The Parnell Family: swimmer of the week

7.01.2012

swimmer of the week

The kids had another great week of swim team, and it was capped off with the final regular meet on Thursday afternoon. Besides the miserable heat, it was lots of fun!!

We are so proud of all three kids for giving it their all:

Elise was the only girl in her age group to attempt an IM- Individual Medley, where you swim one full lap of each stroke- back to back- fly, back, breast, free. She did great! Her whole team was cheering her on and it was a great moment for her. We were thrilled that David was able to make it to the meet to watch her!

She also placed in breast stroke (I think second!) and is one of the only girls in her group who can swim it legally! Believe it or not, she can swim butterfly faster than freestyle, and that is what she has qualified for Championships in.

Lila took a bunch of seconds off of her time in freestyle! She is disappointed that she will not get to swim in the Championship meet, but with two more years in her age group I know she'll get her turn soon enough! The wildness of the meets overwhelms her a little and although she is a great swimmer, sometimes that distracts her. We were so proud that she did her swim on her own...she is definitely getting more comfortable with the atmosphere of the meets.

Bennett had a great day- he took NINE seconds off of his free time, winning his heat and coming in second overall in the meet! As one of the youngest boys this is quite an accomplishment. There were 4 teams in the meet and probably about 20 in his age group! His new super fast time also qualified him for Championships and so he is thrilled! In addition, he swam backstroke AND breast stroke for the first time in competition. All of this earned him Swimmer of the Week for this week- chosen by the coaches. He was so excited when I told him this morning that he did a victory lap around the kitchen.

More important than all of these accomplishments the kids have absolutely loved every minute of swim. They have met lots of new friends from our neighborhood, and really bonded with the coaches. I think I may have gotten a few new babysitters out of this, and I have loved being able to watch them improve week to week.

1 comment:

kate, nick, myrt and baker said...: wow, i am so impressed with your three - can't wait to see their new skills on wednesday!! please tell them congrats from us on all of their accomplishments!!; July 2, 2012 at 9:16 PM

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Elise

Elise Laurent was born at 5:00 p.m. on July 19, 2005. We did not find out her sex during my pregnancy and we were thrilled to tears (and slightly shocked) to meet our beautiful baby girl. She was a big baby at 8lbs, 8oz, and David and I couldn't take our eyes off of her. Elise is an old French name that David and I have always loved. Laurent is both my paternal Grandfather's name and my Dad's middle name. We always dreamed of having a daughter and were so thankful and overwhelmed to be given such a blessing.
Elise is a true first born. She likes structure, likes to fully understand everything, likes her questions answered to her satisfaction. She loves to be challenged and to challenge. She is also highly sensitive and independent.
She is a wonderful big sister to Lila and Bennett....

Lila and Bennett

It would be an understatement to say that we were shocked to learn on November 11, 2006 that we were not expecting baby #2, but baby #2 and #3!! In just shy of two years we would have created quite a family!
But, on June 1st, 2007, at 36 weeks exactly, we were thrilled and completely overcome with joy and gratitude as we welcomed two big, healthy babies into our family. First, Lila Sue, named after my Mom at 7lbs 0.6oz, and secondly, Bennett Raymond, named after David, David's Dad, and my maternal Grandfather, at 7lbs 10.4oz.
Lila has been the vocal one from the start and to this day is still pretty much running the show. She is the life of the party, the entertainer. But she is also the most compassionate, most giving of our children.
Bennett is a true boy. He is active and rough and loves to tackle and throw. He also adores his sisters and his Dad and gives the best hugs around. His big baby blues get me every time.