The past few weeks have been a whirlwind. Every day seemed longer than usual. We had two weekends in a row of swim meets and soccer games. This picture of Axel last Sunday after getting home from one of the longest race weekends ever sums up how we all feel. Axel swam the 200IM, 200 back and 1650 on Saturday and then followed it up with the 200 free, 100 free and 500 free on Sunday. We were at the swim meet from 7:20 am to 3:30pm both days!
He then raced on Monday for Cross Country getting 3rd place overall in the varisty race (granted Menlo and Crystal were not there because this was a rescheduled meet from the week before due to a heat wave). I have great video coverage of the meet, but did not get any pictures.
This past weekend we hosted a dual meet with DART. Rubix got to participate in the medley B relay for the 10 and under boys. They did amazing and beat DART's A relay team. (from left to right in the picture) Druv did the 50 Back, Edward the 50 Breast, Rubix the 50 Fly and Anay the 50 free. They raced so hard and out touched DART by just a second. Phoenix also was in the medley relay for the girls A team. She was with Annabelle, Melissa and Savanah. They crossed the other teams and have a chance at possibly setting a team or league record with how fast all of the girls are.
Phoenix had an amazing weekend getting more 11 y.o J.O. times in the 100 free, 200 free (she had long course, but not short course) and she dropped times in the 100 back, 100 IM, 200 IM and 500 free. She broke the 6 minute barrier with a time of 5:59 in the 500 free, which was spectacular! It is so cool to see her achieve nearly all of the 11 year old J.O. time and bridge the gap to the top girls in PAC swim and move into the top 12 girls in the nation! She is a monster and we are so proud of her for trying so hard in the water.
Last weekend Rubix almost reached the 50 Fly J.O. time standard, missing it by just .2 seconds. He dropped in the 200 IM and is now just a few seconds away from J.O. time. He is also very close in the 50 Breast, 50 back, 50 free and the 100 back. It is really just a matter of time before he starts reaching all of these time standards and bridging the gap to the older boys in his age group. Coach Victory, pictured above is finally on board for helping Rubix reach these time standards (despite his age) and told us that Rubix needs to be ready for the J.O. and Far Western Relays! So cool for our little guy to start improving again.
The kids had "fall break day #2" on Monday. Their coached held practice at Crystal Springs race course Monday afternoon. At 6pm when we were done I was able to capture a beautiful picture of the sunset along with Axel and Jonathan. Axel said his legs felt really tired, but he had just raced all weekend so no one was too concerned.
The only bummer thing was Axel did not heed my advice and get his costume made BEFORE cross country practice, so instead of getting to bed and resting he stayed up until 11:15pm making his costume.
Rubix was the first to have his done a week ago making the simplest Rubix cube with the help of Phoenix.
Phoenix was the next to get hers done with the help of Axel and I on Sunday night. She was a Phoenix Bird.
Axel was a gray Axolotl. He did a great job, but I was really worried about his lack of sleep over the past couple of weeks.
The kids on Halloween morning!
This was a picture a teammate's mom took of us on our way out from the Gilroy meet at Morgan Hill two weeks ago. The kids had a great weekend of hard racing, but as you can tell, we were one of the last families out since Axel stayed to do the 400 IM. He was only one of two swimmers who stayed to do the race, everyone else scratched because the meet went into the afternoon and I don't think most families are prepared to stay until 2:30/3 pm.
This is actually a picture of Adam Li, who is an 8 year old who is Rubix's biggest competitor. Rubix just happen to beat him in almost every race they did. Rubix worked really hard on his flip turns and transitions and dropped a ton of time in his events. He dropped over 5 seconds in the 100 free to a 1:14.77 and Adam got a 1:15.15.
Back to Halloween.... I was able to volunteer in Phoenix's homeroom for their class party and be there for their parade. Here she is sitting next to Kylie.
This is Phoenix's principle, Mrs. Giamonna. The administration all dressed up as Barbie or Ken. It was really fun. She actually came into the classroom to speak with me about Phoenix since their class trip is next Wednesday to Friday. We had to write her about Phoneix's sleep walking/night terrors because they have really ramped up with the kids having a cold a few weeks ago and now another virus, which appears to be, RSV, based on their symptoms. She is really understanding because she had them and there is another child who also has them in Phoenix's class. They are going to make sure they bunk next to one of the chaperones.
I was an elf on the shelf and had to get a selfie of my girl and I.
Yummy marshmallow ghost!
The school parade!
We left Harker and went right to another parade at SCSC. How much fun to parade around and receive candy from your swim coaches!
Phoenix and her crew (Hana, Felicia, P, Audrey, Cielo, Victoire, Alicia and Sarah). Sarah in the jelly belly costume won the best costume award. I loved it!
The kids wrapping coach Sveta in toilet paper.
They won for wrapping coach Sveta the quickest and most completely of all of the coaches. It was really funny watching the little ones wrap Coach Victory because he is so much bigger than they are. The kids were just throwing the toilet paper on him and it kept falling off. They had a great time though.
Phoenix went trick or treating with Audrey at Rivermark. It was really fun as Rivermark was packed with amazing decorations and tons of people really into enjoying Halloween.
Phoenix came down with a fever after trick or treating. She was really cold in the water on Monday and Tuesday, and she didn't look great while trick or treating, so I wasn't surprised that she was coming down with something. She stayed home on Wednesday and slept most of the day. She has not been in the water since then. Despite her being sick, Keith and I had plans to go to the Warrior game. We dropped Rubix off at practice and arranged a ride home for him and Axel and made sure Phoenix was comfortable before heading to the game. We sat in the same seats Axel did when he went with his friend Liam. We had the same crazy VIP experience. Albert and Vicki have asked us 3 times and we finally had enough time to arrange rides for the kids and go. It was truly one of the coolest experiences of my life. I have never seen the players so close and it made me appreciate how hard they plan from the first play of the game until the last play.
Let's go Warriors!
Jump ball!
Steph Curry!
Light up bike trick man.
Rubix and Axel started feeling bad on Thursday and came down with a fever Friday. They stayed home from school and slept most of the day. Axel missed his cross country championship, but his team was able to secure the last spot to CCS. We are hoping Axel will feel well enough to run well next Saturday at CCS (sectionals). Currently, he has quite the cough, but overall feels better than he did on Friday. Rubix is also feeling better and was able to stand and play goalie for 3 quarters of his soccer game. I had him stay away from his teammates when he was sitting out and we left right after the game.
We will have our yearly MIT friends gathering next Saturday after CCS and then we have a swim meet the following weekend and then Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving is the state cross country meet, which we don't think Axel or Harker will be involved in, but really don't know. The following weekend is Age group champs or J.O.'s in Moraga. November is likely going to fly by and I hope to post after J.O.'s
