Show Choir and Life

 Last year, I took Veronica and Felicity, at 6:30 in the morning, and dropped Felicity off at Lawrence Central High School so Felicity could meet up with her choir, with whom she was performing at like 8:30 or some ungodly hour.  The plan was for Veronica and me to watch Felicity and then for us all to spend the day watching Maria, and other choirs, also the solo competition.  It was a long day and super terrible - the cell phone service is horrible in the building, so you can't find each other via phone, Maria and her friends were super emotional and it was just a long day.  It was especially hard on Veronica, she was in a non- competitive choir her freshman year, having not gotten into the Intermediate Choir that a lot of her friends were in, or the competitive choir that other friends of hers got in.  She was so, so supportive of Maria and of her friends who were in those upper choirs, but she struggled.  I remember during the solo competition especially, she was mostly silently crying, sitting there next to me as we watched the really talented singers from NC.  NC choirs took first, second and third in the solo comp that year, they were so good, but there Veronica and I were, just crying watching.  

I understand what was hard about it.  She felt so separated from her friends, her peers in everything but this, and this is where it counts the most.  We stayed until midnight that night and watched the three soloists win, watched the intermediate choir win, and Maria's choir win.  And it was great but it was also horrible, seriously one of the longest days of my life.  

Later that same month, Veronica had her audition for the next year's choir and I said Veronica, you have to sing, you have to sing too loud! I KNOW it's against your nature but you have to be too loud at an audition, now is not the time to hide your light under a bushel! She auditioned and thank GOD, she was put into the Intermediate Choir, so this year, when we spent all day at LC, I was mostly by myself, watching TWO choirs Felicity was competing in, one of which won Grand Champions, Veronica's choir, which won Grand Champion, and Maria's choir, which also won Grand Champion! An embarrassment of riches, for sure, and as long a day but I remember most Veronica.  My sister took her to another high school that morning so she could participate in National History Day and then she dropped her off at like 10:00 a.m., so we were able to hang out a little bit together.  I sent her off to her choir homeroom and I said Veronica, just today do everything the most, really smile and open your mouth wide and just do the best you can do and then I watched her performance and she did everything the most, just a wonderful performance.  I was sitting with other people, NORMAL people, my dad would say and so I couldn't fully cry with appreciation and love like I wanted to that day but when I watched this video today I just can't barely stand it.  She is such a hard worker, some things come so easily to her and some she has to work harder for, but whatever it is, she can do it all so well.  

Tonight around 5:00 the stupid choir placements come out and we will find out her fate for next year.  She can't be in the intermediate choir, because it meets during the same period her IB class does, so it's one of two choirs.  This morning when I was driving to work, I was thinking of it, praying ... but for what? I want her to be happy, to be satisfied, I want people to recognize how wonderful she is.  Here's the video of her choir, so, so great! 

North Central Accents 2025 Competition Set

 Veronica is the one out of all my kids who I think has changed the most.  Maybe Veronica and then Anthony.  I look at these pictures and it doesn't even seem like she is the same person! So many things are the same though - she is still super smart, still so sweet, she is just doing really well.  She's so funny, she has a lot of little things she says, mostly from Tik Tok and the internet, that just cracks me up.  Apparently there is someone on Tik Tok who speaks really bad Spanish - oh it's not going to be funny if I write it but she's just funny, she has an excellent sense of humor.  This year, Veronica is in a more advanced choir and will go to a few competitions, she has joined the speech and debate team, she goes to crochet club more often, she wants to start driving lessons, she is INVOLVED and ACTIVE.  

Because she is so smart, and she does so well on standardized tests, we have been getting a lot of information from colleges, which is fun.  She wants to be a doctor, a ... radiologist? Neurological radiologist? Could that be right? She doesn't want to see too many patients, which - I mean, she is extremely self aware.  I never really knew and understood an introvert like Veronica, but she needs at least one hour after she gets home from her school of 4000 students to de-people.  Anyway, she wants to read MRI's and diagnose people with brain problems.  I think there is some engineering involved, bio medical engineering, so maybe she wants to go to Purdue? That would be great, Mike is horrified of course but it's such a good school and they freeze tuition for all four years that you're there.  A friend of mine told me a friend of HERS' student goes to DePaul and they have already raised tuition for next year.  It's hard, with college, and what awaits us. I want to be ready but also I am terrified, especially with you know who coming into office.  It's hard to know about job security.  

Anyway, Veronica! She is the greatest, really enjoying school and her friends and friendships.  She loves to go to Barnes and Noble(s).  She joined a Girls Book Club, and she is going on a European trip next year - she will go to Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm, won't that be great? She's going with her bff, there's only 25 girls all together, it should be wonderful.  After the holidays, I'll sign her up for driving lessons and keep her on track for that.  She can't get her license until next August so we certainly have some time.  I have friends whose kids do not want to drive but mine all seem to want to.  

Is grade 10 the hardest? I think it is, Veronica is taking two AP classes and all honors classes for the rest, except for choir.  You maybe laugh but Maria is in honors choir! I do not even know.  

Because she has this expensive trip coming up, she is not getting as much for Christmas, but she has requested Doc Martens (cute), silver jewelry and as ever, makeup and skin care.  She loves to wear jeans or sweats, and giant sweatshirts.  This morning she came in my room, seemingly to just chat but I noticed she grabbed an oversized sweatshirt on her way out, ha! Lately she's been wearing a long sleeved shirt under a tshirt with jeans and she looks like Jordan Catalano, adorable! An adorable heartbreaker, just like him.  

2018

Here's a year end update for sweet Veevsy Voo.  Next year she'll be 10, crazy! I actually feel like she has been nine years old for FOREVER.  She did go on her camping trip, Mike went too and she did very well.  She seems to be doing just fine, she doesn't say a lot but, like, she told me the other day she sits with all boys at lunch, they have assigned seats.  And that they are sometimes jerks but mostly they just make up games, jokes, etc.  It sounds fun, she sounds like she is doing just fine. 

She was a Porcelain Doll for Halloween, she thought of her costume and the styling, I drew the cracks on her face.  She loves to play with makeup.  She recently got her haircut into a short bob, it looks really cute.  Her teacher seems to be really happy with her in class, she is obviously really good at math, he told me and math is his favorite subject so he is happy to work with her on it.  She told me she sits at a table with some other kids during Math who are also doing harder stuff. 

All three girls are going to Sunday School now, because they don't go during regular school and it's going fine.  They don't love it, it makes for a long morning, but we are getting by.  We start at 9:00 then they have Mass at 10:30 and so we are basically there for three hours, which can be a lot! Bring snacks, I tell them, ha! 

Here are some pictures of our sweet Veronica. 

Fourth Grade

Good Lord, it's been one year! Every time I think I'm going to be better about posting I'm not.  But life is busy! The girls are all at a new school this year, our public one, and it's going very well.  It's going so much better, in fact, that I can't stand it, almost! Veronica has a male teacher, he's super cute, it's his first year teaching.  He was a student teacher in the gifted and talented classroom last year, I feel like he is a perfect fit for Veronica.  New teachers never bother me, I love them.  I guess maybe a new surgeon I wouldn't be too into but a new teacher is just great, they are young, they are excited, they are up on the freshest ideas, I love them.  And also, he is super cute, have I mentioned? Ha!

She is doing very well in school.  I went and volunteered at her Field Day this week, she doesn't love the cardio, for sure, BUT she did everything.  She has been walking the dog every day, by herself, she doesn't want me to go with her, which is FINE BY ME. 

She has moved on through the Harry Potter series by herself, without us.  Mike has been buying her these cool cover books at Costco, when you line them up against each other they make a whole picture? I feel like I'm not describing it well.  She is ever the reader, we just got her mid term grades (in the second week of September, what the heck?) and she is doing well in everything, her lowest grade is A-, in Science. 

On school starting so early, what the hell? Their first day was August 1, they have a week off for Fall Break in early October, two weeks off for Christmas/Hannukah, a week off for spring break, and get out in late May.  I was just having a discussion on Facebook with some friends, because Georgia is trying to get a law passed so that they can't start until after Labor Day.  Another friend said that in Maryland, where she lives, they never start until after Labor Day because they count on money from tourism and beach business through the SUMMER.  I said I thought that would work out okay because we went 180 days a year when I was in school and it was FINE.  I remember one year that we went until June 30, because we had so many snow days that year (I think it was 1978), and that was really late.  I think we normally went into the second week of June and then SUMMER started, like with the calendar.  One friend said that the department of education should decide when students go to school, it shouldn't be decided by travel and tourism and I ... disagree.  Apparently it is a problem because students have to take exams AFTER Christmas Break and ... I mean ... who cares? I just never understand all this revinventing of the wheel that we do.  Summer is summer and fall is fall, we are not changing the SEASONS now, are we? Anyway it drives me crazy but there is NO use fighting City Hall on it, I'm just going with it and inwardly seething.  And sometimes outwardly, I guess, ha ha!

She has a friend in our neighborhood now, one who is her age, which is so nice.  Her friend lives right down the street, on the same side of the street, it's super convenient and it just feels good, for them to live in the neighborhood where everyone goes to school.  I can't believe how few regrets I have about moving them to a new school. 

She is going on an overnight trip later this month, to a YMCA camp about an hour away.  Mike is going with them, apparently they always need dads to go, because of course as usual, it's moms who do all the volunteering.  She's excited and I am too, I think it will be great. 

Okay, well, you're up to date, I hope to be better about this in future but no promises. 

Third Grade

I think Third Grade can be the hardest - they get real grades for the first time, they have to take iRead and iStep, the first in a long line of standardized tests in Indiana, there are a lot more expectations on them.  I am not appreciative enough of the fact that my kids are pretty smart and capable and I don't have to worry about them (SO FAR) about academic stuff.  Veronica is so good and smart and sweet I never worry and this year is no exception.  Which is GOOD because for the second kid in a row, their teacher is going on maternity leave during their year! I found with Maria and I am hoping with Veronica that I am more tense about it than they are, Maria did just fine and Veronica will too.  

She is playing kickball, she doesn't really like it but I think it's important for her to stick with it.  She does seem to enjoy it while she's there.  Their first game was kind of a hot mess but - I mean, they only had TWO practices before their first game and at the school where I work they have been practicing since the end of summer break and it was clear that the first team we played had practiced a lot more than we had.  It is hard to always lose but then again, there is no pressure.  I just hope she sticks with it.  She never got on base the first game and she was mad but later she told me, I think I just let my nerves get the best of me, which makes me want to CRY but I didn't.  

Anyway, she's fine, she's moving right along in speech and maybe some day we won't have to go anymore.  We've been doing it for two years, we are all getting sick of it!  

Here are some cute pictures.  

First Communion

I consider myself lucky to be Catholic for a variety of reasons, but I especially love being a parent of a Catholic school student.  Veronica has the best teacher, she is really teaching them a lot about their religion and she really walks the walk and I feel incredibly lucky that she is Veronica's teacher when she is making her First Communion.  She made her first communion on April 29 and it was just beautiful.  Anthony went out with his girlfriend so Mike and I both got to go, Mike's mom was in the hospital and couldn't come but her husband came and my sister Laura and it was so nice.  Veronica's godmother Marita and her family were there, and of course Marta and her family, Veronica's godfather Carlos and his son came by later, we had the food catered again and it was perfect, so it was just a nice day.

She was very sweet and completely ready to go, I didn't really have the fears that I had with Maria last year, I was probably a little more easy going about it and Veronica is a person who takes things like this more seriously, so it was a good combination.  Anyway, here are some pictures.

March

How is Veronica doing, in March? This morning she told me she is NOT GOOD.  She is always SO TIRED.  We are going for her well child check up (11 months after her 7th birthday, whatever) next month and I am going to see what is what.  Maybe she has a problem, maybe that's why she is so tired.  But she doesn't seem tired, she doesn't fall asleep all the time or anything.  I don't know.  We are all giving up sweets and dessert for Lent and last night we were talking about it and Veronica said she is really going to try to "eat clean".  Where she hears this, I don't know! She does have several friends at school who are gluten free, so maybe that's it.  I am of two minds on it, on the one hand, I know she'd have more energy and be happier if she wasn't always fretting about her size and clothes, but on the other hand, I want her to be happy with herself exactly as she is.  I don't know.

She is doing very well in school, well in speech therapy, well in Tae Kwon Do, she did get her yellow belt and even though sometimes it's 'hard' because she doesn't always 'keep good form', she is going to finish Tae Kwon Do through the year and we'll see if she does it next year.  Next year she can play kickball and maybe she'll want to but I don't know.  It will be easier if Spring ever comes because then we can at least go for walks with the dog, to the store, etc.

Veronica went to a birthday party last weekend, her friend Lillie.  She bought her a pretty sweater because she has admired her sweaters in the past, and she was thrilled to see her wear it the next day! We were at this Blessing Cup thing that we do for First Communion.  I personally think it is a ridiculous thing but I did it last year with Maria and I did it this year with Veronica and in three years I'll do it with Felicity, so I better get over it.  She makes her First Communion next month, April 29.  My sister bought three dresses on excellent sale and I am hopeful the one she likes will work still, next month.  We are going to get shoes here soon, it's all exciting!

Here are some cute pictures!

November

Jeez, July and November I'm posting, not great! Veronica is doing great.  She is doing very, VERY well in school, she gets pulled out for reading and math, she reads like Evelyn Wood.  Is it Evelyn Wood?  Who advertised the speed reading late at night? Anyway, she is super smart.  She has friends in school, she is no trouble.  Well, she is a little trouble, ha! She is tired so often, she can be a little weepy and sad for no apparent reason, I worry about her.  But mostly, she is fine.

She is making her first confession in a few weeks and then she will make her first communion in the spring. She does not like to go to church and then when she does, she wants to drape herself all over me.  Oy, it's a lot! I am trying to break it up a little, maybe take her with just me on a Saturday night, let Mike take Maria and Felicity on Sunday morning.  Everything is easier when I am not working so much.

She is taking Tae Kwon Do two afternoons a week and next month she'll try to get her yellow belt, so that's exciting!  She and Maria went to a clinic at the gymnastics place near us and she liked it but she doesn't love to exercise.  I mean, who does? But it seems like she should have more energy.

Anyway, all is well, she is as sweet as ever.  Here are some pictures!

Sleepaway Camp

I never went to sleepaway camp, I never even knew it was an option.  I had some friends who went away to camp, up in the Catskills or whatever, but they were all Jewish, and I think I thought only Jewish kids went to sleepaway camp?  Maybe?

Anyway, two years ago, Veronica and Maria went to the day camp version of our CYO camp and today I drove them about 60 miles south of here, registered them, walked them up (and I do mean UP, their cabin is on the top of a giant hill, and left them there, no to return until Tuesday.  They were both wonderful about it, particularly because we found out on Thursday that although they'd be in a cabin together, they were not going to be with any of their requested friends from their school, so that stunk.  I had called to find out if I had a balance due and the girl I spoke with said she was "going to call" to tell me and I just don't know if she would have been able to get to it before I got there today. I was really glad to be able to tell Maria and Veronica in advance, particularly because I, we all, were going on the premise that they were going to be with friends.  Maria was HORRIFIED, but we talked it out and by the time we got there they were being brave about it.  They both knew one girl in there, she is the cousin of one of our neighbors.  I pray that they are going to see some of their friends and maybe make some new friends.  We'll see!

Here's Veronica, sitting on her bunk, the way I left her.  They were getting ready to go swimming.  I miss them but I hope they are having fun.

Summer

Summer has begun, this week, in earnest.  It's really last week that it started for us but Mike was home from work last week so we eased into it.  On Monday we went to the park for a birthday party and lunch, Tuesday we went strawberry picking and today we went to the Zoo!  My mom took them to the pool on Monday afternoon, she is taking them tomorrow, we went to the library yesterday before we went to get Anthony.  They are not hurting for something to do and that is for damned sure.  They have been staying up a little later, we are still reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, so they sleep in a little later, which is pleasant.  Veronica is her sweet self, she cries and is sad more than I'd like.  She is extremely sensitive, but also a real people pleaser, so a lot of the time I just find her crying and I feel awful because I didn't realize it earlier.  Anyways.  So far, seven is going just great.

Veronica is Seven

So Veronica is now seven and she is almost finished with first grade.  She is a great, great student.  She is a nice and sweet person, I love her madly.  She does, however, drive me bananas with the falling down and the crying that she does.  She gets SUPER overwhelmed by emotions and she can't even talk!  Over what seems to be nothing!  Also she is too slow moving and she never can find her shoes.  But those things are also kind of endearing and what makes her her so I am not complaining.  This summer, she is going to go to sleepover camp for three nights, with Maria, of course.  Veronica is the one who brought it up though.  She asked me, can I go to the CYO camp for a week?  I said I think they have a three day and I think that will be enough and she said no, I'd rather go for the week.  I said it's a long time! Don't you think you'd miss us? She said maybe I could just bring a picture?  And I could look at it?  But anyway she is going for a week, with Maria and with some friends.  I hope it goes great and I hope they don't come back with lice!

Her last day of first grade is Thursday, it's a half day.  She has never had a bad behavior all year, never been below green (ready to learn) on her behavior chart.  She has done really well in reading, math, all of it.  She did a presentation on an animal this year, she chose a wolf.  She told me she wanted to make a "life size wolf" for her creative piece.  I said, how about a nice diorama and she said NO.  LIFE SIZE WOLF.  She had heard of someone who made a life size great white shark from pizza boxes.  So I found a pattern and cut it out and she colored it in and it came out really good.  It's been a good school year.  I'm bullish for the future!

February

Veronica was in the talent show at school on Friday and it went just great.  When the signup came out for the talent show, Maria said she was going to do something and then when it came time to audition, she cried and freaked out, said she changed her mind and that she had stage fright.  So I said okay, no problem, and I emailed the music teacher and said Maria had changed her mind and she said fine.  Then I thought I was all finished with the talent show and THEN Veronica came home with a notice in her folder that said "Congratulations! You are in the Talent Show!" and I was like, what is this, Veronica?  She said, super casually, I'm in the talent show.  I said what is your ... talent?  Dance, she said.  I said okay but I was doubtful.  Then she went to the first out of two rehearsals which she was supposed to attend and came home saying that she was supposed to go to not just two but three and that now she was singing.  She said she had eaten her aftercare snack and she didn't think it was a good idea to dance on a full stomach.  I am not making any of this up.  So I said okay, what are you singing? and she said Dark Horse by Katy Perry.  Mmmmkay, I said and printed out the lyrics for her.  THEN she changed it to Roar by Katy Perry and that's what it stayed.  I saw a rehearsal last week, the last one, because I had to stay with the other girls and wait for Veronica before we got Anthony, and she almost didn't rehearse.  She was trying to change her song again and her teacher smartly told her that the program was already printed, so Veronica rehearsed it and then Friday they did the talent show for their school.  Her teacher sent a general type email Friday afternoon and I couldn't take it, I wrote her back and asked if Veronica had actually performed and said YES, she had and it went really well so I was massively relieved.  Mike couldn't go because he stayed home with Anthony and Felicity but Marta and her family went and Laura and I went and she did really well.  It was all super cute, they all did a great job.  I'm glad she did it and I'm glad it's over!

Christmas Program

Veronica was super excited about her Christmas program today.  I couldn't go but she was singing a super cute song and she's been practicing in the car for a while.  This was the third dress she chose this morning, and I think she came out looking great.

December

Did I say both girls want - I mean both older girls - iPod Touches for Christmas? They love taking pictures and making videos and texting us.  I think maybe they are young but maybe not Maria? And Veronica has to get what Maria gets.  I told them that maybe it would be a good to share one and they both said NO.  I said well it's probably going to be the only gift you get because it's expensive and they said okay! Anything not to share, and that's more from Veronica than Maria.  Not that she's not a good sharer, in fact, the opposite - she knows she would end up never having it.  Anyway, I think that's all we are getting them.  I forget what my point was.  She is finished with this round of gymnastics, she and Maria are doing yoga, and she is going to be in the talent show.  I asked her what she was doing in it and she said "dancing".  I'll keep you posted!

Pictures/Catchup

I don't have any favorites but I will tell you what, Veronica is so good and sweet she kills me.  She is doing so great in school, she never gets in trouble.  She has started gymnastics and it's challenging, she gets "tired of" doing things "over and over" but she's doing well.  To keep us from having favorites, she is HORRIBLE in the morning, hates to get up, cries at the drop of a hat, etc.  But most of all she is WONDERFUL.

Here's some pictures!

On Monday, Thursday and Friday, I work at my school and on Tuesdays I go to the girls' school.  I volunteer for recess and then later I volunteer in the library.  I know it won't be so many years before they are NOT thrilled at the thought of me working around them, so I am taking advantage.  Anyway, here's Veronica and some friends at recess.

I'm happy but I'm sweating, she told me, right before I took this picture.  She does really like gymnastics, but she doesn't love hard physical work.  She's getting there!

School picture, first grade.  I don't even know what to say about this.  It is the most Veronica picture I have ever seen, just perfect.

Tough guy.

At Bed Bath & Beyond a few weekends ago.  She was on clearance, so I'd take her home, I told her.

THE WORST

These kids are the worst.  THE WORST.  Or maybe I'm the worst.  Or maybe there are too many of them.  Or maybe I am too old?  I don't know but my LORD.  It can't be like this all the time, I'll never make it.  One is worst than the next.  Tonight I met Mike and the girls at Chik Fil A and we had dinner and then we went to Target to get Veronica a new backpack because they are FINALLY on clearance.  As an aside, all of September they would have a few backpacks on clearance but these were the tags - it would say CLEARANCE! - was $13.99 NOW $12.49!  UM, that is not a good deal, Target!  Anyway, we had a hard time at Target, they want this, they want that, they want toys, they want Halloween Candy, they want they want they want they want they want.  Maria and Veronica were climbing on the freezers, just general jerkitude.  Felicity was so bad when she realized that we were leaving without MORE for her that she started screaming and screaming and Mike had to roll her out as soon as I was finished unloading the cart.  Maria was crying and yelling when we got home because I wouldn't let her go play at the neighbor's house.  It was 7:00 and they go up to bed at 7:45, mind you, NOR was she invited, it wasn't even a thing!  Screaming and yelling, just constant noise, it's endless.

Veronica decided she wanted feetie pajamas, she started bugging me about it at Target.  I pointed out that it was actually still kind of warm and balmy out and her room got very stuffy and she went on and on and on (and on) about how cold she was at night!  I said Veronica, you never even sleep with covers, they are always kicked off!  She said I know!, those covers come off and I am fweezing!  FWEEZING!  Waaaaahhhhh more crying, so like a JERK I went out to the laundry room and got her two options out of the winter clothes, which I haven't switched out yet because today it was 80 degrees.

Then Felicity wants Mike's iPad.  I say we are going to bed in 14 minutes but Maria and Veronica are watching something, she is not interested in it, whatever, he gets it, she has it.  Finally it's time to go to bed so we go up, Veronica is screaming and crying so I carry her, which is TERRIBLE because I have a bum knee and she is just awkward and heavy - she's too old for it.  I just want the night to be over, I just want to sit on the couch with ice on my knee, and the only way to make that happen is to get them up to bed.  That was over an hour ago and Mike just went up AGAIN, so see?, we have to start it all early because they don't go to sleep for so long.  They are relentless demons and I am so, so sick of it.

Are they the only ones like this?  Is it me?  Do we spoil them?  I don't know and I don't want to know.  They're pretty good in school.  Other people seem to like them.  I don't know.  I DON'T KNOW and I hate not knowing, I hate being so bad at this stupid job for so long.  PS I quit.

First Grade

Veronica is doing really well, she is over her nervousness and fretfulness from which she suffered this summer.  She finally went off that diving board, I don't want to forget to mention!  Mike got in the habit of taking them to the pool on the weekends and the first week of my job when he was off from work and he reported that she went off it one day, and all the days after, so that's good.  That's one monkey off our back,  I told her, ha!

The morning of the first day of school I had been up for hours with (jerky) Felicity and Veronica was crying and crying at 5:45.  She was nervous and scared, of starting first grade, but her third year at this school!  She is crazy, sometimes it's just all too much for her.  I understand, I told her, I hate doing everything right up until the moment that I do it.

She is going to sign up for Chess this semester, as you have to be in first grade, so she and Maria will do it together.  She had a great summer and so far, so good, in first grade.  She has the same teacher Maria had, which is nice because we like her and also because we don't have to get to know anyone new.

She is in class with some old friends from last year and a few new kids.  She seems to be doing just great, thank God.

Here's a cute picture from the first day of school, you can tell she's nervous.

Diving and The Slide

Veronica is losing her damned mind this summer!  I don't know what is going on, she is a sensitive child and always has been, and I think she misses her teacher and her friends at school.  Maria is much better matched, age wise, to the girls in our neighborhood and to the girls that we meet at the pool and Veronica ends up tagging along or on her own a lot and maybe that's it, but it's hard.

We took a course of swim lessons and she did really, really well at them, but she ended up crying at the end of every lesson.  She and Maria were in together and I guess that was the problem, Maria is older and more advanced, she is not scared of the diving board or the slide and she would do both but Veronica wasn't ready to do either of them, so she'd end up feeling bad every day.  Then *I* would feel bad because she would end up crying/yelling/howling and throwing stuff at me.  So.  I have had to exercise some patience over the last few weeks and sometimes I have failed.  One time I told her Veronica, if you do not stop yelling at me I am going to smack your mouth and then she kept yelling and throwing stuff at me so I smacked her right in the kisser!  She hasn't yelled at me since, I am sorry it came to that because IN GENERAL I do not believe in corporal punishment but I am so, so tired of constant humiliation and shabby treatment that I did it and I don't regret it.  But I still wish it hadn't gotten to that.

She is so great, I mean, she really is.  There is no one sweeter or cuddlier than Veronica.  She is becoming a good swimmer and I feel 100% confident about her in the pool.  She is still so generous and nice with Felicity and in general.  She also has a beautiful tan and her haircut is still working for her and she is getting really blonde.  We have had a few low moments this summer but overall it's been good.  Here's a cute picture from yesterday at the pool, she was playing with Felicity:

July

This is probably a terrible time for me to update because everyone is being so bad but what can you do?  Veronica is taking swim lessons three mornings a week and she's doing great but I guess maybe she is putting a lot of pressure on herself because three mornings in a row we have left with her crying and howling and crying and HOWLING.  She is so loud, good lord, it is very embarrassing.  Her teacher always looks confused, because it seems like the lesson goes well and then she loses it at the end.  I have no patience left because that jerkstore Felicity refuses to swim or even go in the water so I am frustrated by that and completely annoyed by Veronica's yelling.

I think she misses school.  I think she should go to bed earlier.  I think she misses her teacher saying how great she is every two minutes, telling her that she loves her.  It's been raining for a week, rain and rain and more rain and I guess  that would depress anyone.  It certainly seems to be depressing her, and in turn, me.

She is really learning to swim though, so there's that.  And she has an adorable new haircut, let me see if I can find a picture.

Movement

I have got to find a way to get Veronica to move a little more.  I think she is Practically Perfect in Every Way, of course, but she has picked up a little weight and I'm afraid that she is going to have some trouble - well, I mean, I just want to nip this lazybones habit in the bud is all I'm saying.  I have no desire to limit what she eats or even think or indicate that she ISN'T perfect but she has really changed here, lately, I feel like, and I want to do something about it.

We went to an open gym the other day and she was having a high old time.  She was bouncing on trampolines and jumping off balance beams and just running every where but she was DYING, red faced, kept drinking water, etc.  She wants to do a lot of stuff, I feel like she could benefit from some guidance so I'm trying to think of something.  She rides a bike now without training wheels, so that's good, and yesterday we went creek stomping and spent three hours there, then today we walked to the library from Marta's house and back (probably about two miles) and she had had it by the end, ha!  She and I were at the back of the pack, I was with Felicity who I can't even talk about how slow she went, and Veronica was saying "ever and ever and ever ...".  I said what's that now?, and she said, mad, NOTHING!  Then I heard it again and again and I said Veronica, who are you talking to?  I keep feeling like you're putting a hex on me or something.  She said, super overemphasizing it, "this is taking FOREVER and EVER and EVER".  Ha! So she is reluctantly exercising, is what I'm saying.  Here's a cute picture of her after the gymnastics open gym the other day.