2012 Swim Team Banquet

We spend a lot of time at the pool and a lot of time with 

our swim family.  So, one of our favorite events is the

annual Swim Team Banquet.

We had a great time this year, and a couple of 

fun surprises.

As we settled in with some good pasta and friends,

a storm came rolling through town.

About half way through a great awards presentation,

the power went out!  Being the tough Dolphins that we are,

the show went on!  Everyone grabbed their cell phone

flashlights and we had a great time!

The second surprise came when Claire was announced

the winner of the 9-10 girls Most Time Dropped award!

That is very exciting and well-deserved, as Claire worked

very hard this year!  She is very proud of her little trophy!

A great time was had by all and I was reminded again

of how much I love this team and what it is all about!

8 and under girls. What a great group!

9-10 girls. Another great group of girls!

Aves should win the "best little sister" award.
She is such a trooper and loves hanging out
with her swim team friends!

Getting her year-end goodies from Coach Kim ~

A big hug from Coach Kris ~

It is very easy for me to get wrapped up in the competition of

competitive swimming. But, when I get the chance to hang out

with these families, coaches and kids, I can't help feeling 

 so grateful for the love and support we have found

on this team.  

I forget that when Claire started swimming 5 years ago, she 

was a shy girl with just a shadow of the confidence she has now.

Joining this team and swimming has done so many wonderful

things for her, and not one of them has anything to do with 

how fast she swims.

I am so grateful to be a proud mama on the 

Walnut Creek Dolphins Swim Team!!

Easter Eggstravaganza!

As you know by now, I'm big on traditions.

So much so, that if I can't do something "like I've always done it",

it just may not get done.

Such was this year's Easter plans.  It all started with my

mom being out of town over Easter.  Then throw in a lot

of travel in March, Easter coming early in April and the next

thing you know, I didn't plan our annual Easter party.

Now, this may not seem like a big deal, but let me tell you,

it was!  We've been hosting the Rousehouse Easter Eggstravaganza

for 10 years! 10 years of tradition, out the window.

As you can imagine, I was quite sad.  I was angry with myself

for not being superwoman and getting it done.

What I realized was that I didn't get it done because I didn't 

think I could do it perfectly.  Luckily, I have fantastic friends

who love me, encourage me, and don't want to dye eggs at their house!

So, days before Easter, plans were in motion.  Our dear friends,

The Keplingers, invited us to their house for Easter dinner.

I even made homemade mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes

all by myself (minus a few texts to mom!)

We had such a great time and felt very loved, welcomed,

and full!

Next, our best family friends The Liskeys,

and of course GiGi and PaPa and Boppa, came over and we

threw together an abbreviated Easter Eggstravaganza!

I'll tell you a secret, Dave and I both thought it was the best

Easter party we've ever had!!

We didn't have cupcakes, we didn't have games,

we didn't have the fabulous craft, but we did have fun!

And, most importantly, we dyed eggs and did our famous

Easter Egg Hunt!  Dave and I threw together 150 plastic

eggs the night before and 149 were found!

We also threw in a new twist: grilled burgers and The Masters!

What did I learn from all of this?

I'm not perfect and no one wants me to be.

Our friends come over to celebrate Easter because they

love us and because we want to take a day to laugh together,

to play together, and to enjoy the wonderful gift that Easter

has to offer: love and hope.

So, traditions are important and I will never stop 

harping on that.  But, good friends, open doors,

and flexibility are important too.

Many blessing to all of our dear friends and family.

We love you all!

Here are just a few of my favorite pics from the party.

Enjoy ~

10 kids coloring eggs ~ amazing!

Not sure what's happening here, but I love the expression!

Aves loves her Miss Wendy!

Great group of kiddos ~

Avery is serious about egg hunting!

15 yet Claire?

Beauty!

Everyone checking out their loot ....

and eating it as fast as possible!

Midwest Regionals

Finally, the last meet of the year.

The one we've been waiting for.

The grand finale, big show, last call.

Well, really, just one more meet!

Grammy and I packed up the girls and headed

to Minneapolis for the 2012 Midwest Regional Championships.

What a huge honor that both girls qualified.

I'll admit, sometimes I forget that.  I forget that it's hard to do.

Not everyone makes the cut, not everyone is brave enough to do it.

Just making it is an accomplishment on its own.

So, I shouldn't care how they do, right?!?

Well, I'm still working on that!

But, besides my expectations, everyone did great

and more importantly had a great time!

Claire qualified in 6 individual events this year!!

Ella qualified in 1, very impressive for a 7 year old!

They both swam in a relay as well.

Both did great!

Claire got personal best times in 2 events

and some okay and what happened times in a couple others.

All rounded out, not a bad showing!

Ella swam without getting disqualified in the

University of Minnesota pool at a high-competition meet.

That is success in itself!!

I had a painful growing experience that my expectations

are my problem and should be no one else's problem.

I was reminded of why we swim; because it's fun, we

love it, and it's a great sport to be a part of.

In the end, we all walked away from the weekend 

with good memories and goals for next year.

The best part: Walnut Creek Dolphins walked away

the the title of 2012 Midwest Champions!!

and the Spirit Award for good sportsmanship.

I could not be prouder of this team and my girls!!!

WC Dolphins!

My sweet Claire bear

Relay team getting a pep talk from Coach Kris

Claire getting ready for her leg of the relay. She got her best
time on her split!

She shot off the block with perfect timing!

Coach Kris is the best!

Claire qualified in the 100 IM, 200 IM, 50 Breast, 100 Breast
50 Back and 100 Back.  Busy girl!

Ella and Avery enjoying some chocolate muffins for breakfast.
Avery was amazing.  She cheered the team on for 2 straight days
and was so good.  That girl is awesome!

Ella's turn came on Day 2.  Coach Kim giving her a pep talk
before she takes off for her leg of the relay.

Get ready Ella ~

Free is not Ella's favorite stroke, but she did great!

We were very lucky to have a very special treat waiting

for us in Minnesota.  Aunt Rachel and Uncle Dean welcomed

our new baby cousin, Arwyn, just days before the meet.

We were so lucky to get to spend some time with them Saturday

evening.  She is beautiful and mom, dad, and Sophie seemed

very happy, if not tired! : )

Me and my new adorable niece!

Between all the swimming and baby snuggling, we did manage

to have some fun at the waterpark!

Ella went down the waterslide! That's a big deal!

Claire loves the waterslide!!

Aves loved the water sprayer!

We spent a lot of time here ~

She would make it spray, then jump down and hide.
Silly Avery!

Thanks to Grammy for coming with us.

Thanks to all the great friends that were there

to cheer all of our swimmers on.

Thanks to my amazing sister-in-law and brother

who graciously had the baby in time for us to meet her!

I love swimming.  I love the meets, the team,

everything about it.  But, I will admit, I'm ready for a break!

We're off to the softball fields. See the pool again in June!

Spring time fun!

Spring came early in Iowa this year, so the Rousehouse

is taking advantage of all of the nice weather!

We are really enjoying having 3 "big kids" playing

and having fun!  Avery is getting so big, Ella is getting 

so brave, and Claire is getting so independent (and sassy!)

Outdoors has been our theme this spring, and

bike riding has been on top of the to-do list.

Aves loves riding bikes, probably more than

either of the bigger girls ever did.  She is riding up and

down our street all the time, just enjoying the breeze

and peace and quiet!

Ella is even taking a turn at bike riding.  That has never

been one of her favorite things, so it's very nice

to see her try and succeed!

While I fear what the temps will be like this summer,

I am very grateful for the beautiful weather we had

this March.  I have made an effort to get out there

and enjoy it with my kids.  I am grateful for 

the laughter, the memories, and the fun.

I could do without the skinned knees, but

that comes with the territory!

We visited the Easter bunny at the mall this year, 

something we never do!  As you can see,

Ella chose not to hang out.  Big costumed

characters have never been a favorite at our house!

We do love a good train ride though!

I don't think I'll be able to squeeze my babies in there much longer!

Avery is a fearless adventurer! She loves to go to the

park, any park, and climb, slide and run!

Here she is attempting the monkey bars, 

after attempting them by herself and falling 8ft.

down and getting right back up.  I stayed close

for this one, but she didn't need me.

She made it all the way across by. her. self!

More climbing...

So proud of herself!

Aves is getting so big, she even likes to get her 

hair cut now!  She let Miss Jenn shampoo her like a 

big girl.  I love these moments, but I hate them too.

Why can't I just freeze time and enjoy it a little longer??

Avery on her big girl bike!

What a beautiful girl!

This is Avery, with her "animal holder".

As you may know, Avery loves her stuffed animals.

I don't mean like normal kids, I mean she loves them!

She always has an animal with her and is as 

devoted to them as anyone I know.

On this day, she tied her sweater up to serve

as an animal snugglie.  

Our first picnic of the year came in late March.

How crazy is that!?  We grilled hot dogs and 

enjoyed the unseasonably beautiful weather!

I may be busy.  I may be exhausted.

I may have cleaning to do, or a show to watch.

I may have shopping to do or laundry to sort.

But I will only have these 3 angels, at this age 

and in this moment, for a short time.

I will enjoy it!

Happy Spring!