swim season! Go Lightning!

Summer, summer, summer is here.  We put Logan on the same swim team Dylan did last summer, and both boys are LOVING it.  We weren't really sure Logan could even make it across the pool but he's done amazing so far and gets better every day, thanks to his awesome coaches.  His confidence has grown so much!!

Practice started two weeks before the end of school, and now that school is out its switched to every morning at 9 am for an hour.  This year, even more friends from our school and neighborhood have joined the team and its pretty much a big social hour at every practice and meet. All that aside though, our team has incredible coaches and they're so patient and enthusiastic with the kids.  The kids really strengthen their skills in the pool, and get to do it while having so much fun.  There are two meets a week (Wed nights and Saturday mornings).  All the parents volunteer to make the meets run smoothly and we all cheer for each others kids. 

This has been the one sport so far that really clicks for Dylan.  Its a team environment, but he can earn ribbons for beating his own times. That really resonates with him, and he's just always loved the water.   Now it appears Logan loves it just as much, and he can't wait to get in that pool every morning. And me... well, I've become a crazy swim team mom who lets her kids paint the car windows before meets and gets hoarse from cheering them down the pool.

Last night was our first meet of the season, and it will run through the end of July.  As a brand new swimmer, Logan was scheduled to compete in freestyle, but not scheduled to be in relay event at the end (four swimmers take turns to beat other teams of four).  They had an open spot and we were still at the meet since Dylan was in a scheduled relay with the 9/10's, so Logan was jumping to do it.  I was so  proud of his spirit and desire to get in the pool, in the dark, and swim that lap.  He is one of the youngest kids on the swim team and its great to see him enjoying it, learning so much, and making new friends. 

I can't imagine not doing a swim team every summer now, we always will as long as our boys love it.  Its a family you belong to during the summer, and fills your days with such fun!

Here are some photos and video clip from swim season so far, with many more to come in the weeks ahead!  So far, Dylan's back stroke seems to be his fastest and favorite stroke.  Logan is learning backstroke, and has to catch up, but he's holding his own at age 5!  Dylan is now 9, so he has to swim 50 meters (up and back across the pool), while Logan only has to swim a 25 meter.

Here is Logan's first ever attempt to cross the pool without help.  This was during a practice swim meet, when Coach Ruth was allowed to be in the pool with him and encourage him (but not touch or help unless he panicked).  He did great!  A pool length is a long way for such a tiny person!  I didn't breath the entire time he was swimming... And he made it!

Dylan and his good friend J.

I think he looks like Adam Sandler in Big Daddy (Scuba Steve)...what do you think?

A rare moment of brotherly love.  I love that we can all share this together, its such great family togetherness!

Here is Dylan's freestyle last night...

All the kids just hang together between events to eat candy, duel each other on their DS's and basically run like hooligans!

team cheer before the meet!

Lined up right before the relay he didn't even know he'd be swimming!