July... Already over!?!?

We went and got our nails done:)

Ironing on her letters for the swim team talent show!

S made a homemade checkers board!

Beautiful sunrise!

We had to get S ANOTHER pair of pointe shoes because
she has already outgrown her first pair!  6 weeks!?!?!  NINE
classes!?!

The Bakers moved into a new house with a pool this
summer so we went to check it out:)

I told C to grab a snack to eat on the way to swim
practice and this is what he gets!  LOL!

Her Happy Place!

Such a cute movie!  Note C's arm around Forky! 

We haven't had too many of these kind of days because of swim team, but when
we have had them, the kids have taken full advantage!!

Such a beautiful sunrise from the front porch!

S was not feeling well for a couple days during RMSC camp
week.  I had her stay home this day(and suffer through my
hair appt) but at least she scored a Frappacino out of it!

School supply shopping - DONE!  And, for the first time EVER,
M went with us!  He also made sure that we knew it would be
his last!!  LOL!

They gotta learn sometime!

My car battery died and M wanted C to learn how to change
one out!

Another Day at Keowee

We went up to the lake today with the thoughts of only staying a couple of hours.  We found some friends that were at Cousin Camp with their grandparents and scored a ride on a super cool raft!  Then, our friends' dad's boat broke down and the kids had to try to pull us back to the nearest shore, which was quite a task.  But, luckily, grandma was on the way to save us in the pontoon and we got a tow back to their dock! After all that excitement, cousin camp was going up for lunch and our family headed back to our dock for lunch as well!  After we ate and the kids swam, we took C out to do some skiing but found it was SO crowded that it was probably a bit dangerous so we packed everything back up and came back to the dock to get in the truck and come home.  Then, as if we hadn't had enough unplanned events, a piece of the boat lift broke and we couldn't get the boat to stay up.  A couple hours later, M had rigged up the lift and was able to get the boat up and keep it up, but it will have to be fixed before we go back next time because the lift won't do it again!  Sheesh!!!  What was supposed to be a quick trip to the lake turned into an all day event - so much for getting anything done to prepare for vacation!  But, the kids had lots of fun, so maybe it'll be worth it!

Taylor, Will, S, little cousin boy I don't know, C, Grace

Attempting to pull the boat to shore - good thing there are a
lot of strong swimmers in that group!

They were pulling as hard as the could!

Saved by the pontoon!

Lunch on the dock!

He had no trouble getting up on skis, and would have been
able to stay up if it weren't for the HUGE waves out there!

RMSC Camp Week

This past week the kids participated in their one and only camp for the summer!  Both were at Roper Mountain Science Center.  S did a Early American Farm Life with one of our favorite instructors, Ms. Dana, while C did MiniBots.  They both loved every day(even though S missed two days because she was sick!)!  C programmed a mini robot that works with tablets and was able to make it move, talk and light up.  S's camp did things that were true to early American life on the farm - cooking over open hearth, weaving, taking care of the animals, indigo dying and more.  We all love our Roper Mountain and all that they have to offer!

I was able to go observe at C's camp and watch him in action
with his robot, Colton Jr.!

Ms. Dana sent me one of S petting the cow;)

Classics Week and Meet

C made it to Classics today!   During our Divisionals meet, he swam great and qualified in both of the relays, IM, breaststroke and backstroke!  He should be very proud of himself!  Although S had a great meet as well, she did not qualify for the meets this weekend, but she was okay with that!

This week has been full of swim practices, swim practices, swim practices!  One night, the team got to have their practice at the Greenville County Aquatic Complex which is always fun because it is such a nice facility and the water is really chilly!  Afterwards, we all went to Yogurt Mountain!  

A couple of the afternoon practices have been interrupted by storms, so one day, the coaches got creative and had the kids to relaxation and visualization exercises!  The adults got a kick out of watching/listening to it, but the kids seemed to really do well with it!

Then, TODAY, was finally the day!  This year, only two spectator bracelets were given per swimmer.  That meant that our family of four would have one person sitting outside and unable to enter at all times!  None of us thought that would be so great, so S spent the day with Halle!  M, C and I ate a huge brunch at Stax Original - it was so good!  We then headed to the meet to get there early because we heard parking was going to be a nightmare!  We found a close spot, figured out where our team's tent was, got our bracelets, used the restroom, found friends on other teams and then it was time for C to warm up!  He swam really great and had a fun time!

He ended his season with:
Medley Relay 5th (1:34.04)
IM 12th (1:58.68)
Breaststroke 6th (25.40 - although I think on this one he could have done much better if he hadn't been so worried about how the kid next to him was doing and kept looking to the side - he hasn't done that all year!)
Backstroke 12th (25.94)
Free Relay (I think 4th, but I don't remember and I haven't seen results posted and I'm not about to go find the medal he received to look... too lazy!)

Breakfast of champions at Stax Original!

C in lane 4

Still in lane 4

C in lane 7

C and Cousin Will

M and Melanie - cousins!

They had a bunch of inflatables outside - but on such a HOT
day, the coaches had told the kids to not play!  I'd like to think
that he waited until he was done to do this, but I'm not
quite convinced!

After the meet, we high-tailed it to pick S up from Halle's before headed back to the pool for one final party to celebrate everyone who swam in Championships and Classics!  This team has some amazing swimmers as well as some amazing families!  We love our new swim team home and are excited to be with them again next summer!

Dinner is served! Our coaches were well decorated
with FIRST PLACE shirts!!

C getting his medals from Coach Brian

Coach Brian was one of our favorites!

This team sure knows how to party!

Sunday School Lake Day and Our Lake Lot Purchase

We spent the day at Keowee today!  We put in our boat(at our NEW NEIGHBORHOOD'S landing!!) and drove to our Sunday School teachers' house!  Several other families were there and we were all glad to see our friends:)

The kids played on the floating mat and pushed each other off for a long time!  We also all tried out the paddle board(but maybe C didn't, I can't remember!) and there were kayaks and floats for everyone to enjoy!  We ate lunch on their beautiful deck and then Dan and M took the kids out for tube rides - girls on one boat, boys on the other!  

It was an enjoyable time with friends! 

We then went back to our NEW DOCK and put the boat on the lift for the first time and left it there!  It took some trial and error, but we figured it out!  It was weird coming home with an empty trailer! 

Another day on Keowee, another good day! 

Now, off to rest before a long day at the swim meet tomorrow!

This will be our new home away from home at some point in the future!