1st Day of School 2019

It's July so that must mean it's back to school time, right? It's a bit early for me but it is when school starts so here we go! 

Sarah heading off for her freshman year of high school.

Matthew, ready for Mrs. Kyle's 3rd grade class.

Megan, looking nice for Mrs. Wardman's 3rd grade class.

Megan and Matthew with their transportation to school.

All City Swim Meet

Last Saturday was the All City Swim Meet where all four Chandler teams swim against each other. Each swimmer can choose up to three events in which to participate. It was an early morning (we had to be at the pool by 5:45 am) with only three practices in the previous month due to travel and illness but the kids were excited to participate. Here are their times and some pictures:

Megan (25 yard)

Backstroke: 31.36 s

Breaststroke: 41.31 s

Freestyle: 30.15 s

Matthew (25 yard)

Backstroke: 39.68 s

Butterfly: 40.45 s

Freestyle: 35.20 s

Sarah (50 yard)

Backstroke: 42.17 s

Butterfly: 38.46 s

Freestyle: 33.60 s

Megan swimming backstroke.

Matthew swimming backstroke.

Sarah swimming backstroke.

Megan swimming breaststroke. I love the first picture because it shows Megan's personality as she plays with the water before her race.

Matthew swimming butterfly. I like how the last picture shows his stroke pretty well.

Sarah swimming butterfly. I love watching her swim this stroke! And all the others!

Megan swimming freestyle.

Matthew swimming freestyle.

Sarah swimming freestyle.

Sarah was very proud to earn a medal!

At this meet, the top three places for each race category get medals and 4-8 get ribbons. Since there's multiple heats of most events, it's tough to get a ribbon, let alone a medal. Sarah has a number of ribbons from past years and was really hoping for a medal this time. She got it (along with two 4th place ribbons).

Thus ends the summer 2019 swim season!

Summer Travels 2019: Trip Home and Petrified Forest National Park

Finally it was time to head home again.

Hello Nebraska! (Megan and Matthew state 43 and Sarah state 46)

Hooray!  We made it to Colorado!

We're glad to see you too New Mexico!

Time for a rest in New Mexico. This was in the morning after Megan and Matthew made the three beds. They were very proud of their work.

Getting closer to home.

Wait, is that another National Park?  We should stop.

Looking out over the desert.

Matthew and the desert.

Looking the other way.

More desert views

This bench is on the old Route 66. Petrified Forest National Park is the only National Park that has Route 66 going through it.

An abandoned car on Route 66.

We stopped at Newspaper Rock, so named for all the petroglyphs that are on the rocks.

Views from the Blue Mesa Loop. It was a mini Badlands.

All those rocks down there are actually petrified wood.

It was crazy to see so much petrified wood just laying all over the ground.

You can tell sometimes that pieces were all part of he same tree.

Again, all those rocks sticking up are petrified wood.

U with the scenery.

Me with the scenery.  The kids were done with getting out of the car for overlooks. Plus it was pretty hot outside.

Big logs made of stone.

The colors in the stone were amazing.

You can still see the rings in some of the pieces.

Swearing in as Junior Rangers.

This area is appropriately named "Giant Logs."

Matthew liked the shoe cleaners.

This log must have been hollow before it was petrified.

Another giant log.

They were laying all around.

With beautiful colors.

U having fun.

Matthew wanting to be like dad.

Megan thought sitting was more comfortable.

Sarah wanted to hike on her own.

A big log at the end of the trail.

A small bluff is perfect for sitting.

Another desert view.

This piece is broken lengthwise so you can see different layers.

See the rainbow colors?

One more piece lying out in the sun.

This piece was cut and polished in the Visitors Center.