Longing for a Thunderstorm

This winter has lasted far too long. Don't you think?

I am so ready for summer. I'm looking forward to warmer weather, green grass, and my plants and trees. I can't wait to walk out the door without grabbing a jacket. Heck, I just can't wait to walk outside without grabbing shoes. And I'm even looking forward to summer vacation for the kids.

I was going through my "Summer 2008" photo folder today and found these really great shots I took while on vacation in South Dakota last July.

We were somewhere east of Mitchell (you know, home of the world famous Corn Palace) and we came upon a huge storm. We drove straight into it. The winds and rain were ferocious. I can't remember if we actually pulled over and stopped for awhile or not, but I know we definitely contemplated it. I think one of the local radio stations even reported a tornado touch-down somewhere in this area. It was an amazing storm.

I love a good thunderstorm. There is something awesome about thunderstorms in the Dakotas. I'm not sure what it is. But Minnesota storms just aren't the same. Now, I don't mean to offend any Minnesota-storm-lovers. But, the storms are better when you have totally unobstructed views of the looming clouds and darkening sky. And by unobstructed, I mean - no big trees, no big buildings, no nothing getting in the way of your line of site. You can truly see the horizon in all directions. When we watch a storm approaching from my house now, I see it coming over the top of my neighbors house, the hill with the fence in our backyard, and a bunch of evergreen trees. Trust me. It's a way cooler experience in the vastness of a South Dakota prairie.

Anyway, these cloud/storm photos totally make me long for summer. They make me long for warm, humid days. They make me long for the smell of rain. They make me long for a really great thunderstorm.

Yep.

Despite visions of snow dusting my backyard, I'm longing right now.





Are you longing, too?

State Swim Meet

Since we've all now recovered from the 6 month swim season and are getting ready to start up the next one again in a few days, I thought I'd better get my blog updated as well. Plus, I've finally sweet-talked Bill into transferring and editing some videos for me.

I really should learn how to use that video-editing software. I think I'll put it on my to-do list along with "patch hole in laundry room wall" (which has been there for 3 years) and "buy white-cheddar popcorn salt."

So, if my memory serves me right...we all had a blast in Rochester for the 12 & Under Short-Course State Swim Championships. Sure, I won't deny that it was really great that the kids made the state team, but the thing is: it was truly so much fun having a little mini-vacation in March, hanging out with a bunch of friends in a hotel for a weekend.

Just to summarize - Will swam 2 individual events: 50 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle. He stayed about the same in the 50, but cut 3 seconds off his 100, giving him a National "A" time. He also swam in a couple relays. This group of boys did so great! Both of their relays placed in the top 16 overall, which earned points for the Sea Devils team. Maddie swam in a couple relays as well. They did great too - they dropped a bunch of time and had a lot of fun.

Our 12 & Under team placed 2nd in the "A" division. This, in itself, is amazing! Our club has never placed in the top 20 before this year. We really do have a talented group of young swimmers, and it's so fun to see their improvement every meet!


This is Will's 100 Freestyle:


Here's Maddie's relay girls in the 9-10 200 Medley. In order: Alaina (backstroke), Paige (breaststroke), Maddie (butterfly), and Marah (freestyle)


This is Will and the boys in the 9-10 200 Freestyle Relay. Will anchors this one, following Max, Drew, and Logan. They placed in the top 16 and set a club relay record.



We came home Sunday night and as I actually looked at my camera, I found that I had taken 454 pictures! In reality, only 164 of them were salvageable by PhotoShop. Thank God for digital!! How did people do it on the "old days"?

Here are a few of those 164...

Getting ready for warm-ups.

Before each session started, they played some fun, dance-along music. This one was the chicken dance. You know how I know that?? Easy. It's the only one that Will would dance to. You see him standing there? Yep...he's into it.

Maddie and the relay girls.

Starting...
Maddie the butterflyer.
Will and the relay boys.

Will doing the breaststroke in the Medley Relay.
The girls getting each other psyched up.
Logan, Max, and Will playing DS.


Will's start in the 100 Free

100 Freestyle...his favorite race.Relay getting ready.


Getting some tips from Coach Terri.We love our coaches, Terri and Michelle!

Grandma Jan and Grandpa Bill came to watch...





It wasn't all just swimming! We all had a blast!



My tired kiddos. Those fun weekends sure do take a lot out of you!

Hot or Not?

This is the first time in years that I've really followed American Idol. I'm not sure why this season captured me? Maybe it's just that I have a little time to breathe lately.

Last night, the theme was "Grand Old Opry". It was a bunch of country songs with Randy Travis as the guest host.

Now, understand that I love Johnny Cash as much as the next guy. I actually think he was pretty cool and I probably know more words to his songs than I'd ever admit to anyone. But, I have to say - I think this version sung by Adam Lambert is amazing. OMG...it's really amazing.




This morning on the talk-radio station I always listen to...it was a topic of controversy. Some loved it. Some hated it. And I mean really hated it.

So, now you tell me what you thought? Awesome!!! or NOT!!!

Just curious...

I told you they fit...

I just had to prove it to all you doubters...






...and I have lots of great photos/stories to wrap up the kids' fall/winter season. As soon as my wonderful video-editing guru pulls together a few video clips...we're good to go!

My cute little nephew

OK...this is too adorable not to share with you:
Conversations with Christian: volume 1

Seriously, check it out!

State Team Send-Off Party

OK...I realize that this blog has really been is a deep state of neglect lately. And I also know that it's taken on an aquatic-type focus.

But you know what?? Welcome to my life, people!!!!

So, hang in there everyone! Only a few more of these swimmy-type posts and then we're on a break for a whole whoppin' 5 weeks.

(Then it will just start all over again...)

The kids had a state swim team send-off party last night. The Sea Devils team will be taking more kids to the state meet than ever before. There will be 13 individual qualifiers and 8 additional relay swimmers heading to Rochester tomorrow for the 12 & under State Championships. It is so cool to witness the transformation of this club, which, just 3 years ago had only 70 swimmers and 3 or 4 kids on the state team, to now, with over 180 swimmers and enough kids on the state team to make a real presence on the pool deck! It truly is a great group of kids and coaches!

Here are some of the girls doing some carb-loading courtesty of Buca diPepo. Yummmm....



One of the best parts of the traditional send-off party is the gift bags. Seriously, my kids have been talking about these bags since they found out they were going. Keep in mind that they are a surprise...all they know about them is that they're filled with cool stuff! The main thing in the bag is the State Team apparel. This year they got pull-overs and t-shirts - very cool! There are also other things that some of the other state-families have given to the kids as well - goldfish crackers, Gatorade, towels, rubber duckies, door signs, fruit snacks, tattoos, car markers, bubbles, etc. Someone even gave each girl on Maddie's relay team a disposable camera, a scrapbook kit, and a cute note about "making memories with your friends." Very creative...I think I'll have to remember that one...



Maddie and her friends...



Sea Devils Swimming State Team - Short Course 2009: 12 & Under



...and a moment of craziness!



Here is Maddie and friends making up the Girls 9-10 relay teams. This is the first year our club has ever had enough individual qualifiers to yield two teams in the same age group.



This is the 9-10 Boys relay team. In case you couldn't tell, my kid is the giant.




We all love our coaches, Michelle and Terri!

So, we leave tomorrow morning. That means that today I'm washing clothes like crazy, trying to bake a few pans of goodies to share, and putting together a list of things to pack. Tonight, the kids will take their "slippery baths" and do another shavedown. Tomorrow, they get to skip school, and will go crazy drawing/writing all over my new car (which kind of gives me palpitations, honestly).

It should be a really fun weekend! And I promise that I'll post some pictures of the kids at the meet. That way I can prove that those teeny-weeny Fastskins actually do fit!