Utah Summer Games-Swimming

Last week was the Utah Summer Games. They are held in Cedar City. A month ago when we signed her up to swim we knew that soccer was going to be at the same time but we were hoping soccer would be in the morning and swimming would be in the afternoon so she would be able to pull off both, so we went ahead and signed her up for four events over the course of three days June 11-13. She was signed up for the 200 meter IM, 50 meter free, 50 meter fly, and 100 meter free. Also at the time I signed her up I didn't know she would have another bout with her "mono" right before the games either. So as we left for Cedar City we went with a few things in mind-swimming would come second to soccer, she would only swim if she had the energy, and the swimming was to be a learning experience. We weren't expecting great things-most of the girls signed up to swim year round competitively. Not only that but the swimming was held on a long track compared to the short track she is used to swimming. You don't think it makes a huge difference until you get there and see it and swim it and then you realize it does.

Thursday was to be her 200 IM-she was really unsure about that one and not thinking she was up to the task. She had already played one soccer game. As more and more time passed we realized she wouldn't be able to swim it anyways before her next soccer game started so she scratched that event.

Friday she ended up swimming two events. Both after playing two soccer games. She was a little tired and nervous, but kind of excited. Her first race was the 50 meter free. She was seeded pretty high for that race in the 5th heat out of 8 heats (7 swimmers in each heat-as the heats go up the swimmers get faster). I was so proud of her and nervous and she got on the starting blocks-the crowd was huge the track was big and the competition was fast. She finished the race but came in last in her heat. It was tough. Next she swam the 50 meter fly. She was in the 2nd heat of 5 heats for this one. She didn't come in last, but towards the last few of her heat. She did really good though-I could tell it took just about everything she had left out of her.

Saturday she was signed up to swim the 100 freestyle but ended up scratching that event as well-I mean she didn't want to miss her championship soccer game which was at the same time after all ;)

Swimming at the summer games was definitely a learning experience. I don't think Chloe will do it again though-especially as long as she has another event going at the same time and probably not unless she decided to focus on swimming year round. It was good for her to try it though, and I'm proud of her for doing the races she did-I don't think I would have been brave enough.

 Results:
The races are mixed meaning that boys and girls are swimming at the same time, but the results are broken down into separate categories not all together; so boys times against boys and girls against girls.
In the 50 Meter Freestyle Chloe got a time of 42.41 and took 22 out of 31. This is definitely not her fastest time in this race by far-but I would say really good considering she had just played two soccer games before. Her seed time for this event was 37.88 so this was over 4 seconds slower.
In the 50 Meter Butterfly Chloe got a time of 1:00:05 and took 17 out of 19 again definitely not her best time, but for obvious reasons.

Corndogs and Ice Cream Cones

On Chloe's actual birthday we went swimming at Sandhallow Aquatic Center (though I didn't get any pictures) and out to eat at Frostop. Bryce couldn't have been happier since he got two of his favorite foods at one time-corndogs and ice-cream. I guess we know how to keep him happy.

 

Happy Birthday Grandma Tawny and Chloe

My Mom came to town for a few days. It was great to see her plus it was an added bonus cause her and Chloe share a birthday so we were able to have a little birthday celebration for them (a couple days early).

Chloe chose this fun soccer cake. She really wanted to help make it-so she got too! My Mom and sister Tiffanie helped a little bit but for the most part her and Saydee decorated the rest. Chloe was so proud to tell me she had done the soccer ball all by herself I think the whole thing looks great! Maybe she will take after her Grandmas in the cake decorating department.

 Birthday Girl-can't believe she is turning 11!

 While the ice cream was getting made-the little boys had fun chasing lizards around Grandmas yard. Tanner caught one for them and put it in this tote. The loved watching it the rest of the afternoon.

 The birthday girls! It's so fun that they share a birthday-usually they are able to celebrate together which makes it even more special.

Cool Dude

Last Sunday I asked Tanner to get Bryce ready for church. He brought him into my room like this. I guess he was going for the gangster look-haha. It was so cute. Bryce cried when Tanner took his gold chain back-so of course Tanner found him one of his old chains and he wore that to church instead. I was surprised cause he actually wore it the entire day and didn't take it off. I guess he really likes being like his big bro.

Birthday Party Hanxton and Huxley

Wow! I can't believe that it is already time to celebrate Hanxton's first birthday!!! The past year has been full of many ups and downs, but there is never a doubt what a miracle baby Hanxton is and just how well he is doing at this point in his life.

 My sister planned a cute bear themed party...

 These were the yummiest treats ever and I don't even like marshmallows ;)...

 Hanxton and Grandma Tawny...

 Bryce loved Hanxton's giant stuffed bear and he couldn't help sitting in it's lap and then wrestling with it...

 The best part of the whole party was watching Hanxton eat his birthday cake. Once he realized what it was and knew the he could eat it-he couldn't get it in fast enough. It was so cute. He was a mess. They finally had to take it away from him and he cried. Mandy had to run him in for a quick bath.

 At the end of the party we let of balloons to heaven for little Huxley. It was a sad/happy day. Happy that Hanxton has done so well and made it to a year and sad that little Huxley wasn't there to help celebrate. The balloons were a special and touching way to end the celebrations.

First Swim Meet of the Season 6-6-15

 

 Last Saturday brought with it the first swim meet of the season. Chloe was not in a good place. She had been quite ill. In fact up until an hour before we weren't sure if she would be able to swim or not-but she really wanted too, so we let her. You just can't keep that little fish out of the water.

SIDE-STORY I have decided that she has Mono and is fighting it cause about a month ago she had the same thing hit-sore throat, extreme body aches, fever, swollen glands, tired, weak. At that time she was out of commission for about a week. This time it luckily lasted only a few days, but it was bad. In fact when we went to pick my Mom up from the airport we ended up with Chloe in a wheelchair cause she was so weak. For those of you who know Chloe know this is not normal. Both times this has hit her she has tested negative for strep-I hadn't thought of the Mono until after the last bought-but she has every symptom-if it hits again I will have them run the bloodwork for it, but I'm a hundred percent sure that's what it is. So for now we are going to work on trying to build her immune system and hope we can ward off another onset.

Hanxton and Huxley's party was that same day so we let Chloe participate in the first two events and then we left town, which worked out well cause there is no way her body could have handled more. Her first event was the freestyle relay. She closed. She did a great job gaining ground for her team, but they left her with a little bit too much of a gap to fill so they ended up taking 2nd. Her second race was the 50 Meter Butterfly. She did so good for being as weak as she was. She was right in there with the lead until the last few yards and then she just couldn't keep up.  Her time was 47.97 and she took 5th. She wasn't all to thrilled with a 5th place but considering the circumstances I think she did an awesome job-I doubt many people would have been able to swim in her condition.

Love watching this girl swim!

Both Grandmas were able to run over for a few minutes to watch her relay race.

 

Crazy, Busy Summer

I get exhausted just thinking about our summer. WE have the usual camping trips, trips for family get together, etc. planned. As well as summer ball for Tanner and swim team for Chloe (which right there pretty much takes up every weekend except holidays). This yeas is the first year Chloe has been part of a competitive soccer team during the summer so that adds in soccer practice and the summer games tournament. There is also swimming at the summer games. Plus softball-what? Yeah we thought this would be over by now-but Chloe is on the all-star team. And not just because Landon was her coach in fact he didn't vote for her because he not only knew how busy our summer was, but he also thought the team would consist of mainly 12 year olds, but alas it consists of all 12 year olds and a three 10 year olds (at the time) Chloe being one of them. It is going to be a crazy, busy summer!!!

Then add to the fact that the kids like to play hard during the summer-Chloe thinks she is going to die if she can't play in the water daily-never mind that she swims every morning. And little Bryce is following in his sisters footsteps I change his wet clothes at least twice a day-I might just start dressing him in a swim suit. All of this equals lots of fun and one exhausted Mom!