California, here I come!

 JT and I headed out to Mission Viejo, California for the US masters national championships.  I will not discuss how I swam (apparently, I can't swim backstroke outside), but I can tell you that I had a wonderful, awe-inspiring trip.  There were 1400 of the best masters swimmers from all over the country.  There were world record holders (yes, I saw a 95 year old woman set a world record in her age group--amazing!).  I was really shocked at how fast 60 year old men and women can swim.  It really inspired me to keep with competing for a life-time!  So on Thursday, I swam the 100 back and 200 free.  Friday, the 200 back and on Sunday, the 50 back and 400 free. 

 

 That means I had Saturday off.  JT planned quite a day for us!   First, a helicopter ride over to Catalina Island.  It was our first time in a helicopter and I was a little nervous at first, but it was great!

 

 Beautiful view of the Island coming in.

 We had to walk about a mile from our landing spot to where the fishing boat captain was going to pick us up.  It was a beautiful walk!

 Then we went off on a four hour fishing adventure!

 I caught the first fish of the day!

JT caught the rest...

 After fishing, we walked around the Island and had some lunch.

After one more day of better swimming on Sunday, we again got stranded in the Denver airport for a long time.  We did not get home until 3 in the morning!

Happy Birthday James!

We had to celebrate James a little early this year.  Since I qualified for Nationals in my swimming, JT and I were going to be gone on his actual day.  After sleeping in until 10:30, James finally wakes up for some breakfast doughnuts.

 

 Later, we head out to see The Smurfs in 3-D.  All the kids really loved that movie--especially Charlotta-because, you know, Gargamel is her boyfriend.  I don't know why she has this stuck in her head but she does.  She loves him!

 After the movie, we head over to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a little party.  (All of my furniture was moved so that the carpets could get cleaned while I am in California)

 Present opening is always the favorite!

 James giving a forced "thank you" hug.  Oh well, it made Kellen happy!

 A pissed off little girl because the presents were not for her!

 James tries to make her happy, but no luck.

James has been wanting an ipod forever, but I am not quite sure he is ready for one.  Skylar (always wanting to give exactly what the person wants) ended up getting him an ipod nano and I think you can see he was pleased!

 Finally time for cake!

Test driving the new fishing boat!

 Papa bought a new fishing boat and Brennen has fallen in love with fishing!  So, the two of them went out together for some fun:)

Kellen first triathlon!

Kellen has been waiting for this day SO long.  Ever since Skylar and James did the one at the beginning of the summer and he learned how to ride two-wheeler, Kellen has been wanting to do a triathlon.  The day has finally arrived!

 We have a family that we are really good friends with and we have kids all the same age.  They are also into swimming and triathlon, so we meet up with them often.  Here is Skylar with her best swimming friend, Macay (pronounced Ma-K).

 

And then here is Kellen with his friend and Macay's brother, Ethan.

  

Skylar racing on the bike.

 Kellen is in that mass of kids getting ready for the swim!

  

The finishers!

 And Kellen qualified for nationals in his age group!

The big reward?  Viking cheerleaders passing out the medals:)

Only one picture?

I went back to Nashville on Thursday to pick up Kellen.  I had to go with him to therapy all day on Friday and I learned a lot of strategies to help Kellen.  Hopefully, he will have a great year in SECOND grade!  Woo-hoo!  Right when we got back, we headed up to the lake and, of course, I forgot my camera.  So, I have one measly picture of Charlotta on the trampoline--she loved it though!

A very busy weekend!

Kellen and I left for Nashville on Saturday.  He is going to be staying in Nashville with Mormor, Lena and Byron because he is doing intensive language therapy (for his language disorder) for a week.  Then on Sunday, I flew up to Detroit to pick up Skylar and James from Michigan.  They met me at the airport and then we flew home via a loooooooonnnngggg stay in Denver.  While we waited and waited for our delayed flight, we went to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate factory and James had the biggest, best tasting peanut butter cup ever!

Back in Midland, Battered and Bat Boy/Girl

When Visa picked Skylar up from camp, she had a "sprained" finger from Tuesday at camp.  It was still black and blue and swollen so I had Visa take her in for an x-ray and, yup, it is broken.  The next day she pops out her wire from her braces and today she got a black eye from playing wiffle ball.  Oh well, everything is ok when she gets to be the bat girl for the Midland Loons!

 

James (slightly less battered) also gets to be a bat boy.  They are having so much fun, they are never going to want to come home to me:)