Last days of summer break, visit to Gma's

Takuto left what we thought was a thank you note nicely displayed for Axel, but we discovered he actually left all 5 of us a thank you note! 

They were all very kind and he told each of us what he enjoyed/appreciated most about his visit with us. He thanked Keith for teaching him and playing basketball with him. He thanked Phoenix and Rubix for playing soccer and basketball with him. He thanked Axel for folding origami, doing math with him and just for being so hospitable. He thanked me for the home cooked meals :)

On Monday after Far Westerns the Yellow Bell group had a big end of year party. We had well over a hundred people including swimmers and parents. I would want to be as bold and say we were closer to 200, but I didn't actually count. I know we have over 100 swimmers across the Yellow Bell groups so I might not be too far off with my guess on attendance. 

I think it took 10 of us, 30 minutes or more to serve everyone dinner. The kids ate first and then the adults dug in. I would have to say it was the biggest pot luck that I have been to in awhile. 

Here is coach with just the Yellow Bell 3 kids. He promoted 8 to 10 kids up to Gold (the 11/12) group. I am not sure how many because I couldn't hear him call out everyone's name. Phoenix got moved up with Helen, Cielo, Victoire, Sara and Kyle to Gold 4, which is the coveted top 11/12 group who is coached by the infamous Luba. Luba has got to be in her 70s and was once a top Russian swimmer who has been coaching, I think, for 45 years. We are very excited to see Phoneix and her friends grow with Luba. They will be training 12 hours a week, which is a pretty significant jump up from their 9-10 hours a week with Coach Victory. 

I threw this picture in here because Rubix plays basketball any chance he can get. I couldn't find him on the play ground, but luckily, I knew to go check the courts. He was happily playing with older kids. 

Phoenix continues to draw and paint in her spare time at home. Here is one of her pieces she recently completed and gave to her cousin for her birthday. 

We met Grandma Susan and Gpa Brian in Concord last Sunday to have dinner and drop off Phoenix and Rubix. Gma was so surprised to see that Axel had out grown her!

We were able to get a 3 generation picture with Gma, myself and Pheonix. Phoenix is catching up! I sure hope she is lucky enough to out grow the both of us!

Gma and the little ones!

Yummy desert for the kiddos. The adults were too full!

The kiddos with both Gma and Gpa!

Off to Gma's house we go!

With the little ones taken care of, Keith and I had a night out for our 15th year anniversary! We went out for Thai food and then to see Barbie, like every other American!

Oops, too windy!

Last selfie shot before the movie started!

The kiddos got to go see GG. They also visited Auntie Shannon and family for a swim playdate and early dinner. 

They ventured to Sea Scape as well as the Fish Hatchery, and had fun playing dominoes and eating Gma's famous steak. 

Gma also gets super credit for taking them to play basketball!

On Thursday we met half way at In-N-out. I just love Phoenix's face. Apparently, she is a 10 year old and was ready to go home. Children....

Rubix giving Gpa a hug!

We made it home in time for Rubix to go to Soccer practice, Axel to go to cross country and for me to take Phoenix swimming at the pool. The kids were happy to move their bodies again. 

Friday, the boys had eye appointments. It only took me all summer to get them appointments. Axel was able to increase his prescription and get adult frames and Rubix also discovered he needed glasses. The optometrist had so much fun with Rubix because he memorized the chart while Axel was having his exam. When she changed the chart, he could only read one letter. She was laughing hysterically because for a second she almost got tricked by a 7 year old. She told him she was catching on to him, and together they were able to sort out his prescription. Both boys were recommended to wear their glasses full time because of their stigmatism. Rubix also has some near sideness and needs help to see the white board. I am really hopeful this will help him participate more in school, now that he will be able to see the board clearly. He was really nervous about needing glasses, but now asks every day when his glasses will arrive. He picked out these cool Nike frames. 

The kids have had the privilege of taking private stroke lessons during the time off from Santa Clara Swim Club. All 3 of them really appreciate it and work hard during their lesson. Axel is completely changing his free style form, Rubix also is working hard at making his free style and butterfly more efficient. Phoenix has been focusing on her butterfly as well as improving her backstroke technique. We are hoping to get in a couple more lessons over the next few weeks to see if they can make their time cuts in the fall swim meets. 

Rubix waiting for Coach Nick to run to the restroom. Rubix is always very patient has he goes last after Axel and Phoenix. He loves the water!

Axel has been running every day since August 7th. He worked really hard this past week through his muscle soreness. He did about 25 miles this week on top of swimming an hour every morning. He said it was a perfect week. He work up and swam with dad, then came home and studied math, and then went to cross country practice in the late afternoon. Tomorrow, he has his 3 hour preCal exam and then a hill workout for cross country. I am praying and hoping things go well for him. He is pretty confident that he has a good grasp of the material and I am pretty confident God's got this and he will end up where he should be. 

Keith took Phoenix and Rubix to run yesterday at the track because Rubix really likes to run now. Well the little guy did it! He broke the 7 minute barrier at just 7 and a half years old. He ran a 6:56 mile yesterday by himself around the track. 

Phoenix managed a 3:07 800 meter effort. She has no desire to run the mile because she can only run up to an 800 meter as a 5th grader so she wants to continue to practice her speed on that. She was very pleased with her time improvement!

Axel has not been the only child doing math all summer.  Phoenix has continued to improve in her Olympiad Math and Rubix has finally grasped area and perimeter! It took a little longer than expected, but here he is writing the answers down before dad has even finished giving him the problems. 

 This week is the last week for the kiddos to relax and be at home before school starts. For Axel, it is almost like school is upon us with his math challenge test tomorrow and then Field day on Thursday and his all day orientation on Friday. We officially have a high schooler in our house! We are incredibly excited for him and can't wait to see the person he grows into over the next few years!

I hope to post first day of school photos Labor day weekend so check back soon!