Well......

First off I need to apologize for ditching last night- wasn't feeling great so I was in bed by 6pm....... which ironically did feel great :)

Lots o swimmin' today.

Started with a swim meet this a.m. Pretty good swimming from the Gillam girls. Maddy took 3 sec off her 50 breast..... since she hates the stroke can't complain there.

Ellie managed to get a B time for the 100 breast...... for the 9-10 girl category! Not bad for an 8 year old! So very proud.

Maddy swam an 800m ocean swim in the afternoon after her morning swim meet.
Did a great job despite her mood....... our Maddy can get quite the attitude when she is nervous about something......
... thus the cranky face above.
This was the first open water swim Maddy did without Coach Lewis trailing to make sure the younger swimmers didn't drown. I think its mostly me that liked having him with her for the open water swims- she didn't bat an eye that he wasn't out with them today.

Coach Toshi and Coach Lewis are so great- I know I have said it before but the amount of patience they have with my girls is beyond comprehension. Really am grateful for them.

Sincerely beyond proud every time she does one of these. Mostly because I would never do it! Love that she is braver than me :)
The day was finished off with dinner at Ruby Tuesdays and an evening swim practice. Special shout out "thanks" to Coach Toshi for making it a realatively short practice! I know I was ready to go home...... and again, I am not even the one swimming.....
Really, can I say just so proud again?

Catch up.....

Though not much to catch up- cause ya haven't missed much! Life is going on as usual.....

...still swimming.....
....Maddy is still running for historian- speeches are next week :)
......picture day today so the girls got to be out of uniform- Really, this is about the most excitement we've had. You would never guess how EXCITING it is for these girls to get to be at school uniform-free. I mean Christmas morning excited.

So grateful tomorrow is FRIDAY! Looking forward to coffee with Melda before school, and not looking forward to a mandatory meeting out at the college after school.

Saturday should be busy- swim meet (with my nursing students volunteering at it- should be interesting!) in the morning and open water swim in the afternoon..... tired thinking of it, and I don't even have to swim!

Night off again-

so busy.........

God Made the Kindle.....

I am just sayin' that this thing is heaven sent.

Anyone who knows of Maddy's emotional attachment to books can understand how access to instant books would be huge in this house.

Tonight she was finishing the third and final book in a favorite series of hers, the tears started- the sense of loss overwhelming........ but wait, what's this? A brand new Rick Riordan series came out today? Boom- instant download....... bringing hope into an otherwise hopeless situation.

Don't even think I am adding any drama to the situation- I know from drama because I live it...... As I have said before "you got girls, you got drama".

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

For all my Canadian friends and relatives- A very happy thanksgiving to you. I baked a pie in your honor..... ok so it is a chicken pot pie, but a pie nonetheless.

We have definitely hit autumn full swing on this tropical island- I only know this because the fall decorations came out at the Gillam house. Cause the weather is still sayin' summer....
We went to a craft store here- Ben Franklins- to get clay for a school project for Maddy...... and hit a little piece of heaven.
So many cute crafty nooks and crannies to look in. Kevin even found a favorite brand that Julie and I shop when we go to Pennsylvania....... made me teary.
But I felt so much better once I had outfitted our dining room table for fall and Christmas. Got my country shopping fix until next summer Julie!

Hit the exchange next, where Maddy entertained herself under a rack reading.
And Ellie found the pumpkin patch. Ok so its not the same as actually visiting a pumpkin patch from back home- but we'll take it. Desperate times.......

The girls took on a crafty project- no doubt encouraged by the craft store visit. They decided to replace their knot-blankets with new ones. So material was chosen and then the knotting began...... I think this is Aggie's favorite craft project so far!

Maddy took a lot longer making her blanket than Ellie did.........

.... not sure why- could be that she got half a book read during her "breaks".

And lastly-

Maddy is running for middle school historian at McCool School. So get out the vote! Ok, so most of you have absolutely no voting power on Guam at a middle school- but I am sure she will accept prayers and well wishes :)

Navy Ball

Had a really nice time.... well worth the pedicures, hairdos, spanx'n, and tired feet....

So nice to be there with the Thorntons.

Can't remember how I survived last year without Melda to chat to :)

Maddy and Ellie of course loved their time at home with Sarah....... they don't even blink an eye at us going anywhere.

Thanks to Sarah for taking this photo- Kevin you truly are a goof..... I had no idea you were in the background of this one until I went to post it today :P weirdo!

GNO

Well really, you can't expect us to be forced into pedicures due to the Navy Ball tomorrow and not have food go with it?

Ah, Ruby Tuesdays...... quickly becoming my favorite American restaurant as it is one of the only American restaurants this side of Hawaii... Ate way too much as usual which won't be helping me one bit when I attempt to get into my dress tomorrow. Thank you dear God for the Spanx that I was able to purchase on this island in the middle of the Pacific..... for those of you who know about Spanx- you know you love 'em as much as I do. For those of you who don't, google them- you will be loving life next time you are going formal.

I will say in advance, unless we are home way early from the ball- there will most likely be no post tomorrow night...... but Sunday photos should be fun!