Swimming

In case you ever wondered what a swim meet was like this post is for you! This is Elizabeth's first year to compete on the winter team.  She started competing in the summer and enjoyed it so much that she wanted to continue.  I think it is actually called long course.  Honestly, she knows more than we do, as we trying our best to keep up with all of this swimming lingo! 

Love this action shot!

She has done two meets. One was over an hour away and the other was a home meet.  We woke up on a Saturday morning at 5:00 to have her at the pool by 6:30, for 6:45 warm-ups.  Which was great (not!) since the meet started at 9:00 and her first event was 33.  Yep we sat for over 3 hours after warm-ups before she swam her first event.  She was no longer warm! But spirits were high and we all put our smiles on!  Ima and Pops even came to cheer her on!  Because it was her first official Y meet she had no time for her entries.  All of the heats she swam in were against other swimmers who also had "no-time".  She won most of her heats so she felt like a winner.  She didn't really understand the heat placement vs. overall placement and we weren't about to explain unless she asked because she her self esteem was high and that was all that mattered.  She swam 4 events, the freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.  She placed very well overall in butterfly, it really is her best stroke, but she will tell you her best is freestyle.  To watch my 7 year old do the butterfly just amazes me.  

 So this is the holding zone.  A gym where you set up camp until your swimmer is called to the bullpen then you migrate in to the viewing area to watch the 30 second event.  My mom compares it to wrestling meets.  It feels like an all day dance recital to me. But whatever it is or isn't, she loves it and we are happy to support her passion.

I don't think Pops is sleeping, but it's possible, I know I could have taken a cat nap1

She did ask three days later if it would be ok if she took her swim cap off between events, apparently it was squeezing her brains!

That was a backstroke heat win!

It's always fun to see your name on the big board!

This is Grant and his buddy Brady, they have swim practice before Elizabeth.  Aren't they cute? Grant is going to compete this summer. Yay for our swimmers!