Healy sports update

Brendan's been busy the past few days. Last Thursday, he competed in his second swim meet. Saturday, he played in his first t-ball game. And Tuesday, he swam in swim meet #3. Highlights:

Last Thursday's meet was Brendan's first away meet. We went to Fairway Farms in Livonia. He was nervous about swimming at another pool, but was very relieved when he saw that the pool is almost identical to ours.

He also added the 25 backstroke to his event lineup. Again, he wasn't thrilled. I was a bit concerned, too, since I hadn't seen him even attempt backstroke in practice. Still, he did it and finished the race, only stopping two or three times.

Saturday's t-ball game was low-key and a bit disorganized, considering the team had only practiced once in three weeks. Brendan's thrilled to be playing with his friend Wyatt (to his left) and a new friend, Nicholas (to his right), who also belongs to the Colony Swim Club.

Brendan had two hits and two runs, so it was a successful outing!

Thankfully, Dad was the third-base coach and helped Brendan find his way home for both runs. The heavens opened literally minutes after the game ended, so we were thankful to complete our game and stay dry.

In Brendan's swim meet last night, he dropped five seconds from his 25 free and improved more than 20 seconds in his 25 back. Notably, he only stopped once in his back, which Brendan was rather proud of. He also used his arms more than he has in any other race during the freestyle.

Brendan has one more swim meet, next Thursday, before the league championship next Saturday.

Starring Kelsey

It only took me two years to remember that my older, dated digital camera also records video (though not in the greatest quality) and I can easily download for your video enjoyment online. Our video camera is better and, of course, can be downloaded and posted online. However, that would require some updating to my increasingly slowing PC, which I hardly have time for!

So excuse the quality and turn your monitor on its side to watch Kelsey debut in our first video, Miss Walker.

Kelsey has progressed rather quickly since taking her first steps 10 days ago. Surprisingly, she had her first fall on concrete just today. Considering that she spends every morning walking on concrete at the pool, that's shocking!

She still prefers her bootie crawl, which saves her knees from getting scuffed. You have to keep the knees looking good for shorts and skirts!

And here's a glimpse of the future, when little Miss will be behind the wheel. Oh my!

Random thoughts ... swimming and TV

1. Now I understand why my parents would say at swim meets, "Watching you swim wears me out."
   
   I'm exhausted after Brendan's meet tonight. Granted, I am also keeping up with a 2- and 1-year-old (in some cases by myself) while trying to keep track of Brendan. Add my volunteer shift as a back-up timer to the mix, and you may begin to feel my pain. I was a teenager when my parents were watching meets, so I'm not sure what their excuse was.
   
2. The best seasons for swimming are when you first join a team, and then later, the first season you make the jump to year-round swimming. You shave seconds off your time with each race. Once you are close to your potential, those drops come in tenths of a second.
   
   Tonight, Brendan shaved another four seconds off his 25 freestyle time. Awesome!
   
3. I'm also beginning to understand why my mom never watched much television while we were growing up. Who has the time? And she didn't have email, blogs, and the Internet to keep up with! (She filled that time with many other projects, of course.) Note: This somehow does not apply to men. Hmmm ...

A day in the life ...

An occasional series

Today's been a busy one, and I'm particularly exhausted. I decided to switch my workout time from evening (typically around 9 p.m.) to early morning (think 6 a.m.). I need the evenings to complete freelance work and relax. When I work out at 9 p.m., I'm lucky to be in bed by 11.

6 a.m.: I wake to go for a 30-minute jog. The morning is pleasant, which is great since storms are forecast for the afternoon. Afterward, I stretch, do some abs, then shower.

7:15 a.m.: The kids begin to wake. Brendan and Ryan enjoy two morning shows while having Eggo waffles for breakfast. As usual, Kelsey convinces Brendan to share while she eats spoonfuls of my Cheerios.

8:10 a.m.: The kids and I play on the living room floor. It's hard to play with all three at once, but I try! Activities of choice: playing with Cars cars, tickling Kelsey and building towers with blocks (which Kelsey enjoys knocking down).

8:45 a.m.: Kelsey is a bit grumpy and already rubbing her eyes. I put her in bed for a quick nap. She doesn't sleep but does enjoy some quiet time. Meanwhile, I enjoy some computer time while the boys play ball in the hallway.

9:30 a.m.: We gather our things and leave the house for Ryan's doctor's appointment. His left eye has been swollen for a few days now. It appeared to go away, but now it's back. It's time for a doctor to take a look.

10 a.m.: We arrive at the doctor's office, and I'm certain our exam room is the absolute loudest. Ryan is moving nonstop, Brendan is gently banging against the exam table because it makes a new noise, and Kelsey is banging on a toy. Thankfully, they are all quiet and wonderful when the doctor arrives. (Our doc, Dr. Harte, is away on maternity leave.) The diagnosis: a sty, which requires warm compresses during the day. But she prescribes meds for pink eye, as she sees some signs of it, too.

10:30 a.m.: Target, here we come! You don't have to twist my arm to shop at Target, and I decide I can knock out the prescription, a few odds and ends, and goodies for Uncle John's care package all at once. Brendan and Ryan continue to have their high volume switch on.

11:10 a.m.: My morning workout is starting to take its toll, so we opt for the McDonald's drive-thru. Ever since they introduced apple dippers as a side item, the happy meal meets my approval for a once-a-week lunch treat. The boys are thrilled that this week's toy is Transformers.

11:45 a.m.: We eat lunch. Kelsey loves the apple slices, as does Ryan. Brendan prefers the nuggets today. The kids play while I finish my lunch -- a turkey wrap that I made at home.

12 p.m.: Kelsey needs her nap. I give her a paci and her blankie, and she snuggles into my chest. I'll miss these baby moments, so I cherish them when they come around. I put her in a crib for her nap.

12:20 p.m.: Ryan, Brendan and I snuggle on the couch for storytime before Ryan takes his nap. He only naps every few days, but he's been unusually cranky and appears to be fighting a slight cold. So I decide he should nap today. Good move. He falls asleep quickly.

12:40 p.m.: I need to shut my eyes! I give Brendan some downtime; he watches The Backyardigans while I rest.

1:15 p.m.: I try to do some housecleaning. The place is a mess since we just returned from vacation and I haven't unpacked yet. I'll spend the afternoon trying to get things in order.

1:45 p.m.: Kelsey wakes. Brendan invites our neighbor, Karlyn, to play. She brings her lunch, then they head downstairs to the playroom.

2 p.m.: I wake up Ryan, who looks like he could sleep another hour. But if he does, he'll never go to bed tonight. Ryan watches a quick show before joining Karlyn and Brendan.

4 p.m.: Karlyn heads home. I've managed to do some laundry, but the house is still a disaster. Oh well! Now it's raining and I'm curious whether t-ball practice will go on as scheduled.

4:30 p.m.: I start cooking dinner -- spaghetti and meatballs -- while the boys play. Kelsey is having quiet time in her crib.

5:15 p.m.: We sit down for dinner. The kids love meatballs, so they devour. No prodding or nagging to get them to eat tonight. Soon we'll outgrow the package of 12, premade turkey meatballs. Kelsey's making her claim to a couple now!

5:45 p.m.: The coach finally calls and says t-ball practice has been cancelled. So they'll play their first game Saturday after only one practice. Ugh.

6:10 p.m.: I've sort of cleaned up the kitchen and treated the kids to s'mores since they were so good at dinner. Now Kelsey and Ryan are ready for a bath.

6:20 p.m.: Ken arrives home from work. Just in time. Brendan's melting down but I'm not certain why. After he eats, he takes Brendan and Ryan for a bike ride since the weather has cleared up. The evening is turning out quite nice.

7 p.m.: Kelsey goes to bed. She's reluctant to sleep, though.

8:10 p.m.: The boys return from the bike ride/playtime. Ryan's now using the pedals on his tricycle, a huge improvement over his Flintstone style of riding. The boys change into pajamas and we settle down for storytime.

8:35 p.m.: The boys go to bed. Ryan fights us a little, and we have to go back into the room twice. Finally, he goes to sleep. Now it's my time to fold laundry, clean the kitchen and squeeze in some freelance work. What about bedtime? :)

Walking on her own

Kelsey has been cruising, as it's called, for quite awhile now. That means she walks around while holding onto the couch, table or a push toy. She's been on the verge of walking for quite some time. (If you ask me, she's more than ready and able.)

So it was last Friday that she and I were swimming in the pool in Grand Haven, when she began letting go of the side of the pool and taking a few steps on her own. (The pool has a nice bench seat/step that was perfect for the little ones.) Granted, it's a little easier to walk in the pool with the water all around you. But I was impressed with her boldness.

Yesterday, though, was her breakthrough day. Anyone who's watched a baby progress knows that a baby truly begins with one or two steps, then progresses to four or five, then 10, and before you know it, a full-blown run. And that's how she did yesterday. Late in the afternoon, I stood her on the floor, as I have for a few weeks now, and let go. Usually, she drops to the floor. That time, she took two steps before falling down. I don't even think she realized what she'd done. She looked quite surprised!

I encouraged her to walk throughout the afternoon and before bedtime. She progressed to four or five steps, though she grew tired of the whole ordeal by bedtime. (Kelsey managed to show off one more time for Daddy when he arrived home.)

Kelsey's certainly not convinced yet that walking is the preferred form of transportation. She has been more than happy to crawl today, with a step here or there. Still, I'm sure it won't be long until she shocks her big brothers and comes running after them!

A grand 4th!

We've just returned from a very long weekend in Grand Haven, Mich., with three other families. We had a fantastic time and can't wait to return next year.

In February, we began planning a summer vacation with the Galloways, Newmans and Gibsons. The four husbands work together, and we all have very young children. In fact, Brendan, at age 5, is the oldest. And Kelsey is one of four babies under 15 months!

We chose Grand Haven as our destination, in part because of its great reputation. Our family vacationed there two years ago and fell in love with it, so it didn't take much to convince us to return. The four families booked a house at Serendipity Resorts, which has a fabulous location and resort-like setting. We already knew the place from our stay in 2006. The Carriage House has four one-bedroom apartments, so we each had our personal space but were close enough to open the door and let the kids wander to another family's room.

In the backyard, the resort has a fabulous heated pool, complete with Tiki Hut, satellite radio, numerous grills, patio furniture, and a fire pit that certainly wouldn't make sense to Texans but is essential during Michigan summers. We enjoyed the pool during the day, grilled dinner nearly every night, then the parents reconvened by the fire pit for some adult time after the kids were in bed. We each had our baby monitors so we could keep close tabs on the little ones.

The resort is just two blocks from downtown Grand Haven, so we could stroll into town for breakfast, a newspaper, or just some afternoon shopping with ease. A few blocks away is the Grand River, where boat-watching is popular as well as the evening musical fountain show. A short walk on the boardwalk and you arrive at the white, sandy beach of Lake Michigan and the red lighthouse.

Our first full day, the morning was cloudy and cool. We decided to shop in Grand Haven and walk to the river.

Brendan and Ryan with the Grand River behind them.

The kids and I stop for a quick photo. I held on tight to Ryan, who wouldn't have surprised me by just jumping in the river!

At lunch, the boys were given these silly hats to color. The whole family got in on the fun.

On the Fourth of July, all four families drove to Ferrysburg -- just five minutes from Grand Haven -- to watch an Independence Day parade. I love parades, and though this was a bit small town, the kids enjoyed it.

Kelsey and I wait for the parade to begin.

Ryan and Cara wait for the fun to begin.

Ryan and Brendan watch the parade from the curb. They've become quite the parade-experts this summer.

We managed to get all 10 kids seated and still for a quick photo together.

Our little family!

Ryan, Wyatt and Brendan at the parade.

On the evening of the 4th, we took the kids for ice cream at the Chinook Pier. Grand Haven was hopping, as they were hosting a fireworks display later in the evening. Our kids missed it; with a start time of 10:30, there was no way they could stay up.

Brendan, Ryan, and Ken in front of the boats.

The boys and I cuddle for a photo. Yes, they are wearing sweatshirts in July. Don't get me started! (I refuse, sometimes foolishly.)

Saturday was our beach day, and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. The temperature was in the low 80s, the sky was as blue as ever and the wind was minimal. That is not a typical Michigan day! (Usually clouds roll in at some point.)

The beach was packed, being that it was a holiday weekend and the weather was ideal. So we opted to walk quite a distance instead of sitting in traffic. It was a long, long walk. But every minute (and whine) of it was worth it when the kids saw the beach and remembered the fun they've had in the waves and sand previously. Lake Michigan's water temperature is 60 degrees this time of year, so it was a bit cold. None of the kids minded. Brendan and Ryan were soaked head to toe by the time we left. Kelsey would have been, had I let her.

Brendan, Kelsey and Ken play in the sand. Brendan wouldn't stick around for long; Kelsey kept knocking over his sand castle walls.

Kelsey and I walk on the beach. Kelsey was delighted to be there. She splashed in the 60-degree water and was covered in sand.

Hey, Mom, should I eat this sand? She had a few mouthfuls.

Brendan and Ryan climb on the rocks along the pier.

Brendan was Mr. Tough Guy, getting into the ice-cold water with the lighthouse in the background.

Sunday morning, the kids were up by 7 a.m. We had an 11 a.m. checkout and plenty of packing to do. So we left early for breakfast in downtown Grand Haven. We ran into two other dads in our group, who were out walking the babies so they wouldn't wake their other sleeping children.

The dads then took the kids to the park to run off energy before the three-hour drive home while the moms packed the cars. We hit the road and arrived home around 2:30, just in time for our very tired 2-year-old to have a massive meltdown. (He didn't want me to dance in the car.) Needless to say, the kids were exhausted from so much activity, swimming and sun. It was all worth it, though!

From left: Gary with baby Jackson, who celebrated his first birthday on our trip; Ken and Kelsey; and Terry and baby Jake, the youngest of the group.

This photo says it all. Sweet Kelsey fell asleep within 30 minutes of our drive. (I didn't stage this photo with that book. She had it open to that page when she dozed.) She was exhausted from a fun trip. We all were! Of course, she would only sleep 45 minutes in the car, which didn't really recharge her batteries as much as needed!