Go Dolphins!

The girls started camp the day after we returned from Minnesota, and our first swim meet was that night, against Morristown, which we won! The Dolphins have been undefeated the last 3 years but we are now in the highest division yet (Division 4) and have been told to expect more competition and some losses. So it was thrilling to start off the season with a win!

And, updated -- this year's team picture. The pride of South Orange!

Minnesota Visit, Days 3 and 4, June 28 and 29

On Saturday we visited the James Hill house in St. Paul -- the kids found the place pretty fascinating as it is huge and was home to one of the most successful robber barons of the late 19th century, his wife, and his 10 children. Everything in the house is original to the Hill family, and our enthusiastic tour guide took us through three floors and lots of interesting information about the house and its times.

When we got back, it was time to watch the World Cup, Colombia playing Uruguay! We had some very excited fans in the room as we watched Colombia win!!

Afterwards the kids hung out and played before dinner:

Then on Sunday, we met the Olsons at their church for the service. Bizarrely, Wendy fainted in the middle of the service. I thought she was sitting down because she was finding the prayer too long but then she just kept going until she was slumped over on the seats. We got her out of the service and got her some water, and a friend of the Olsons who is a pediatrician came and talked to us and guessed that it may just have been being tired or standing for too long. After a rest she was able to go back in but we certainly were concerned there for a bit. After the service we got one more group picture (this one with Serena, who had been away until late Saturday at camp), and then we went out for lunch (Colombian food, of course!) before we had to say goodbye and head to the airport.

Minnesota Visit, Day 2, June 27

Our big field trip on Friday was to a nearby lake for swimming and a picnic:

When we got back the girls helped Hugo and Maria take the dogs out, and then we spent some time watching Hugo's graduation slideshow. The Olsons hosted a wonderful open house for him last weekend and part of the festivities included a review of photos of his last 3 years in Minnesota. After dinner, we enjoyed watching a movie together.

Minnesota Visit, Day 1, June 26

Pictures from our first day visiting in Minnesota:

So excited at the airport!

The kids spent time hanging out together at the Olsons'home:

We also went to a local park after dinner:

We stayed at a hotel in nearby Coon Rapids -- the girls were asleep within minutes of arriving. It was a great first day!

Wendy's Moving Up Celebration

We started Wendy's Moving Up day with a hair crisis -- our wonderful hair stylist Ms. Vasia had blown out her hair straight last night and then put it in knotted twists all over her head. We had instructions as to how to untwist them and fluff them and I was to say the least, trepidacious about how that would go as hair is very much NOT MY THING. My own, or theirs. That's why we have Ms. Vasia!! So after Wendy showered and got dressed we started to untwist and it looked, as I might have predicted, ridiculous. Huge corkscrew curls going in every direction. She burst into tears and it was quite a moment. So, I went into emergency mode, calmly told her to get on her shoes and come eat breakfast and we would sort it out afterwards, and went out on the front lawn at 7:20 a.m. and called Vasia. I described the situation to her and asked (begged) if we could bring Wendy over so she could help us. She said she would call me back, so I went back inside and got as ready as possible and when the call came at 7:35 that we could come over we jumped in the car, got there at 7:45, and were on our way back to Clinton, hair looking gorgeous, at 7:55 and made it there in time for the traditional clap-in of the 5th grade. Whew, and thank goodness for wonderful Ms. Vasia!!

Here they are being clapped in:

After the clap-in I went upstairs to give the year end gifts to the teachers with the other class moms -- the end of an era, I've been a class mom as long as I've been able to be (3 years at Clinton) but no more as in the Middle School they don't really do that. Then I went downstairs and waiting in the auditorium as Chris had taken Fer home to get her book and to have some breakfast as he had missed that with our precipitate departure for the stylist's. I was the first one there by maybe 50 minutes, but no worries. Gigi and Grandad arrived around 9:30 and the ceremony started at 10. It was a lovely graduation -- the speeches by the principal, the Board of Education member and the 5th grade student council president were well done and to the point, and then the 5th graders sang 4 songs, which were interspersed with hearing from each graduate. Wendy spoke during the part where the children shared goals for the future. Her thoughts? "I am passionate about swimming and I want to be in the Olympics someday." When I learned a few weeks before (right around when swim team was starting up) that this was her sentence I expressed some surprise as she has not generally expressed that level of enthusiasm for swimming. Her response: "Well, I had to say something!" So, the jury is still out about Wendy's future plans.

Some pictures from the ceremony:

Afterwards we went outside for a reception on the front lawn, and took pictures with teachers and friends:

Then we went back to the house for family pictures and presents. The big highlight: we're going to Minnesota on Thursday!!

Afterwards, we went down to Above restaurant in South Orange for a lovely outdoor lunch. Thanks for hosting, Gigi and Grandad!

Overall it was a wonderful day. And now we have one day to pack and get ready, and then onwards to Minnesota. We are so excited to be with the Olson family and to see Hugo and Maria!