Philadelphia

We took a family trip to see Philadelphia. It only took about 5 1/2 hrs to get there making it a fun weekend vacation. We all enjoyed exploring and learning a little bit more about American History. We visited Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Carpenters' Hall, Washington Square, the US Mint and The Franklin Institute.

The kids enjoyed the hotel and pool

Mike and Kids
at Independence National Historical Park

Inside Independence Hall
The Courtroom of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court

The Assembly Room where they signed the Declaration of Independence
and the United States Constitution

Outside of Independence Hall

Streets of Philadelphia 

Liberty Bell

Washington Square

US Mint

Franklin Institute

Summer Swim Awards

All the kids did great in summer swim and received awards and medals. 

Marcus
Most Improved 6 & under boy

Raquel
MVP 9-10 Girls

Erik's participation medal

Natalya
MVP 6 & under Girls
and the Puke and Rally award

Natalya often would over eat snacks and treats before swim meets. Combined with being nervous she often Puked.  One time she puked on her coach and then got right up on the blocks and swam her race. She deserved her Puke and Rally award.

Bowling with SEVA

Raquel and Natalya went swimming with their swim team friends. There swim coach left after this season so they had one last party to celebrate together.

Phoebe, Raquel, Coach Jay, Olivia and Natalya

Bowling with the swim team

Champs 2015

The girls both made it to summer swim champs. Raquel in breast and Natalya in freestyle and back.

 They both did an amazing job swimming this summer and had lots of fun hanging out with friends and being at the pool.

Waiting for the competition to start.

All ready to swim

2nd Place in Backstroke
3rd in Freestyle

Getting her medals

The kids had fun finding and catching these tiny frogs at the swim meet.

Summer Swim

All 4 kids joined the neighborhood swim team this summer.  Marcus and Erik started out in the Minnows program but Marcus quickly moved up to the competition swim for the Coventry Sailfish. 

Erik learned a lot and swam across the pool all by himself this summer. By the end of the summer he didn't want anyone to help him while in the pool. He wanted to do it on his own.  

Swim started out ruff for Marcus but he stuck to it and improved and was enjoying the pool by the end of the season.  Marcus was the youngest swimmer on the team and usually the youngest competing in his races. He did great and earned lots of money from dad this summer.

Natalya loved summer swim and did great this year. She came within 100th of a second of breaking the team pool record for backstroke and won every race for free and back she swam in regular competition.

Raquel did really well even though she moved up in competition age and had to swim against kids 1-2 years older. She had fun and enjoyed hanging out with friends at the pool all summer.

Erik learning to swim

Marcus practicing in the big pool

2015 Summer Team Picture

Raquel 

Our Summer swimmers

Marcus learning to dive

Waiting for the meet to start

On your mark, get set, Go!

Natalya ready to swim 

Natalya backstroking

Raquel waiting to swim

Malin and Raquel

Marcus swimming freestyle

Waiting for their heat to start

Go Raquel!

Raquel backstroking

Raquel's favorite breaststroke

Marcus

Natalya

Blacksburg

It took us a couple tries but we made it to Blacksburg to visit.  Our first attempt we got a flat tire just outside Williamsburg. We were able to get the spare put on but decided to head home and try another day.  When we finally made it we were able to see and hang out with lots of friend while in town. We swam with the Grahams and Tebbenkamps, dinner and block party with our old neighborhood, the girls had a sleep over with Gracie and lots of time spent with Nick and Luke. It was a fun visit!

Safety Town

Marcus attended Safety town this week and love it. It is a program for incoming kindergartners to learn about various aspects of life safety. They got to ride on a school bus, explore fire trucks, ride bikes through a mock town and do lots of fun lessons and crafts.  He got his very own bike helmet and safety town backpack. On the last day of camp the family got to come enjoy a safety fair and treats.

Ice Skating

Natalya had been asking me for almost a year if we could go ice skating. We finally went and the girls loved it. Both Natalya and Raquel started lessons and really enjoy it. The boys and I come and skate with them during the week.  

First time on skates

This is how Erik usually likes to spend his time on the ice.
Sitting or laying on  the ice and trying to eat it.

Marcus' new hockey skates