Wildlife Viewing Area: July = Swim, swim, and more swim

Well, it appears that we are officially a swim family. July was spent at more swim meets than I care to remember, but all resulted in great swims for the kids. Between that and the olympics, our kids are more determined and motivated than ever to give it their all.

So, July was one swim meet after another. Thursday nights were our fun summer league team, weekends were our competitive team.

First our fun league. It's what started all this to begin with anyway. We have been swimming with this team every summer since '05, with the exception of one year when we took a break. It culminates with a big city championship meet at the end of July. For all of those summers, my kids have watched other kids (mostly year round swimmers) receive one of the coveted high point winner trophies. We just weren't in that league yet, although they each would place well in separate individual events and come home with ribbons and medals. This year, after a year of long hard work, it finally paid off. Sara Beth came home with 2nd runner up and Jake came home with 5th runner up. So proud of these kids and their persistence. Katie came home with 4 medals (which are awarded 1st-7th place, 8th-16th get ribbons), sad she didn't get any ribbons and suprisingly sad she didn't get a trophy. We told her if she kept working, it would pay off, and that her siblings didn't get one when they were 8 either. It doesn't help that the competition is broader at that age as well. She was none the less happy for Jake and Sara Beth and has her eye already on next summer.

For our competitve league, the long course season (50 meter length pool) culminates with a regional championship in July. There are qualifying times required to go, so it gives the kids a goal to work towards, besides just bettering their time. Well throughout long course season, we could see that this was in reach for Sara Beth and Jake. (Katie is a little young yet). Jake was so determined, that at the end of June he made a cut for his 100 breast. He was so excited. Problems came in when the championship meet was the same week as our church youth group mission trip and he had been looking forward to this trip for several years. The meet was also a big trip with plenty of expenses. A tough decision. He decided that if he could make another cut or if Sara Beth made a cut that he wanted to go. We were fine with that. At a meet in early July, he made his cut in the 50 breast. Whoo, whoo- championship meet here we come. Sara Beth, not to be out done by Jake, started working so hard, pushing herself. The Friday before the championship meet, she had one more chance. And she did it- she made a cut in the 100 breast. (For me watching it, was so terribly nerve wracking. David said it looked like I was about to throw up). And as a special bonus, the coaches put together a cute little relay team of 8 yr old girls (siblings of some of the older swimmers) so Katie also got to swim in the championship meet.

Fun facts:

- Our team is made up of great kids and parents.

- Out of town meets are a blast (and also expensive :) )
- Our kids got really motivated to come home and work harder

- They got to swim in the same pool where the Olympians were training a week earlier - way cool
- We are glad that we are on break at the moment. :)