More swimming

Today saw us attending the last day of the big splash. This time I sat on the edge- it looked fantastic but the activities she is doing are way out of my comfort zone! Today saw her diving, jumping off the 3m diving board. Then going for a swimming lesson with a club coach- who suggested we may like to consider signing her up to a club as (in his words) "She's a very good swimmer she could do well."

Swelling with pride I have to confess!  He couldn't give me to much about the club today as he was there in a different role and he would get into trouble. But suggested I look on their website and contact them. I spoke to Stephanie about this at the end of her session. The club were in training as we left so she watched for a minute and decided she "would like to try because it will help her to become an Olympic swimmer." An aspiration she has had since she watched 2012 Olympics. I love that that motivation is still there. I have contacted them via email and will see what happens next. The difficulty I foresee is if her training clashes with my work.

My brave girl diving- she also jumped off of the next board up.

 

Also today she completed her Rookie lifeguarding bronze award

 

 

All ready for Baywatch! LOL

 

 

With her award, I thought it was just a taster session. I had no idea it was an actual thing- how cool is that!

 

I know my little lady has thoroughly enjoyed her weekend of water. She was very tired this evening when I dropped her off to her dad's. I am sure she would have had no problem sleeping, getting up in the morning might be though. At least when she stays at Daddy's she doesn't need to get up as early as when she is at home do to the times I have to leave to get to work. So she can have a nice lay in in comparison.

 

Next year I am determined to be brave enough to join her in some of the activities, I have to confess the diving looks fun, maybe I should learn not to panic jumping in the pool feet first to start with though...

 

It's all about the...

pool, just swimming!

This weekend has seen me washing swimming costumes and towels constantly.

Friday night saw Stephanie and I head out for what is fast becoming our usual Friday night splash at the local pool. 1 set of costumes to be washed.

Saturday morning was Stephanie's swimming lesson where she swam over 400m. 2nd lot of swimming clothes to be washed.

She then went to her dad's who took her to her gymnastics lesson. Ready for me to collect her at just after 5 ready for...
you guessed it another swim session. this one is run by our local council they run a free weekend at all of the local council run pools where there are different swimming events. There is a challenge which they altered slightly (for the better, in my opinion) this year. You booked yourself a time slot and got 20 mins to swim as many lengths of the 25m pool as possible in that time. We booked the same time as Stephanie's swimming friend and his mum. We managed 18 lengths in the 20 mins, not bad for an 8 year old who had already done so much exercise that day! So proud of her.

With her certificate and medal.

As we were collecting our certificate we were asked by people who were in the other pool diving if the children would like to join them. We said we hadn't booked it. That's ok we have space they can have the spaces if they want them. As if they would have let us say no! LOL

We were asked how old they were, on hearing they were 8 the instructor said. Hmm, maybe just snorkelling then as they are very young. They were both very pleased with that, we signed the permission forms and in they got.

snorkelling with the instructor. After swimming around the pool with the instructor a few times. He announced their swimming was very competent and he would actually be more than happy to scuba dive with them, he would have one adult with each. So another instructor joins them they get their tanks and off they went.

 

As I had been swimming I only had my phone camera with me (because Charlie's dad kept an eye for 2 mins while I ran and retrieved it from the locker.) So the pictures aren't the best quality. I will never forget how nervous I felt watching her get strapped up with the oxygen tank, but then the swelling of pride as she swam round the pool as if she had been doing it all her life!

 

That face at the end of it says it all! She loved it.

And is also very excited to learn that there is a local lake, where these people scuba dive/ open water swim/ kayak regularly just 25 minutes drive from our house. Guess where we are heading soon! LOL

I love my children to have new experiences, and we are lucky enough to be offered them for free. Thanks to our local council/ sports teams. So that brings the total of swim kit washes to 3 for 24 hour period. But I am not finished yet, today Stephanie is booked in for 4 hours of water related activity, she is going ot be diving, working on stage 8 swimming, snorkelling and rookie lifeguarding.

I have to say, washing several sets of swimwear is a more than fair price to pay! I can't wait to see the pictures the diving team were taking underwater last night.

 

this years goals

I am making good progress on one of this years goals. I want to spend more time with my family. I am always busy, usually with work. I am trying to find more of a balance between the two.

Last night I went swimming with stephanie. We now live just a few minutes from a sports centre so on Thursday I was asked to take my little lady swimming I checked the pool opening times and discovered they have an inflatable session on Friday evenings. Guess which time she picked! We had a fantastic time, it was like a mini wipeout we were there for 2 hours.







What a work out, my arms are sore today lol

Starting on a goal

One of my goals that I made for this year is to make more time for crafting. I enjoy crafting and have several different crafts that I enjoy. Before Christmas Stephanie and I started glass painting, we painted out designs onto glass jars. I discovered that I really enjoyed doing this, so today I have been a painting!

These are some of the jars we made before Christmas. They were filled with candles/ sweets and wrapped up as presents. We have had lots of kind comments from people who absolutely loved their gifts. Today I have taken half an hour to myself to make some more of these jars, I have only completed the outlines as you need to let each part dry between painting. These are them so far;

 

Hmm that bottom one isn't very clear on the computer screen. It has two dinosaurs on it. Hopefully I will be able to get a better picture once they are painted.

I am looking for constructive criticism here- my questions to you.
Would you pay for one of these? (once coloured)
How much would you be willing to pay?

They are made from upcycled jars.

You see I am looking for sources of extra income and am considering going to craft fayres etc. with some of the things I make. Do you go to craft fayres, either to sell or shop. What pearls of wisdom can you share with me?

 

My Word of the year for 2015 is...

Self-discipline!!

You see I used Jack Mindstore's 4 day process to set my goal for the future. Some I will not achieve completely in 2015 but I am going to make a solid start on them. I have whittled down my goals from 28 to just 7. All of the goals involve improving our family life, through our finances and our health.

I know I always set out well in January and some where along the way in February/ March things start to slide, then I get itchy feet in April and want o go off exploring in May and then throughout the summer. Then I loose my way in the return to work in September, then I get completely lost in the Christmas excitement. My years follow a cycle. I can see that. so I am trying super hard to set things in motion that help me to achieve my goals by breaking them down  into baby steps. Wish me luck!

Today I set about sorting out financial goals for January. I have;

been through my freezer and meal planned for the whole of January and from this produced-

a shopping list. Then Dylan and I set off to shop. I am hoping that I will not need to go back to the shops for the rest of the month. I may need a fruit/ veg top up shop but I am going to try and use the local shops for this to reduce temptation to fill up with 'bargains' at the supermarket.

 

I did pick up a fantastic bargain today whilst in town. I was a little sceptical but thought it's only 99p, worth a try. Look what I bought in the 99p shop

 

My hair desperately needed to be dyed. It hasn't been done since the summer the roots were very visible and so were the greys. So much so that before Christmas when one of the little ones in my class drew a pictu8re of me she proudly told me she had practised looking carefully and had drawn my hair with the red bits at the bottom and the grey bits at the top! Out of the mouth of babes aye?!

There much better, all one colour and no greys peaking through. I can't believe how well this dye worked. I usually have my hair dyed by a hairdresser friend. The last few months have been so busy that either I'm not free or she isn't. Hence the state of my roots. I don't pay her anywhere near what I would pay if I went to a salon- a mere £10. However, this was 99p a saving of £9.00. I am going to send that over to the credit card bill, at the moment online banking is down for maintenance but it will wing it's way over there as soon as it is back up and running.
One of my goals for the year is to achieve this;

 

excuse the poor picture- it was a photo of my computer screen. Before Christmas I transferred my credit card balance to an interest free one as the free period had run out on this card. This is how I am going to make the new card look too!

Have you set a plan in motion for achieving your goals? How are you approaching this year?