Swim Lessons

Not to much new to report on other than Olivia & Isabella started swim lessons today (they last for 2 weeks). They both loved it and had a great time. For Bella's lessons I have to be in the water with her. It took her just a short amount of time to warm up to the idea of following instructions from me but she did get the hang of it and enjoyed it! As for Olivia, she just loves to be involved in activities, so needless to say she enjoyed her class! Hopefully I can get Bailey to take some pictures for us to share with you all...it is a little difficult for me to take them while in the water.

Mohawks

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that this would happen but it did....my boys got Mohawks! Don was talking to Nico about how he need his hair cut, and from that conversation it transpired into Don, Nico, Borts, Erich, & Andy (the last three work for Don) all getting Mohawks. So you ask why....well their idea was to do this to get through football camps. I know most of us would choose a different vice to get through something but for them the Mohawk was the answer. I have included photos for you to see......

1st Swim Meet vs Macher's

So this spring Don & I told Bailey & Nico that we thought that it would be a great idea for them to join the swim team at our swim club this summer. After many arguments/discussions they finally agreed (or were pushed) to join.

Bailey all along has been very apprehensive about the whole thing because she just didn't feel that her freestyle was very good but was pretty confident in her breaststroke & backstroke abilities, and as Don & I told her she could pick the heats that she would swim in & didn't have to do all. With this knowledge it helped to ease some of the nerves. Well on Monday, June 4th they had their first practice and Bailey of course was ready to quit because her freestyle wasn't "any good" according to her (this child feels that she always has to have everything perfect in order to do it). So as we said to her it was her very 1st day on a swim team and that she needed to give it time and that we were proud of both of them for doing this, and that nobody has all strokes perfect & it takes time to get them down pat. So, let's fast forward to Thursday of the same week and what is Bailey doing...yep the freestyle & quite nicely I might add. Oh yes it was another "mom's right" moment...got to love them but don't let my mom hear this because I'm still right in that relationship! :)

As for Nico, he claimed that he hated swim team too, the first few days, but he really seems to be enjoying himself. I think it really helps that he has become the little helper/buddy to the coaches & they all knew him by name on the first day (maybe this isn't such a good thing..J/K)! His stroke of choice would be Bail's least favorite...the freestyle. He is very good & fast at it until he needs to breath. When he is swimming he clips right along in great form, and when the breathe thing happens it's like he completely stops swimming, pops his head out to breath (meanwhile doing the doggy paddle) and then proceeds to his good form. This style is definitely slowing him down, but I'm sure that he'll have it down by season end.

So now here is the exciting part: Last night (6/13) they had their 1st swim meet.
Bailey entered into 3 heats: 50M backstroke, 50M breaststroke , & medley relay. She took 3rd in backstroke, 2nd in breaststroke & 3 in the relay, and she got a ribbon for all three!
Nico entered into 2 heats: 25M freestyle & medley relay. He took 2nd in freestyle & 3rd in the relay, and he got ribbons for both of those as well!
Just in case you couldn't tell mom and dad are VERY PROUD of both of them! Their next meet is next Wednesday and we will let you know how it goes!

Bailey on the starting block getting ready for her 50M breaststroke......

Nico on the starting block getting ready for his 25M freestyle.....

Nico swimming freestyle for the relay.....



Bailey swimming the backstroke for the relay.....

Apology

Please accept my apology for no new activity in a week. My internet and email were down from last Thursday until last night!! I never realized how much I LOVE my laptop and internet until it was taken away from me...whew glad that spell is over!

A little shout out for Vescio's

I have to add this bit of info. that my cousin just emailed to me. It was in the Minneapolis-St. Paul StarTibune, and I think it's great! I know that those of you that are apart of the family will enjoy it, and those of you that are part of this business will get a kick out of it as well.

First I'll set the stage: The Minnesota Golden Gophers just hired a new Men's Basketball Coach, and this article talks about the dinner tab of the new coach, his wife, U of M officials and such that attended this dinner the night before the announcement. Well the Minnesotans really wanted Bobby Knight for the job (which is Don's all time favorite coach ever) and his favorite restaurant to eat at when in town is Vescio's. Now for those of you who don't know me that well, Vescio is my maiden name and the restaurant is owned by my cousins (started by my great uncle). Anywho, here is the excerpt:

How about Vescio's?

There were 12 people in attendance when the university took Smith to dinner on March 22, the night before he was announced as the new basketball coach: Tubby and Donna Smith, Tubby's representative Robert Jones, athletic director Joel Maturi and wife Lois, and seven other people with university connections.

The location was the Capital Grille and the tab was $858.85 ($71.57 apiece), plus a $154 tip.

So here's what we want to know at BTQ: If Vescio's is good enough for all-time winner Bobby Knight on his visits to Minnesota, why wouldn't it be good enough for Tubby Smith, who had arrived on his mission to escape Kentucky?

It would have taken two large Sid's Special pizzas (sausage, pepperoni, mushroom, fried sweet peppers, extra cheese and special seasoning) at $21.95 apiece, plus two bottles of Vescio's recommended red wine at $39 apiece to satisfy this entourage.

That's $121.90, plus a generous $25 for a hard-working waitress, and there's an $865 saving that Maturi could have used toward Dan Monson's buyout.

Olivia's Preschool Graduation

This is a photo from Olivia's Preschool Graduation on May 24th...isn't she so cute!! And of course mom had tears in here eyes! I can't believe that she is old enough already to go to Kindergarten!

Failed blogger so far

So, as I stated on my first blog, my goal was/is to update this daily...well I have already failed (as you can tell) due to our schedules. So from here on out I will try to do a better job with this!

Now that we are on summer break I'm much happier (with the exception of this crappy cold that I have). I'm so happy to not have to run here and there and everywhere. The only running I have now is to the pool & I LOVE IT!! Bailey & Nico started swim team on Monday and of course are complaining about it but I think with time they will love it. Olivia & Isabella are enjoying playing in the kiddie pool while the older 2 swim laps (they will start their lessons in a couple of weeks).

We all feel bad for dad because he is still working his but off. He spent the whole weekend doing laundry for visiting baseball teams because we hosted the regional baseball tournament from the 1st to the 4th...Mizzou played their hearts out but lost in the last game to Louisville. Then he had to go to KC yesterday for football camp, and then he has camp this weekend and next.

I do feel bad for our friends Andy & Andrea (visiting us from Germany) as well. When they return home I think that they will need another vacation because I think that we are running them ragged! Sorry Guys! :)