Charlotte UltraSwim 2013

Zach and Evan started swim lessons last summer with an amazing swim club here in Charlotte. When we started, I had no idea just how “huge” they were in the world of swimming. Let’s be really honest – I had no idea how big the world of swimming really was. Short of Michael Phelps, I couldn’t tell you many names unless we were around Olympic times and hearing them on the news. After 10 months of swimming, our family has fallen in love with the sport! We started seeing posters for UltraSwim about 2 months ago and Evan was begging to go. Again, I really didn’t think it would be a big deal. Local swimmers, right? Well, wrong. Call me sheltered, but this was my first “celebrity” experience. Cullen Jones, Ryan Lochte, Dana Vollmer, Ricky Berens, Allison Schmitt, Amanda Weir, Megan Romano… all in the same room! And we were in it!! Ha! The boys had a blast getting their autographs, cheering them on, … and getting their faces painted like Iron Man and Spiderman. 😉 Highlight for Evan was definitely Megan Romano handing him her gold medal from the 100 free. Love the hearts of these swimmers for the fans! Here are a few pictures from our fun!

Is this thing on?

You would think that someone who loves to talk as much as I do wouldn’t have trouble blogging. I definitely don’t feel like I should ramble on and on about myself, or my children. Vanity, much? I do love to share, and think, and read – so here are my thoughts today.

We, as parents, tend to “preach” to our children as they are growing up that faith and family are #1 in life. Nothing else matters at the end of the day. Yet, we throw them gifts every time they turn around. Our toy rooms are filled with “stuff”. Our schedules are so full we can’t make time for friends on the weekends. We are plugged in to a phone, or computer, or iPad, or TV every second of every day. Don’t think I’m only talking to you. Definitely calling myself out as well! We spend so much time making ourselves busy that we truly ARE missing out. As a photographer, I use my camera a LOT. But what I realized when trying to compile images over the last year of my family? Very, very few. I was really bummed that I had spent so much money on this camera and lenses, and spent so much time learning how to USE them, but I was missing out on capturing my own memories. My family. My boys.

As the school year is winding down, I am determined to re-prioritize life. Listing the things I’ve said “yes” to this year makes me shake my head. I’ve spent so much time DOING, that when my 2nd grader or Kindergartener would ask if I could come have lunch with them, I had to say no. Gulp. Why was it God lead me to stay home? To volunteer my time away? Or to spend it raising and spending time with my children? Gulp again. Guilty as charged. Remember why we HAVE life, friends. It’s not to spend all our money making sure our child can play the best baseball around. How many of us played a sport or activity our whole childhood? How many of us are making a living doing that sport? Again. Guilty as charged.

Love your babies, mommas! Time is passing quickly!