Our First Swim Meet

I am not sure I can adequately describe a swim meet here on the blog. All I can say is Holy Cow!! Our first swim meet was probably one of the most stressful things I have been through in a really long time.

The prep work was insane because I had to go to the pool prepared to feed and entertain my entire family for four+ hours. I wish I would have taken a picture of the house when we left. There was flour all over the floor from Jaynie using the flour conatiner as a stool and having the lid collapse on her, there was sugar all over the floor from Penny getting into the sugar container that was left open by Jaynie when making cookies, and there was salsa all over my rug from Addie trying to help clear the dirty dishes and not quite getting the bowl in the sink. All of this happened 15 minutes before we left the house so needless to say we left a mess.

Once we arrived at the pool I was frantically trying to read this insane heat sheet and write all the girls races on their arms with permanent marker (yes I said permanent). All the while trying to explain to the youngest two why we were at the pool but not swimming. Just try to imagine me trying to keep a toddler away from the pool when her older sisters are swimming in a race. Then to top it all off about an hour into the meet it started to thunder. We waited at the pool for over an hour until they decided to reschedule it for the next night.

Lets just say I left the pool feeling pretty defeated and terrified that I had to do it all again tomorrow.

But, despite all the craziness the next night went much more smoothly (I learned a few things from the night before) and it was pretty awesome watching the girls swim their races. They all did so great. I was so proud of each one of them and I can't wait to see how their times improve as the season goes on. I like swimming because although they are part of a team they are really only racing against the clock and as long as they can improve their individual time then they are winning.

Ginger Cascades Girls Camp

Jaynie and I spent Friday and Saturday camping with the girl scouts. This was by far the most beautiful place I have camped in North Carolina. Our cabins were on stilts against the edge of the mountain. I felt like I was in a story book.

Jaynie had a great time and I spent the whole time trying not to be the mean leader that enforced all the rules. Unfortunately that's just who I am so that's who I was. I did try and win the bravest/coolest leader award by going in the cricket infested cave and sliding down the freezing cold rock slide. That's got to earn me some points. Jaynie had a great time and I realized she is one of the kindest girls in her troop. I noticed her including girls that no one else was including and really trying to create a unity between everyone. She is such a great kid. I am so glad she got more of her dads genes than mine.

Jaynie and Lillie you are Triathletes

On July 16th 2011 Jaynie and Lillie participated in the Kids for Kids Triathelon here in Winston Salem. Jaynie has been asking to do a triathelon since she was 4 and she heard th Marsh boys talking about it at Thanksgiving dinner one year. I have always wanted to put them in one, but it just never worked out until now. This year the neighborhood that we swim at was hosting a triathelon so it was the perfect time for the girls to do it. We decided to do it about 2 weeks before the race so we didn't spend a lot of time "training" but the girls were able to do and they both did really well. The swim was 100 yards, followed by a 4 mile hilly bike ride, and finally a .6 mile run. Lillie actually took 5th in her age division and if we would have practiced our transition times she could have won the whole thing. Her first transition was a little slow, in fact it was the exact difference in time between her and the winner. She was neck and neck in every split with the girl who won. Quite impressive. Jaynie was just so excited to be there she could have cared less what her time was. She had a smile on her face through the whole thing. I was so proud of both of them.

Lillie is famous. She made the newspaper.

Lillie in the swim


First transition.


Taking off on the bike

Starting the run.

Finishing the run.

Jaynie Swiming. She actually shared a lane with her best friend Jane.

First transition. It was hard to be standing right there and not be able to help them. Jaynie did great with her transitions.

The bike ride was tough, but Jaynie had a smile on her face the whole time.

Jaynie taking off on her run.

Lillie, Jane and Jaynie you are triathletes.

Getting massages after the race. I think this was probably the girls favorite part.

Jaynie's Baptism May 1, 2010

Jaynie was baptized on May 1, 2010. It was such a special day. The whole event was so much fun for me. It was fun taking her to pick out a beautiful white dress and new white shoes and then going to the Tanglewood Gardens to take her picture. The best part was how excited she was for the day. She was giddy with excitement. She said on several occasions that she just couldn't wait to have the Holy Ghost.

The day of was just so amazing. I was so emotional. It felt very strange to have my child going through something so important in her little life. The spirit was very strong in the meeting. Jaynie choose to have her Grandmother's give the talks and her Grandfather's say the prayers. Aunt Kim played the piano and Aunt Kylie led the music. We were so lucky to have so many family members there. I hope this day is one that Jaynie will always remember. I am so proud of her and her choice to be baptized and I am grateful that she now has the Holy Ghost as her constant companion.

Grandma and Grandpa Gifford

Grandma and Grandpa Erickson

Aunt Kylie

Aunt Kim, Uncle Sean, and Carter

Some good looking Erickson Girls

Jaynie also had a lot of friends there to support her on her big day. It was quite the gathering. We really are blessed to have such great friends here in North Carolina.

Jaynie's friend Nate

I think this picture could be foreshadowing. I am all about arrange marriages for my girls!!!!

Allie, Jaynie, Morgan, Jane and Lillie

And of course Lolo

Happy 8th Birthday Jaynie

I can't believe I have an eight year old. Where does the time go. Jaynie turned 8 on April 30th. It was fun to have Grandma and Grandpa Erickson, Grandma and Grandpa Gifford and Kim, Sean and Carter here to celebrate with. Jaynie has actually been lucky to have her Grandma and Grandpa Erickson here for her birthday for the last couple of years.

Eight is such a big deal. It means of course that she will be baptised and that she will go into third grade and face the oh so daunting EOGs (End of Grade testing). It's now time for my baby to enter the big world as an accountable girl. That scares me to death, but Jaynie is up to the challenge. She is such a great little girl. She is the peace keeper in our house and at times I think she is a better mom than I am. I look forward to many wonderful years of watching her grow up. Jaynie I love you!!!

Jaynie makes brownies

Although it makes me incredibly sad to have my kids grow up I must say it is kind of nice to have someone else to make the Family Home Evening treats. Jaynie wanted to bake something and I didn't have time to help her so I thought of the easiest recipe I could and turned it completely over to her. She even had to half the recipe. I was so proud of her. She made them all by herself. Now if I can just get her to cook dinner too.