July 24 - MVP's

Last week was our end of season Orca team party. Julia and Luke both won MVP for their age groups and Julia was awarded certificates for the new team records. Jillian loved her new trophy and best of all, all the kids had fun playing with the friends at the pool party. We love our Orca family!

End of Season Awards

Pool Party 

July 17 - Schlitterbahn Galveston

We decided to beat the heat at Schlitterbahn water park in Galveston last week. Julia, Luke and Kendall stuck together while Jillian and I did slides together. Jillian is now tall enough for almost every slide and she had a blast on the big slides. She also loved the rapid river and wave river. Bonus-the river water was actually refreshing. It was a hot day but the park was pretty empty and we had a blast!

The hottest coolest time in Texas, Schlitterbahn! 

Dinner Afterwards 

July 13 - Happy Birthday 'Merica

This year we celebrated the 4th of July at Nic and Inna's house in Nassau Bay. It was a great time! They have a pool and live on the water so the kids had fun swimming and jet skiing. We also had a perfect view of the fireworks from the docks. It was a great day! 

Happy Birthday America

Luke - lounging in the pool

Jet Skiing

July 11 - Great Job Orcas!

Love these kids

Another successful season of the Orcas is in the books! I am so proud of all the kids and their hard work. 

Jillian

On school days, Jillian was a beast to get out of bed. So it was a (pleasant) surprise that she was up and ready to go to swim practice every morning. She swam with two good friends this year, Leeya (preschool friend) and Adelyn (North Pointe & Girl Scout friend). She had so much fun running around the swim meets with her friends, playing on the playground, hanging out and buying out the snack bar. The dad who managed meet concessions said she was their best customer LOL. We also had a snow cone vendor at a few meets and she loved the snow cones. In terms of swimming, she improved her free and back considerably from last year and she almost has a dive down. I'm so proud of our little blondie!

Jillian's Orca season

Luke

Luke absolutely rocked this swim season. His goal was to break 30 secs in the 50 free which he finally did in the second to last home meet (going mid 29). At the champ meet, he dropped another second going mid 28 and placed 3rd!! I am not exaggerating when I say I was SCREAMING for him in the stands!! He also swam the IM (best time) and dropped 2 secs in the fly with another best time. He was on fire! He also swam on the boys 11-12 relays (breast in the medley and the leadoff leg of the free relay). They were not seeded to win either race but their team came together and WON both of them. They won by 0.2 in the medley and the free relay by 0.16. They were exciting races!! So proud of Luke!!

Luke playing sharks & minnows

Julia

In addition to volunteer coaching this year, Julia was also swimming. She had 2 goals for herself. Lower her 50 free Orca record and break the 50 fly Orca record (from 2005). She achieved both goals! She swept all of her events at the champ meet for the first time ever. She won the 50 free by over a body length and lowered her own team record by 0.86sec. It was also her best time in this event by 0.32sec. She won the 100 free by over 2 secs and lowered her best time by 0.14. She won the 50 fly with a best time and broke the team record from 2005. Her relays (breast in medley and anchor in free) absolutely dominated, winning both by over 10 secs. Great job Julia!

Champ Meet Pics