Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

More than just swimming....



The two little kids joined a swim team this summer.  Actually, I signed them up without their permission. All four of my readers know that Jon was a swimmer - a really good swimmer - and none of our children have ever even tried swimming as a sport.  So I decided we needed a swimmer or two.  It turned out to be a really great thing for both of them.

They learned to swim better than before.  That was the initial goal.  How could they not improve with practices five days a week?  Little Molly, who was sure at the beginning of the summer that she needed a swim belt to get in the pool (which she quickly learned she didn't) is swimming all four strokes and improving her time with each meet. Will has beautiful strokes and is also improving his times in each event.


But that's not all!  There were other great things happening. Will learned the valuable lesson of pressing forward even when it was tough or he really didn't want to do it. They both got great exercise almost every day!! (I actually got exercise, too! Cooper Fitness Center is a great place to be on swim team - nice gym right inside the door!  I got an afternoon workout in most days.)

One of the best things about swim team was the friendships strengthened. Both Will and Molly made new friends and they spent lots of times with friends they already had.  And I was blessed to enjoy the company of three great women for three hours a day.  Tori is my email exercise buddy. She always has a fresh perspective on things and was so fun to have around.  I'm sad she had to move away.  We missed her at those 102 degree swim meets! Shahna is a great friend. We are very much alike in many ways.  It was fun to visit with her (and Brent) every day.  My kids appreciated the food she was always willing to share.  And Diane joined me in the gym, shared her gardening knowledge (and the fruits of that knowledge!), and shared many a laugh with me.  

Will and his buddy Brady cooling off at a meet.

The whole gang (except for Harris, who was at camp)

Buds. 
How lucky am I??

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

It Was A Merry Month!

2008 has been a wonderfully eventful year.  It's fitting that we wrapped it up with a wonderful Christmas season.  Here are some highlights.

Karen's Mom and Dad arrived mid month and are staying a whole month.  They are blessed to be in such good health and we enjoy having them in our home.   Dad turned 80 this year and Mom isn't too far behind.  Don't they look great?


We hosted our annual Chili and Chowder party in our new home!  We loved having old friends from Plano and our new Prosper friends all together.  The food was de-lish and the company was even better!


Our great neighbor Mike Koster and the Morleys, new church friends.

Prosper church friends the Platts and the Fergusons.

Long time Plano friends Rhoberta Blankmeyer, George and Heather Nail and Cindy Bell

Ashley had fun visiting with college roomate Kristin Willardson and her sister Jenny.


On Christmas Eve, we headed for the mall for our traditional kids photo with Santa.  We've done this since Ashley's first Christmas.  There are a few more people in the photo and for the first time, a second generation is included.  Parker was remarkably cooperative!  We actually had a harder time getting everyone else to pay attention and smile.  


The photo Karen took looks pretty good, too!

Will and Molly looking picture perfect!

The professional image - pretty good looking family, I think.  Nice socks, Santa!

Everyone had a great time!

After the photo, we all (except for Drew who had to go back to work) headed to the Original Pancake House for a yummy breakfast - Breakfast AFTER Santa.


Molly's Swedish Pancakes were as big as she is!!

Ashley and Sam

Grandpa Jon and Ashley

Beautiful Lucy and Adorable Molly

Perfectly adorable Parker!

We had a fun visit with an old friend from Karen's YW Prez days.  Charlie Thiot served on Stake Youth Committee, along with Ashley.  He's married now and has a really cute (and itty bitty) daughter, Keelie.  I managed to only take pictures of the babies. 

The standoff.

We also were able to celebrate in other ways of which we didn't get photos - school parties, a choir concert, an ornament painting party, seeing Christmas lights in Highland Park, playing games and visiting with each other.  We've had a wonderful time with family and friends and appreciate so much all who add so much to our lives.  

Up next - Christmas Eve and Christmas Day....