Mystic Aquarium

Since we're moving this summer we aren't taking a "real" summer vacation. Instead I planned a few weekend trips for our family close to home. One of our favorite aquariums is the one in Mystic, CT because they have Beluga's!

It's a great size - perfect to fill one day. They have the Beluga's (for Em) and a Ray touching pool that Jacob could spend hours hanging over. Actually, his fingers are usually all "pruny" by the time we drag him away from there! We often use this aquarium as a stopping point when we drive to Bar Harbor. We leave early in the morning - spend the day at the aquarium, have dinner in town (often at Mystic Pizza) and then let the kids sleep for a bit in the car until we got to Boston, where we spend the night. The next day the rest of the trip to Maine isn't so long. I guess once we move it won't really be worth doing that any more - but we'll still take trips to the Aquarium because we love it so much.

Emily has loved Beluga's since before she could walk! They used to have some at the Brooklyn Aquarium but they sent them down to Georgia for a breeding program a bunch of years ago. Belugas take a long time to be accepted into the pod, so they pretty much will never come back. Probably better for them, because they had a very boring tank in Brooklyn.

See. Just a big circle. Boring.

 

 These pictures are of Emily & Maya in 2005. Seriously, I can't believe it was that long ago - seems like just last week.

The set up at Mystic is pretty nice.

I was happy to cram a few last "family road trips" in before Rebekah left for BYU.  I know the kids complain about them sometimes (especially that teenager) but I also know that the time we spend as a family alone - without the interruptions of friends, team sports, practices and routines are the times that build memories and cement our hearts together - they are the times that carry them through when we aren't together.

Jake is the reason we make a bee-line for the touch pool but we all get a huge kick out of feeling the velvety soft rays and having them slurp those little fish out of our hands.

After lunch we let them have a turn driving the boats - which meant nothing more than trying to ram each others boats :)

Then we headed over to the penguins and had fun finding the camouflaged frogs (or are they toads, I can never tell) and spotting giant tadpoles in the pond.

Jane got to see her beloved "Pwengwins."

Then we went over the the "Australian" exhibit there - we couldn't miss that!

I used to see big flocks of yellow and green Budgies and distinctive Galah's flying in the fields behind our house when I was growing up. Their noisy song would wake me up in the summer. We'd go on hikes and see Rosella's ....

Seeing these birds and my children enjoying them made me so happy. Like bringing a piece of my childhood to them. Almost.

Back to another touch tank for crabs and sea stars.

And one last visit back to the ray touching pool (I think our 3rd for the day.)

After the aquarium we headed into town for a little while to get ice cream at our favorite spot on the water and let the kids browse though "Mystical Toys" - they have lots of Playmobil, so they always like to explore there (even Bek)!

Then headed south and had dinner at a great spot in New Haven and then to the hotel to sleep soundly!

Jane's Pre-Team Meet

Jane has been dying to be on swim team the past few years. It killed her to watch Emily & Jacob and not be included over the summer - especially as she could have made the swimming requirement (to be able to swim 25yds) last year. You have to be 5, so this year was her chance and she had been really looking forward to it.  You can imaging my surprise when she got out 1/2 way through practice the first few times, or just sat on the side of the pool and refused to move. It was not super hot then and she just got really cold and refused to keep going!

I really didn't care if she did it or not. She can already swim well, she's only 5 and she swims year 'round. I figured it's not like it was her only chance to be on swim team .... but I thought she would like it if she were warmer and didn't want her to think she could just give up so easily.

It was probably hard for Jane to go from swimming 1/2 an hour in a heated pool (which she does twice a week September to June) to 1 hour in a cold one. The kids are assigned to a lane for the duration of the pre-team. One of the teachers from their winter swimming, Jessica, was a coach in another lane. I knew she knew Jane's ability and that she could use all the buzz words that Jane already knew to get her motivated. Most of all, I knew she would work her a little harder and keep her moving which would warm her up. So, I asked her if I could switch Jane into her lane, which she did and it made everything much better. It also helped that the weather warmed up a little.

Today was the pre-team "meet." Jane was really excited and kind of nervous. First up was freestyle. She did a great job! She has a very nice freestyle stroke. I overheard someone watching say "She's going to be like her sister." She definitely wants it like Emily does!

Not bad for one of the youngest on pre-team.

I had Bek video from the end of the pool. (Sorry about the jiggles.)

Next was backstroke. Seriously, could this be any cuter?

She zig-zagged down the lane. Jacob was standing next to me at the side of the pool. He called out "Jane! Jane! Keep your head straight & back and your body will go straight too!" She actually stopped to look up at what he was saying. I yelled down "Just keep going Jane" - Sheesh buddy,  mid-race is not the time for pointers. Although how adorable is it that he gave them to her? Such a good big brother.

She stopped as she neared the end of the pool to see if she was getting close.

Then bonked her head on the wall anyway.

The last race was their choice - butterfly or breaststroke. Jane has a great little breaststroke but I think she might have overheard some praise for Emily's butterfly and decided to do 'fly.

She got up on the block and into this nice looking "take your mark" position.

Then did this!

Rick is calling it her "Wolverine Attack" dive.

Then, bless her little heart, she did "butterfly" the entire length of the pool. Both arms were going, she did a dolphin kick, she only came up to breathe every few strokes. She had all the fundamentals there (but she did look a bit like she was drowning the whole way down).

After their 3 races they were awarded a medal & a trophy by their lane coach & lane helpers.

AND they got italian ices.

I was so happy I moved Jane into Jessica's lane. She was super sweet and understanding with her and helped her have a great experience.

Way to go Jane! I am so proud of my littlest swimmer!

Jane's Butterfly

Jane swims the 25yd butterfly.

(Ignore my big head & camera-holding-hand in the way.)

If you factor in that she's only 5, it's actually pretty impressive!

Jane's Backstroke

I guess Blogger will only let me upload one video per post and these of Jane are priceless, so I'll put them up separately.

Here's her backstroke. See her stop 1/2 way to listen to Jake, then again near the end to see where she is. Too cute.

Last Summer Meet

The "regular" last meet of the summer (before we enter Counties & Conferences) for our team was against Westchester Country Club. I love to go there for meets because the facility is lovely and because they tend to be in the evening when the light is so beautiful.

Jane and her friend Avery had a blast playing in their kid pool.

Jane has several friends who's older siblings are on the team with Jake & Emily and it makes it nice for her to have friends to play with when we are at the (eternally long) meets.

They were seriously in this pool for hours. I was still calling them out of one end of it as the lifeguards starting cleaning the other end!

They also alternated between the beach and playing in Long Island Sound.

 {iPhone photo}

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W.C.C has a bunch of fast swimmers. Our kids were ready for battle! It's one thing I love about being on such a big team - the older kids really watch out for the little kids, get them pumped for meets, teach them the team cheer, etc.

Emily swam freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and the free relay (you are only allowed to swim 3 strokes + relays per meet.)

Jacob swam free & backstroke.

He also swam the boys freestyle relay. After that he got to relax, eat and enjoy the beach area too.

Emily was swimming against one of her friends from her winter swim team in her 50yrd breaststroke.

She came in second - to her friend. Here she is laughing and saying
"You told me you weren't fast at breast!"

Then they high fived. It made me so happy to see. I like to see good sportsmanship. I think it's something I see a lot in swimming - but could see more of.
Most of these kids swim through the winter where there a fewer teams and often they travel a bit to get to them. In summer swimming there are many more teams and they usually swim for the team closest to them or whichever country club their parents join. I like that Emily has competed against kids she knows and that there hasn't been animosity between them. I think it's healthy for them to keep it that way!

I am becoming obsessed with getting the perfect fly picture of Emily. These were close (and I love how she looks swimming this stroke).

I'm looking for arms level, face up getting a breath, water droplets flying, perfect light .... keep swimming Em!

The meet was exciting. We were a little behind going into the relays. The team had been undefeated to that point. W.C.C had lost one. The division title was on the line. We ended up tying the meet! Amazing if you think just how many variables go into scoring (the team president said she had thought it statistically impossible.) The tie meant that we won the division title and all the kids were thrilled!

It was a totally fun night and everyone went home happy and looking forward to Counties & Conferences.