Sisters. On the same relay team. Ya'll better watch out!

2nd Place!  Woot!!!

I don't write eloquently enough to express the impact of seeing painstakingly preserved sites like Gettysburg and Antietam. I'll never forget the sound of a booming canon demonstration as I looked over the corn field where the Battle of Antietam took place, nor the sight of thousands of fireflies dancing over the Rose Wheatfield after dark, each paying a silent, sparkling homage to the 4,000 men who perished there in the battle at Gettysburg.  The courage and fortitude the citizens showed so long ago is humbling, and I appreciate the sacrifices they endured more now than I ever did before. 

Plus, Pennsylvania loves their ice cream shops and we had the best ice cream ever! 
What a wonderful trip!

Day One:
Visit to the Cyclorama, museum, bus tour, a hike and visit to the National Cemetery

  Day Two: Lovely drive to Maryland to tour/hike Antietum, dinner at Gettysburg's Farnsworth House (built in 1815 & riddled with bullet holes), back to Rose Wheatfield to watch the sun set & check for ghosts after dark.

 Go if you can--it's amazing!

Sophie too

 (though I think she'd rather be swimming...)

 

Julia up to bat...kid's got moxie

for today's fans

So, as mother of the year (again), I told Sophie's fan club at today's meet that she was the girl in Lane #2.  Actually, when I got to the spot where I took the video, I figured out that she was, in fact, the girl in Lane #5 (the far lane).  I was just too far from the fans to let them know at that point. They all (and the strangers heard in the video) cheered for the girl in Lane #2, ironically named "Sophia" (just to add to the confusion).  So, in case you were at the meet, and in case you believed me when I thought I could identify my own child...(dressed eerily like 67 other tall, skinny 11 year olds), here is your chance to watch Sophie, the girl in Lane #5 (the one I like to refer to as the child I birthed...and would never mix up with another woman's child...and who placed FIRST in the 25 meter freestyle). 
Go Sophieeeeee...Lane 5!!!   : )

doves to be

 and peony