Go Stingrays!

Russell and Meredith are on a swim team this year! We're part of  local neighborhood team, but not the one in our neighborhood - one close by where several families from our church swim. It's a casual and fun team, which is not easy to find in this area. Our general area is known for having nationally-ranked schools and SUPER competitive parents/kids. We'd rather our kids just have fun and do their best :)

That was a total tangent!

Anyway, we decided that Russell was a good enough swimmer this year to be on a team. He is really improving, and it's the first sport/organized activity that he has actually wanted to do and wanted to continue doing, being the homebody that he is. And after the first week of practices, Meredith decided she wanted to try it to, so we got the okay from the team president. She's not nearly as strong of a swimmer, so she is just participating in home meets and is allowed to have a coach in the lane with her to help her.

Russell ready for his freestyle during the mock meet (the practice meet the team holds to get everyone and everything ready for real meets):

Good gracious, I had forgotten how much of a swim meet is sitting...waiting...sitting...reading...

Every "little stingray" has a "big stingray" and they give each other encouragement - and better yet, candy!

Getting ready for team pictures!

Of course we have to drag Paige along! At least her buddy from church, 4-year-old Jerome, is there to play with her :)

Meredith made fast friends with Chloe, who also goes to our church (but is in a different Sunday school class). And Chloe made fast friends with Daphne :)

It's been a really great experience! The kids are loving it. Go Stingrays!