Swim Team 2012

If you look at all the pictures and times from our first year of swim team, you’d notice a drastic change to this years. Barely any pictures and no times. (I’m noticing a trend this year…)

Swim team was a little rough this year. Not for the kids, but for me. Henry would try and get in the pool on a daily basis at practice and just trying to keep track of his wanderings was hard. He only escaped the fenced area a few times, but I was constantly on the look-out. Then there were meets. There were a couple where I was on my own – one half way through and another completely. With 4 swimmers, 18-19 events, and 2 littles running around it was a bit much.  Thankfully, we have helpful swim families and they were both home meets so it was easier being on our own turf, but still, I wouldn’t recommend it. Enough about me though.

It was a great season for the kids. Everyone worked really hard. It was very interesting to see the different competitive levels from the kids. Lucy didn’t care about competing and sometimes even had to be bribed to participate – especially those relays. She did it, though, and we’re proud of her. We didn’t learn for a few weeks that she has a very impressive breaststroke kick. It must be in their blood because all of them can do it phenomenally well. Of all the strokes kids can get disqualified the most in, breaststroke is it. It’s such a carefully coordinated stroke, I’m really impressed with our kids. Only one DQ this season.

Lucy and her friends. Their favorite part of the meets.

Kaycee was very diligent in practice and we could always count on her to swim. She didn’t see the meets so much as competition, but certainly a lot more fun than practice.  She placed several times for her breast, and did really well swimming the 50 free(style) – flip turns and all! This year at preliminaries, she swam the butterfly for the first time and smoked everyone in her heat. It was really cool to watch. She helped her medley relay team qualify for League Championships!

Clay took it a little easier this year and made swimming more of a social event. We’ll see if he does it next year. He’s such  a great swimmer that it’s hard not to push him that way into keep doing it.  He rocked his 100 free and even participated in a 100 IM (individual medley – butterfly, back, breast, free).  It was impressive.

Rylee was also a very diligent participator. It wasn’t long after the season started that she recognized that if she worked really hard, especially with her breaststroke, she could place 1st overall at these meets. And, she did! Twice in a row. You couldn’t wipe that grin from her face for a good week. We were also thrilled when her free relay team broke a pool record! Her medley team – which she swam breast for also made it to Championships. She was only 2 spots away from qualifying for breaststroke at prelims. With  over 120 swimmers, she placed 18th! Some tough competition.

Rylee’s free relays team right before they broke the record.

At the year-end team party, our most wonderful coaches gave out the trophies. Three trophies: MVP, Most Improved and Most Dedicated were awarded to each age group. Miss Rylee and Miss Kaycee both received the Most Dedicated award. I wish I had recorded what Coach Andy said about Rylee. It was so kind. Some of the Coaches tried to say little blips about the kids, but Rylee’s Coach said something along the lines of “as Coaches, we try and teach the kids things that they can use in their lives in and out of the water. If anyone wants to be a great swimmer and a great person, and know how to work really hard, they need to be like Rylee Hunt.” So sweet.

A treat after winning one of the meets

Little did I know that Ryan could be a tatoo artist. Nor did I know that half the team would come to be tatoo’d. Coaches included!

We’ll have a tip jar next year!

Tired Henry chilling out. Those were long Saturdays for him!

Rylee and Clay at 7/11 on 7/11 after prelims.

Insanity after a meet. You’d think all those kids would be done with swimming!

Rylee with head Coach, Andy. We sure are going to miss him!

It was a great season and we look forward to next year – with 5 swimmers!!

(A hearty high-five to anyone that finished reading this post!)

Last Thursday– It Has Begun

Last Thursday as an ‘exciting’ day for Clay.

The following Monday – still doing really well. He hasn’t complained about pain/irritation at all!

We’ve already noticed quite a bit of movement.

And, so it begins. Let’s see who’s next!

Two!

This little guy is two! I knew it would come up quickly and now that it’s happened, it’s bittersweet. Like Lucy, he’s one of the few of our children that has turned two without a younger sibling. What’s even crazier is that I’m not pregnant either! That’s a first.

While I look forward to many firsts with Henry, I’m also reminded that we’ll also see many lasts as well. I guess that’s what happens with the baby of the family, right? There’s a sense of freedom, I think, growing inside both Henry and I and we both just might like it. Perhaps freedom is the wrong word, but certainly a sense of change; a sense of progression.

Either way, this boy had a fun day!

(and let’s just pretend that the rest of the pics are supposed to have a vintage-y look instead of blurry pics from my phone, okay? Okay.)

Happy Happy Birthday, Henry!

Lonely Pictures

These poor pictures are all the proof I have of the fun we had with family in Colorado this year.

LAME.

We drove back from Utah in a hurry to get to see siblings and cousins coming in from Connecticut and Washington. It was Triple Bypass time again. Remember this? Second round. We didn’t participate this year, and due to Swim Championships, we didn’t even make it up there. But, we heard it was awesome.

The race was actually one of the last things on the agenda-o-fun. The Moms did  Hot Yoga every morning (I only went twice….on purpose, I think!), the kids played at the pool most afternoons, with a trip to the zoo, the movies, packing, tie-dying, shrinky dinking, home repairs, barbie playing, neighbor spying, cousin chasing, movie watching, iPad playing and park going, in between!

Repairing a broken baluster

These two escaped several times together! Not over the fence, of course.

Yeah, pictures don’t work so well in a dark theatre…

You’ll just have to take my word for it – a super fun week!

And we can’t wait to do it again!

My Home and Native Land–Celebrating in Utah

After church, July 1 – Canada Day, the kids and I drove over to Utah. Monday, we celebrated in Saratoga Springs with their Canada Day Parade. It wasn’t too big, but big enough to make it  a lot of fun. We waited near Micki and Spencer’s for the parade to come by and we bopped to a techno version of the national anthem blasting from the leading car. It was awesome.

On the 4th of July we enjoyed BBQing and slip n sliding. It’s not a family party without the slip n slide!

Uncle Travis saving Henry from an embarrassing moment – flipping over the handle bars of the little bike (above) in front of everyone.

The oldest grandchild(18) with the youngest(2). I remember Jordan doing this with his Dad!

So much fun at Grandma and Grandpa’s!

Lunch with Grandpa

While we were out there, my Dad was set apart by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf to be a Sealer in the Mount Timpanogos Temple. While it would have been great to witness it and meet (stare at) President Uchtdorf (it was a small office), but we are so excited for my parents – and for us, my Dad will be able to seal all his grandkids! How cool is that.

We ended the trip with a rousing game of Phase 10. Nothing better on one of the most gorgeous summer evenings.

Eleven

 

 This young lady turned eleven the other day.

ELEVEN.

And, although the thought of middle school in the Fall makes me want to throw up a bit,

she is magnificent, ready for the challenge.

She is and absolute gem. 

We couldn't have asked for a more awesome first child.

Happy Birthday, Rylee!

Date Night

Last Friday afternoon, I drove across town to pick up Ryan's first sign.

That evening for date night we went and put the sign up at his first listing.

Now, because Ryan is such an awesome realtor, there was already 

an offer before his sign was even up.  How's that! ;)

Let's rock and roll!

Energy Profiling

Remember this post?

Have you read the book yet? Forget about Dressing Your Truth right now and let’s talk about energy profiling. Let me share what I’ve learned about my kids, when I honor their true nature. (And by the way, you’ll see that word A LOT.)

Rylee: I have learned that Rylee is a very black and white thinker. Either is right or it’s wrong. Not all the types think this way, but she certainly does. Her striking beauty is noticed by all. I’ve learned when Rylee starts to break down, it’s usually because she isn’t feeling respected. Respect is huge for Type 4s. They have the most still movement and need the most time to themselves to gather thoughts and be reflective. Rylee finds the most balance when she has at least 20 minutes of alone time. (This is usually spent at night when she stays awake reading in a quiet, still house. For Ryan, it’s in the bathroom in the mornings.. ;) She’s responsible, and has a keen sense of perfecting things; naturally making things better. She’s very mature for her age and often prefers staying near adult conversation.

Clay: I think Energy Profiling has helped me the most with Clay. He’s a natural envelope-pusher and (naturally) has the most self confidence. He’s active/reactive by nature and just loves to make people laugh. While this can be most distracting sometimes when it’s not channeled properly, I’ve learned that he needs an outlet. Hopefully not by pushings others’ buttons, but healthily getting the results he wants. He naturally moves in a swift, push forward direction at getting things done. If it’s something undesirable, he puts in just enough effort to get himself through and finish. As a Type 3 he’s a natural entrepreneur and with a strong secondary Type One, everything has to be fun. (This kid does not go one day without praying for FUN).

Kaycee: I’m trying my best to not stifle Kaycee in her natural Type 1 movement. Being the same type, I can understand her buoyant upward/outward energy. I don’t recall being told much to settle down as a kid, but I have to catch myself with her. She’s such a source of brightness, light and fun. She’s great at letting things that bother her roll off. She’s creative, constantly coming up with ideas, and moving onto the next thing. She’s certainly the most adaptable to environments and people and just sparkles.

Lucy: I figured out Lucy’s movement first, of all the kids. The more blended, smooth features of her face and the way she naturally moves more slowly. Even from her birth she has moved at her own pace, beats to her own drum. I have the hardest time trying not to rush her. Even with swimming this year I have to stop myself from telling her to hurry up. She’s prone to more sensitivities – especially when I brush her hair. As a toddler I would put a brush to her head and she’d pull away “ow.” In her Type 2ness, I need to be more aware of her comfort. If there’s one key word for Type 2’s, it’s comfort. So many times I’ve rushed her out the door for school and she’s so concerned with her socks being uncomfortable. (I’m getting better.)

Olivia: Another Type 3. Olivia and Henry took me the longest to figure out because I thought I couldn’t type them so early. Wrong. It’s amazing. Miss Olivia is a button-pusher, too. When she gets angry, she rages. Not for long, then she’s ready to move on. It’s entertaining, on some levels as I let her express herself and letting her get all fired up. Of course, within reason. Just this morning, we were at the pool for practice and she was getting so upset that I didn’t have the snack she wanted. She pulled a chair over, knocking it down in her rage. I almost started laughing with how she was reacting, but then was able to calm her down by validating her frustration. (Not tossing the chair though.) This little miss certainly does not like being told what to do – as no Type 3 does, but give her any sort of challenge to get something done, she’s pull through nicely.

Henry: Mr. go with the flow, random, smiley, all over the place, little boy. He’s SO happy. I love watching this little boy light up when he smiles. He can be a little explosive when he can’t convey what he wants, but is pleased as punch when I can figure it out. True to his Type 1 nature, he’s random and spontaneous in whatever he does. This boy adores shoes. Every morning he comes in my room with shoes ready to go. Although they’re rarely matching, we just go along with his fun-loving self. He’s starting to give me a run for my money with his energy, but as a Type 1 myself, I think I have a good idea how to keep up.

Well, congrats for reading all this.

Do you have an idea of what type you may be?

Or, what about your kids?

I’d love to hear.