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So we’re about half way through summer and it’s definitely been a while since we’ve updated the blog. Here’s a glimpse into what I’ve been up to in the last couple of months. As you’ll notice, swimming has taken up a lot of my time this summer. The swim season is over, however, so August will be all about the music with two upcoming music camps. 

July 29 – Letterboxing
Went on my first Letterboxing (more on letterboxing) expedition with my 4-H group. We followed clues to find three boxes in a nearby nature preserve, but apparently the boxes had been removed. We ended up using a GPS on one of the moms’ iPhones to try Geocaching (more on geocaching), and found a box full of with little trinkets. 

Going letterboxing in Woods Hollow Nature Preserve

Trying to figure out clues to find a box

Looking for our second box... Unfortunately, no luck.

Beautiful summer evening in Woods Hollow Nature Preserve - Ballston Spa, NY

July 23-25 – Adirondack District Long Course Championship
This was a great meet for me. I swam the 200 IM and the 100 Fly for the very first time. Well, at least I attempted the 100 Fly; I was disqualified in that event, the last of the meet, but I was still proud of my attempt. Overall I swam fast enough for six personal best times out of nine events! Now we go on break until September. 

Teammate Abby and I during meet warm-up

Teammate Jordan "flying" behind me during warm-up

Warming up before my first event

Warm-up is always chaotic

Lining up for warm-up sprints

Getting ready for my swim

 

 July 17 and 21 – Saratoga County Fair
Took the craft items I made throughout last year with my 4-H group and entered them for display in the Saratoga County Fair. As a Colverbud (under the age of 9 at the start of the year), my items were not judged for merit ribbons. I did receive a participation ribbon for each of my items and some nice comments on my entry cards from the 4-H volunteer that interviewed me. I even earned a paycheck, which arrived in the mail today! $1.38 for each of the 9 items I submitted. The next day, as a visitor, I bypassed most of the exhibits and went straight for the rides. I had a blast! I did stop at one booth to make a rope using an old-fashioned crank contraption. 

Being interviewed by 4-H volunteer regarding my craft entries

4-H volunteer admiring my work, which included a bat house, paper combat airplane models, holiday luminaries, a picture frame, a handmade carved stamp, and a dyed shirt.

 

 

 

Can you see me? Zero Gravity – a.k.a the dizzy ride – was, hands down, my favorite ride at the fair. I rode it three times!!!

July 11 – Six Flags New England
Spent a really fun day with my friend Jordan from swimming (and our moms) at Six Flags New England. This time I made sure to wear shoes and sure enough – I was sufficiently tall to ride the Bizarro rollercoaster. They still deemed me too short for the Batman ride… Oh well, next year… The highlight of our day was getting to go on Taz’s Daredevil Dive. 

 

Posing at the entrance to the Bizarro rollercoasterPosing in a Six Flags phone booth

Jordan and I getting ready to sky dive

July 8 – Anissa’s Half Birthday
As we did last year, my friend Anissa and I spent some fun time together celebrating her 8-1/2 birthday. We had lunch at Red Robin’s and then went to Tree Paad for some fun activities. I’m already looking forward to celebrating her 9-1/2 birthday  

Anissa chose to go to the same restaurant we went last year. She even ordered the same thing!

Anissa and I with birthday balloons after lunch. If you're wondering about the smile - it's my best Giada deLaurentiis impersonation

Here we are sliding down the big slide at Tree Paad. It was really hot and they didn't have any air conditioning, but as you can see, we didn't let that ruin our fun.

July 3-4 – Colgate Classic
Weekend swim meet at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY. I got to swim 100 Breaststroke for the first time, and I swam a personal best in the 50 breaststroke too! Overall, my performance was a “mixed bag”, but it was definitely a fun weekend.

Take your mark...

June 26 – Playdate with MaryKate
I love going to swim practice, but sometimes it’s also fun to hang out with my swimming friends outside of the pool.  My friend and teammate Mary-Kate and I enjoy being goofy together.  Here are some pictures of the two of us playing at our place.

Mary-Kate and I playing Cuboro

Mary Kate and I all smiles

Mary-Kate and I being goofballs

 June 20 – Father’s Day
This year I went all out to make a special Father’s Day card. With Ema’s help, I used big scrapbooking paper and other crafting materials and made a card that included drawing, photoshopping, stamping, and even metal engraving. One of my favorite parts was carving my own stamp, a craft I learned in 4-H as part of our Letterboxing activity. 

June 6 – Meter Madness and Rollerrama

Meter Madness is our only short-course meter meet of the year.  It is a pentathlon, meaning that I got to swim five events: 50 meters of each of the individual strokes and 100 meters IM. After the meet, my friend Jordan and I went roller skating at rollerrama. I’m getting the hang of it… It was fun! 

Jordan and I putting our rollerblades on

Getting used to the rollerblades

Jordan and I rollerblading at Rollerrama... I'm getting better at this.

Jordan and I after about an hour of rollerblading... It's great exercise!

May 28-28 – Springfield Meet
First long course meet of the season. Spent the weekend in Springfield, MA, and swam some really good swims. The 12 & Under swimmers swam in the morning session and in the afternoon we got to go to nearby Six Flags New England. I had been there a couple of months earlier with my cousins and got to ride on all the big coasters. This time, for some reason, they were measuring me as too short for the big coasters. I was disappointed, because I LOVE big coasters, but I still had a great time.

Check out how I suprise to win my heat way from the side in Lane 1:

Jordan, Mary Kate, and I at Six Flags New England. There I am again with my Giada deLaurentiis smile...

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