Its been a long, long time since I've updated this blog, and have since started a new blog. But I was sitting here looking through some old blog entries about the kids and realized that maybe I haven't finished telling their stories yet.
Lots of good and wonderful things continue to happen to us here in Amherst. Moving to this community has been the best choice we've ever made, both personally and for our family. We have felt absolutely embraced and loved here, and are almost dumbfounded by the degree of friendship and community we have felt in the four short months we've lived here. Its been heaven on earth.
The girls are thriving. Ella, in particular, has made huge advances in all ways, and everyday I look at her and realize how much she is growing up and what a great kid she is. Yesterday was one of the best days in memory. She has joined the pre-swim team at the Hampshire YMCA (the pre-team is for kids between the ages of 4-8). Every Tuesday and Thursday, I take her over to Northampton from 6:30-7:15 and let her do her swimming with the team. Its not an easy jaunt, and takes us at least 30 minutes to get there.
But it has been well worth it. This swimming has boosted her confidence enormously, and she really is an outstanding swimmer for her age. She had a swim meet yesterday, and I'll be damned if she didn't win BOTH the freestyle and backstroke events for her age. The freestyle race was particularly impressive, as she swam with older kids (I think they were closer to 8) and she started out somewhat behind as other kids dove into the water while she did a dive right off the deck of the pool. In the space of 25 yards, she passed the kids that had jumped off the diving block and proceeded to win the race. It was absolutely thrilling, and both Kim and I had such big tears in our eyes. I was delighted that my parents could be there, too, so they also got to witness this great event. Ella did even better in the backstroke--she swam so fast that she was out of the water and onto the pool deck before the other kids even finished.
Its that time when you realize that your life really isn't about you anymore, but rather about wanting your kids to be the happiest, healthiest kids they can possibly be. Sure, both Kim and I still like to pursue our various athletic activities, but its in these kids that I can really see the future. Its really the best thing a parent could ever hope for.
And, its not just swimming that Ella has progressed in. She is absolutely loving her new school here...no more complaining about how much she hates school and doesn't want to go. The school is small and wonderful and really focused on great things like anti-bullying and respecting families of all types. She is doing well with her reading, and making some good friends at school.
I know I've said it before but I really couldn't be happier. This move was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and now that we're here, I can't imagine that we could have ever had second thoughts about moving out of New Haven in the first place.