breakin' records

Today, the kids swam in Grand Haven, MI at their Conference Swim meet. 

Jayden started out the meet by breaking a conference record in the 100 IM that was set back in 2001.  Then Graham swam the 200 Free and earned an individual zone time that he's been working to achieve all season.  Next, Jillian stepped up to the blocks and swam a 9 second personal best in the 25 Free.  Jayden swam the 25 Fly in 16.09 - breaking the conference record (set in 2012) and breaking the team record he's been trying to break all season.  Next Graham dropped 3 seconds off his time in the 100 Free - getting him just a couple seconds away from another individual Zone time cut.  Jayden was edged out in the 50 Free.  Helen swam the 25 Fly, 50 Free, and 25 Free - winning her heat in the 25 Free.  Graham and Jayden's 200 Freestyle relay broke a team record and took 3 seconds off their previous time!

Here are a TON of pictures from our day!  I'm so proud of the kids :)

 Graham after qualifying for zones in the 200 Free

 swim team friends

 Jayden getting ready to swim

 Jayden ready for his 100 IM

 his teammates cheering for him

 almost to the record breaking moment!!

 and there it is --- the Conference Meet RECORD!!!! 

 happy Jayden

 Ready for the 25 Free

 Me and my Jilly

 Jillian ready for her race

 Helen ready for her race

 Teammates cheering for Jillian :)

 Helen wins her heat in the 25 Free

 Helen ready to swim butterfly

 Jayden swam his butterfly so fast - I couldn't get a picture of him - 16.09 seconds!!!  A team and Conference meet RECORD!!

 another happy Jayden

 a high five from brother

 ahhhh - the snow is falling outside -  UGH!

 Jillian ready for her race

 Jillian's name on the scoreboard :)

 Go Jilly!

 Helen ready for her race

 Helen - 50 Free

 Helen second lane up in the photo

 Jayden swimming 50 Free

 the boy on the left just edged him out!

 They both broke a Conference Meet Record!

 Graham

brother and sister cheering for Graham

 Jilly and her babysitter friend, Chloe

 Jilly - 25 Back

 Hugs from her friends

Boy's  200 Free and 200 Medley relay team

Girl's  100 Free relay

 Mr. Graham - ready to swim 50 breast

 The 200 Free relay team preparing for their race - a great group of boys!

 before the relay --- they decided earlier in the season to wear pink and purple for their relay - crazy boys!

 so serious

 ready to start

 very focused!

 brothers

 they've been working very hard in practice on their transitions (jayden above)

 graham

 looking at the results!!!!  realizing that they broke a team record that they've been working towards all season - 2:01

Endurance Parents raising Endurance Children

kids had a great swim meet today despite the weather outside.... snow, sleet, rain, super sloppy wet snow, more rain, more sleet ........ but hey, it's February 1st ---- good bye January!!!!

some preliminary stats from today --- jilly rocked her backstroke today --- even the referee commented on how much her backstroke has improved over the last few weeks :)  jayden broke 2 team records - 500 Freestyle and 200IM.  Graham improved his 500 Freestyle time and went sub-7 minutes -- this will get him a great seed-time from Regionals.  Helen also swam the 500 Freestyle today and improved her time.  Both boys swam the 1650 again --- hence my blog title "Endurance Parents raising Endurance Children"  Jillian also informed me tonight that she swam her 50 Free on her tummy - she didn't need to do the second 25 yards on her back.  She was very proud of herself!

As promised, I have a bunch of photos to share from the swim meet today.  I got a new fancy camera (fancy for me!) - Nikon D3100.  I'll be honest - there are so many features on the camera that I'm a little overwhelmed but in time hopefully I'll figure out how to really use it! 

 warm ups

 jillian trying to explain to her coach that the pool was too "wavy" for her to take a breath while swimming :)  ---- maybe she won't be a triathlon girl after all!

 boys warming up

 ..... real record breaking boys wear pink and purple swim caps and goggles :)  yes, this is what the boy's relay team has decided to wear to their conference, state, and zone meet.... these are the same boys that live on honeybuns and pizza!

 jayden getting some instruction from the coach

 jillian swimming in the 'wavy' pool (she's in the middle near the left side of the photo)

 Helen is to the right of the blue slide, warming up

 jillian receiving some advice from her team mate

 swimming friends :)

 Helen looking a little sleepy in the marshalling area

 Graham ready for his event

 jayden the butterfly man

 graham and his flip turn

 backstroke graham

 breast stroke graham... must be an IM :)

 jayden swimming his way to the 200IM record

 jayden's friends cheering

 jillian ready for her backstroke start

 and she's off!

 real backstroke arms!  go jilly!

 jillian's friends cheering

 Helen is warming up between events

 I think this is Helen --- Graham at the end cheering for his sister ---Awe

 Helen

Helen

During Advent, our church laid strips of fabric in a manager - each week, the strips were incorporated into the Sermon in various ways.  Then after Christmas, the strips were sewn together by some ladies at the church --- I sewed 3 quilts together and have 1 more to finish.  I believe the quilts will be given to babies.  A really cool project!