Flying

This summer we were hoping to go to San Diego but it didn't work out for the dates that worked for Brent so instead we planned a trip to Colorado.  Its always been on our wish lists to take the kids one day. And it was perfect.  The best vacation.

 Our vacation story actually starts the Sunday before we left.  Brent had gone to Redskins Training camp while Ant Ant took Colin on his much anticipated Christmas gift - rafting down the James river.  Colin said it was the best present ever.  She will have to try to top it for next year.

On the way home from Richmond they stopped at Busch Gardens to ride a few roller coasters.  And that's when Brents brand new iPhone flew out of his pocket.  And he keeps his drivers license in his phone case.  Two days before we get on an airplane to fly. He went to the DMV Monday morning and they gave him a piece of paper and said that would work....

Also that weekend we tried to renew Colin's inhaler.  He hasn't needed it all year but this summer has needed it a lot.  I looked at the expiration date and it was expired and wanted to make sure we had it for our Colorado vacation.  So we called the doctor and she wanted to see him since apparently it had been over a year since we had last been to her.  We had been going every 3 months and then went to twice a year and then yearly so she quickly got us in.

 And Colins numbers were way down so he needed to go back on a twice a day inhaler.  His numbers were in the high 80% but now they are around 60% and summer usually isn't a trigger for him so we are hoping to get his numbers back up.  He was so upset.  We went to fill that prescription and it was $230 a month! So we called the doctor to see if there was a cheaper one and she had us bring Colin in to teach him a new inhaler hours before we flew out.  That one is only $179 a month but its our only option so we are on that one for 6 months and then we will reevaluate.

 We got back from CHKD about 30 minutes before we had to head to the airport.  The kids were really excited to fly for the first time. Norah kept saying she got to fly at 7 and Colin had to wait until he was 13 to fly.

Brent had to be searched and patted down because he just had a piece of paper. And they had to search everything in the carry on.  That took forever. But eventually they let him through TSA

 Norah was so cute. Everything was exciting and fun and fascinating.  She just sat and played and colored the whole way.

 We had a layover in Orlando and tried to go to the food court but it took us out of the TSA area so Brent and to be searched again and this time much longer.

 The only downside to our flying - besides not knowing if they would let brent through was our second flight took us into Colorado Springs at 12pm - 2am our time.  That was rough and the kids never want to fly at night again. Joel was the only one who slept.

Swimming

Most of our summer is spent swimming.  We have afternoon practices which I like better than I thought.  We slept in and then went to a park, the zoo or ocean breeze with friends and then headed to swim practice.  Then by the time we get home its time for dinner and bed.  The kids all moved up into new age groups this year so we weren't sure how they would do. Norah ended up the highest point winner for her age group, Joel most improved.  Colin and Norah made Divisionals and then JOEL was asked to swim in the All Star relay because one boy was out of town and Joel was the next fastest boy.  Norah made All Stars too and Colin was a sad boy. He more than the others want to make All Stars but he was very encouraging to his brother and sister all week leading up to All Stars. It did help when we went to his pulmonologist a week ago and learned Colin's numbers have gone down from 80% to 60% and he needs to go back on a daily inhaler.  I joked that that was why he didn't make All Stars. His doctor used to be a swim coach and actually agreed with me and said that would've made a difference.  So next year will be his year we hope. 

 

 Joel insisted on wearing his swim shirt during the swim meets.  I had to talk him out of it for All Stars.  And he dropped 2 seconds without it.  He said kids would call him fat if he didn't wear it. His friends rallied around him and encouraged him and made sure no one called him fat.  It also helped that he had a friend Hudson sleep over that week and Hudson had told Joel he looked better without his shirt when they were going to bed.

 

 Owen on the left of Colin beat him every time this summer. Colin could always beat Owen in fly but Owen (even though hes 6 days younger than colin grew a lot this year) I tried to tell Colin that from the time he was 7 he just wanted to be able to beat Aaron - the boy to the right of him.  And now he can beat Aaron so he's gotten better.  Max,  the other boy, and Colin are usually right together and take turns outtouching each other at the finish.

 

 Colins first love is butterfly but he has made Divisionals almost every year in backstroke.  I keep telling him he's related to Hannah so of course back will come easy for him.  He looks effortless when he swims and remembers to keep his head back.

 Colin and Issac have been on the team together since they were in guppies.  In fact Issacs mom was Colins guppy coach.

 Anna on the left has always loved Norah and is usually the volunteer in the lanes Norah swims in.  One day during practice Norah got out crying and came over to me and said Anna keeps telling me I'm doing it all wrong!!!!!  It was the beginning of the season when they were teaching breastroke.  I told her Annas best stroke is breastroke so shes trying to help you learn it so you don't get disqualified.  She went back in and then swam it in the meet the next night and didn't get disqualified so she listened to Anna after that without complaining.

 I was at the Divisionals meeting where we picked the Divisionals team. Its the top 2 swimmers in each event.  And then the coaches told us the most improved kids but we didn't go over the highest point because that's never a question - its all printed out.  So I was SHOCKED when Norah got it. Theres a few 8 year old girls who swim year round but Norah never missed a meet so she got the highest points. Not too bad for moving up.

 Joel did improve his times.  One meet Mom and Dad, Sarah and Mary came to watch and they said Joel was just going slow in backstroke and taking his time.  Turns out he did drop time.

 The first time Norah was disqualified all summer was in Divisionals.  They had taught her the breastroke pullout that week and she thought she needed to do that same pull each stroke.  And then for the first time she got disqualified in butterfly.  They said she scissor kicked which she claims she didn't do (she kept her legs together like a mermaid) but it might've been once.  She was so upset.  And she would've made All Stars but there's always next year.

 Shes fast in her relays

 

It was a great season and we are already looking forward to next summer when they will all be at the top of their age groups.

Double Digit Getaway

 Joel has been trying to come up with what he wanted all year.  A weekend with just Mom and Dad and no siblings.  At first he didn't want to be in the car at all so he wanted to stay in town.  But when we went to Blacksburg a few weeks ago and went kayaking and paddleboating he remembered tubing on the New River a few years ago. So he declared he wanted to go back to Blacksburg a few weeks later for his double digit getaway.  So we drove up and dropped off Colin and Norah with Mama-maa and Grandpa and headed to the river.

When we were waiting in line for our inner tubes Joel said it felt weird to be without Colin and Norah.  He almost wasn't sure of what to do without them. He is so used to having to compromise or fight for exactly what he wanted that when it was just him we had to really get him to make a decision.  For the double digit getaway they get to choose what we do and where we eat and make all the decisions. Joel was so patient, agreeable, and easy going the entire weekend.  Poor middle child needs time away with just him.

We were looking at hotels to stay in Blacksburg and Mountain Lake Lodge worked with our credit card points so I campaigned to stay there.  Joel wanted to go tubing and do some small hikes so Mountain Lake Lodge was perfect to stay at.

One day we hope the lake will fill up again and where Joel is standing will be all water. It was a massive lake when it was completely filled.  Joel loved doing the hike around the lake because the last time we did it a bunch of trees were down and covering the tail. This time it was clear and the rhododendron were blooming.

We had Joel take a bath to wash the river water off before bed.  He turned on the jets and was overjoyed at all the bubbles that the jets made.  He eventually drained the water and just played in the mountain of bubbles.

We spent the rest of the weekend walking the trails and swimming in the pool.  A lunch at Macados and then we were back to Mama-ma and Grandpas house to get Colin and Norah.

Its always fun and greatly needed to spend time with each kid one on one.  And 10 year olds are pretty special.  Such a great time with our Joel.

(Norah has 3 years until her double digit getaway.....she has her heart set on Hawaii! ha! that would be fun but our rules are within driving distance for a weekend)