Broadmoor and the Manitou Incli

With the help of our older two kids and my parents for one night, Bri and I were able to get to the Broadmoor to celebrate our 20th anniversary!  I have always wanted to do the Manitou Incline and so we did it!  And then instead of going home to kids, we laid by the incredible pool at the Broadmoor and ate yummy food and just hung out with each other.  It was so nice and turns out that despite the crazy fun life at home, we still love hanging out together alone too.  And the hike was HARD!

 

A Family Hike-minus 1

While we haven't been able to escape for a long far off vacation this summer, we have managed to squeeze in what we can.  Unfortunately LT had to work, but the 4 of us went to the mountains for 2 days and went on a favorite hike up to an abandoned mine. 

Our home up there doesn't get the love it needs unfortunately, so we had to drain the hot tub, clean it and then refill it.  Lucky for these two, they have always wanted to do a cold plunge, I can't believe they are smiling in the 58 degree water.

Crawdad Searching

These two are close buds at VV each summer.  Unfortunately they do not see each other much during the year (and he's moving to Idaho soon).  But, they did have an epic playdate last week.  A sleepover at our house (more like a no sleep all nighter) followed by crawdad searching the next day with his buddies dad.

 

State Swim Meet

These guys had the state swim meet (ads on Friday and today and LT just today).  I have been so bad about taking photos, I made them take the one above at 5:30 AM in case I didn't get anything else.  Luckily I was on my A game for photo taking today and more were taken.

Before and after these 4 won and set the record in the medley relay (they did the same in the free relay but unfortunately DQd).

And these two were on a very solid relay as well (the other two had to swim immediately after the relay so it was only these two in the photo).

They both swam so well today and had some best times and scored some good points for the team.

In my opinion, Ads swims the hardest races.  Fly in the relay, 100 fly, 400 free and then the 200IM.  So strong.

And LT is such a fast sprinter, so fun to watch.

The team after the meet was over.  While B didn't go this year, he was there all day cheering his brothers and their friends on (and playing some games on phones too).

Friends for a long time.

 

A visitor

These two went to school from kindergarten through 5th grade together before they moved to Michigan.  He flew in yesterday for 5 days to stay with us.

 

State- 400s

 Ads swam the 400 on Friday with these other hard working kids.  It was a small but mighty group who kicked butt.

State dive meet for B

This guy worked his butt off this year in diving (first year ever!)  He loved every minute of it and is excited to go back next year.  At league, he qualified for state.  I honestly thought he would come in last, but he snagged the last of the top 6 spots!  He was the ONLY 9-10 diver to make state from our team.  Above he is with his very sweet and supportive coaches.

And these three have been buddies since preschool (though the other two dive for a different team).

 

Dancing at the Banquet

Beautiful Sunrise

I reluctantly went to swim practice early yesterday morning after being at several events that went later than I'd hoped the night before.  But, I walked into the pool to this view!

 

Annual Fun Run

A few years ago, when the league meet was at the Central Park pool, Meg and I decided to run during warm up.  Neither of us were feeling like running in shadeless paths in the heat for a long period, so we ended up taking breaks at the playgrounds and acting like kids again.  The meet was at Central Park again this year and so we went on what is now known as the Fun Run.  We climb ropes, do flips off swings and it ends with a cartwheel (amongst many other fun things).  The morning of day one, we went out and did our usual route.  When we got back, people asked where we ran and when we started laughing and explaining the fun run, they wanted to join.  So day 2, we had a group of 6, even more fun!

 

Team Dinner

Ads hosted a really thoughtful team dinner on night one of the league meet.  We had about 15-20 teens over and he cooked for them all.  

B invited his buddy over for pizza and watermelon.

 

League Swim Meet and the Banquet

Its hard to believe the swim season is almost over (it is for B, but not the big guys).  The past two days were League.  I got zero photos of the older kids but they did great.  This is B and his cute relay team.

Last night was the banquet.  Bri is in Spain and the big guys went with friends, so B and I went out to dinner with his friend and his friends parents.  But, B really wanted a photo with him and Lexi before, which proved to be difficult.

And the afterparty was a blast for these guys and all the big kids.