Our Little Sunshines: We. Are. MARLINS.

When we first signed up for swim team three years ago I was expecting a really fun experience...learning to swim, exciting competitions, new friends. I was not expecting what we actually got...a new family. A Marlin Family. Because it's family that runs to greet you when you arrive at the pool. It's family that vies for Eli's attention and plays games with him for hours on end. It's family that swoops in to scoop Emerson out of your arms and whisk her away to be loved on by a flock of mamas, only to be returned to you at feeding time. It's family that cheers as loudly as you do for your kids and loves them, and hugs them, and encourages them, and tells them they're awesome...even when they grabbed the rope 9000 times in a 25 meter race. It's family that pulls your stroller into the pool gate when you leave it in the parking lot. It's family that remembers the toddler in your group that (semi-) patiently waited through all those practices and swim meets and gives him a trophy at the end of the season, too...because he's the team mascot, of course. And it's family when your time together is more fun than you ever imagined, you are sad for it to end, and you're already counting the days until next year when you get to do it all again!

Cassidy and Eli
Eli LOVES swim caps and wears them regularly...sometimes to dinner!

Finn's back all decorated for the first meet

The girl who could NOT swim backstroke last year - she sunk like a stone - rocked it this year! She won this race and every one after it...and to think she was crying about having to swim backstroke before the meet!

Our Buggy

Finn getting his game face on

He hung onto the rope a LOT this season, but he didn't cry and he didn't have help. PROGRESS!

Cassidy diving in for her race...their dives are improving. :)

Breaststroke!

Freestyle...his form isn't bad...once he gets a little stronger he'll be zooming down that lane!

Morgan and Cassidy at the swim team banquet

CHEESE!

The boys with Sarah Hamlin

Posing with their trophies, medals, ribbons...and candy!

Lily won first place in butterfly and the individual medley and placed 2nd in backstroke at the championship meet. She also earned Most Valuable Swimmer for the Girls 6 & Under age group.

Finn swam 3 races at the championship meet (a first for him as he did not compete last year) and earned Most Improved Swimmer for the Boys 6 & Under age group.

Cassidy placed 3rd in breaststroke and her medley relay team also placed 3rd at the championship meet. She also was a heat winner for her butterfly event.

Thanks to his buddy, Steven, and Steven's mom, Michelle, Eli got a team trophy this year too. As you can see, he was REALLY excited!

Playing with the big kids at the pool party

Eli with two of his favorite playmates

The girls being girls!

We have a wonderful group of helpers with Eli. They have spoiled him rotten this season! It takes a village...and we are certainly thankful for our village that helps us keep us with this wild monkey!

Just relaxin'

We love our Morgan!

And our Caroline!

Sweet baby was worn out from all the action!

Cupcakes with Brooke...a perfect way to end the evening!

Cheering on our relay team (Cassidy's in the water.)

Three years ago, Lily asked me what the hardest stroke was. When I said "butterfly," she said, "I want to swim butterfly then!" She asked her coaches that week and she's been swimming it ever since. It's amazing how strong and fast she's gotten...those arms are really starting to come out of the water!