Swim Meet Weekend: Duluth!

Each year, the boys' YMCA swim team registers for one out-of-town meet, which is the highlight of the boys' swim season.  This past weekend was our annual Duluth meet.

The meet was held in the brand new Lincoln Park Middle School, a wonderful facility!

They boys swam very well: Toby got two new "personal best" times.

Jonah had a blue-ribbon day!  His two relay teams took first place. Individually, Jonah rocked the block as well.  In his own words, "When I started Swim Team, I usually came in 17th place.  In this meet, I won first place in two events and took 2nd place in the other!" 









The team reserves a block of rooms at a hotel and this translates into lots of fun!

Ken, Jonah, and Toby played many games of "Magic: The Gathering" card game with each other, and other Magic-playing swim friends:

A sleepy game of Magic: The Gathering

There was a team dinner and awards ceremony Saturday night:

Jonah and Coach PJ

Toby and Coach PJ

What do you suppose swimmers do after a long day in the pool?

More swimming, of course! 

 Jonah is the BLUR behind Toby in this picture

There were two swimming pools in the hotel, which turned out to be a good thing, since we were competing for pool space with a bunch of hockey players who were staying in the same hotel.  The kids took to the pool before and after the team dinner.  At one point there were 40+ kids in the pool.  Jonah's eyes are STILL a bit red today, Tuesday, from all the chlorine on Saturday.

And what do parents do while the kids swim? We gather by the pool to watch the pool fun, talk, and laugh with each other. 

New Year's Skiing

Skiing with the skyline up ahead

Our family spent the last day of 2012 cross-country skiing at Theodore Wirth Park.  Jonah and Toby, fresh out of an adventure ski camp, were eager to show their parents a thing or two.

This way!

Toby and Ken

While it is cross-country skiing, the HILLS are the boys' favorite parts!

It's like this, Mom!

Sometimes we fall:

Epic Fail!

(I actually took a tumble on the big hill at the end of one of the loops.  It was far less graceful than Jonah's and luckily the skiers flying down the hill behind me were able to swerve around me!)


Our family ski outing was the perfect way to ring out the old year and we look forward to skiing again SOON!

Toby

Jonah