*C H A M P S*

This Saturday was the championship swim meet for the Chapel Hill Summer swim league.  This meet is a big deal.  There are 8 teams (I think), each team has roughly 100 swimmers on it.  The meet is held in Koury natatorium, which is always so neat.

The morning starts EARLY...holy moly.  My alarm went off at 5:40 to get everyone dressed and out of the house by 6 (didn't happen...we didn't leave until after 6...we were like crazy people).

Here are the boys in the parking lot about to go into champs! Not looking too too too tired!

They warmed up and then sat in our spot waiting for the meet to start.  Gotta love these 6 and under boys!

The relays went first and Cal was on the free style relay (each team only gets to send one relay team).  It was...INTENSE.  Like, big time.  I am not sure I have ever screamed so much in my life.  And, lucky for you, I have it all on video....HERE


These four boys ended up pulling off a BIG FAT WIN! I couldn't believe it.  They placed FIRST in their heat and in the entire city! I was screaming and jumping up and down- as evidenced in the video.

Next up was 25 free.  There are a LOT of really strong swimmers in this category so I wasn't sure how everyone would do.

Andy went first...

and I will tell you how he did:

 He won his heat! I could NOT believe it. I think he dropped like 4 seconds or something crazy like that.  Again, I was screaming like a fool.  Here is his video...


We got a picture of Charlie and Andy with their ribbons-- happy boys!

 I will spare you Cal's video of his free. He did really well-- and ended up placing 4th overall in all of the 6 and under boys...!

Here are two of my favorite 6 and under boys...

Cal and Andy both swam great in backstroke and Cal got to swim breast stroke too.

It was a crazy morning, and it was all over by 11!

This meet can be totally overwhelming- especially for 6 and unders.  I knew Cal would be fine since he has done this before (link to last year's post below), but I was really unsure about Andy.  There's just no telling what you will get with him... but he woke up excited and READY TO GO!

Our team placed third over all and that is fantastic for us! We are a small team, but boy, are we mighty! I can't believe another swim season has come to an end... However, Cal has informed us he wants to swim year round now. I don't know if I have it in me.  Have you SEEN (listened to...!) the video above?!?! I am out of control. 

I love these sweet Sharks and can't wait to cheer them on in future meets!

Read last year's champs post HERE.


 

Life Lately

Finding the time to post has been a challenge lately! When we are home, the kids want to be going somewhere and doing something constantly... then we are running to swim team practice and then on errands. 

Here's a look at life lately!

We spent some quality time at the pool Saturday afternoon.  We worked on the house a TON on Saturday and we were sweaty and gross and probably pretty stinky.  Andy wanted to crawl up in my lap for some snuggles.  Happy to oblige!

 That night, he insisted on styling his hair before going to bed.  I had to creep in to take a picture of him asleep with his hair all big and UP. 

 Bright and early the next morning, I was lucky enough to have these two to snuggle with me!

 We went to church Sunday morning and I am so so glad we did! We haven't been in what feels like forever so it was great to get up and go. 

These two sat in big church with us and they did GREAT! They had communion and they walked up front and took it with us-- I was a proud momma!

 Huge shout out to the lady who offered to take our family's picture after the service.  It's always awkward having a picture taken like this, but I am always so so glad when we do.  It isn't often they are dressed in "real" clothes and we are all together, somewhat smiling. 

 After church, we had a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese.... Andy hit the jackpot on some game and got a bunch of tickets. 

 These two cuties have so much fun together... love them!

Cal beat the high score on this basketball game and he was suuuuper excited! hahaha

Lately, I have been taking the dogs on walks in the morning.  It just gets too stinking hot to take them later in the day so we get up and go and the boys usually follow on some sort of device.  On this day, they were ahead on their bikes.  

Cal has been BEGGING for sunglasses lately.  Talks about them nonstop.  I had to go to CVS to pick up a few things and he spotted a pair and I finally caved and bought them each a pair.  They were pumped! (Andy's glasses are crooked on purpose-- he was wearing one arm of the glasses over his ear....because....well, Andy.)

Later, he enjoyed lunch, glasses still on....

 and then a little iPad time....glasses still on.......

We constantly have neighbors popping in and out at our house, and the ones across the street stopped by and I caught Cal and the little girl reading a book together-- pretty sweet if you ask me!

 I went out Monday night for a MUCH needed girls dinner out and when I came home, Hank wasn't feeling well... not sure what was up with him, but he wasn't acting himself.  Some snuggles from me and he was back to good by morning. 

 This kid.........

 My mom found this really cool shark bookshelf thing from pottery barn and got it for Cal's room-- clearly he loves it! We were going to put it in another spot, but he said he really wanted it above his bed, so we gave him what he wanted! He has since filled this thing up with ribbons and books and stuffed animals.... more pictures to come of his whole room. 

 more scooter riding!

 Bruce went on a second walk one day and it was all he needed to take a big ol nap!

We've been doing a little "homework" time each day just to keep them up on their skills for school.  They actually ask me for it each day so I roll with it.  I also need it for some structure-- and having 15 minutes of them working on something quietly is a God send for me.  

Bruce has gotten a LOT of snuggles-- especially from Andy!

 Both dogs at the window watching us pull away on Wednesday morning. 

Homework time again! Love this sight.  Cal is working on addition and Andy is working on lower case letters.  

Where's Bruce?!

And that's a look at life lately!!!!


 

SHARKAPALOOZA! and a movie too

Our swim season is almost over (phew!) and we have really really loved it once again.  People comment on it being such a big time commitment, but it is a fun commitment! And how great for the kids to become such strong swimmers...it's win/win!

As the season winds down, the team holds Sharkapalooza where we sell goods to raise money to donate to various charities.  It is loads of fun. 

I made these cupcakes with fish toppers (I am so not Martha....sigh.....). 

 Next year I want to make something better.... start thinking of ideas for me.  hahaha tag me on pinterest!

This treat was a big hit with my boys:

 A skewer with marshmallows, watermelon fruit candies, peach rings and a tootsie pop at the top.  FANCY!

You can buy raffle tickets in order to win the chance to throw a pie in the face of coaches.  These sweet coaches are such great sports.  

 They all got pretty covered... and then a massive pie fight broke out (shaving cream)...

 The coaches came after the kids seeking revenge. 

 Covered and smothered.

 Crazy sharks!

 One of the raffle tickets we could buy was for the coaches to take the kids to the moves.  Andy told me he HAD to go... so I bought several tickets for him and he won it! Cal didn't win it, but after he found out his friends were going, he had me ask the coaches if he could tag along too. 

These three coaches had their hands full seeing Secret Life of Pets!

 We went to dinner and when we came back, we found out the kids didn't care for the movie very much... apparently, one dog reminded Cal of Hank and when he got lost/hurt (??) it really upset him.... hmmmm who knows....
but I do know they had a BLAST in the lobby playing and running around.  This was Andy and Lee at pickup-- all laughs...

Crazy goofy friends! Love them and love their laughter!