March 2026

 March is the month for swim meets. There were THREE of them. (The final meet, NCSA's deserves its own post since it was in Orlando.) Otherwise, with the weather being kinda lame, we spent a lot of time inside. The kids have a great time being crazy in the sunroom. So, that's what this post is mostly about.

Mini Champs - Lynx did a great job, dropped time and was mostly happy. He and his buddies Nico, Liam and Grady almost certainly set a record for their relays....if only RMSC kept relay records for minis! 

PVS Champs/JOs - Not such a great meet. Nova swam the 500 freestyle and then was sick for the rest of the meet! First time she's ever missed a meet. Lynx was really not interested in doing it. He had put too much pressure on himself. I told him he didn't have to, but in the end, each day, he went. 

They are so funny together. They still act like babies, a tradition that has gone one for years (since they were actually babies.) Here, they are snuggling like babies would.

A new addition to the family! A dark blue couch! We spent a lot of time in February watching the Olympics. When that finished, we watched a rerun of the Tour de France from last July. Our previous couch had only two seats and one parent didn't like having a child sit on him. Which relegated someone to the floor. With the advent of this blue monstrosity, that is no longer a problem!

They both like to make silly faces, trying to make everyone laugh.

Exhibit B.

The last day of the Tour de France! This is a weird sports where they take pictures during the race on the last day. We were perplexed.

Nova no longer needs to have teeth, she's decided. THREE fell out this March!

The second meet was PVS Champs, also known as Junior Olympics. Lynx qualified for seven 10U events, which is nearly impossible for 8 year olds...except Lynx. 

The beard does not help with his speed. (He did that!! He thought it was HILARIOUS.)

Nova sometimes gets very creative with her birthday present thank you cards!

Smiling while we wait in a lobby.

This is a bean plant from school. He was SO sad that it barely grew at school. But, at home, with a little TLC, it grew like crazy! He would run over to it after school each day to see how much it's grown. (But, by May, he could care less. It's dying more and more each day.)

Nova's 11th Birthday

Nova's buddy, Mady, has the same birthday as Nova. Nova really wanted a surprise party, so I worked with Mady's mom to host a double surprise party! 

The first surprise was having a few friends sleep over on Friday night. Then, she was surprised with a trip to the mall. And, as a grand finale, all of her friends, Madys' friends and their mutual swim friends met at a movie theater to watch GOAT. In all, I think there were about 40 kids there. It was a LOT. She loved it and has to me she wishes it had never ended.

Oh and they had a dentist appointment the day before her birthday, so I took the kids to IHOP (instead of school) to start the celebration right!

Friend sleepover!

Breakfast in the morning. Lynx is wearing a napkin.

After the first round of gifts the morning of her birthday. (Nova still doesn't know that there are more surprises to come.)

More friends, waiting at the movie theater for Nova to arrive.

Here's a video of the big surprise!

Nova with one of her besties.

We rented out the theater, so these are all of their friends! There are more in the first rows that aren't captured.

Me, cutting the cake. The other birthday girl, Mady, has the glasses. I can't find a picture of them together....though I know there are some somewhere! Here's a video of the kids singing Happy Birthday

She loves Lady Gaga!!

Banana Slug and a Stanley

Money from a friend! Thanks!

Lynn, looking on during the movie. (The poster behind him was created by Mady's mom! It's adorable.)

And, finally, here's a video of the kids eating cake with just their faces. hahah

February 2026 + Rankings

I've realized more and more (and more) that I really hate winter and need to take a vacation somewhere warm every January/February.  Note to self for 2027!

Despite the crummy weather, February was incredible. The kids continue to be amazing and, of course, Nova turned 11 on the last day of February! 

Here's a creative video they made for their buddy Ellie's birthday.

And a fun video of them playing in the snow.

Here's a playlist of the swimming my kids did during the February Invite 2026.

They also love making slo-mo videos. Here is one of Lynx, and one of Nova.

Lynx got a switch! He used his own money, which really means...you know....Thanks Grancy and Scrampa! 

I got together with a few friends over Korean food, where we hatched a plan to visit our buddy Tricia in Charlottesville! Photos of that trip will be in the April post

We've been encouraging Lynx to focus on the fun for swim. he wants his nickname to be "Marshmallow" so I bought him this swim cap that has a frog on it, and the words "Marshmallow" along the side. He didn't wear it for the meet, but he wore it to all of his practices in February

Nova swam her first ever 200 butterfly. This is THE hardest race that swimming has to offer. All of her buddies came to support her, as you can see here. She ended up doing amazing, and is ranked 8th in the United States in this event

Ugh, February weather! But the kids love the snow.

Lynx, as his usual goofball self.

Rankings! 

National Rankings Lynx (Jan 12):

[SCY, 8 year olds]

12th for 100 fly

20th for 100 IM

22nd for 100 free

49th for 50 free

25th for 50 fly

56th for 50 breast