Getting Ready for Swim Team

When we first moved to Austin, Mason played hockey. Surprisingly, hockey is not nearly as popular in Texas as it was in Ohio. In order for Mason to be competitive in what would be comparable to Little League baseball, we'd have to travel every weekend (at least three hours away -- sometimes across the whole state). So, we discussed it as a family and decided that hockey would not be the best sport for him to play.

However, we wanted him to do SOME kind of sport. He had tried soccer. He didn't care to play football, baseball, or basketball (thank goodness!). When I suggested swimming, he got excited. He started at Nitro, which is THE BEST swim center in all of Texas (which is a huge deal, since there are amazing swim centers/teams in Texas). We love Nitro. He's been there since third grade.

A year later, we found about a local summer league, the Tidal Waves. Mason was excited to join. We've returned every summer since! We LOVE Tidal Waves. Last summer, when we were anticipating the big move (but have since Stayed Put), some of our hardest goodbyes to say were to our Tidal Waves friends.

Last summer, one of Mason's best friends joined (as well as his three sisters). This summer, two of Mason's other best friends' (confused yet) siblings are joining as well as a few more friends. We are SO excited for this season. Plus -- our two favorite Michaels (well besides, Michael Phelps!) are back to coach the team!

Here are some fun photos of our past summers with the Tidal Waves.

Mason's first practice as a Tidal Wave. Doesn't he look so little? He was 9.

First meet as a Wave.

(On a side note, his teeth? Were horrible! The best money ever spent was to have Dr. Barnett fix him up!)

Another picture from his first season.

Second season (11 years old).

Second season - professional picture. Awesome, huh?

Second season.

Last summer (12 years old).

Third season.

Towards the end of every season, we have a pep rally where the kiddos can throw a pie in their coaches' faces. Here, Mason threw a pie at Coach Michael (our new head coach!) and Coach Taylor pied Mason since this was (supposed to be) his last season as a Wave.

Mason with both Michaels. And pie.

And then my little stinker got ME with pie!

Our male coaches are so awesome, they get pedicures to show team spirit. hehe.

A nice picture of Mason with the Michaels.

How they really feel about him. Just kidding - I made them pose for this!

I was on the Board of Directors last season. Here is Mason and Coach Michael with the other Board member kiddos.

50 Shades of... Red - Caused by a HUGE Embarrassment!

Hello Blog World.

Sorry I haven't updated in awhile. February's NaBloPoMo killed me. I just can't post every day. I think I'm going to try and blog 3-4 times a week. That sounds more up to my speed.

I have been reading some amazing books lately.

When She Woke is a futuristic retelling of The Scarlet Letter (a favorite). However instead of wearing a red "A," the main character gets dyed red (also known as "chromed" in the book). It deals with religion and abortion and personal rights. Very relevant right now. Go check it out!!

Maybe I haven't admitted it here, but I did admit it on Mandy's awesome blog when I was Geek of the Week, but I am addicted to reading Young Adult Literature. Go ahead -- judge me. I am embarrassed as it is. However, I know a lot of my friends out there read them, too!

So, I have been reading a lot of that genre's books based in dystopian societies (thank you, Hunger Games and The Giver) -- a theme I've always enjoyed reading.

Delirium and it's sequel Pandemonium take place in a society that does not believe in love. At a certain age, older teenagers have a procedure done to cure amor deliria nervose, or delirium. Can you imagine living in a world without love? I can't wait to read the next book in this series!!

From there, I read Divergent. In future Chicago, people are divided into different virtue factions: Abnegation (the selfless), Candor (the honest), Amity (the peaceful), Erudite (the intellegent), and Dauntless (the brave). Oh wow -- did I love this! The sequel, Insurgent comes out next month. Cannot wait!!!

A lot of my friends have read these same books and loved them as much as me. A dear friend and I were texting and she said she was reading a new book. One that I've heard a lot about (or at least one I thought I'd heard a lot about). According to The New York Times Bestseller list, this book is ranked number one: 50 Shades of Grey. Now, I heard it was a bit raunchy, but I assumed it was the adult version of Forever by Judy Blume (that I'm sure every American woman read during her early, formative preteen/teen years). So, when my very good friend who is a conservative church-attending woman said she was reading it, I figured it couldn't be that bad.

I was wrong. On SOOOO many levels.

First of all, it is horribly written. It began as a Twilight fan fic. And I don't think the editors changed anything. Horrible, horrible writing. Ugh.

Then, it got bad. I'm not a prude, but I felt uncomfortable reading this. I went to text my amazing friend that she was out of her mind and I never knew she had a wild side like this.

And that's when I saw her previous text.

She wasn't reading 50 Shades of Grey.

She was reading BETWEEN Shades of Gray.

Oooops!

Totally different kind of book. And one MUCH more my taste.

So, I am going to start reading BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY soon. And I'm deleting 50 Shades of Grey off of my iPad because it is terrible.

Now, mind you, I admitted ALL of this on facebook, saying how horrible I thought 50 Shades of Grey's writing was. So, I told all of my wonderful friends and family, Mason's teachers and coaches, that I was reading an erotic book. Goodness gracias!!!

***** Check out Mandy's new Geek of the Week about MASON!! *****