"A Wink and a Smile"

In pictures of course ... Mommy and Daddy had to tag team today and split up. The 8 year old had a basketball game and the three older girls had a 3 day swim meet out of town. {b} did great at her first game. She was so excited. She did a little bit more running of the court and guarding than being aggressive with the ball (like she has in the past), but it was the first game in nearly a year AND with only 2 practices. Big girls are 3 hours away swimming their hearts out. They are also blowing their noses A LOT. Of course they have not been sick all winter, but they get sick after signing up, booking hotel, and paying for a meet. So far though ... GREAT SWIMS. I have a wonderful hubby who will do the travel without a bit of complaining. THIS IS LIFE for us ...

During the summer months when it is SOOOOOO HOT, I am very thankful that my girls have an outlet for exercise that keeps them cool. When I think back a few years ago, our summers were a little more relaxed. We slept in, played at home more, and usually practiced one time a day. Back then, only my older girls swam. BUT, one by one another swimmer has put on that swim cap and goggles. NOW, during the summer months, they even have 2-a-days (7-9am and 4-6pm). Our mornings of sleeping in are fewer and our down time at home a little less. When I get in my car I have to really pay attention or I will automatically drive to the pool ;) As much as I sometimes "complain" (blushing) that we are so busy, I am grateful for the opportunity. I've got healthy, fit girls and that is always a good thing! Here is the latest little swimmer just 2 weeks after her 5th birthday ... I think she could have had the win if she stayed straight and actually dove in at the start (LOL). *I...

I know that I have complained a little about the oh so unattractive still photos that the schools or sports teams "encourage". Well, this year for team photo day, I just grabbed my girls and said ... "SMILE!" I think this may be cuter ... and then I can even play around with it ... This was still cute from last year, but now I saved some $$ ... *HT and much thanks to SARAH for showing me how to make my pictures BIGGER!!!!!

the writer who has been quite busy lately. *This might be a mishmash of a blog post ... a little like the thoughts running through my head. School, Homeschool, and swim practice are all back in session. After nearly 2 weeks, I almost feel like a routine is going ... ALMOST ;) Because it seems like I switch things up every year between Catholic school, homeschool, public school, private school. I could easily claim i n s a n i t y . Seriously, it isn't that bad ... My oldest did public school (in another state) for 5 years, Catholic school for 3 years, and now this is her second year in private school. Daughter #2 did 3 years of public, 2 years of Catholic, homeschool, private, homeschool (NOW). Daughter #3 did 2 years of Catholic, 1 year of homeschool, and now year 2 of public. Daughter #4 did 1 year of Catholic and now public (2nd year). *None of this includes the preschool years. Homeschooling is going OKAY. I won't say GREAT yet because I feel like there are som...

I'm catching a small window where I can talk just about me . Girls are done with LONG COURSE swim season. School has not started. It's still summer for 2 more weeks (in my area). So I've been doing this swimming thing. For three nights in a row I've donned the suit, cap, and goggles and swam with the new group of MASTERS. For an hour at a time, I get in my exercise and a little chat time between sets. I am LOVING IT! I've come to realize something about myself. For all of my life I've remained active with some sort of exercise. Of course there have been lull periods where I didn't do anything for weeks and maybe months, but NEVER a year has gone by where I didn't do something. Is it pompous of me to pat myself on the back for this? I'm gonna say NO. Mostly because I tend to have low self-esteem when it comes to many things. I never think I am smart enough, pretty enough, etc. I am healthy. I am strong. I am fit (to a degree). Exercise is my...

It's about me and how last night I put on this ... Borrowed a pair of these ... Squeezed my head into this ... Well, maybe not that exact swim cap ;) I borrowed one of my daughter's 20+ caps . A former swimmer and aquatics director at our swim club is heading up a swim program for the "old folks" ... mostly swim team parents and some triathlon hopefuls. This will go on for 2 weeks with the hope that maybe some of us will continue with the Master's Swim Team. I got in the water and felt just a little cocky swimming halfway across the 50 M pool. The coach said we all looked pretty good and she was glad our strokes were not too bad. Then she got all silly and told us to do a 75. It was about the 60M mark that I choked, swallowed, and gasped for air. I wasn't the only one. We continued with practice for the next 60 minutes. More freestyle, sculling, kicking, and lots of critiquing. In the end, we all survived ... no drownings. I think I'll go back today...

Took a little trip to the great big state of TEXAS where we needed to pick up this girl ... Who spent the week at a camp learning from the best of the best ... After picking her up, we spent a few days in this great big pool ... We spent 2 full days participating (3 of my girls anyway) and watching lots and lots of SWIMMING ... Then we headed on over to see some BIGGER swimmers ... I wish I could say that I have tons of great pictures to share, but I don't. That's rare for me on a vacation. TEXAS IS HOT and not all of us look as cute (all sweaty) as THIS ONE ...

When this mommy starts talking about s w i m m i n g ... A LOT! Short course swim season ended back in February (races that take place in a 25Yard pool). The girls still practiced nearly 4x a week (little ones ... 2-3x) We did have a few "fun" meets THEN ... LONG COURSE season started (races that take place in a 50Meter pool). We've had a few of those meets. The month of May has been quite nutty, but it will slow down just a little until mid-June. The girls have been doing AWESOME ... dropping big time from their times last summer. This MAMA is quite proud! The newest girl to make STATE CUTS for the long course season is my "just turned 9 year old" in the 10/U 100 and 200M freestyle . She is only 2 tenths away in her 50M free ... she'll get it. She seems to have a little bit of the hunger that daughter #2 has. They have very similar builds and stroke styles. It's really very interesting to watch. CONGRATS to {m} ...

Most of the time you will hear me say that I love to exercise. That might not be the whole truth. I love the way I FEEL and LOOK after I exercise. The during part is what I HATE. It was a struggle when I was younger ... when I swam.  Back then I had coaches to push me which made it nearly impossible to not give it my best. Even then I can recall reciting the lyrics to songs to make the time go by faster.  Today I don't have a coach and it's all up to me. Sometimes I count songs or take a peek at what my Nike + reading tells me.  The beginning few weeks always takes me a while to build up to a level.  One where I hit my zone and don't notice as much the time or distance. Right now I am in the beginning (again) stage where I count, look at the time, and secretly hope that I just make it a little further than last time.  The "zone" would come a little sooner if I didn't take so many days off and my "last times" weren't so far apart. This is the we...

Just 'cause I haven't posted swim photos in a bit. {k} had a lot of GREAT SWIMS ... improving on 4 of her 6 individuals a the Short Course STATE Championship Meet.  She also swam in 2 relays.  Turning 11 was a big change.  Besides the obvious height/weight difference, there was some really great 12 year old swimmers.  Next year will be even better for {k}!

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!

Seriously they are quite slim, but their bellies seem to grow while swimming ... Then again eating all this ... and drinking all of this probably doesn't help ...

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 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...

This past year was probably the most motivated that I have been since before children.  I WENT to the gym pretty regularly (3 gym days and usually a run or 2 on other days) ... never letting more than 1 week (or 2) slip on by.  I would certainly feel those missed days, but I would regain pretty quickly. May came and things got busy. Excuses started. Exercise DID NOT HAPPEN. Besides the physical effects of not exercising, I started to notice the emotional/mental effects.  I NEED to exercise.  I NEED the stress relief.  I NEED the little time alone. So, this past holiday weekend, I have made some new goals for myself.  Putting exercise on my calendar will make it happen more than just saying I will try to.  Already I am feeling so much better, but I tell you, I CAN FEEL THAT I AM OUT OF SHAPE.  My muscles are just throbbing and the other day after a stupid run in the heat of the day, I seriously thought I would throw up. I KNOW IT WILL GET BETTER.  I just need to be consistent and pus...

*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