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Saturday, June 09, 2007

There is a new Kingfish
team name Kentlands Kingfish

Today was Annie Kate's first day of racing on the swim team. It was time trials to see where to place everyone for the first meet.

Two weeks ago we told her she was going to try out for the swim team. She has never had swim lessons or swam on a team but said OK. I don't think there is anyone who doesn't make the team but she was still real excited. For the past two weeks she has gone to practice and every day come home sore and exhausted.
I am really amazed because this is something I don't think I would have ever done as a kid. She is pretty fearless and seems willing to try most things. One of the first days of practice the little girls were still asleep for their naps and I realized there was no way she would get there on time even if I could get them up immediately. She said, "I will just get on my bike and ride down to the pool, I'll figure it out mom." Those words were music to my ears!
She really did great today. She swam Freestyle, Breast Stroke, Back Stroke and Butterfly. She won each of her heats and got second place over all for freestyle. She was disqualified for Butterfly and Breast stroke and said to me before she swam, "I have no idea what I am doing" I just giggled. Dang I was one proud mom today to see her just get out there and try! It will be fun to see her improve this summer.
One of the best scenes in the pool was Caroline at the other end after watching her sister. She would say "get ready, start, go" and then jump in just like her sister was in the team pool.

We spent the whole day at the pool and then all came home and napped. We are got lots of kisses from the sun, maybe a little too much.

This will be a whole new world for us actually have some commitments during the week and the weekends. We purposely have not signed the kids up for anything for a year, to get adjusted to moving here and having a little family time. It has been a great year, but I wonder how we will handle this new responsibility. I am afraid we will have to work harder to make time to see this great part of the country. So much to see, so little time!

123 photos of the day

26 comments:

Natasha said...

I'm super impressed! This is Griffin's 3rd year of swim lessons at level one and with Luci we had to resort to private swim lessons this year, in attempts to even get her to get her face wet. And she is 6!
I know what you mean about commitment to too many activities!

Sarah said...

Madison was so upset when she broke her arm because now she is missing a month of swimming. Marcus is still taking lessons, but I did discuss the swim team with Madison last time and she said she'd like to try it. She has a friend who is on the team. I'm crossing my fingers! (No cheerleaders please)

Michelle Alley said...

Great fun! The girls start there first lessons this July for a month. They will have to take it everyday - I'm hoping they like it! She looks like a perfect little swimmer to me. Congrats on a fun, relaxing day :-)

Elisa said...

oooh brings back memories of swimming on the Barracudas Swim Team. I almost always came in 5th or 6th place but it was still fun!

Way to go Annie Kate! I think it's hard to be the first one to try new things, it should be much easier for Caroline and Sally Jane.

Anonymous said...

Way to go Annie Kate! I'm so impressed. What a true talent she has for trying things when she has "no idea what she is doing". She will go far in life!

Anonymous said...

Great job Annie Kate!!!! Annie and Alex start swim team next week! We hope to find a time to go swimming with you again this summer!!!!

Anonymous said...

The picture of Caroline is priceless! It will be fun to see all the progress AK makes this summer on a team. Way to go AK!

Mandy said...

great swimming pics! Caroline mimicking Annie Kate is so cute to me!

Anne said...

Way to go Annie Kate on the swimming. How impressive that she got second place overall after only two weeks of practice! Love the pictures of your little fish. They're so cute!!

I'm supposed to crosstrain as part of my marathon training and they say that swimming is a good activity. Unfortunately I think doggie paddling won't quite cut it, which is pretty much the extent of my swimming abilities. Maybe Annie Kate can teach me how to swim freestyle? ;)

Amie said...

I love Annie Kate's attitude. It makes me happy when kidsare willing to try and just have a good time (the whining and don't want to do anything make me crazy).

It looks like she did a great job, very cute pictures. She also looks like she has been swimming for years!!!

Adam Buchanan said...

that is funny about dave matthews...give him my email address and phone number next time you run into him, oh and when helen hunt drops in let her know im a fan. yeah thats great thanks.

podcast dude! oh man they are so cool, its like broadcasting a personal radio feed on itunes...

Buffy said...

That's impressive. I love her attitude. Way to go Annie Kate. She looks like she has been swimming for years. I hope you all have a great time at the pool this year. Sounds like fun!

Amanda :-) said...

Bless her heart. Being part of a team, and dedicating herself to a regime like that, will bring her on in leaps and bounds (and splashes) in terms of her maturity. Good for AK!

Rachel said...

What a girl! Some adorable pictures! There are definitely upsodes and downsides to commitments in the summer!

Liz said...

Very impressive! She looks so cute with her goggles and cap! Sounds like the beginnings of a fun adventure!

Encore Dance said...

Iloved the swim team as a kid!! I was pretty good and if I wasn't so obsessed with dancing I think it would have my thing. I hope she keeps it up, I could never master butterfly.

Jill said...

How in the world did she go from not having any lessons to being on the swim team? I feel like my kids are just glorified doggie paddlers.

It's wonderful that she is fearless and self-confident, that will serve her well throughout her life.

Kari Lynne said...

That is so exciting. I was on the swim team in middle school and would have been in HS except it conflicted with volleyball. I'm so proud of Annie Kate for doing that. I hope she loves it. It's a great sport and great way to spend the summer. You go girl!!!

Anonymous said...

Wow! How did she go from no swimming lessons to winning the swim meet? What a girl! I love her willingness to try new things. She looks too cute.

Lisa said...

Welcome to the world of summer swim teams MoCo style! Don't let it take over your life - our team is in Division A and it is COMPETITIVE with a Capitol C! Not easy for those of us who transplanted from Cali where things were a little more "funpetitive" :) I loved it though because they get great lessons all summer long - and a great sense of team camaraderie and fun.

Matt said...

what a special girl! Not only is she a great swimmer without any lessons but she is an independant woman getting to where she needs to be by herself!

Lindsay said...

So many of my childhood memories revolve around swim team. I want my kids to do it too. However, I am sure that being in the pool is WAY more enjoyable than being the parent at all those swim meets.

Tell Annie Kate she rocks for getting out there and trying! And I think you are well on your way to great photography!

jenny said...

Coming from a former swimmer myself. I just have to say that swimming is one of the greatest team sport. I think it is a great way to help the kids learn coordination even if they aren't the best at it (my kids are far from it) but have met so many friends and plus getting in the water for the summer is an added bonus!

My mom swam back east as a kid. They have some of the best programs around. Soak it up for sure! She looks darling in her team suit. :)

Rachel said...

Way to GO AK! And I especially love the swimmer cap. Seriously could Sally Jane and Caroline get any cuter?

annalisa said...

We were fish out of water as children. I have fond memories of swim classes and competitions. I hope Annie Kate does as well and from the sound of things, she's a fish too. Of course I would be the one with a daughter who at 5 is still too afraid to put her face in the water. Swim team may be distant dream for me :).

michelle said...

Fabulous! What a brave girl! Max's swimming teacher told us years ago that he should sign up for a swim team, but he wouldn't even consider it. I love that she even swam for the strokes she doesn't know how to do! And that she's becoming so independent and self-sufficient. What a cute photo too!