Swim Team 2026

Kellen and Emily both did city swim team this year.

Kai didn't sign up originally, but halfway through the season he found out he was actually on their roster, so he figured he might as well join in. Why not? So, he swam practices and meets for the last 2 weeks of the season.

Kellen began the year biking to the 7:00am swim team time, swimming for both the 7:00 AND the 8:00 sessions, and then biking home. That routine didn't last ALL summer, but it was a great way for Kellen to get in shape for the Triathlon in September.

This was Emily's first year doing swim team. She made so much progress this summer! She learned how to side-breathe with freestyle AND she learned the basics of the other strokes as well. Her races were only 25 yards, or one length of the pool rather than 2 (down and back), and we are celebrating that achievement, which could NOT be done last year. Yea!

Kellen BEST Swim Team Times

50 yard freestyle -- 36.35 (8th place)

100 yard freestyle -- 1:15:35 (4th place)

50 yard breaststroke -- 42.97 (1st place)

100 yard breaststroke -- 1:36:77 (2nd place mixed, 1st place boys)

50 yard backstroke -- 47:47 (2nd place)

100 yard backstroke -- 1:16:50 (2nd place)

200 yard choice (breaststroke) -- 2:37:46 (7th place)

200 yard IM -- 3:39:56 (3rd place)

Emily BEST Swim Team Times

25 yard freestyle -- 26.04 (fastest 7 year old girl in the league)

25 yard breaststroke -- 31.35 (fastest 7 and 8 year old girl)

25 yard backstroke -- 32.06 (fastest 7 year old girl in the league)

25 yard butterfly -- 32.59 (fastest 7 year old girl)

Emily at Practice

 

 

Kai BEST Swim Team Times

50 yard freestyle -- 36.19 (5th place)

50 yard breaststroke -- 48.47 (4th place)

50 yard butterfly -- 47.40 (1st place)

 

Kellen and Kai together on the deck- competing together, waiting together

Silverwood 2026

 Our one day at Silverwood this year.

Not a TON of pictures, but enough to document that we did, indeed, enjoy some theme parking.

Starting out the day

Everyone lined up all neat and long on one side of the walkway. 

Nothing like the crowds and craziness of Disney!

People were so polite! So many would walk right past the line wondering what it was for and when they got to the front of it, they turned around and got in line at the back. SO Polite!

We ran into Quinn Olson at work at Silverwood and hung out with him for a little at the end of the day.

Family Backpacking: Blossom Lake

Owen, Kellen, and Kai did a bunch of outdoorsy, backpacking stuff this summer, but we, as a family, wanted to go out together. We did Blossom Lake in the Idaho Panhandle last year and found a bunch of huckleberries, so we decided to do that same hike again this year.

It's a pretty big climb up to the lake- almost a 1,000 foot elevation gain in 3 miles, but we all made it! We got some huckleberries, though there weren't nearly as many as last year, and the boys ALL climbed up the sheer mountainside so that they could see across the ridge into both canyons on either side to see both Blossom Lake and Revett Lake at the same time.

There was a fire ban in effect in the National Forest at the time, so we couldn't have campfires, which meant our nights ended a little early and were chillier than we usually anticipated.

Note to selves: When there is a fireban- ALWAYS bring a sweatshirt. The extra bulk and minimal weight is way worth it.

The family starting out

the kids on the trail

Bunny came along.

She kept Emily's Bluey head band safe and cosey

.5 mile from the lake- canyon overlook

Lake view

Can you see the teeny tiny people on the other side of the lake getting ready to scale the mountain?

Kellen had a couple butterflies alight on his backpack

Emily with a dragonfly

Breaking camp and getting ready to head back to the trailhead.

Swim Lessons 2026

 Emily took swim lessons this summer with Jackson Quality Swim School, which has been teaching swimming for 60 years. She had a really good experience AND she learned so much and made incredible progress. She began the summer in level 3, which she graduated from the first 2 week session. Level 4 was where she began the second two-week session near the end of the summer, and she passed that level, too!

Session 1: Level 3

Teachers and kiddos from Session 1: Level 3

Diving board fun!

Making it across the pool

Working on back kicks and black floats

Session 4: Level 4

Learning to dive from the diving board. First try.

Receiving redirection from coaches.

After coaching- going in head first. Improvement!

Coach Rikki (it's her pool, her business, her program, she's been doing this for 40 years)

Note to self: Sign Emily up for Level 5 in Jackson Quality Swim for summer 2027