State Regional Championships- 2014

Wow.  What a weekend.  Max has had a super swim season for short course and it's not over yet.  He started the season as an 8 year old and at his last meet at that age won the boys high point award.  Then he aged up to the 9-10 bracket and at the first meet in December swam the 50 backstroke so fast that he qualified for the Junior Olympic State Meet (JO).  Seemed like a great start, right?

The next meet at Miami University he got another JO in the 100 back!  He began to question if he were actually going to be a backstroker (everyone always tells him his is a butterflier).   Don't worry though, after a week long break at Christmas he was back at it with meets nearly every weekend in January.  He got his JO cut in the 50 butterfly next and inched closer to the cut in a few other events…

At the Cincinnati Marlins meet he earned the JO cut for the 200 IM and just barely (.3 seconds!!) missed the cut for the 200 freestyle.

All of this for a kid who just aged up; we were thinking it really couldn't get any better!
I mean all these JO successes are just the icing on the cake for all his hard work, dedication, wonderful friendships, discipline, exercise and happiness!  We love that he loves to swim.

So all the while we are gearing up for the JO Meet at Ohio State in March we had to make a "non formal" end to the short course meet season with a full three days at the State Regional Meet.  And I do mean three.  full.  days.  Like 11 hours a day at the pool.  For real.

Max had fun.  He played with friends.  He danced.  He made videos on his iPod.  He ate crappy food.  He swam.  He succeeded!  He earned a medal in every single event he swam; that's 7 in total.  This includes TWO first place medals in the 200 free and the 100 butterfly.  It was a great three days.  But the greatest moment of all came during the very last event of the very last day… the 100 fly.

Max had already swam the 100 IM twice that day as well as the 100 free and one 100 fly.  It was the last ditch effort for him, the 100 fly.  We weren't even sure his legs would hold.  We were about to fall asleep in the stands!  He headed into finals seeded first from prelims earlier that day.

He seemed nervous, and I've never seen that in him before.  He stood up on the blocks as they announced his name and shook out his arms.  I saw him take two huge breaths before "taking his mark".  Really, he is usually so relaxed.  The horn blew and the boys raced…

At the 50 yard mark Max was in second place behind his competitor, Jack Agnew.  (they have become friends since they compete so well in many area meets)  At the 75 yard mark Max all of the sudden took off!  We weren't sure if he was really going THAT fast or if the other kids had just slowed so much!  It's an exhausting race, I'm told.  Four laps of straight butterfly!?  After that though, it was over… Max absolutely flew.  It was an awesome race.  He touched the wall and the timer stopped.  1:20.90 was his time.  A 5 second drop from prelims and a 7 second drop from last time he swam!  I cheered!  The whole crowd cheered.  In fact they seemed to be cheering "too much"!  I turned to my friends and little confused and they said "HE DID IT!" and I said "YES!  First place!!!!"  They all yelled "NO!  He got the JO!"  I was baffled!  That wasn't even on our radar since going into the day he would have needed to cut 7 seconds.  I checked the time again and referenced the JO cut sheet.  In fact he beat that cut time by 3 whole seconds!!!!!  I turned and looked at him still in the water catching his breath and screamed "YOU DID IT!!!!" and he gave a thumbs up and a huge smile!!!!  It was literally amazing.

He walked over to his coach who got down on a knee and gave him a big high five.  Max said he told him "Big Max showed up!"  :)

Then I cried.  Chris cried.  Friends and teammates congratulated him.   It was quite a moment.  We are so proud.  He is truly the hardest worker and loves everything about the sport.  What a moment for him!  If only we had it on video.  Thankfully I did have my camera and took many pics of the race.  Here are just a few…

Tied for second during the first 50 yards.

Pulling ahead during the 75.

Last lap of the 100 yards and making a big move.

Way ahead now near the end.

 

Checking his time with a surprised look on his face.  He won by 3 seconds!

Encouragement and kudos from Coach John.

Look out, Ryan Lochte!  ;)  Max Christensen is on your tail...

Celebrations at the End of 2013… and Cheers to 2014!

We always have a very busy and eventful end to our calendar years…  I never have enough time to blog each event so a "wrap-up post" will have to do.  I'm not really sure if anyone even reads this blog anymore but it's where I document life so here I go...

In late November Max had one last swim meet as an 8 year old.  It was held at the Dayton Raiders Aquatic Center.  His "rival" from Buckeye Swim Club, Chase, was there as was his other "rival", Jack from Kettering.  It was such a fun meet for Max.  He kicked booty and was later recognized for his hard work by winning the 8 and Under Boys High Point Award for collecting the most points (as scored by placing in events) of all the 8U boys.  It was a terrific end to his "8 year old career".

November 30, Max turned 9.  (9!?!?!?!)  He was most excited about one thing regarding turning 9; he no longer had to report to the "clerk of course" at swim meets.  This is where 8 and under swimmers have to go to line up about 30-45 minutes prior to their next event.  It's always in a far-off room, away from everyone else, and they just sit there waiting to be lined up to swim.  It helps to keep track of kids who may not know what they are doing and it drove Max nuts!  So "woo hoo" for no more clerk of course!

We had a small party to celebrate Max turning 9.  Six friends came over on Dec. 1 for a "snowman breakfast" complete with pancakes, eggs, bacon, donuts and chocolate milk.  Afterward we all went to see "Frozen" at the movie theater, wearing our pajamas.  Max loved every minute.

On December 5th, Chris and I celebrated our 15 year wedding anniversary.  We exchanged silly cards and gifts and went out to dinner that night… after Max's swim practice of course.  :)  Not a lot of fan fare with this anniversary but that's what happens when you're busy enjoying "life".  Happy 15 to us!!

In mid-December there were two swim meets before the holiday break, and Max was now swimming in the 9-10 age group.  At first meet, our home Winter Invite, Max swam fast enough to earn a Junior Olympic (fondly referred to as "JO") time in the 50 yard backstroke.  (you should have seen the dance he did when he found out).  Then at the big Miami University meet he earned another JO time in the 100 yard backstroke.  He is .96 seconds away from a JO in the 50 butterfly and 1.1 second away from the JO cut in the 50 freestyle.  He has a few more meets to make those cut times; he works so so so hard we can only hope it all pays off for him!  So in March we will be spending three nights at Ohio State for the JO meet.  Max is thrilled.  We will spend every weekend in January either at a swim meet or a basketball game, because that season is starting for Max as well!  Phew.

For part of Christmas break this year we traveled to Houston to see family.  We also had a dark cloud hanging over us the entire time.  Pretty much anything that could go wrong did, other than our plane crashing, thank God!  We headed to CVG the minute Max got out of school.  Traffic was so bad the we arrived 45 min before our plane took off, which is the cut off time for getting your bags on your flight.  From there it got worse.  Here is a run down of the chaos:
-I lost my drivers license and didn't know until trying to check in at CVG
-Had to get special permission (and extra pat downs) from TSA to be able to fly
-Once we landed at IAH we found out Max's luggage never even left CVG.  We were told it would be there the next day by noon.  They lied.  It finally showed up at 7pm Sunday night; we left Monday morning.
-Max had to wear mesh shorts and a dri-fit shirt and his slides everywhere, including to church.
-The chain in the toilet of the room where we were staying broke.  The floor flooded with water and carpet and padding had to be replaced.
-Chris shattered his iPhone completely and had to buy a new one.
-A lady behind me in line at the United ticket counter had a seizure and I had to call 911 on our return trip.
-More pat downs and security for me at IAH on our way home.

I think that is it?  I'm sure I'm missing something??  It was the weirdest travel experience ever but we still had a good time while we were there and Max loved playing with his cousins.

Once we were back home we had a family celebration on Christmas Eve, Santa came and surprised Max with fun gifts on Christmas Day, and we had two full weeks more of vacation thanks to the polar vortex (come on, is that a real thing or made up by the Weather Channel?) and temps below 0 for the two days school was supposed to start again.  We spent our time playing new board games, having friends over, staying up late, and building the Millennium Falcon from Legos.  Max said "I'm too old!" when I asked him if he wanted to go see Santa this year (cry!) but he did write him the sweetest letter before his visit on Christmas Eve… I wish I had known that last year was his last to sit on the old guy's lap!

 

 (Sweety, that he mentions in the letter, is his elf.  He fell on Christmas Eve while the boys were messing around.  Max was super worried that he wouldn't be back next year because he got knocked down.)

Our new house is coming along, despite the horrible winter (that started here in October!) so we are looking forward to that… and to all the other surprises and fun 2014 holds for us!  Cheers to a new year!

"My Name is Max and I Am Thankful For…"

"… my health".  That's what he said while on stage, holding a microphone after his third grade class put on a play for parents about the first Thanksgiving.  I wondered what he would say as the microphone made it's way down the line but I wasn't expecting "health", although it's a very good choice of course.  :)  Most kids said "my friends and family".  A couple brown-nosers said "the best teacher in the world".   (Mr. Knightstep is pretty much the coolest teacher ever, I admit)

The 24 kids in Max's class put on a play about the first Thanksgiving as part of their reading project titled "Thank you, Squanto".  I actually learned a lot, too!  Funny what you forget as you get older.

Mr. Knightstep narrated.  Most kids didn't speak but Max did have one line "Let us go away from this country!"   I tried to bribe him into singing it with a British accent by offering him $50 but he didn't bite.  Dang.  Money usually motivates him!  Imagine how great it would have been!

We video taped the whole play, if anyone wants to see it.  :)  In the meantime we are going to enjoy a few days off school, loads of turkey, time with family, lots of swimming, two birthday parties, a movie and more!  (we are not enjoying the coldest Thanksgiving in a decade however due to the stalling of our home being built- but this should be a thankful post so…)

Happy Thanksgiving, All!  xo

(snowy day getting off the bus after the play)

WTRC Sharks Swim Team Pics

A new season has begun after 5 weeks off.  The Sharks had their team photos and "welcome back" party last night at the rec center, complete with cupcakes, cookies, candy... you get the idea.

We are excited to see what Max does this year.  Go Sharks!

 The 2013-2014 WTRC Sharks Swim Team

 The "Leopard" Sharks

Swimmer boy

Sunflowers. The End of Summer.

It's that time of year.  Well actually, they are about a month late blooming this year...

I stalked that field off Yankee Street all summer long, waiting for the flowers to bloom.  They only last a week once they are up.  I was literally there every night this past week with clients and then last night got to take some of Max.

Happy End of Summer!

Summer 2013. Where Did You Go?

So after adding the last blog post I realized I didn't post anything all summer long.  Mostly because we were so busy, I guess.  So now that it's unofficially fall and school is back in session I thought "hey, why not update the blog?"  :)  Warning: this will be LONG.

Summer was spent mostly swimming.  Not so much leisurely at the pool but more at daily morning practices for Max for both swim teams.  I loved our routine of early morning drives to the pool and stopping for slushies afterward while singing tunes at the top of our lungs.  We got to do a bit of traveling for the long course season with the Sharks; we spent a few days in Oxford at a meet at Miami University where Max scored tons of ribbons and won a high point award for 8U boys.  Big time!  :)  We also got to spend several nights in Bowling Green at BGSU for the Ohio Regional Championships.  This meet was really for kids 9 and up and we didn't expect Max to make it beyond prelims for any of the events but he surprised us all when he qualified for finals in EVERYTHING!  He earned more ribbons/medals, had fun decorating Coach Lee's hotel room door, spent quality time with his teammates and learned what it takes to win at big state meets.

For his summer club Max also did great things... his goal was to break the 25m butterfly record which was set back in 2003.  He did it!  On his first try at his first meet.  During the 6 week season he also broke the record for the 25m backstroke that was set in 2004 and the 100m IM.  He was so pleased.  During the end of the season ceremony he was awarded with three really cool plaques for breaking three records, 4 trophies for winning all 4 events at the championship meet, and he was named the MVP.  (Should that be MVS?)  :)  It was quite a summer for swimming for Max!

Friends:  Carson, Max, Laura, Nora and Joe.  You rarely saw them without each other.

Max getting his record-breaking awards from Coach John.

Posing with his "bling".

So from my last post you all know we moved.  What I didn't really write about was what happened in the week prior...

To make a long story short, I fractured my pelvis in three places and tore a muscle... running.  No, I didn't fall.  I didn't get into an accident.  I just ran as I have for years and years and years (which is the problem, so I have learned).  No more 50-60 miles, 7 days a week running for me.  It's been 5.5 weeks since it happened and I have 6.5 weeks to go before I can even think about trying to run again.  Until then it was rest, rest, rest.  I have just started riding a recumbent (i.e. BORING) bike every morning for 30 min and even though it's not nearly as great as being outdoors and running I will take it!  I sweat, my heart rate goes up, and I just feel better mentally being able to do it.  I also bought a new elliptical trainer, even though I have never used on before, because once 12 weeks are up I'm only "allowed" to run 3-4 days a week.  I need to find other things to do on the other days of the week.  My right leg has atrophied pretty badly but I'll be ok.  I'm hanging in there at least.  I was on crutches for 3 weeks, one crutch during week 4 and now have moved to a cane, which unfortunately brings a lot of stares with it when I'm in public.  Rude people.  I wanna smack them with it!  This was all really poor timing too because I couldn't help Chris pack much at all.  Thankfully we have parents and friends who were willing to jump in and help when they could!  xo

So then school started.  Max had to move to a new school this year since we moved.  That means a lot of transition for him right now... new house, new school, new bus, new schedule, sending Daisy to "foster care" with friends, etc.  He had anxiety for about three weeks; he woke up every night scared.  Now that we are in a routine things are better though.  He has an awesome teacher this year, Mr. Knightstep.  We have heard that Max will never have another teacher this great his entire career in school.  That's huge!  Third grade is a giant leap from second, too.  His work is tough and the teachers aren't as forgiving.  He's going strong after the first week and has made new friends, too!

In front of his new classroom during an open house.

His new school!

"Lifting" his new school.

First day of 3rd grade!!

Walking to the bus stop. Please notice his first day outfit he chose.  

Here comes the bus!  (see my shadow and the crutch?  dang.)

So that's it, right?  Lots of news this summer.  I'm sure the next several months will be filled with posts about our new home that is being built... and more swimming.  The new season started last night.  

Happy start of fall!

Moving Day.

Adios, Springboro Road.  You gave us 4 good years but frankly I'm done with you.  I thought I would be sad to leave this home since we put so much energy into the design of it but I walked away without shedding a tear.  Max, on the other hand, sobbed and sobbed as we were stuffing our last load into the car and Chris said he had a bit of a breakdown on his last trip down the driveway (but I think that was more from exhaustion due to all the packing and my lack of help thanks to three broken bones in my pelvis... blah).

The things I love about this home are really just my memories, and those I get to take with me!!  We are really excited to get back into a neighborhood where Max can make friends, learn to ride a bike (yes, LEARN.  We are bad parents), we can take a walk together, etc.  The things we thought we would love about this house turned out to be the things we liked the least!  Mowing three acres is a lot of work!  And with a super busy schedule who has time to weed all the beds in a yard that size?  We thought we would love having a tree line in the back but really it was just a mess and too much work and expense to maintain.  We constantly went without power; it seems like any time it stormed a huge tree would fall onto those power lines that crawled up and down our street and we would be without for sometimes days.  And when we were without power that meant we were also without water... which leads me to the thing I disliked most about country living... well water!  I was always worried about it- the quantity, quality, cleanliness, etc.  It felt like an unnecesary struggle, even though it really was "fine".

I don't mean to sound like a total complainer though!  The home was beautiful and was designed solely by Chris with love.  So many of our wishes went into that home and we made great memories there.  Max was 4 when we moved in and 8 when we moved out.  Those are good years in a kid's life!  We will always have those memories.

On the last day we had China Cottage together at the bar one last time, snapped a few pics, and headed to Grandma's where we will spend the next several months while our next home is being built.

So thanks for the memories, Springboro Road... but we are moving on!

 (last jump on the trampoline with Esme)

 (just Max.  Playing the iPad on the last piece of furniture)

 (the moving truck)

 (an empty great room)

 (the master bedroom, empty)

 (one last capture of the study)

(Max watching a movie on the iPad before we said goodbye)