Then, obligatory photos, and the gift of a new cup for mom because I broke my water bottle this week.
Mike grilled steaks for lunch and made fried potatoes and tossed salad for lunch with the kids' help. Delicious. After lunch my sweet crew worked so hard for me. They took some bricks that were already on the property and made a new flower bed in front of the fence. Last year we tried to grow a patch of wildflowers there and were not successful, so this year Mike and Xabe re-tilled it, bricked it in, and we filled it with good soil.
When Mike and I went to buy soil, I had a whim to get some fairy garden supplies. Mike indulged me at both Dollar Tree and Dollar General.
The kids and Mike got the dirt dumped and leveled out and then Mia, Zayden, Evalynn, Mike, and I put in our fairy spots....what a fun, sweet time.
Tomorrow we'll plant our wildflower seed mix around the fairy garden areas and let the flowers grow up (hopefully). This is a shady area so we got wildflowers good for partial shade and are hoping for the best! The fairy gardens are giving me immense joy.
All in all it was a lovely day. I repotted some house plants, the wind chimes are re-hung, and did you see those fairy gardens? :)
We celebrated the glue that holds us all together in early April.
There is not enough partying to express how much we adore this guy. We are so thankful for him!
A new chair for the king....got him ready for soccer and baseball season!
Many arrows he has....so thankful.
The kids helped make Dad a butterscotch pudding dessert.
I laid down my phone and one of the kids picked it up and captured this treasure....and this sums up year 44 pretty well. Chasing kids, making memories, always a little tired, and enjoying every second.
Swim season has officially come to an end, and a good one it's been.
All three of our swimmers worked hard and shaved insane amounts of time from events. We did the most swim meets we've ever participated in - both for fun and to chase some qualifying times for state.
Mike stepped into a new roll as administrative official for our home meets. I did not run a stopwatch for the first time this year - mostly because I was afraid of slipping with my ankle still not up to par - also because that left one of us available for the younger siblings. I did entertain myself with charting the kids' times and they seemed to appreciate my efforts.
Natalee bettered her times in the following (from her best times last season):
4.15 seconds off her 50 free
15.21 seconds off her 100 free
9.99 seconds off her 50 back
6.99 seconds off her 50 fly
Natalee enjoyed swimming with several different relay groups and succeeded in meeting the goal Coach Megan set for her in her 50 back! She continues to be a true force in the water and no one can beat her determination.
This probably means more to me than anything - a coach who pours into every one of our kids.
Xavier bettered his times in the following (from his best times last year):
7.93 seconds off his 50 free
13.34 seconds off his 100 free
11.96 seconds off his 50 breast
26.92 seconds off his 100 breast
Xavier also qualified for state with his relay team (Heath, Ian, Calvin) for both a 200 medley and 200 free relay.
Celebrating their state qualifying time!
Ameliya bettered her times in the following (from her best times last year):
13.94 seconds from her 50 free
30.28 seconds from her 100 free
7.96 seconds from her 50 back
18.92 seconds from her 50 breast
25.01 seconds from her 100 IM
Mia and Cora cheering on friends.
Mia's favorite event this year was the 100 IM. She became quite adept at the butterfly stroke and did it in some group relays. She also moved her own personal standing up quite a bit throughout the season.
Mia and her bestie, Cora, were a matched pair in the water this year. It was really so much fun to watch them.
I took a lot of videos this year. The kids' best time videos are embedded below. All the ones I took are compiled in a playlist on YouTube. It's mostly my own kids who enjoying rewatching them - an online scrapbook of sorts for them to treasure, but I love that for them, too..
50 back - the smile at the end. :) Met her goal. I wish I'd have kept the camera rolling!
Also, I realize watching these back that I sound atrocious and a little ferocious. Please know I genuinely am cheering for my kids - my voice is low and stout and "I is who I is." I may be a little nutty but when my kids think back that loud obnoxious voice will be in every one of their memories. Also, Natalee was working for a goal here and I knew she could do it. And she did. So insanely proud.
50 fly
XAVIER
50 free
100 free
50 breast
His fastest time was in Marshalltown on 1/18 but I didn't video at that meet.
Marshalltown meet live feed
100 breast
State Qualifying Relay Races - I only got one on video and the after celebration of the other. They qualified both on the same day.
AMELIYA
50 free
100 free
100 IM
50 back - her fastest time but a DQ because she flipped on her stomach when she turned
Evie and Zayden were troopers this season. I was thankful for all the meets my folks were able to make it to, both to cheer on the kids and help with the others.
Ev found Jessica's lap....the joy of a friend!
Just here for the snacks.
Zayden loved hanging out with friends in the team camp, and spent his time eating and playing games.
Swim banquet...
State was a whole weekend event. It was fun to share it with friends and grandparents and experience it with our kids.
Natalee and I got a couple other sisters of state qualifiers together and made good luck bags to give the swimmers at their last practice. That was so much fun!
Girls swam on Saturday so that was Mia's day.
medley relay
Mia's split - poor darling...her goggles flipped off when she dove and she did her entire part "blind." I'm so proud of her rally!
free relay
Mia's 50 free split - she swam in 36.63!
weekend cheer squad...
Boys swam on Sunday. Xavier and I were out of the hotel early for warm-ups!
200 medley relay
Xavier's split - he swam it in 28.82 seconds!
400 free relay
200 free relay
Xavier's split
Coolest dads matching the swim guys' Hawaiian theme.
So thankful to do this crazy life with this guy.
What a season. We couldn't be more pleased with our swimmers - as competitors, but more importantly as persons of upstanding character.
{My post wouldn't be complete without a huge thank-you to our team photographer, Allesha! all the pics are credit to her!}
