Spirit Week

Jenn was hired by a family on another team to take meet pictures.  Worked in my favor as we were swimming against them that night!  I appreciate the sweet shots she shared as I can't seem to master effective cheering and photography simultaneously. 
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Only Margaret can't help but smile even while racing:-) 

It used to be quite a problem as she'd giggle until she'd choke, but with her speed, I guess she's also learned effective smiling techniques. 

Ironically, the only time Matthew looks uncomfortable in the deep end is when a flotation device is involved.

Andrew worked on his dive countless hours this summer and 
patient PJ was always right by his side coaching until after 9pm Fridays. 

Andrew declared multiple times that, "Spirit Week is the VERY best week of the ENTIRE year!".   Beginning with Pinata Day, Matthew might agree..."What??  They're encouraging me to swing a huge stick and then I get free candy???"

Annual tie-dyes were Tuesday.  Margaret was sick, but gracious friends made her dress, Andrew's long sleeves (great decisions!) and my tank...'cause the current 15 tie-dye shirts in our house seemed like enough for now.

And then we were up for Wednesday's Pasta Potluck and Talent Show.  The Mom Song is always the kids' favorite and I will admit, it is always something else...video not suitable for public viewing.  (Bonus points if you can ID the Killian rapper below.)

Let the carbo-loading continue with pancake breakfast, 

complete with four forms of sugar.

Not really sure what Margaret's mid-week inspiration was here, 

but she was over the moon!

"FV" toenails

July...

I just can't get over how the herb garden is flourishing, thanks to Mom and Dad's help over the last few  years.

"Who wants cake??"

Early birthday celebration with the girls, though missing Foxy (on her annual pilgrimage to Houston).

 The IXIS Park downtown is actually pretty neat.

 Emily and Margaret reacting to Laurel cutting off Lucas' toe.

 Annual (Hot & Humid) Fairview 5k 
Age group winner prize keeps me motivated to keep running!  
My high-5 crew at the turn around is worthwhile, too.  

1/10 age group; 14/127 overall 

23:18  7:30/mile  

 Post race party and bonfire

 Looks like only one baby bird left in the nest...apparently our handy man picked up a few off of the ground the other day:(

Sometimes being 3 is remarkably easy...sometimes.
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Emily and Kate will appreciate this, in honor of "Potato Cathy"!

 

Cannonballs!

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All summer, Matthew has been "doing" cannonballs...and by "doing" I mean that he jumps off the diving board, sort of bends one knee, one arm flails, and he yells, "Cannonball!".  But yesterday, he just stepped up and did the most perfect one I've ever seen - knees clutched tightly to his chest, little feet so close they criss-cross.  I've never seen a more precise one, much less 50 in a row!

When lightning strikes, we have dry practice, complete with 5-yr-old demos of push-ups with college bound athletes.

VBS songs during worship for the congregation---Matthew and side-kick Presley were as still and quiet as they have EVER been in service.   Both quietly refused to participate and stood like statues, as if to dare each other who could hold out the longest.  The "performance", or lack thereof, was specifically noted by many members as the best part of the show.    

You know you swim for a coach of the ages when he has former kids in the Olympic Trials.  JJ went to Omaha to see his athletes compete and we had a ball live streaming their events at the pool.  Hannah won her heat and Matt was barely second in his!

 Matthew holding the "I wanna be like Matt" sign as the local news crew taped our Olympic Trials viewing sessions.

And the Little Man got the best seat in the house, thanks to John Messimer's shoulders.

 Watching Olympic Trials

Picture Day

 THE 8-under relay....looking to win city-wide at Champs this weekend!

Matthew has joined 6-under practice and 

they don't hold back on instructing anything.

When your big brothers compete in butterfly, 

that means you're in for the long haul!  10:29pm...

Another media interview, before Champs.

Sweet back for age 5!  The meet following this, she won the entire 6-under age group for both teams, edging out a year-round swimmer that previously beat her by 7 seconds.

Breaststroke---not Andrew's best stoke, but possibly best improved and the only video from his break-out season.

Backstroke...fastest heat....youngest swimmer.