GKISA Swim meet

Last Saturday was Aspen's last swim meet of the season. The meet was held on the UT campus in the new, state of the art Olympic pool. Aspen swam the 25 free, placing first in her heat (75th out of 220 over all.) She swam in the 25 back coming in 2nd in her heat and the 50 free (with a flip turn!) also placing 2nd in her heat. It was a fun meet. She did a great job and was a nice way to end the season!

Waiting with one of the coaches.

50 free results. The top 9 went into the finals on Sunday. We saw later in the paper that the top finisher of this event had a time of 33 seconds. Way ahead of even the 2nd place finisher.

Finishing the 50 free.

Finishing up the 25 back stroke.

The back stroke.

Off the blocks in the 50 free.

Waiting her turn for the 25 free.

Kayla

We just said goodbye to my niece Kayla. She spent 10 days with us after our Utah Family Tour '09. (More to come on that!)

Here are some of the fun things that we did.

The Crockett Tavern is on the east side of Morristown. I have been there several times, but haven't been able to actually go inside. So this was a first for all of us. The lady giving the tour was thrilled to get someone from Utah. She is hoping that someone from all 50 states visit each year.

At Crockett Tavern. The boyhood home of Davy Crockett

Cedar Crockett

Chores at the tavern

The key to the tavern

Next was a visit to the park and splash pad!

At the splash pad

After Aspens swim meet (which will have a blog entry of it's very own!) We took a picnic lunch to Worlds Fair park in Knoxville. I think that this was Kayla's favorite outing. She didn't want to leave and wanted to come back the next day. When the water is going full blast, it's a bit like standing under a water fall.

Cedar spray fighting with Jonathon.

The Monday before Kayla left we headed up to Nashville. We played in the afternoon at children's museum there. They have a great indoor playground and some pretty amazing exhibits.

This exhibit takes a picture of you and then "ages" you and shows you what you will look like if you smoke. I thought this was great. Aspen came away saying "That is gross! I am NEVER going to smoke!"

Click on the picture to see the enlarged pictures of Aspen aged and "a smoker."

Click on the picture to see the enlarged pictures of Cedar aged and "a smoker."

Olive laying in the back of the ambulance.

Aspen and Cedar "moon walking."

Kayla "Moon Walking."

I like to call this one "buns of steel."

We had lots of fun with Kayla. It was fun for the kids to have a cousin to play with.

John B. English

Happy Happy Birthday to my favorite Father in law!

This post is dedicated to a few of the many memories that we made with him during our Utah Family Tour '09.

We love you John!

Helping Aspen make a frame.

In the workshop with the kids.

The very popular zip line.

I could be wrong, but I think this is one of his top 10 favorite places. His garden.

With Olive.

The zip line again.

And again

At the cabin.

Summer time!

Aspen's garden. Love those cucumbers!

Cedar with his teacher in swimming lessons.

Olive at swimming lessons

Cedar practicing the back stroke.
If you look closely, you will see Aspens arms in the top right hand corner. She helped out in Olive and Cedar's class. She did a great job and was asked if she could come back next week and help in the next round of lessons. She had to say no because we will be gone, but it was a huge compliment. What a girl!

Olive practicing floating on her back.

Playing at the pool with Daddy.