Triathlon

These two cuties entered their first triathlon!  They wanted to do it when they discovered there is a sport that allows them to do their three favorite things.  They hounded me everyday to find one and they were so excited to compete.  These kids have the athlete gene....that extra pulse in the blood that thrives on competition and sport.  They just love the action and the thrill of it.  Luca took first place in his age division and Mia took second, only behind an older boy.  

I love this shot.  As Mia crossed the finish line, they put the medal around her neck.  She said, "I'm the first girl to cross."  She knew the boy had just edged her out but she took great pride in her victory.  When a whole gaggle of boys crossed after her, I took great pride too.  This is my tiny girl.  "Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back."

"Little girls with dreams become women with vision."

"Here is to strong women.  May we know them.  May we be them.  May we RAISE them."  

Luca's new shoes are bright lime green.  His group took off on their bike ride and disappeared behind a grove of trees on a path.  I knew they would drop their bikes and then begin the run portion at a certain point, all out of sight.  I peered way over to the path they would pour out on and waited to see those electric shoes.  I saw them appear, way ahead of the pack. These kids are runners, that is for certain.  With legs like Daddy and a spirit like mine....this is their destiny.  

"Winners are not people who never fail, but people who never quit."  

Our Annual Visit to the Broadmoor

This is what the kids talk about all year as they wait for our weekend at the Broadmoor....shakes by the pool. 

This kind of amazed me when I looked out and saw that Luca is big enough to hold Mia on his shoulders.  She's got about another year of being a bit taller.  Luca is gaining quickly!

My mermaid

Until next year Broadmoor!!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to V!!  These kids are lucky to have a guy like him to call Dad.  The other day, Mia said, "I want to marry a guy just like Dad."  My heart skipped a beat because she values all the right things, in part because of his influence.  I asked her why someone just like Daddy and she responded, "He's funny and nice, and he's great with people and kids."  It just made me smile that this little girl is lucky enough to have a father that she would want to replicate in so many ways.  I was lucky enough to have a Dad like that too, and it's a gift.  Happy father's day to my dad, V and ALL of the dads out there making the lives of their children better!!

Dance

I love this because she was at the pool all day and had about 30 minutes to get ready, with hair and make up.  The final inspection.  These first photos are from the rehearsal because we couldn't video on the day of the recital.  

Mid leap

There's Mia, in the center with her arms up.  Little cuties.  

I did what a mom will do and I took photos on the front porch on recital day.  Even though Mia could have taken or left this dance (and the costume....not her favorite AT ALL), I told her that it's still a memory.   

This is perhaps my favorite picture from the day.  After the recital, I went backstage to collect Mia and her things and she had already changed into her sports clothes, pulled her hair out of the style, and wiped some of the make up off.  She was ready to get frozen yogurt and head home.  The girl in THIS photo is the one that I see when I close my eyes.  THIS is the Mia that I can trace by heart.  And I think she is simply stunning.....just like this.  

Dinner with Best Friends

Mia

Swimmer's take your mark.....

Maddie and Mia are finishing up a week at the Littleton Historical Museum day camp: Adventures in History.  They took on the lives of 1860s kids and learned how to spin sheep's wool, work with leather, make a hook in the blacksmith's shop, prepare food (including homemade ice cream), etc.  I did the same camp 30 years ago!  

Ahhh....Summer.

Meet our bull frog tadpoles.  We are rearing these babies in a bucket filled with creek water and we're anxious to see them become full grown.  Mia's is named, "Usain BULL".  (Get it?  She thought this was pretty clever, after Usain Bolt.)

Pretty evening sky

My tree climber.  Back at it. 

Mia and I played, "Cotton Ball Challenge".  Summer is full of TIME.  Gotta love it.  

And we never grow tired of our swimming and diving.  

Volleyball Camp