I spent the day with my dad.

I was going to my neighborhood Independence Day fireworks and party but instead I went to Big Mason's birthday party.  It was a slumber party with seven boys spending the night.

Mommy went to the neighborhood party and had a good time visiting with Austin's parents.  Grandma and Barbara went for just the fireworks. 

Friday, June 29, 2018

I spent the day with my dad.

I had a baseball game at 6pm.  Mommy, Daddy, and Mimz were there.  Barbara was ready to come to my game but she suddenly became sick and just couldn't make it.  She was all well by 9pm.

I did well.  I pitched again and struck out three batters and the other team didn't score any runs after I started pitching.  They scored three runs before I was put in as pitcher.  I got one hit.

I forgot to write on my blog and I don't remember this day.

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Mimz and I met Eli's family at Splash town.  Eli has been trying some of the big slides also.


We came home to eat and rest because I had baseball practice this evening.

On my summer Bingo reading challenge, one of the squares say "read in pj's"  I slept in my underwear, so I'm counting that as my pj's.  Mimz gave me a paper about Presidents and George Washington.  I read it to myself and then I answered questions.  I did pretty well.  Mimz showed me how to go back in the passage and look for key words to help find the answers when I needed to. At first I had an attitude about going back to find the answers but Mimz made me stick with it and I settled down.


I had baseball practice.  I had to wear my Astro's cap since I didn't have my Cub's cap.  

Later, after baseball practice, Mimz asked me questions with Daddy there and I remembered that George Washington was elected in 1789, the rules for the US were written down in the Constitution, and the President was the head of the military. Oh and the President’s main job was to take care of the people he served.
*******

I

I wondered if Bridget's tummy was getting bigger, so she sent me this picture.  Oh, My!

I spent the day with my dad.

At 6pm we went to my swim team's award ceremony.  There were seven 8-year-old boys.  Quincy earned the Most Points Earned, Sebastian earned Most Improved, and I earned Hardest Worker.  Yea Mason!

My fans were Mommy, Barbara, Mimz, and Daddy.
That ceremony took an hour, then pizza arrived and then pool party began.  I jumped into the pool without eating pizza and didn't get out of the pool until the party was over at 8:45pm.  Then I was ready for pizza... of course, there was none left.  I really enjoyed myself at this party.

Splash Town with my dad and some of my swim team,  I am trying out the big big slides.  I is a little scary sometimes.  Some of them I will do again this year, some I might not.  Maybe next year I'll try all of them again.

My cousin, Morgan, went to Camp Longhorn every summer starting at age 8, just like me.  Her mom had this quilt made for her out of her camp t-shirts.  Morgan will take it to Alabama to college starting this August.

Today was the second, and last, day of the All-Stars swim meet.

There were about half as many people here today so it was still crowded by not jam-packed.

I'm still not to big to sit on my mom's lap.   

My fans today were Mommy, Papa, Grandma, Barbara, Mimz, and Daddy.  I swam in event 56,  the 8-year-old's breaststroke.  I tied for fifth place, which means I made the finals since 8 boys are in the finals.

The race happened and there was a BIG problem.  I swam in land 2.  The score board showed me in 8th place and we all knew two boys finished behind me.  We have video proof of that.  The judges knew there was a problem.  As it turns out the electronic score board was malfunctioning.  They had to go by the 3 human time keepers for each of us.  I ended up in FOURTH place.

Final scores:

 I wanted to win and I was not a very good sport, mostly because I was disappointed in myself, but it was still a good way to end the swim team season.

I went home with my dad so he could take me to Splash Town with my swim team tomorrow. 

Saturday June 23, 2018

Today and Sunday I swim in the All-Stars for my team.  28 of my teammates made All-Stars. 
Only two 8-year-old boys made it: Quincy and me.   We were in a relay together and each in an individual event.

 It was held at Klein High school.  It was a zoo, so many people wandering around, no place to sit, just a big confusing mess.  But  the races went off without a hitch.  There were 40 races today. I swam in one race, event 18, the age 10 and under boys freestyle relay.

After that was over, and we had been a home for a little while, Mommy took me roller skating.

We went back to the sim meet, to watch Quincy swim in the finals of butterfly, his best stroke.  He won his race!  Good job, Quincy. 

I came home and played with Julian and Xavier until 9pm.   

 We found out that there were practices this week.  It was not listed on the swim team web site anywhere.  It was on the swim team Facebook page.  Mommy joined it today.  It is a closed site. 

 Warming up.

Practice is at 8 for little kids and 9am for big kids.  I swam during my practice and asked the coach if I could swim with the big kids also.  He said sure.  So that's what I did.

We had relay races.  I think my team always lost, probably because of me being a little kid, but my teammates didn't mind.

Barbara talked to the coach about my looking forward to coming to practice and my willingness to practice strokes away from practice.  He said he could tell I was very willing.  He said I kept asking to swim in the 50 meter breaststroke but he had to keep telling I'm not quite ready for that yet... but soon.

I read two chapters of a Boxcar Children book which took 30 minutes.  I made my bed and broke up the spaghetti.  I also fixed myself some Top Ramen.

Daddy picked me up at 3pm.   I had two baseball games at 6 and 8pm and I played well.  I played pitcher, first base, and short stop.  The coaches move us around to give everybody a chance to play different positions.

Mommy got this throw for me!

While we were at the baseball game, a lady from my swim team put a poster in my front yard...

... and left a little bucket of candy.  All of the All-Stars got the same thing.

I was supposed to go spend a day or two with Papa at the Pond, but I decided I didn't want to.... my loss.

I am supposed to start helping more around the house.  I helped my dad clean the swimming pool.

I had an extra baseball practice tonight.  The coach asked me to come help while they auditioned some new boys.  They are trying to put together a better team.  We could not play on the field because of all the rain we have had, so we were inside in the batting cages.

I came home and at dinner and visited with my mom, then I went to play with Xavier and Julian.

Last week Barbara asked a board member if there was practice for All-Stars this week.  The lady said yes.  Well, Monday there was no one at practice.  Tuesday's party was postponed a week. At 7:45am this morning there was no one at the swimming pool.  There is nothing about practice this week on the website.  Our conclusion is that there must not be any practice this week.

I had to read for 30 minutes.  Barbara is a stickler about that and I sure don't like it.

I also must do a chore every day.  I don't like that either.  The chores don't even take five minutes, but I am not a willing helper.
Barbara and I met Mimz at Sprout's, then Mimz took me to the roller skating rink where we met Eli and Jacob.  It was too rainy to go to Splash Town.

I started reading a new book with Mimz.

I spent the day with my dad.  We worked out in the gym for two hours.

I came home around 5pm.  I visited with Barbara for a few minutes before I ran off to play with Alyssa and Anthony.  Around 7:30pm Alyssa, Anthony, Cole and I were playing basketball and we got into a fight.  It ended up being the three of them against me.  Of course, I'm the one that gets in trouble.   Barbara saw Anthony run 40 feet up to me, stop a foot away from me and then he pushed me.  I didn't fall down and I was not hurt at all.  Barbara hollered at all of us and that was the end of it.  They went home and I stayed to get grilled by my mom and Barbara.   I can't play with them for a week or maybe longer.  Supposedly I pushed Alyssa, but I deny that.  I've been told to get away when there is an argument.  I say no, I'm staying, I'm not a cry baby.  I guess that means I will get in trouble and will get a consequence but I'll take that rather than back down.

I watched the Astro's on TV with my mom.

Monday, June 18, 2018
Swim practice was cancelled due to rain I guess.  It is supposed to rain all week.

I spend the day with my dad.

I spent today with my dad.

Andy's family went to The Pond to visit Grandma and Papa.

The Divisionals swim meet was today from 8:30am to 4pm at Klein Forest high school.  It was made up of the six teams in our district. 

My fans were Daddy, Mimz, Mommy, Grandma, Papa, and Barbara.  Daddy got me there at 7am to get me signed in.

I swam in five events: 10, 22, 32, 44, and 72...

which means it was a very long day for me.  Mimz, Daddy, and Mommy stayed the entire day.

I swam well.  I think I came in second place in breaststroke.  25.88 seconds.   I was half a second behind the guy who was in first place.

I took a short nap after the meet.  Xavier and Julian invited me over to swim, so I spent a couple of hours over at their house.

GGF died one year ago today.  It only seems like a few months ago to GGM and Barbara.

Friday, June 15, 2018
This was a very full day for me.  Daddy took me to swim practice.  I have four more swim practices, our awards party, Divisionals swim meet, and All-Stars swim meet, then swim team season will be over. 

Lots of my swim team members met at the AMC close to Mimz' home to watch the movie Incredibles 2.  Barbara took me.  First time she has been in a movie theater in over 30 years, maybe 40 years.  It has changed.  We had comfortable seats that reclined and there was lots of arm room.   She did think to bring sweat shirts because it is cold in theaters. 

Sabaston sat with Barbara and me.  It was a fun show.  I had seen Incredibles 1.  Most of the time, I fall asleep during movies, but I think because there were lots of kids there that I was too excited to sleep.

Back home, I played and swam with Xavier and Julian until my dad came to get me.  We ate pork chops at Mimz' home before going to my 8pm summer league baseball game.

My fans at the game were Daddy, Mimz, Barbara and Mommy.  We lost.  We felt the umpire made many bad calls, a few bad calls in our favor and a lot for the other team.  The highlight of the game for me:  I pitched the last three innings.  I struck out 8 batters and the 9th batter was put out at first base.

I was given the game ball!  That was fun!  The coach for the other team stopped me for about ten seconds and he told me what I good job I did pitching.

reserved Thursday

Daddy swim practice

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Mommy took me to my swim practice and stayed 20 minutes before she had to leave for work.  Mimz and Barbara came to my practice so they could exchange my swimming, and baseball gear, and medicine and clothes.  It is a challenge to keep track of all of the things I need for my different activities. 

I asked my coach if we have swim practice next week and he said since I made the All Stars team I do have practice all next week except Tuesday evening, because at practice time, we will have our awards ceremony and swim party.

Mimz and I went to Splash Town for a couple of hours with Jacob and Eli's family.  Eli and I both went donw some big slides that we would never have done before.

I ate a good lunch and then watched a little motor cross on the iPad.  I announced that I was going to sleep and sure enough I was asleep in just a few seconds.

I had a good baseball field practice.  I had a good hit, which was caught.  I did some pitching and did a good job.

 

I got to sleep in this morning because on Tuesday's the swimming pool is cleaned in the morning, so practice is at 4:45pm.

I told Barbara I was hungry.  I decided I wanted four slices of frozen raisin bread and milk.  Then I was told I had one chore and 30 minutes I reading to do before I could play and that I should get them out of the way before kids were ready to play.  I decided I didn't want to use the new vacuum to vacuum GGM bedroom.  I was sleepy and wanted to sleep.  So I went to bed and in ten minutes I was asleep and I slept for at least two hours.

I was then reminded of my chore and reading.  I said I was hungry for lunch.  I ate a chicken salad sandwich.  I argued that I didn't want to vacuum GGM's room.. I would vacuum my room.  Barbara had already vacuumed all the other rooms, expect GGM's because she was napping at that time.  To end this story:  I did not do my chore and I read one minute.  I didn't want to help clean up my two toy boxes.  I didn't want to be helpful in any way.   Needless to say, Barbara was not happy with me.

At one point said I was not going to swim practice but I changed my tune when Daddy was going to come take me.  I did go to practice nicely with Barbara.   I found out I made the All-Star team and will swim the breast stroke.  I also found out I will have swim practice next week also.

I came home nicely and was well behaved, but it was because Barbara was not being friendly to me in any way.  For example: I could not play on the playground after swim practice because it was hot and she wanted to get to some air conditioning.  She would not let me use her phone until after I ate and put my dishes in the dishwasher without being told to... and then it was only for five minutes.  She tries to live by the Golden Rule.  But she has decided being nice and trying to help me have fun and be happy doesn't work.  I hope she gets over this "thinking of herself first and me second" goes away soon.  She hopes she can keep it up a long time until I realize being inconsiderate it a horrible way to be.  She says being considerate is a top character trait she likes in people.

As soon as Mommy got home, Barbara was through with me.  She ate her dinner and went to her room to get in bed and read.  

I wasn't willing to try my chocolate chip oatmeal.  I thought I might not like it.  So I had two pieces of raisin toast before going to swim practice.

I am not back to full power yet.  At swim practice I ran out of steam often.  Put I stayed in the pool the entire time.  I just had to go slower and rest sometimes.  After swim practice they had water balloons for us to throw at each other.

I went upstairs to get on Barbara's bed to read for 30 minutes (something I must do before I can play).  I decided I was sleepy, so Barbara read to me and in two minutes I was asleep.  She can tell when I am falling asleep because I always have several little night twitches as I'm falling asleep.  (Aunt Bridget has those same twitches.)

I was going to the grocery store with Barbara but she went without me.  I was still asleep when she returned. 

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Happy 70th birthday, Mimz.

I woke up in Barbara's bed at 4am.  I was rested and feeling great.  Of course, I woke Barbara up.  She took my temperature: 98.7 degrees... the first time my temperature has been normal since Friday early afternoon.  I had two long naps yesterday, so I was ready to start my day.  Barbara kept telling me it's the middle of the night, we need to go back to sleep.

No, not happening.  She gave me her iPad, iPhone, and the TV remotes and said keep the volume down.  She did go back to sleep several times... I kept waking her up.  At 7am I moved to my mom's bed, Barbara wanted to sleep.   I kept waking up my mom too, while I played PlayStation, and on the iPhone.

At 9am, Barbara got up.  She fixed me oatmeal and again I didn't like it... we can't figure out why I din't like my favorite oatmeal.  She fixed me raisin toast and bacon and milk.  That satisfied me for an hour.  Then I was ready to eat again.   I had a bowl of Fiber One cereal and then chicken nuggets.  I'm being very picky about what I will eat.

I played with Alyssa all afternoon and Anthony played with us some.   We called Bouncy Bears and they were open for Open Jump.  We went and they were closed for a private party!!!!!!!  Bummer.

I was ready to call it a day before dark!  That means I am not at full power yet.  I ate a big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs.

I called Mimz to wish her a happy birthday.  I think she turned 70-years-old today!

My mom and I stayed in her room until bedtime.   We had to re-start our project.  Hope we have figured out how to solve the problem we ran into.

I don't like to brush my teeth in the evening. That is always a fight and I always lose.  When will I learn.

At 6:30am, I wasn't willing to take my temperature, but I did take Tylenol.  I was barely awake and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

I woke up at 7am and at that time my temperature was 100.4.  I wasn't willing to take Benedryl.  Still my only complaint was a little dizzyness if I walked.  I just wanted to lay down and not move and watch the iPhone.  I was willing to drink a little lemonade.

Barbara opened a new box of my favorite chocolate chip oatmeal and fixed me one package.  I didn't like it at all.  ???  Barbara found the old box in the recycle bin and compared it to the new package... it was identical.  We don't know what was wrong with the bowl I had, so when we try another package we hope it tastes good to me. 

Mommy and Grandma are at my swim meet being timers.  I wish I were there.

By 8:30am my fever was down to 99.4.  I agreed to take some more Benedryl only because Mimz suggested that I not be allowed to use the iPhone until I did.  By 9am, my skin felt pretty cool and I was moving around in bed so much that Barbara knew I felt much better.

At 9:10am, I announced that I was going to take a nap.   I slept for couple of hours.  I woke up two minutes before Mommy and Grandma got home from timing.  

Even though I was not at the meet, I earned a second place ribbon for a relay I would have been in.  Someone else swam in my place.

Mommy came upstairs to see me and Grandma stayed downstairs to put together a new vacuum for Barbara and GGM.  It's a cordless Dyson and Andy and Kristan have one and they really like it.

At 12:30pm my temperature was 101.4 and I took another dose of Tylenol.  I played with my Play Station while laying on Mommy's sofa.  I was advised that we were going to turn off the electronics and read either before I ate lunch or after... my choice.   

Friday, June 8, 2018

I enjoyed swim practice and try to improve my swim strokes like the coaches tell me to.
They had watermelon slices for us but I didn't want any.

Of course, I was ready to play but I knew it was too early for my friends to be awake.  Barbara said I had to read for 30 minutes before I could play.  I re-started reading Boxcar Children Surprise Island.  I can read almost every word and I try to sound out the words I don't know.

I went over to Anthony's about 10am and found out he was not home, but should return around noon.  I went back home and laid of the sofa with Barbara's phone.  At some point I fell asleep.   I slept about two hours.  I went upstairs and found Barbara reading.  We talked for a few minutes when I told her I was hot.  She felt my skin and knew I had a high fever.

She put our new thermometer in my mouth.... 102.2.     Not good.   I didn't have any other complaints.  This was around 2pm.  She texted Mommy, Grandma, Daddy, and Mimz.  She is good at nursing, but needs lots of guidance with decision making.  Everyone agreed I had to rest and not play and no baseball games tonight and most-likely no swim meet in the morning.

My illness did not keep me from having an appetite.  While Barbara was out getting me Tylenol, she got me some chicken nuggets from McDonald's.  I liked the bubble gum flavored Tylenol.

Daddy came over to see me.  He found two tiny spots on my back near my waist that might have been a bit.  We wondered if that caused my illness.

I ate all the chicken nuggets, then had a fudgecicle, then two pieces of buttered toast with jelly.  I drank lemonade and Gatorade.   My fever stayed between 100 and 102.4 all evening.  I still had no other complaints except I felt dizzy when I moved from my room to Mommy's room.

It was obvious that I didn't feel well.  I would barely move.  Whereas when I am well I am on the move all the time.

I also took Benedryl, which helped me sleep all night.   Mommy and Barbara both checked on me a couple of times during the night.  I always had a fever but it was not high.

My baseball team won both of our games.  Yea, Cubs.  I did watch a little of the Astro's baseball game on TV.  They won also.  Mostly I watched videos on the iPhone.

Swim practice with Daddy

spent day with Daddy.  Worked out at the gym

Came home about the same time as Mommy

didn't want to read
Asleep at 10:45pm    way too late in Barbara's opinion

Wednesday June 6, 2018

Mrs. Maribel woke me up at 7am.  Xavier and Julian were still sound asleep.  She watched me walk home and Barbara was waiting for me.  I ate oatmeal and got ready for swim practice.

I am smack dab in the middle of this picture.  Practice was from 7:45 to 8:30am. I did well at practice.  I'm hoping I do as well this Saturday as I did at last Saturday's meet.  I earned three blue ribbons.

I came home ready to go play, but Barbara said I had to read first... for 30 minutes.  Oh, I sure didn't want to spend 30 minutes reading.  I laid on her bed and read for about 15 minutes then she started sharing the reading with me.  Once when it was her turn to read, I fell asleep.

I slept for over two hours and only woke up then because Barbara woke me up.   I ate chicken salad and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and drank milk.

I didn't want to go with Barbara and GGM to get their hair cut, so I called my dad.  He agreed to come get me.  I also wanted to play with Julian and Xavier so we stopped to see if I could play.   They were in the backyard swimming.  I ran home and changed into my jammers, grabbed my goggles, and ran back to swim with them.

Eating at Julian and Xavier's home.

Daddy came to get me so I could get dressed for baseball practice which is going to be only once a week during the summer on Wednesday's at 6pm.

I spent the night at Mimz' home.

swim practice 4:45pm

Daddy took me to my 7:45am swim practice.

Mimz had been gone all weekend.  She got home today around 12:30pm and she found Daddy and me napping.

I played with Knox some this afternoon.

Barbara and Mommy wanted to take me to a Chinese restaurant for dinner but I wanted to go to Urban Aire with Daddy.   After she got off work, Mommy came by Urban Aire to watch me play.

Since it was late when we were leaving Urban Aire I went home to Mimz' home.

Daddy and I spent the day with two of my dad's high school friends and their families.  There were eight of us boys and we had a blast.  We took my dirt bike because four of the boys (two sets of twins) had dirt bikes.  We set up a competition with different games and activities.  We even had a parade like the Olympic Games.

Daddy got me to my swim meet for the 7:15 check-in time.  Mommy came a bit later.  She brought my gift to share with Noah, my Bolt buddy.  My parents were my only fans at my meet today.  I think everyone plans to come to the one next Saturday.   Grandma is in San Antonio to attend another baby shower for Aunt Bridget and Uncle Chris' baby. 

Mommy and Daddy both did a timer job.  That means we have worked the 6 sessions we must work, except for working one session at Divisionals.  That makes Barbara happy... they will tear up her $250 check since we did our volunteering. She still had to pay the registration fee.

I did really well in my breast stroke race of 7- and 8-year-olds.  Mommy and Daddy looked and I even beat all of the 9 and 10 year old swimmers in their breast stroke race.

In one of my relays, my googles came off and were on my nose,  that made me really have a hard time.  I was DQ'd because I didn't hit the wall with two hands.  I guess I was thinking about my goggles instead of what I was supposed to do.

 I earned three first place ribbons at this meet, even with a DQ in event where my googles came off.

  

I was dressed for swim practice when I decided I was not going.  It took five minutes before my mind was changed.  Barbara sure gets mad at me for not acting right.   Mommy and Barbara have decided on a consequence for my bad behavior.  I haven't been told what it is yet, but Barbara knows I will not like it one bit.

 I earned Swimmer of the week for the 7/8 year olds.

Barbara and I watched them put the names up and we had our fingers crossed that I would be chosen this week.

I had a good practice, except I broke the pair of goggles Mimz gave me.  I have another pair in my swim bag, but I don't like them.  I'm supposed to have two pair with me at swim meets in case something happens to one pair.  Mimz told Barbara about the pair she bought at Target, so Barbara went there and bought me some.  When Barbara got home and showed them to me, I smiled and said. "They are just like the pair Mimz bought me."

 Our swim team pictures were in our folders this morning.

 I'm on the second row, second from the left.  I must have been leaning down to scratch my foot of something.  I'm the only child not sitting up straight.

I need to read a lot this summer, so I read for 30 minutes this morning.  I read about snakes and about the planets.  The Summer Reading program is a game of Bingo.  I'm going to try to play blackout and put an X on all 25 squares.  It should be easy, since Barbara and Mimz both ask me to read often.

After lunch Daddy came to get me.  He is watching Big Mason today, so he took us both to Urban Aire.

My summer baseball team's name is the Cubs.  My Mom has a t-shirt with Cubs on it, so she will wear that to some of the games.

All of the games are on Friday nights and some nights we play two games.

We only had one game tonight at 6pm.  I had TWO HITS.  One over first base and one over the short stop.  Both times I got safely to first base.

One time I slide safely into home plate.... I love to slide.  I think that is my favorite thing to do in baseball.  The other time I was left stranded on second base.

I played first base and pitcher. 

 I did well and I struck two boys out.  We tied 10 - 10.
After the game we all went over to Mimz home and ordered Brother's Pizza to celebrate my TWO HITS and playing well as pitcher.  Yummy!