"A Wink and a Smile"

Make a Smilebox slideshow *Miss {k} was the anchor for the relay (video) ... record breaking swim. This was only a few swimmers of our very large team that attended this swim meet. {m} and {e} swam and also did really well ... taking time off. {k} was again part of some records for the relays ... 200 free (15 years old) and 200 medley relay. She finished off her 10 year old swim in record breaking style ... how cool is that. The weather was beautiful and this meet went so fast that we were able to do some fun afternoon activities ... the zoo, Beale Street, and dinner at P.F. Changs. A really nice break!

The cute swimmer boy caught me taking a picture of him ... I was walking by taking pictures ... 'cause that is what I do , when I happened to take note of the two young men with the messy, swimmer hair. This is the kind of hair that has lost all life and just sticks up in all directions. Usually it is colored much the same ... "FADED" (that is the only word that comes to mind). For some reason the boys usually don this type of hair. Maybe it is because they wear swim caps less or maybe it is because they don't wash their hair as often or MAYBE it is because it is a total mark of a "true male swimmer" ... cool hair! Anywhoooooooooo, I felt so embarrassed when MR. T caught me snapping his photo. I wonder what a 37 year old mother of 5 looks like when she turns all red? Silly lady with the camera! That Mr. T is headed off to college (University of Michigan) this fall. This would be the same school that Mr. Michael Phelps went to. Those are some big ol'...

Yet another early day ... 6:45 am at the pool 7-8 am warm-ups 8:30 am start of the meet I'll give the shorter version for this day;) On tap for swimming ... 50M Backstroke {k} 100 M Free {k} 50M Free {e} 50M Breaststroke {k} FREE RELAYS Results after prelims ... 50M Back (5th at 41.96  A time, but so close to AA) 100M Free (8th at 1:19.75 ... this is a popular event) 50M Free (40.21 for {e} - a few tenths taken off, but no placement in finals) 50M Breaststroke ( 48.17 which was 4th seating ... she was .13 off her best time) RELAYS ... {k} made top FREE RELAY (she went 2nd) and her team placed 1st (great splits) {e} did her best time EVER in her split of the 50 Free.  Too bad it couldn't have been an individual ... oh well! After the relays we all went home for some R&R.  Today the break was shorter, so {k} quickly headed to my bedroom for an hour nap ... she slept solid.  When she woke up she ate a good lunch, and we went back to the pool.  This time {e} stood home with the...

At pool by 6:45am Warm-ups from 7-8am Parade of athletes shortly after Meet began at 8:30am Preliminaries take place in the morning (several heats for each event). The top 8 swimmers for each event go onto the finals which take place in the late afternoon/evening. {k}'s 1st event was the 50M free . This is a long course meet and the pool is actually 50M(Olympic length) ... so that is one lap. Her seed time 37.63 (which was just shy of an A time). She swam her heat in 34.69 (skipping the A time and going straight to a AA time). We were all psyched. She is now 1 second away from a AAA time ... that is zone cuts. The heats were all circle seating (top swimmers in the middle two lanes of the 8 lane pool). For this event {k} swam next to the top swimmer ... {k} was ranked 6th. At the end of the heats she qualified 5th and was set for the evening finals. {e} swam two individual events and two relays over the course of the two days ... swimming 50M and 100M Free. She did her be...

I think we all could use a big nap from our very long weekend, but instead we are headed back to the pool for the 6 year old's practice. Later ...

I think I need a chill pill or a big ol' glass of something to settle my nerves. I just got back from day 1 of our 3 day STATE (long course) CHAMPIONSHIPS.  It was short tonight because {k} only did one event ... the 200M IM.  She did great ... cut nearly 4 seconds off her personal best (which she just did 2 weeks ago). Lately I feel like we have moved beyond the gentle clapping hands of " go {k}, go" and "do your best"   to ... "MOVE IT {k} ... kick those legs ... pick it up!" with a big time voice (scream) and  body language (waving and jumping) . I tell ya, it's enough to give me heart palpitations and anxiety.  I'm still shaking even after the event ended nearly 2 hours ago. and  This beer that I am drinking isn't doing anything.  I think my symptoms are incurable. THANKFULLY, in a short while, the husband and 3 other children come home after a full week away in a state far, far away.  I have missed them A LOT.  It was strange to just...

Let's go little ones, your sisters are swimming ... This is my summer.  Who am I kidding?  This is my WHOLE YEAR!

Make a Smilebox postcard

*One that will drive 6.5 hours to get to a swim meet *One who will buy her a " Fast Skin " swim suit because she says it will make her faster, AND lucky for her it did (for the next 3 races) *One that is easily persuaded by dimples and a sweet heart

She is my serious one .  After a good race, we often say "Great JOB {m}!" and more often than not, the response is ... nothing.   A stoic one she is!

AT first I was a little annoyed that "my day" would be spent at the pool for my girls, but they gifted me the best swim day EVER! It was a little selfish to think that I needed to do what I wanted to do, when really I should have known that this very day is celebrated BECAUSE of these 5 minnies of mine. What better way to spend the day than to rejoice in their accomplishments. It was a FANTASTIC SWIM DAY!!!!

I am so lucky to have girls who love the sport of swimming like I did when I was younger. The sport has changed a little (like I am sure so many other sports have). From the age of 7 until 18 I swam on a swim team, but it wasn't until highschool that I was really pumped about it. Before then, it was just your summer swim team. My girls started swimming at the same age, but the difference is that they swim year round ... 4-5 x a week with numerous swim meets (some that take us out of state). I love to "gush" over my girls, but try not to do it all that much in real life. My 9 year old {K} is headed to states again this summer. Breastroke is her thing, and she has real potential to go far if she puts her mind to it. That little body of hers is already strong and super-fit ... oh how I wish that I could say that. EXCITING STUFF ... {K} is on lane 4 ... what great form! This is {E} getting ready for her 50 M backstroke! {K} doing her 200M breastroke. This is our long course ...