10 and under swim Champs, Track Champs, and more!

After getting back from Japan, it has been a whirlwind of activity. The kids worked hard to prepare for both the 10 and under swim championship and the league track meet. While I was getting Phoenix and Axel from track one Tuesday, I see these pictures come in on the Whatsapp for Phoenix's class. Steph Curry and two of his daughters were at Harker to watch the older daughter play volleyball. No one knew he was there until a parent caught a glimpse of him on his way out. Apparently, he has already had to switch schools because the parents got a little out of hand having his family apart of the community. I believe his children now go to a very small private school in our private school sports district. 

On Saturday, April 22nd, Rubix and Phoenix swam their hearts out at the 10 and under champs swim meet. Phoenix was disappointed that she did not get her Far Western time cuts that she was going for in the 100 and 50 yard breast stroke events, but she did get to more Junior Olympic time standards for the 200 IM and the 100 Fly! She took over 4 seconds off the 100 fly and is actually within just 3 seconds of Far Western time standards. She had tough competition and swam a total of 6 events, including her 2 relays. 

Rubix swam outside himself and took off 5 seconds in his 50 yard Fly, getting within 3 seconds of the 10 and under Junior Olympic time standard. He was screaming fast in the 25 Fly and the 25 and 50 Free style events and did a clean sweep winning them all. He managed to take the overall for 7 year olds, just one month after turning 7! We were ecstatic for him, since we thought there was nothing he could do to beat the older 7 year old boy, who is also a phenomenal swimmer. 

Coach Victory and Rubix. Coach Victory has been such a great coach for Phoenix and Rubix. He is so positive and easy to wok with. He loves working with kids and motivating them to be better. He is really helping them improve their technique, times and love for the sport. 

Look at Coach Victory's crew! He had well over 30 qualifying swimmers! He was rallying the kids for the team cheer!

Coach Victory with his top girl swimmers. These girls are all amazing fast. They get along so well, yet, really push each other to swim faster.

Phoenix and Rubix displaying their bling. :) Although Phoenix only medaled in the relays, she placed in all of her events. Points were given out 8 deep and considering how fast the top girls are, she placed 4th through 8th in all 4 events. 

As soon as 10 and under champs were done, we quickly switched gears to get the kids ready for track champs. Phoenix came out the day after and blew away her times on the track running a 3:09 800 meters. Her buddy Astrea joined which made Phoenix so happy. We had quite the crew training with Axel and Phoenix which always makes practicing more fun. 

On April 29th Axel competed in the Mustang Math Tournament and his team did amazing. They won 3 of 4 rounds, but somehow only took 2nd overall. They were a little disappointed that they bombed a round which lead to a 2nd overall after winning the other 3 rounds, but were still excited to have done as well as they did. 

AlphaStar group photo of all competing kids. 

While Axel was doing math, the rest of us were at Rubix's soccer game. Here is Coach Daddy with Rubix after the game. Rubix has been loving soccer playing 8 on 8, rather than 4 on 4. He is learning more about the game and continues to be a dominating factor on the team. He tends to gravitate towards midfield and become a beast of a middle fielder, hardly letting any balls get past him. I am a little bummed that I was only able to make 3 games all season because of the other kids activities. 

Headed to the track for another workout!

A quick picture with the beautiful Calla lilies. Phoenix drove home with her friend Astrea, hence why she is not in the photo.

Axel all dressed up on April 30th to go to a 1920's dinner with 29 other Harker students. He loved the food, along with seeing old piano's, type writers, etc. 

We ended up having a rainy first week of May. It was a little unusual, but the Iris's didn't mind the extra water. 

On Cinco de Mayo, Harker lower school had Grandparent's Day. On a whim, I asked Grandma Susan if she would come because Phoenix asked if she would have any grandparents there and that she would love if Gma Susan could come. Well, Gma Susan came and the kids had such a blast with her. At the end of the morning the kids performed. Here is the 1st grade class performing. I did get any other pictures because parents were not allowed to go and this was the only one posted on the Whatsapp group.

On Friday night Gma came with us to the track meet. Phoenix ran the 200 and 800 meter race and Axel ran the 800 meter race. I was so bummed to not get a picture of Gma with the kids before school. I managed one photo with everyone all bundled up and cold. It wasn't suppose to rain, but it did off and on for the entire 4 hours we were at the meet!

 We had to be up bright and early to get Axel to the track meet Saturday morning. He ran the 1200 meter race first and then the 400 and 4 x 100 relay. Phoenix ran the 400 and the 4 x 100 relay. I took videos of all of their races, but another parent captured a few great photos of the kids racing. 

Here is Axel in the 1200. He is right on pace at 1:14 splits and ended with a 3:49.2. The boy who won, Henry, who beat Axel at the league championship for cross country came in around 3:25. 

Axel had a run for his money as the boy he is sprinting here, beat him in the 800 the night before. Axel got 2nd in the 800 and we didn't think this boy had it in him to keep the pace up in the 1200, but somehow Axel found himself in an all out sprint. 

I was beyond proud to see him dig so deep within himself and pull ahead of this competitor to outsprint him for 2nd in the 1200. 

Daddy and Phoenix congratulating him on a job well done.

Axel, Phoenix and Kylie behind the black strip. Kylie's dad, Tom, is the one who captured all of these photos for us. 

Axel giving Phoenix a pep talk. 

The girls getting ready for the 400. 

Phoenix running the 400. 

We were so bummed for her. They called this a 400 final and then had 3 heats! Phoenix did not get to race against her team mates which cost her and she ended up 3rd. She was really happy, as were we, because she was able to run her fastest 400 for a 1:21. 

Her buddy, Kylie, ended up taking 2nd at 1:19 and the Sacred Heart girl ran a 1:15 or something crazy fast. 

Phoenix, did not PR in the 200 or the 800 but she finished 3rd in the 800 with a 3:10 and 7th in the 200 at 37 seconds. Her relay team took 2nd though, which was fun for them. If their transitions were better, they could have won, but winning is not everything and the girls ran as hard as they could. 

Axel had bad luck with his 400 meter race as well, only having one boy in his heat. He finished 6th at 1:05.21. The other heats had 4 or 5 kids, which really wasn't fair, but it is what it is. He dug really deep to race against himself and get a PR. Keith clocked Axel at 1:04.8, but regardless we loved seeing the kids overcome their fears and pressures. They ran well and had fun. We were so happy that Gma was there to watch and cheer them on. 

We had Noah and his family over for dinner last Saturday night. I wish I would have taken a photo of Rubix and Noah. They play so well together. This weekend we are looking forward to visiting with more friends and taking the family cherry picking with Rubix's friend's, Rowan and Kian's family. We have 2 weekends of 3 day swim meets, a soccer tournament, then the last week of school with finals and Axel's promotion ceremony. Phoenix has a piano recital and I have a girls weekend with my mom and sister and then we will be in full swing of summer fun. I hope to post the first week of June all of the exciting events that lie ahead, especially Axel's big promotion to High School!!!!