Getting things done

Running errands in the Jeep

makes them feel a lot less like errands

and more like gallivanting around town

Shades and muscle shirts will do that too.

Work?  Or play?

Tough call.

17 and counting...

For Mom and Dad's anniversary,

Dad surprised Mom with tickets to Hamilton

and a night on the town.

They had some dinner,

ran into Cousin Tim,

LOVED Hamilton,

and topped off the night

with a few drinks in PS, the speakeasy

at Hotel Phillips

 They definitely had a good time.

Here's to many, many more!

Just keep swimmin'

Mom thought she'd combine a few meets

into one post.

You know,

keep track of time for posterity

but not bore our audience with too many stats.

So how about some artfully created back art first?

So anyway,

Jack's latest numbers:

last week 50 free 45.51s

this week 48.93s;

last week 50 back 54.86s,

this week 58.79s.

Something must be off this week.

He tried out 50 breast this week--1:16.27.

We'll see how that stacks out in the weeks to come.

Weston:

Last week 25 free 23.60,

this week 21.40.

Breaking 20 seconds is eluding him.

He set a new PR in 25 back last week at 26.62.

AND a new PR in 25 breast at 32.50.

And check out his butterfly:

Sadly though,

he DQ'd both weeks.

It's definitely looking better!

As for me?

I've set a PR every swim--pretty cool.

25 free last week 34.42,

down to 33.59 this week.

25 back last week I shaved off 4 seconds

coming in at 39.77

and then took off 2 more this week

at 37.41.

My buddy Hayden and I were psyched.

That was 1st in the heat for me

and he got 2nd in backstroke overall!

We may not always get a PR,

but it's a pretty great way

to spend a Wednesday night.

Always Worlds of Fun (and maybe an Ocean too)

We made our annual trip

with Mema ahead of schedule

this year.

It was a BEAUTIFUL day!

So perfect, in fact,

we were worried it would be

crazy-busy.

But we decided to brave it.

First ride--

Viking Voyager of course!

Let's do this!

We waited a long time for the Viking Voyager--

like 20-30 minutes!

But unbelievably, 

that was our only line all day.

We tried out

a few new rides

and made it to all our favorites

(most of them multiple times)

Beckett and I

got a kick out of the older "classics"

that we didn't remember from years past

Jack was, as usual,

a crazy taxi driver

We spent a good chunk of the day

in Snoopy Land

Lots of smiles

all around

Driving monster trucks

and trains

and planes

and boats

There was a new petting zoo

that was pretty cool

with llamas, goats, sheep,

rabbits and chickens

Beck wanted to take the tiny goat home

Lots of fun!

Mema even got swept up in a show

and tried hard to inspire us

to hokey pokey.

But she danced solo.

We finally tore ourselves away from 

Worlds of Fun

and headed to Oceans of Fun 

for some time in the wave pool,

lazy river, and slides

It was a beautiful day for coasters

but pretty darn cold for a water park!

We stayed at Oceans of Fun until close

and then headed back to Worlds of Fun

for "just one more ride."

Oh, and some dinosaurs.

One more ride...

Or maybe 2...

Dad and Wes braved the Steelhawk

It's 301 feet high!

Then 2 rides turned into 3...

(this was our 2nd time today!)

And what would any trip to WOF be

if we didn't end where we began

on the Viking Voyager...

We nearly shut down the park,

which made us work up an appetite.

A Taco Bell picnic in the

Taco Bell parking lot

seemed like a perfect ending

to a perfect day

Can't wait for next year

(I should be tall enough for a bunch more rides!)

Being big

Swim practice is in our neighborhood

for a few weeks.

Mom and Dad let us

scooter to the pool

by ourselves!

Feeling kinda big for my jammers today!

At the grocery store

Everyone loves

a quarter horse...

get it?

Happy Father's Day cubed

We got some pretty cool shirts

for the important men in our lives

for Father's Day.

Mom even remembered to bring

it to the hotel so we could give

it to Dad on Father's Day morning

What do you think, Dad?

He likes it!

One for Grandpa...

He likes it too

but aren't our matching Mickey shirts 

cool too?

And one for Papa

Happy Father's Day!

Wedding fun

It's been a while since we've been to a wedding

(it may have been Aunt Mandy and Uncle Kurt's!).

Throw in a hotel stay

and we can't imagine much more excitement

than that!

A hotel stay needs some swimming

We got all gussied up

and settled in for the wedding.

To say Aaron was excited

would be an understatement.

Cousin Matt performed the ceremony.

It was amazing.

Mom says she's hoping he'll do one of ours

some day.

They sealed it with a kiss

and we headed to the party!

I had to look the part...

Everyone came in for this!

All the siblings

 Cousin Vince sang

(he's amazing!)

Me and Dad shared some drinks

Aunt Mandy and Uncle Kurt

had a night out

(Coop stayed with his Grandma)

and everyone had some food and fun

There was, of course,

dancing

Even Dad danced!

There was frivolity too...

At the end of the night,

us single men were called to the dance floor

for the traditional throwing of the garter.

We weren't really sure what was going on

but were relived when Cousin Matt caught it

after we learned he'd be the next to get married

Sadly,

like all good things,

it eventually came to an end

or did it...???

Back at the hotel,

my parents decided to continue 

to borrow happiness from tomorrow

and let us stay up in the lobby

for a bit more family time.

We were really excited about that!

We chatted up Aunt Patty

and got to emoji with our cousins

Oliver and Lauren back in California

It was a nice way to unwind

But, for real this time,

all good things must come to an end

and we headed to bed.

At 1am.

Shocking we're still smiling...