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.

Last Sunday

Since we decided to move last November I have been really aware of our "lasts" and tried to soak them in. Our last Halloween parade, last Thanksgiving in our dining room, last time putting Christmas lights in the big tree, last time watching the ball drop on the TV in our basement, last time mulching my flowers beds (my pride and joy). It has been wonderful to have almost a full year to know we are leaving and try to really enjoy every minute of the things we love about living here, I can hardly believe we are now down to the last Friday, Saturday, Sunday .....

This week might be a bit emotional for me.

I set alarm early to get up and do my bike. With all the packing and swim meets and getting ready to move I have not been at all diligent about exercising myself. I got up & turned it off (thinking "5 more mins") and woke up at 8:20am. Yikes! We all raced to get ready and were only a few minutes late to church - getting there during the opening hymn. Hopefully this will be the last time we are late to church? Probably not!

We saw a family who had moved two years earlier and were in town visiting. That will be something I really will miss - seeing friends who have moved away and come back for a visit. Rebekah bore her testimony, which was very sweet. They sang to Emily, Jacob & Jane in primary & the singing time leader let them pick their favorite games to play during singing time.

When we got home I tired to get organized a bit but it's hard when there are boxes everywhere and shingle sample boards for the new house in the pile in the living room!

Our friends the Taylor's invited us for dinner. We will really miss this family, they are awesome. I guess the best thing about only moving 30 minutes away is that we will still be able to see most of our friends, even if it is not as often.

The swim team awards dinner was that night but I decided not to go. Even though it is on a Sunday, we typically have gone. With moving and everything going on, I decided not to go this year. It's always long (giving out lots of awards) and i just didn't feel up for a late night with the kids. I didn't send the team president an e-mail sating we wouldn't make it, given we were moving 5 days later but she said she didn't see the e-mail until after the dinner - or she would have given us a heads up to attend. Why? Because Emily won the high scoring award for 10 & under girls and the Presidents Award was given to our family for all we have done to contribute to the team (the kids swimming on the team and Swim Across America.) Sheesh, I feel kind of lame that we didn't go.

Rick is headed to Philadelphia tomorrow and this is going to be a pretty hectic week for me home alone with the kids with a few more swim meets and getting ready to move. I debated about staying up late and getting stuff done but decided to just try and get one last good night of sleep in preparation for the next 5 days.

Last Saturday

Today marks the start of our last week in our house. Each day we will be able to say "This is our last ______"

At this point, with the mess and piles of boxes, not buying any real food because I want to use up what we have and all the trips I am making to Connecticut for the building of the house - I just want to get it over with and be moved already!

I do know that as soon as we are settled, I'll miss it here - so I am trying to soak in the things I have loved about our house and our neighborhood as we go through our last week here.

After Swim Across America we came home to get some stuff I had to mail, and tile samples, etc. We left the 2 big girls to their own devices & took J&J. Jane was still repeating "I don't want to go look at tiles!" as we put her in the car. Sorry kiddos, today is just about getting things done!

We bought Rio for the iPad and they watched it on the way up. Thank goodness for technology and the boredom killer it is.

We first went to the granite place to look at a choice for the kitchen counter tops & island. We like the one named "Tiberius" that will please my Dad! I want to consult with the kitchen designer before making a final decision, so brought a sample of that and a few others we liked home. Then, we were on to the tile place a 45 minute drive away, so stopped at Subway for lunch.

I liked the first store for their selection and the nice way it was organized but the builder told us another place was cheaper. I like this marble basket weave. I'm thinking of it in a gray in our guest powder room.

We went to the tile place the builder had recommended.  Rick describes it as "a beautiful tile store ... after an earthquake" It is a jumbled mess but they do seem to have everything - once you can find it. It's cheaper for the same tile, so worth figuring out! Jake entertained himself on the iPad. Jane just drove me crazy. We need two iPads.

Then we stopped by the house to give the builder a check. Before starting the building they scraped all the topsoil into a mountain and weeds have grown all over it. The kids think it is the BEST play area ever, and really needed blow off energy by the time we got there, so I was thankful for it.

The stonework is almost finished on the chimney's.

Rick at the far end of our backyard. (See the little blue figure in the woods?)

They started putting on the roof and it's fun to be able to get more of an idea of what it will look like when it is finished.

And the windows have been delivered.

The second best play area is the sand pile at the house. Who would have though that construction sights are so much fun??

It's great to be able to actually see rooms now and get a sense of flow from one room to another.

I love the dormer windows!

As we headed home it started raining. We got home and ordered pizza for dinner. Then it was baths & bed for everyone. I could barely keep my eyes open and fell asleep lying next to the kids. I only got up long enough to take out my contacts & put on pj's & get right back into bed.

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!

Counties - Day 4

The last day of counties.
Bittersweet to think that she will not swim here again, or participate in swimming on a New York team again.

"Game face."

Backstroke.

She swam well in backstroke but didn't place or get a personal best. I always tell her it's great that she even qualifies for these meets - and it is nice when she gets to win occasionally but we can't win them all!

It's tradition that they always go to the theme park next to the pool on the last day of counties. However, since they'd added the events from the first cancelled day, the meet didn't end until later than normal and only about 30 minutes before the park closed.

For the first time in 6 years, Emily's team did not win the county championship. The winners always get free entry into the park. We hurried over and tried to figure out the best way to buy tickets (seriously, I'm not paying full price for 30 minutes). I bought a cheap non-rider pass for us both so I could just pay per ride for Emily and we went in. Emily couldn't find her friend Aidan or their coaches - the jr coaches always go in and ride the rides with them. She did a few rides, we grabbed some fudge - she loves fudge - and we left. She was already pretty bummed they they hadn't won counties and then to not be able to have the traditional "after meet" fun that they always have was even more disappointing. I promised her we'd meet up with friends there again on a day when there was more time to play. It would have been nice to move away after a win, especially as the counties will not be held there anymore but probably a good life lesson for her. Even though I know it's a neccesary part of learning and growing it just sometimes breaks my heart to see them learn those "life lessons."