A Week Of New Experiences

This post is going to be long, so I hope I don't lose you along the way. We have an exciting week ahead of us...

By the time most of you read this, I will be on my way to Atlanta for my first national blogging event! I will be attending the Conversations with Coca-Cola conference for social media moms. While I am so excited and absolutely honored to have been selected for this opportunity, I am nervous as hell. Why? First, because I haven't been on a plane since my honeymoon in 2007, and I hate traveling alone. Second, because I have to take a cab from the airport to the hotel. I have only been in a cab one time, and let's just say it was after a long night of partying, so I don't remember much about it. And third, I'm afraid I will look like a dork. The dress code is "casual chic" and "jeans are encouraged". Well, I have jeans, but "chic" isn't really a word I would use to describe my wardrobe.

I'm sure once I get there I will have a great time, but right now, I can feel the anxiety coming on. I am looking forward to making new blogging friends, and of course hanging out with one of my absolute favorite brands! I know this is going to be a great experience...once I get there!

Rylie and Bryce also have a big week ahead of them...

Rylie started VPK today. VPK is Florida's voluntary pre-k program. It won't be all that different for Rylie since she will attend VPK at the school she has been at for almost two years now, but I get a little break on my daycare bill, so that will be nice. From 9-12 every day, Rylie's class will have a more structured curriculum to help them get ready for kindergarten next year. She already had a homework assignment, which was to create an "about me" packet. We worked on that yesterday and she had fun doing it. I'm sure she will do great things this year!

I kind of touched on this a couple weeks ago, but didn't go into much detail, so while this isn't new this week, Bryce has been moved up to the three year old class! He was starting to get a little ornery during the day at school, which isn't like him, so the owner of the school thought it was time to move him up to the next class. When he came home and said "mommy, there's babies in my class and they don't know how to line up", I agreed with her assessment. He moved up a few weeks ago and has been loving it! He has to carry a folder to school now along with his backpack, and he is so excited to walk in every day. His teachers love him (and they did in the previous class, too) and tell me is is doing very well. After all, who wouldn't love this goofball?

Swimming lessons start for both kids today. We have been saying for months now that we need to put them in formal lessons, but since Bryce has to go four days a week for 4-6 weeks, it just hasn't been possible. Brian and I just can't take that time off of work. Now that my mom has moved over here, she will be able to take them to their lessons every day, and Brian and I can pop in when we can.

Rylie and Bryce will go to the instructor's house every afternoon, Monday through Thursday. They will each have a 15 minute private lesson. They have both already come so far this summer, but they need to learn how to swim properly and to build up their confidence in the water. We have already gone from this...

...to this...

...and even this...

We don't think Rylie will have to take lessons for more than two or three weeks. She is already doing so well!

And then on Saturday, Rylie has her first dance lesson. She is so excited! I found a great place that has a combination class for preschoolers which involves tap, pre-ballet, rhythm training, personality movements and tumbling. Her best friend Peyton will be in class with her, and I know they are going to have so much fun. I took her a few weeks ago to get her registered for class and to buy all of her supplies, and she is ready to go!

She didn't take that leotard off the whole night after we got it!

I took dance as a child and loved it (I even performed with the Atlanta Ballet in "The Nutcracker" one year), and I hope Rylie will too. If nothing else, she'll certainly look cute trying!

I won't be around much (if at all) for the next few days, but I can't wait to come back and share all of our fun, new experiences with you all! Have a great week!