Cal's first swim meet

This weekend, Cal had his first swim meet-- he has had plenty through summer swim, but this was his first with his new year-round team. 

It was Saturday morning and at NCSU in Raleigh, so we headed there nice and early to watch our buddy swim! Eddie was out of town, so I had to drag Andy with me- I was dreading entertaining him the whole time, but he really did well for the most part! (we had another really bad week with his tummy last week--UGH-- so he was in the middle of yet another massive clean out at the swim meet, which is awesome.....thankfully he got most of it out Friday night, so Saturday wasn't too too bad for him)

It was an intrasquad meet, so all of the YOTA swim team was there-- basically about 80 8 and under boys....there were a LOT of swimmers! They decided to not swim freestyle, which I was sort of bummed about, but every swimmer did every other stroke... and it was a LONG meet.  We arrived at 9 and we walked back into our house at 4.

Cal did SO well and I was really proud of him! One major difference in these meets is that there is VERY little parental involvement.  The kids have their events written on their arms and it is up to them to get to the right place at the right time.  I was stressed.  Cal was not.

He did great in all three strokes and dropped quite a bit of time from the championship swim meet.  I was nervous for him swimming butterfly because he never really loved it during the summer and then had a hard time during a meet once, so he wasn't excited to do it-- but he did it beautifully!

Okay so pics:

Thankfully, Cal's buddy is on the team with him, so they stuck together through the meet and helped each other keep track of everything- which was scary, haha! I had fun sitting with his parents too.

They were taking it all in-- it was a bit overwhelming, I will be honest.  I was nervous, so I am sure they were too. 

YOTA caps on and they were ready to leave their parents....!

Cal's cheering section (yes, that is a huge gash on Nug's nose.  We can only hope for school pictures while it is nice and bloody....)

 The big arena:

Getting ready to warm up:

There he is in the camo! Still during warm up....

 And this is pretty cool! This is Ryan Held who was on the Olympic gold medal relay team with Michael Phelps.... pretty sweet! He was a swimmer at State so he was at this meet-- he was timing Cal's lane for fly and when he got out, he high fived him and said he did a great job.  Means a lot coming from him! ha!

 And two videos-- you really don't need to watch these.. I just have to document this on here.  (if they even load....)

The first swim meet is under our belts! We are looking forward to the season!
Take aways from this meet:
-I do not do well not being on the pool deck....I am not good at sitting in the stands.
-Swim meets are long
-and very very hot
-and long
-people at these big wig meets don't yell like I do.... I was seriously like the only person screaming... didn't stop me.  Just saying. 

 

First Golf Match (and book info)

Quick side note: I updated my "books" page this week-- it isn't fully done, but it is a little better than it was before...still a work in progress.  I have had three people ask me in the last week for book recommendations so that is super fun...and nerdy! You can find it here. I have read several new books so it's about time for a book report on here.  Class Mom was freaking hilarious.  Just FYI. 


Okay, so GOLF!

I mentioned before the boys have started a golf program where there are clinics during the week and then matches-- well we had our first match this Sunday! I was on an airplane heading back from Napa so I missed the match :( but I got a text from Eddie as soon as I landed letting me know how they did!
(it should be noted they are playing from 25 yards from the hole.  Once they make par, they back up to 50 yards from the hole, and then once par is made, they back up again and so on and on....)

They LOVED it.  Had the best best time.  Apparently, Andy started out not caring much about what was happening, but once he caught on, he turned it on and got it going.  Cal knew right away what was happening and tried his hardest from start to finish. 

It was a par 36 and Cal shot a 32-- four under par! He was PUMPED. 

Andy shot a 44, which is still great for his first golf match! Eddie thinks if he had tried harder earlier he would have shot even lower.  Next time, maybe!!

I made Eddie take me back up there once I landed so I could go see this for myself (hahahaha).  I had to document this,  right?!?!

We are all pumped for the next match.  Cal will be playing from 50 yards out, so that will be an added challenge.  He is beyond excited.  I am proud of the boys for taking on a new sport like this- they are eager to play play play!



 

A Girl's Trip Away

A little time away is good for the soul, isn't it? After a few hectic, stressful weeks, I was so glad I had this trip to look forward to. A sweet friend of mine celebrated her 40th birthday and invited a group of girls to join her on a trip to Napa.  At first, I wasn't going to go; how in the world would I be able to swing that?? But then the pieces fell into place much easier than I anticipated and next thing I knew, it was time to board the plane!

Ali and I were on the same flight; the rest of the girls were landing a bit after us. We landed and took an uber to our hotel where we dropped our bags and headed out exploring!

 I had never been to San Fransisco before, so I really wanted to visit the piers- thankfully, Ali agreed to humor me.  It was gorgeous out there!

 We took the street cars wherever we wanted to go, which was a total adventure in itself and so much fun. 

 Soon the rest of the group arrived and we headed out for a little shopping in the city.  The ladies at Tory Burch broke out the champagne for us when we walked in-- I wasn't hating it!

We went to a Warriors store-- I sent this to Eddie to show Andy.  I am sure he was blown away by how real this looks.  Or not.  

We went out to a yummy dinner that night with the most food ever- holy cow.  

The next day, we loaded the rental cars and headed to Napa! We quickly dropped our bags at the house and then headed to our first tasting, which was at Rare Cat-- and I think it was one of my favorite stops of the trip. 

 We sat in a restored garage-- this was my view looking out.  How incredible??

 Taking a stroll through the vineyards after the tasting....

The whole group during the tasting....

 I swear, the skies looked fake, they were so beautiful. 

 We left there and went to a tasting room that was in downtown Napa.  The wine was fine, but we didn't love the experience-- we did love the company, however!

After that, we walked around a bit before dinner downtown.  It was a full day and we were worn out after we ate.  

The next day, our driver picked us up at 9am, so we were up and at it, ready for our three tastings that were scheduled! 

 First stop was Alpha Omega, and how beautiful were the skies there??? Carolina blue!

 We were given a fairly in depth tour of the wine making, which was very fascinating-- I learned a lot!

 The group outside Alpha Omega:

 Enjoying our tasting!

 Our second stop was at the top of a mountain with the most amazing views-- truly breath taking. 

 Our wine guide has us hold the grapes on our tongues for a bit-- of course I can't do that seriously. 

 I mean, the views, y'all! With the adorable birthday girl!

 i was very smile-y during this trip.  Clearly. 

 The whole group at Amizetti (this was my favorite stop, next to rare cat)

We then winded down the mountain to our final stop of the day, Frisinger.  This location was beautiful.

 They had a little table/outside area where we did the tasting, overlooking this view:

 inside the little room-- pretty spectacular. 

 The whole group at Frisinger. 

That night, we had dinner back at the house-- we hired a chef to come in and prepare dinner-- it was AMAZING.  Holy yum.  I looked over at Ali during dinner to see her cheeks were bright red-- love her face in this one. 

This was SUCH a fun night.  We all went to bed with sore bellys from laughing so hard.  My kind of night!

 The next day, we were picked up early and set out on another day of wine tasting! We arrived at Padis and took in the views. 

 This place had a cave, where we did our tasting.  Pretty cool experience. 

 Up on the balcony at Padis....

 and in the vineyard....

The three of us sat in the wayyyy back of the 12 person van...

 Our next stop was Aequitus.... LOVED this tasting!!!! The wine was delicious and the olive oil was to die for.  Came home with some of both!

 When the Carolina game is on but you've got wine to drink.....

 This one.... she cracks me up.... this made me laugh SO hard. 

 Group shot at Aequitus:

We finished the day with a stop at Ackland, which was in town, and felt a little odd to be tasting in a house instead of at a vineyard, but it was still very nice. 

 We stumbled into a room with some sweet hats.... only to find out they were from the Titanic.  #notthemovie. #theactualboat #whoops

The tasting was good, but I was having a mega hotflash the whole time, so I was anxious to get out in the breeze #oldlady

 One more piggy back pic, just because.

 And the group shot from Ackland house:

We headed back to the house and quickly poured more wine! We laughed hysterically at this line up:

 Mine was on the left, Kris's on the right, and then Ali's in the middle.  Our glasses matched our real life sizes! (see below)

 Love these two!

 We went to bed somewhat early because the alarm went off at 4 for me and Ali to head to the airport (and Erica too, but she was on a different flight home).

 We got to watch the most gorgeous sunrise--

And then we flew home!

It was such a great trip and one I will think of often! I am by no means a wine snob...but this upped my interest in wine quite a bit.  I vow to no longer buy the $8 chardonnay.  I mean, I might.  But I won't enjoy it nearly as much.