Swim Meet #1 for 2012

Growing up in Arizona means spending your hot summer days by the pool. I drop my kids off for swim team at 7am and they hang out there until 9:30am M-Th. When it's not their turn to swim, they read books, play keep away (from the girls) and play cards. It is their social connection during the months away from school, and makes all of us happy. But it is quite a different childhood than Tyler's or mine, as we grew up playing in the damp, rainy forests of our backyards in Seattle. Both are good.

Saturday was the kids' first swim meet of this summer. Ashley and Jake chose to get in on the action this year and join Luke on swim team. They are enjoying it. Ashley was sick with the flu this weekend so missed her first opportunity to earn a ribbon. But Jake showed up to win, and came home with his first blue ribbon!

Such a cultural thing these swim meets are. It strikes me every year as I see dozens of browned little bodies wearing goggles, nervously anticipating their next race. Families huddle under the shade of their umbrellas, guzzling water and sharing otter-pops with strangers as they battle the three digit temperatures. But we survive it.

Our family has been here almost a decade now. And we love it! Arizona is home. And swim team/meets are going to be a good piece of my children's childhood memories.