Summer Speed-Up

The first official week of summer break was so busy it did not feel like a break. It was more like a summer speed-up! Excerpts from my journal give an accurate outline of the busy week:

Monday, June 17th: Today was the first official day of summer break, and even though there was no early morning swim practice, it was still super busy! Cross country run in the morning, followed by a short barn workout for me while Jeff did some plyo & speed at the track with a few kids. Then I went to a Relief Society presidency meeting. We had brunch at Bon Vinos for our meeting, and it was nice to ease up on presidency meeting formalities and take time to chat without feeling rushed. We ended up staying for 3.5 hours! It was good but I was socially fried by the time it ended. I came home and played the piano for an hour, which was nice but not exactly restful.

At 4pm, Jay had driver's ed, Rose had a dentist appointment, and Amber had a group piano lesson. 3 kids, 3 different locations, all at the same exact start time. Jeff and I divided and conquered, but still miscommunicated about pick-up duties, haha. After dinner, [Jeff's sister] Steph picked up Rose and Amber for a cousin sleepover. Jay was gone from 4-8pm, since he walked over to dryland swim practice after driver's ed. Jeff picked him up at 7pm. So tired. 

Tuesday, June 18th: It was another slightly hectic day today. The girls slept over at their cousins' house last night, so I picked them up after XC practice this morning. Then we did yardwork and I worked 3 times as long as I meant to-- 90 minutes instead of 30. My glute and hip were screaming after all of that bending and weeding. Blah. 

When I was done showering, Rose and Amber were playing cello - piano duets, so when they invited me I joined in for a song or two with my violin. Then the girls went on a one mile run together. Rose talked Amber into running the whole mile without walking, and they ran a 9:59 mile. Cute sister bonding. They were so happy when they came inside. 

Tonight was swim team pictures. The Sunnyside pool was finally fixed and ready for swim practice afterwards! The kids were at the pool from 5:30-8pm. Early morning swim practice begins tomorrow! Eeek. 

Wednesday, June 19th: This morning I carpooled to West Richland with my friend Camille for a strength workout at the PT clinic. My poor wimpy tight left hip trembled and shook for the whole workout! But it will help to do these hard exercises. After swim practice this morning, Amber said "I really want to run with you, Mom!" So I went on a one mile run around the driveway triangle with her, even though I wasn't planning on running today. My hip was so tight and dead from the workout! I was hilariously gimpy for the first quarter mile, and moderately gimpy for the rest of the brief run. 

We didn't have anywhere to be after swim practice today, except for driver's ed in the afternoon (Jay). Jeff did take Rose to the track to practice discus with Grampa Dan, but there were no required activities this afternoon. Thank goodness, because I took a much needed nap. I was so deeply asleep that I did not move at all during the whole nap and I drooled on my pillow! I played piano for about an hour after my nap. It is so hard and absorbing and satisfying and hopeless and hopeful and frustrating and fun! Haha.

Thursday, June 20th: We were at the pool from 5:45pm-11pm for the first swim meet of our season tonight. I was a timer, Jeff was a stroke judge. It was long and arduous. The kids had a good time but we are all wiped out.

Saturday, June 22nd: Yesterday was a whirlwind. We had XC practice in the morning, then Jeff and I showered and drove the 5 hours to Eugene, Oregon to see day 1 of the Olympic Track and Field Trials. (There are 10 days total of the US Olympic track & firld trials.) We got stuck in traffic from 3 separate accidents on I-5 en route, and arrived at Hayward Field 45 minutes late. We missed the men's 400 prelims and the women's 800 prelim, but the rest of the day made up for it. It was so fun seeing so many amazing athletes, both familiar and new, competing at such a high level. We had such a good time. The last race of the day was the 10k final. It was an absolutely amazing race!! Grant Fischer for the impressive win! We trooped back to the school bus shuttles with the crowd after 8pm, rode the bus 10 minutes to the parking area, and then drove our van an hour north to Salem to stay in a hotel there. 

This morning we both ran and then Jeff drove me the 55 minutes north to the Portland airport, where I caught a plane to Denver (direct flight). Classic Denver turbulence bounced and jounced the plane for the last 40+ minutes of the flight -- thank goodness for the Dramamine I took before boarding! It held up and saved the day. Now I have a whole week of one on one time with my parents!! And their divine Steinway piano.

My sore gimpy hip is very cranky after all of the sitting I have done over the past 24 hours. Bring on the altitude training! 

PICTURES:

Mother daughter duets are so fun! Amber took this picture of us.

Rose is getting pretty good at the cello after playing it for 2 years in the school orchestra.

I did my best to unearth a few vestiges of my violin abilities.

Our raspberries are heavenly!!

I love serving in Relief Society with these ladies: Tina, Liz, and Chantel.

Six cousins in Grandview, walking from Grama and Grandpa's house to the Gibbons' house. My 10 year old nephew Tate can ride a unicycle!

Grayce, Layne, and Amber, walking the Gibbons' tiny dog, Pivot.

Rose and Amber, ready for their sister run. They ran 4 laps around the lot in front of our house, which makes up a quarter mile triangle.

The run begins!

Gatorade may not be completely necessary after less than 10 minutes of running, but I do everything I can to encourage my kids to exercise!

Rose and Amber, reading comics while they wait to leave for swim practice.

Mother daughter run after swim practice! 

Rose is getting good at swimming the butterfly stroke! Rose was proud of herself for beating Jay in more than one race at the swim meet. I'm trying to teach her tact on when to rub in her little sister victory and when to give her big brother space to recover.

It was so hot at the beginning of the meet, sitting on the edge of the pool in the sun with a stopwatch. But it was fun every time one of my kids swam in the lane I was timing!

Go, Jay! 

Jay and Rose swam every event: 2 relays, all four strokes, and the 200 meter individual medley (IM). All events were 50 meters except the IM, which was 50 meters of each stroke = 200 meters. They were so tired afterwards!

Amber swam 2 races: the 50 meter freestyle and the 50 meter breaststroke.

Amber!

Rose has a long graceful dive (she's on the right).

Yay Rose!

Maybe next time I should wear sandals to the next swim meet...timers get splashed frequently.

Camille and I timed lane 3 together. The writer, a nice lady named Irma whose son Jeff coached during high school track, sat between us but didn't want to be in our picture, haha. We were so tired and DONE with the meet by the time it got dark. 

Olympic Trials:

Jammed into the school bus shuttle from parking lot to stadium and wondering why so much of our life involves school bus rides. We represented Sunnyside well with our cross country and track t-shirts.

At the entrance to Hayward Field!

A few months ago I snagged us some excellent tickets for seats in the shade near the finish line!

Inspirational women's 5k, with Elise Cranny up front for the win (Rose and Amber met her and took a picture with her at the Nike northwest cross country meet last November!)

I wore my patriotic socks (that's the men's 10k final on the track).

The famous PDX carpet. I wore my favorite loose comfy dress and running shoes and may never travel in anything else again.