Last chance meet

This weekend was the kids' last chance to make it to the club swimming state meet in some events.  Each one got on top of the podium and they all got a few more state cuts.  A happy crew of swimmers makes a happy mom and coach:) I had never realized it before, but I think this was Kellen's first first place.  He said to me, "It feels so good to be on the top" so sweetly that it broke my heart.  He has a really fast group of boys that he swims with, so he is usually in third,  but he just turned it on this weekend.  I am so proud of him.  Here he is with his best friend, Micah.

Proud of himself (and just a little cocky-had to wipe THAT off his face)!

 Yup-it was a tie!

 Skylar and her man.

 Skylar's boys.

Disaster!

We came home from meat weekend to several calls from the utility companies up at our lakehouse.  So JT drove up there to check things out and it was a total disaster.  It looks like the water heater exploded and water got all over the all wood house.  Not good.  It has to be gutted.

 After.

Meat Weekend 2018

Every year we head to Midland, MI to visit Lovisa and Andreas to make sausages for the year.  It's gotten to the point where the boys do all the work and the girls talk, drink cocktails, play games, and if an emergency pops up, we solve that.  We do help with clean up ;) We have given ourselves the title of emergency procurement specialists.  There has been an emergency every year in the past, but this year we had very little work to do.  The boys also turned out their best sausages ever this year! 

 Kellen gets to come along every year because Alex LOVES Kellen and they keep each other busy all weekend.

Tri-state Championships 2018

It's really hard for me to get pictures of the kids swimming because I am the crazy coach on the side of the pool jumping up and down screaming (with joy) for the kids to go.  I also have a really loud whistle.  I get a lot of compliments on my whistle.  I also get a lot of complaints about the whistle.  What's a girl to do? Anyway, I can get photos of the kids on the award stand.  Everyone made the podium this year, so we were happy.  This is the year where we are all at the bottom of the age group, so it's a tougher year for the kids.  They were all happy with out they swam though!!  Charlotta really wanted a medal at her last meet of the year and she got one!

 Brennen LOVES the top! 

 

Tri-State is a sprint meet, so not really Skylar's forte.  But she medaled in the 200 Free which made her really happy.

Brennen is such a happy, goofy kid!

A girl and her dog

These two love each other so much.

Mama gets her Ironman tattoo

It's a tradition in the triathlon world that when you complete the Iron distance race, you get a tattoo.  Well, we flew up to Chicago for the weekend and I finally got that done.  I really love how it turned out!

Marilyn meets Michael Phelps

Marilyn and Jim always go to the Barrett Jackson car show.  This year they were in a box where Michael Phelps (super big deal to any swimmer!) walks in.  And she gets his autograph for Skylar and a selfie! She said he was so nice-I love hearing that!!!

One last box of presents!

 We always love our box of presents from the Swedes.  The girls were especially happy this year!  Lotta was really hoping for Pippi (that's her nickname) socks, but "This is so much better!"

 Skylar's gift brought me back to my childhood.  I always loved our singing angels.

 

It was such a beautiful day, that I got to take my bike out for it's first test ride.  Love it!