Homewood Summer Swim

Every summer for the past six years, the kids have been swimming on the Homewood swim team.  It started off slow, with the kids only swimming free and backstroke.  However, they quickly learned how to swim all four strokes legally and even swam year around for five years.  For the first year in a long time, neither kid swam this fall and winter.  We were wondering how they would do this summer after the long break, and if they would slip greatly with their times.

However, Bennett and Preston surprised us and did fantastic at their first three meets (before our summer travels started).  They cut time on individual events, and joined friends to do well with their relays.  They had support from Walker, Mimi, Papa and Uncle Dan - even with rain delays!  Each Tuesday lasted several hours, so Walker was entertained by hanging with friends, coloring, and eating A LOT of food!  We survived though, and here are their best times for the summer 2019!

Noah, Graham, Luke and Pres

Bennett (12 yrs old): 
50 yd free: 36.45
50 yd back: 47.31
50 yd breast: 50.90

Preston (10 yrs old):
50 yd free: 34.18
50 yd back: 41.72
50 yd breast: 48.58
50 yd fly: 41.82

Rain delay with rainbow in the sky!

Though summer swim is only half over, our kids are done swimming meets due to travel and camp.  Preston qualified for senior county, but would need to cut even more time to place there.  Since he will be returning from camp on Saturday, the first day of the meet, we will skip the whole event for the first time in a long time.

It has been a quick and fun summer!  Of course, we love that the kids enjoy participating on the Homewood swim team, but I love even more that they are getting some exercise 4-5 mornings a week and that it is such a good overall conditioning sport.  Even with the 7am practice time, the kids don't complain too much. :)

B, Ella, Katie and Claire - 11-12 relay

Lots of candy!

Mimi and Papa made it to 2 of the 3 meets the kids swam!

Homewood Revolution

Bennett Nix, Pres, Collier Hicks and Luke Serotsky

Every year baseball begins a little earlier.  It used to be that rec ball would start March 1st, and all stars would start at the end of rec season and go into mid June.  However, the last couple of years the all star season has been starting earlier and earlier.  I should have known that would happen since all sports are super competitive around here.  Sadly it is difficult for children to really get to experience a lot of sports because they almost have to play one sport year around to excel enough to make a middle or high school team.

However, Preston seems to be content playing baseball March-June and then part-time Aug-Oct.  His coaches, Quin Snipes and Justin Hicks have certainly taught him skills, and he continues to improve.  Over the past year,

Preston has become a much stronger pitcher, and he continues to play middle infield (predominantly shortstop, but sometimes 2nd and 3rd).  He loves the sport and some of his closest friends are on his team with him.  

He has loved playing on the Homewood Revolution the past two years.  They certainly have some talent, but their team's talent isn't quite deep enough to excel tremendously in tournaments.

We will see how Preston's future in baseball turns out, but here are some pictures from the past spring/summer season with his team.

Little brothers have fun playing together during all of the games (Bowen Nix)

Pres and Steve on Father's Day (the last day of summer ball)

Happy 12th Birthday Bennett!

A selfie I found on my phone of B which I adore!

So our first born just continues to get older, and more beautiful before our eyes.  This year her birthday fell on the last day of school, which wasn't very exciting for her.  We tried to find a date that worked for friends, but she hadn't been feeling well the whole last week of school, and then many friends left immediately for vacations.  We ended up having a low-key celebration at Taco Mama as a family and with her bestie, Ada McElroy.

Our plan was to postpone her celebration until mid June when folks were back in town, and things were a little less hectic.  She asked to have a sleepover with a handful of her friends.  Thankfully her friends are super easy, so I accommodated.  We ordered pizza for them, they watched movies and

presents and donuts are 2 of B's favorite things

talked until late, and then we went to Waffle House for breakfast.  Afterwards, I dropped them off at Target so they could walk around and shop.  These 12 year olds are just growing up and turning into mini teenagers.

Bennett continues to be a responsible, caring friend/daughter/sibling with a tad of attitude and lots of sarcasm.  She worked her butt off all 6th grade, and did great with all A's and only two B's all year!  She made show choir and peer helpers, and I look forward to watching her blossom even more this next year.  We love you B and hope you have a terrific 12th year!!

homemade cookies for the bday girl!

Bennett and Ada McElroy

Annie McBride, Ella Serotsky, Ada and Bennett