never a dull moment

gymnastics day! 

and we're still having gymnastics anxiety. i keep expecting things to get better and they're not. i've been patient and loving and with very few expectations, but after 3 or 4 weeks of drama, after 2 years of gymnastics, and her being so excited for kindergym, i had kinda had it. we got there nice and early and talked before class started. she said she didn't want to run and walk relevé. no problem, we decided she would go into class during stretches and we were both happy with our plan. but then she started crying when stretching time came. so i held her and stretched her on my lap and we laughed and all was still well, she was going to go into class as soon as they started their work. but then skills time came and she was still anxious and not wanting to go into the gym. i felt sure that if i could just get her into the gym, get coach kaycey to tell her she needed her, that we would be great. so i took her in and she stood with her back to everyone. i was still sure she'd be fine, so i left, so as not to add to the drama. she stood for awhile with her back to the girls and arms folded, then, when that wasn't dramatic enough, she sat down and pouted. the other girls were so sweet, they'd each take turns hugging her and trying to get her to participate, but the pouting force is strong with that one.

she was having none of the friend loving. after about 5 minutes, coach kaycey brought her to me. she said frankie was breaking her heart. i was having a rough time staying patient and sweet by this point. part of me was saying "it's okay, this is for her and if she doesn't want to go in, that's okay." and part of me was saying "this is ridiculous! she loves gymnastics and she's just being drama! and if she wasn't going to participate, we could have just stayed home an extra hour!" so after more tears and drama, i put her in time out. arguably, not my best mothering move, but i was hoping it would snap her out of whatever it is that's going on. then she decided to be more drama and stay in time out. finally, with five minutes left in class, it was playtime. i called matt and vented and he said i should let her play, so i did. and of course she had a wonderful time. ugh!

at least this big girl was good and cute.

she was so proud of herself for being able to climb on the chair by herself.

that's a big girl!!! she'll start gymnastics when school starts in august. :) at least she will if daddy doesn't get sequestered. :(

miraculously recovered and able to play!

at least she's cute.

we met up with lexi at walmart, bought some snacks, and lexi, addie, and frankie headed to see epic.

 i had talked to matt about letting them go to the movie, because since yesterday the news has been talking about these crazy storms that have been rolling across the US and would be hitting us thursday afternoon. matt said he thought they'd be fine to go, so we happily sent them off to a 1:20 movie. i came home, put laney to bed, and was happily enjoying some quiet time, when i got a crazy emergency alert on my phone - tornado warning (that's the bad one, means they've already spotted a tornado!) for st marys county, take shelter immediately! lexi had texted about 5 minutes before this that they were on their way home! to say that i was freaking out a little would be a lie. i was kinda freaking out a lot. i went outside (exactly what they say not to do!) and saw some crazy dark clouds coming quick.

there was already tons of lightning and some deep, low thunder. and then the county tornado siren started going off. i can only remember that happening once before, and it really scared me. matt said i should wake laney up and head to the basement, so i did. without my other girls! blah! after about 15 minutes lexi called. she said she'd heard on the radio that people should get off the roads, so she pulled over at walmart. i felt better at least knowing where they were and that they were with adults that were hopefully responsible. i let matt know where they were, and we decided that he'd go meet them there. the storms hadn't quite hit california yet, but as soon as he started driving, the rain started. and he was stuck in traffic through the worst of the storm.

(took this from neighbor tina)

this happy chic and i hung out in the basement bathroom and ate pringles and texted everyone we could and checked fb and the weather every 2 mintues.

i think the terrible storms in oklahoma really had us all on high alert. it was really dark and crazy loud thunder (very train like) and i just really would have felt better if i'd had all my little chicks with me. finally, matt found the girls and the worst of it was over. we had thunderstorm warnings till 8, but the tornado threats were gone. so grateful that our family and most others were safe. i heard on the news that a 4-year-old boy was killed by a falling tree - sad. :(

the rest of our evening was uneventful, thankfully.

this little goose is such a cute little reader.

"anything under there?"

 

and bonus shot #1

sydney's getting ready to head to college in alabama! ahhh, she's been a friend since middle school! these girls are getting so old! proud of her!

and bonus shot #2 

congratulations, dad! retirement, woo-hoo!!! can't wait for you to come visit and stay for a few months. time for matt and i to go on vacation, haha - papa time!!! ;)))