And we're off!

Time for bragging

The Y swim banquet was held last Sunday at a local restaurant where much fun was had by all the parents and kids. Last year Hank won "most improved swimmer" for boys 8 and under and this year his sister took that title. The competition was a fierce batch of determined, little, peanut-sized girls who swam their tiny hearts out in each meet. Hope really surprised us with her determination. It certainly helped that the little ones had a pack of older girls cheering them on at every meet.

And then there's Hank who won the "top times" for boys 8 and under. Who knew a year and a half ago that the little boy who had to hang on to the side of the pool to complete one length of the pool would be plowing through the water in the freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly?

We are so proud of both of you!

600 below

Dateline: Duluth

How cold is it?

It is so cold that we are forced to wear hats and mittens in order to go down the tube slides and body slides because the 10' sections that extend outside the building have FROZEN SOLID! (Almost.)

Note to Mary: The water park is located on Lemon-drop Hill. Thinking about you and marathon fun that awaits!

YMCA

I've been complaining about how all the fees have gone up this year but this article reminded me that it all goes to a pretty good cause:

Business volunteers dive in

Hank's team swam against this one in a couple of meets this season. Those meets were the long ones. They are a big team. And they had cool swim cover-ups (like Batman capes) that everyone else envied.

Swims off into the sunset

25 yd breast with 10% dog-paddle

Math problem

What I don't understand is how I got seventh place when there were only six lanes in the pool.

Sink or swim

Hank has a friend who is a good swimmer and his mother suggested that Hank join this friend in participating on a swim team. We went to the first practice tonight so that the coach could watch him swim and decide if he was team material.

Apparently anyone can be on this swim team because, although the coach kept asking Hank to get out of the water and walk to the end of the lane because I'm pretty sure he was afraid -- like I was -- that Hank and his 0.2% body fat might drown during the inaugural practice session, the coach tossed him a team swim cap at the end and said, "Hank, buddy? You're in."

Swim little fishy, swim!