ups and downs

the boys took on ottumwa and won, but what a weird meet! the announcer/scorekeeper was apparently terribly confused by the dual meet format (three teams - home team swims each opponent 'separately')...and it took a while to get everything all straightened out....but thanks to coach brayton's good notes we got credit where credit was due. the boys are having solid swims....they're awfully tired and still coming back from a series of colds and viruses...let's hope they're all healthy by state!

First Win

the swim team got its first win tonight! i think it's going to be great for overall morale. everybody swam well, and it was nice to go up against a team they weren't hopelessly outmatched by. jake had a great 100 fly, went 58 high.....had a decent 50 free....23 high. it was definitely a big boost for them to get a win, next up, ottumwa. they have a couple of outstanding swimmers, but coach brayton may have a few tricks up his sleeve to pull in the win. let's hope anyway....yay Lincoln:)

applied

for better or worse, it's done. jake sent his common app in to two of the four schools he's applying to. it was a dramatic couple of days as we came down to the wire, with me 'pushing' him (read yelling, screaming, cursing, cajoling) to work harder to make the essay the best it could be. i don't remember my parents even knowing that i applied to college, but that could just be my spotty memory. now, we wait. for the next round of deadlines (for the other two schools) and of course, to hear the results. what happens if you get in everywhere? what happens if you get in nowhere? i hate not having control over things. guess it's one of those 'life lessons' everyone's always talking about. feh.
Since it's the first day of 2009, i'm cleaning up the evidence of the 2008 holidays. took down the tree, threw away the 'orphan' cookies and candies that have been sitting around for days.
and as i took down the ornaments, a job i actually like better than putting them up because i get to look at them before the boys descend on the boxes like vultures - i thought about the next time i'd see them. jake will be coming home for break:) something to look forward to right? trying to keep my positive outlook on all the changes we're in for this year. so i guess that's my resolution. stay positive:) hey, it's easier than losing weight!