Avery

My beautiful, passionate, wild, brilliant, strong-willed Avery...

Iowa Games

I am so proud of Claire!  This last weekend she competed

in her second Iowa Games!

Last year was awesome!  She was at the top of her

age group, with very few 8 and under swimmers 

participating at this level.  Well.....

this year was slightly different.

She is at the bottom of her age group, with a lot

of fierce competitors.  Just as an example, two of the

girls that she swam against each broke more than

one Iowa Games record over the weekend!

Oh, and did I mention the heat?!  Iowa is currently

in the middle of a record-setting heat wave, and sitting

in a non-air-conditioned pool house is kind of like

sitting in a very hot sauna!

But, despite all of that, Claire suited up and did her best!

I am so proud of her.

She has the spirit of an athlete, with a heart of gold.

My favorite moment of the whole weekend, was

when Claire noticed a young boy struggling to get out

of the pool (this is a college pool, ISU).

Without hesitation, she leaned over and grabbed

his hand to help him out.  That is Claire.

Kind, smart, strong, caring, funny, and fast!

Overall, she had a good weekend.  She beat

several of her best times, got to hang out all by herself

with mom on one day and dad on the other,

and gets to say that she is an Iowa Olympian!

Way to go Claire!!

Claire during warm ups.  Why so hazy?  That is

because it was so hot and humid, I couldn't get

my camera lens to stop fogging over!

 Sitting in the stands with me, waiting for her next event.

Claire was the only girl, under the age of 10, from our

team to go to the Iowa Games this year.

Parade of swimmers.  She's on the left, above the blue flag.

Coach Kim, who was serving as an official not a coach,

giving Claire a pep talk before her relay.

I am so grateful that I get the opportunity to experience

these great moments with my daughters.

I am so grateful that they are growing up to be strong,

and proud and brave, as a result of these experiences.

Now, if only we could do some of this great

character-building somewhere a little cooler!