Regional Swim Meet 2014 - Minneapolis, MN

 heat results from Saturday's events ....

 Graham just after he swam the 500 Free in 6:28!!!!! - breaking the team record.  I wish I was quick enough with the camera to capture him laying his head back in the water with his arms stretched out in a T shape.  It was priceless - he swam his little heart out!  So proud of him!!!!!!!

 taking in his accomplishment :)

 Graham is in the pink cap - so focused before his race.

 Graham finishing his event and Jayden right next to him in the purple cap by the starting block.  I love how they encourage eachother

 Jayden in the center of the photo (purple cap) - talking with a friend that he made during the swim meet.  I love to see him making friends outside of competition.

 Jayden finishing his 200 IM race.  I didn't capture it in a photo, but he reached over to shake both kid's hands on either side of him after they finished.  He won the 200 IM event.

 Jayden in the "zone" - after the meet, I asked him what he thought about while he stood at the starting block before his event.  He told me that he thinks about resting in his bed :)  But he was hesitant to tell me what he thinks about, so if you see him DON'T ask him about this :)

Graham's pace splits for his 500 Free - just before his race, I scribbled them down on a torn off piece of paper bag :)  Jayden did his cards (numbered cards that keep track of the number of laps for the event.  each swimmer and card holder agree on cues with the cards for speeding up or slowing down pace).  Jayden kept this paper in his hand and watched the time for Graham to keep him on pace.   He did a great job!

 we didn't get a chance to take this photo last year at Regionals, so Jayden wanted to make sure we got his picture in front of the University of Minnesota football stadium

 Graham looks so grown up here!!

Graham watching some of the older kids swim a 400 IM at the end of the swim meet.

Jayden finished 2nd overall in the meet for his age group (8&under)
Graham's highest placing was 4th in the 500 Free
So proud of my boys!!

Videos from Regionals:
Graham 200 Free:   http://youtu.be/mTy7BL_wKb0
Jayden - 200 IM:  http://youtu.be/wTc3P2Rp0Zc
 Graham 200IM :  http://youtu.be/B9CFWxMOtCk
Jayden 50 Breast:   http://youtu.be/iftYgjHStDs
Jayden 50 Fly: http://youtu.be/yyoX936YPwU
Graham 50 Fly:  http://youtu.be/P4f3BmaGAdI

 We stopped by my Grandma's nursing home to visit her - Jayden is talking about the rides at the Mall of America

 Jillian talking to her Great-Grandma

 Showing her some pictures of the swim meet

 Jillian playing peek-a-boo with her 2nd cousin, Jackson.

 The cousins and second cousins at the pizza party after the swim meet.

 My Aunts, Uncles, and cousins.

 My mom and her 2 sisters.

 The home where I grew up in West St. Paul. 

 My Great-Grandma's home on Bidwell St.  I didn't notice the light on in the family room of the house when I took the photo...... maybe that's the light of my Great-Grandma :)

 Growing up, we always thought this was the front of her house --- we never really came to her 'official" front door (pictured in the photo with the light on above), we always parked in the driveway and came up to this door.  She didn't have a doorbell on this side so we would just knock loudly and say hello.  Her kitchen sink was in front of the middle window and her yellow kitchen table was near the window on the left.  She often sat in the patio room on the far left near the garage, reading a book.  I can still picture myself opening the glass door to her porch (it used to be red) where there were always a couple of lounge chairs and at least one upright chair.  And I can still picture her waving to me as we left, she would wave with the door open ---- I couldn't help but think that each time I visited her in her late 90's that it may be my last time I would see her with her short, curly grey hair, hearing aids, a kleenex stuffed in the sleeve of her sweater, and her dress pants neatly pressed.  Man, do I miss her!!
                                         Salem Church where I was baptized

My attempt at fooling Helen into thinking that I made chicken nuggets :)  --- I dipped the chicken in a ranch dressing/bbq sauce mixture and corn flakes and then baked the chicken.   She didn't fall for it!  --- but everyone else liked it.

After driving back from Minnesota, we enjoyed the rest of our spring break in Sturgis.....

 Helen on the carousel in Shipshewana, IN

Jillian visiting her favorite hot chocolate spot!

 first sunrise run of 2014!  finally getting warm enough for me to run outside in the early morning :)

 yum!!  frozen hot chocolate!!!

Below are some pictures from the Vera Bradley Sale in Ft. Wayne, IN.  My mom and I met her sisters, a couple of my cousins, and her Aunt in Ft. Wayne for the day..... here's the line we had to wait in just to get into the convention center.

 Some serious purse shopping here!!!  yikes!

 The checkout line

 This was the view when we first walked in ---- there was a map showing the layout of the Convention Center --- it seemed like many people knew exactly where to go once they entered the room.  I just browsed up and down the aisles --before this event, I only owned 1 Vera purse.... now I own another Vera purse, a jewelry organizer, and a wallet :)  I didn't go crazy  - haha!  It was fun to spend the day with my Aunties, mom, and cousins!