Swim Across America

This was Emily's fourth year raising money for cancer research and patients with Swim Across America and we couldn't be more proud of her!

You can read about her previous swims here.

And check out her fundraising page here.

I let our summer schedule get in full swing before I looked to find a swim in our area and get her signed up. When I checked the website I was shocked to see they were all in about a week or so - not enough time to raise money! I called the organizers from our old swim team and they said they would be happy to have Emily join their swim.

The good thing about that is it gave us more time to fund raise - the bad thing is that their swim starts at 6:30am and is 30 minutes away. Man, have we ever worked ourselves into a "summer" schedule. My kids have been going to bed so, so late and then we have all been sleeping later in the mornings. Only the fact that they have to be at the pool for swim team practice at 8:30am has us dragging ourselves up somewhere around 8, wolfing down breakfast and racing up to the pool.

Getting up so early on Saturday was tough - and creeping into their rooms and waking them felt so mean, especially little Em who had such a job ahead of her.

Here she is once we arrived at the pool and got her signed in.

Even that early in the morning she is still smiling. I love this kid!

I was a little bummed that our "number streak" ended. Her first year she was #4, the second she coincidentally was #14, so last year we asked to be signed in as #24 ... this year they already had her listed as #17 when we arrived. Oh well.

She likes to use the time as an extra practice and mixes up her strokes.

 Jacob & Jane entertained themselves while she swam.

It was really hot and humid, I am surprised they didn't "accidentally" fall in.

 

She saves 'fly until the end few, so she doesn't tire out too much.

Still smiling at the end.

72 laps - not a bad way to start your morning!

Guess who "wanted in" on the picture?

So we let the goofballs get one too. (They really are proud of her.)

And so are we.

Where Have You Been All My Life?

A few years ago my friend Melissa raved to me about the Sargent Steam machine & it's amazing abilities. I was fascinated because I LOVE a good cleaning product. However, it was expensive, so I didn't really give it that much more thought.

Over the past few years the benefits of steam cleaning have become more widely known and several steam cleaners have come on the market. My washer & dryer clean with steam, the dishwasher sanitizes with steam ....

As we were building the new house the comment I most often heard was "How are you going to clean it?" I wondered myself. In our last house we had 1 full bathroom & 2 1/2 baths. Here we have FOUR full bathrooms and FOUR half baths. Also lots of wood floors, marble and other things that are "delicate" to clean. Then I remembered the steam cleaner. I looked into it & did some research and decided it was the answer to keeping up with cleaning the house.

I ordered one and it came 2 days before Christmas. With moving and unpacking I hadn't had a chance to use it but today I watched the instructional DVD and started to use it. I am already totally IN LOVE.

I started by cleaning Rick's grubby slides that we keep by the door to run the dog out or take out garbage and recycling. They had grass satins and dirt all over them and I figured if I did something wrong and melted them they were more dispensable than my wood floors!

Within seconds they looked brand new! I could NOT believe how easy it was and wished I had taken a "before" photo! Then I cleaned the mudroom bathroom, floor and cubbies. WOW did I get a lot of dirt up. It was very easy and efficient and I got lots of bits of "construction" stuff like drops of glue, splatters of paint, spills of caulk, etc off the floor. The part that made me the happiest? Not only was it clean - it was SANITIZED. The steam is 298 degrees, so sanitized instantly. It's like autoclaving your house!  Also, the only "product" I used to clean was water - so no chemicals hurting the earth and no chemicals left for my kids to come into contact with.

I was getting such a kick out of using it I barely wanted to stop cleaning and go get showered so we could meet friends for dinner! Seriously, this and a powerful vacuum is all I'm ever going to need to keep this place clean. I am sure I will use it everyday. Definitely my new favorite toy!

Swim Across America

When we first heard about Swim Across America it seemed a perfect fit for us. We all love to swim and cancer took Rick's Mom back in 2007. Emily is really the only one who can swim a mile - but we plan on more family members joining her in the future!

Today she participated in Swim Across America for the third year.

Here she is after her first swim in 2009.

2010

and getting ready for the 2011 swim.

When I was looking at old photo's from her past swims we realized that she had been number 4 her first year and number 14 her second year, so we were stoked that she could be number 24 for this year!

After she was all signed in she got on her cap & goggles ready to hit the pool! It was a little overcast & chilly but I knew she'd warm right up as soon as she got going.

One down, 71 more to go ....

She mixed it up doing some freestyle, some butterfly, some backstroke some breaststroke. She still has swim competitions this coming week so it made for a good workout!

 72 laps - still smiling!

I did it!

 Mom!  I'm so tired, please stop taking pictures of me.

Then she got to sign the banner. Emily always dedicates her swim to her Grandma & signs the banner to her.

 

Oh, how I love this girl

A picture with Aidan, one of her good friends who also swam today.

We're so proud of Emily & know Grandma is too!

Lacrosse

 I met with each of the kids at the beginning of the year to help them write their goals. Emily said for one of her physical goals she wanted to play lacrosse and I was a bit surprised. Lacrosse is big on the East Coast but I'd never seen it played, or knew anyone who played or even the rules - but who am I to discourage one of my kids goals? We wrote it down.

One very cold & snowy night in January I headed out to the town hall to sign her up. They couldn't tell me what the game or practice schedule would be and I was worried it would conflict with her 4 times per week of swim team practice (it has) but figured we'd worry about that when we got to it ...

We bought all her equipment and sent in the form for her uniform size and on March 2nd they started practicing. It was still very, very cold - especially up on some of the high fields. They played with leggings under their skirts, under armour & sweatshirts under their shirts!

Their first game was April 16th. My teeth chattered as I sat huddled in a blanket watching. Seriously
(Emily is #10)

They played hard and learned a lot from that game.

But they lost.

During half time Emily had told me that her coach had told her to "mark" number 3 from the other team. He had said "If she gets a drink of water, you get a drink of water. If she goes to the bathroom, you go to the bathroom!" On our way home in the car she told me that he had been to watch the opposing teams game the night before to scout their players & see how they played. He knew Emily was fast and put her against their fastest player.

'Man" I though to myself " this coach is going to be a little too intense for me! Really, these girls are 10 years old - they are 3rd & 4th graders, many of whom have never played before."

Boy was I ever WRONG!

Coach Joe has been out of this world fantastic! He is serious. He works them hard. He expects 110% every practice and every game and Emily HAS EATEN IT UP! If you've ever seen her play soccer or swim you know she is an amazing athlete. She is sooo super sweet & gentle and actually pretty shy in her "regular" life but she is very competitive when she gets into sports! I LOVE IT!

I think it is so good for her to have that arena to express that side of herself. I see her get that look of focus and concentration on her face. I see the determination. She is physically in great shape and has great stamina but it's her dedication to the team and game and her desire to win that really makes her do well. Her whole team has been like that - they never give up. It has been wonderful to see.

They haven't lost a game since that first one!

 

I really am so appreciative of her coach. Aside from the sheer time commitment - practice 3 times per week in March then twice a week in April, plus games (often 2 of those per week)) he sends them video clips to watch and always sends a game recap e-mail full of praise and individually naming each girl and what she did well during the game.

He plans strategy with them and really teaches them to play well - not just learn the fundamentals. He calls out to them during the game and uses their code words to instruct them which plays to use.

They listen to him and follow his direction. It's really great to see.

So the last game is on Thursday and I will be sad to see it end. I have become quite the lacrosse junkie (despite still not understanding the rules). It is such a fun and fast paced game to watch. I have to admit, watching my little Emily makes it a million times better.

Watch this sequence and you'll see what I mean -

She scoops the ball (as the goalie tosses it back out).

She's got it in her cradle, and has to prevent it from falling out (not easy to do.)

Two opposing team members bring their defense up against her.

Seriously, check out their sticks. They are crossed in front of her - pretty intimidating!

She just charges through them.

Look how close that other stick is to her head! But she still has the ball!

She makes the break and runs for it.

Still dodging the opposition.

She's fast. Once she gets out ahead they can't catch her.

The ball has to be passed 3 times before they can shoot - so she gets it down the field and passes on to a team mate, who passes it again & they score. LOVE IT! Seriously, it's really an exciting game.

One of my favorites things was at the end of each game when they lined up & passed the other team & tapped their sticks together and said "good game."

Then they would loop around & make a tunnel for them to all go through.

Playing lacrosse has been really fun for both Em & I this spring and she'll definitely play next season. Over the summer she's going to 3 days of lacrosse camp and we also gave her a challenge for her summer goals; throwing and catching without dropping the ball into the re-bounder. She has different levels (5 times without dropping, 10 times without dropping, 25 times without dropping. 10 times using your left hand, etc) and can earn money for each level. She loves earning money & is a good saver AND she loves lacrosse so I'd better get my wallet ready!