4 gift cards and planned to hand them out to random shoppers.  The first shopper gladly accepted the "Act of Kindness" and was so very grateful.  Kippy then went off on her own to give two more cards away, but had a little trouble working up her courage to approach a stranger.  In one case, Kippy had a kind woman actually refuse the gift card telling Angelique, "You just keep it."  Not to be deterred, Kippy finally found additional willing recipients while I browsed through many books and cards waiting.  Both Kippy and I have the "stranger anxiety" gene, but we both felt so good after delivering the gifts that we wished we had $MM more we could give!

Day 4: Kindness this day was centered all on supporting a family whose son has a heart condition and requires open heart surgery in the near future.  So, Lori-style love was spread on silent auction items as well craft items and free-will donations.

 Day 5:  I handed out Flower Packets to 4 mom's who were helping with concessions and selling programs at a swim meet in Alexandria. I told them it was a "thank you" for all that they are doing for the swim program.

These women were so excited about the whole concept.  I feel confident that they will be paying it forward in some way in the future.

Day 6:  We started our Random Acts of Kindness by picking up trash on the River Walk in Fergus Falls.  Steve, Kippy and I ended up with 2 bags of trash and we are ever so grateful that Steve had the forethought to wear gloves! (Let's just say there was some seriously disgusting items I am so happy are now properly disposed of). 

Additionally, I was able to give out Lipton Green Tea in citrus flavor to 4 random people.

I am looking forward to the next 4 days because spreading kindness is rather addicting!!  Lori, are you feeling the love??  Hope so!

Celebrating 40 Lori-STYLE with RAK!

 

My sister-chic, Lori, is going to be celebrating the big Four-Oh on June 28th.  Miss Lori shared her ultimate birthday wish with Heather & me several months back.  She wanted to have her birthday honored with Random Acts of Kindness.  I aim to please, so I am following her instructions and starting the celebrating EARLY to spread the love "Lori-STYLE".

Heather hooked me up with these super cute cards from Pinterest, so I engaged some help from my oldest daughter, who whipped up a batch of yummy banana bread.  Now I will get these delivered and begin plotting additional random acts of kindness to spread the love all the way to Lori's birthday.

Lori, I hope you feel the love surrounding you every minute of every day!  I'll keep you posted on other RAK done in your name.  I love you to the moon and back!!

If anyone else wants to join in on the celebration - please do!  The more Lori-STYLE love we can spread, the better this world will be.  I promise!

A very important announcement...

it is Kathy's birthday!  She is one of my closest, dearest friends and I wish her a very wonderful day today in honor of her birthday.  Our families got to spend Memorial weekend together with the Landmark family at Lake Hendricks two weeks ago.  This is a photo/video montage of that time and I made it just so Kathy could smile and remember it!  Happy birthday, Kathy!

Another dance season completed

which included 10 months of weekly practices, 2 staging practices, 2 dress rehearsals & 4 performances  (a.k.a. hours and hours of time). Abby participated in Jazz3 and Angelique danced in Modern 1A/1B this season. Again, the girls continue to do a wonderful job despite having me as their reluctant dance mom.

I am secretly looking forward to a dance-free summer, filled with swim team, soccer games, & marching band events.

I must admit, though, both girls continue to love performing on stage and that makes it all worth it!

After I took pictures of the girls individually in their costumes, Abby said, "Mom, you have to take pictures of us together!"  Oh my goodness, I remember when they hated when I put them together for pictures and now they are actually demanding pictures together?  Be still my heart!  These sisters are definitely two peas in a pod and I love them to the moon and back!!