Thursday, April 23, 2009

Sports, Sports, Sports!!!!
Hailey loves sports! She started the school year out by swimming for The Meridian Streamliners swim team, which she loved! It was so fun to see her skills develop as a swimmer. At the end of the fall season, Hailey had really improved all around. She had grown to be a real force in the water. However, although she had a passion for swimming, she also wanted to try other sports. In November, we took a short break to play basketball for the winter season, and soccer for the spring season.

Here is Hailey posing for her personal basketball photo.

Hailey's Basketball Team
Coach Gustin, Anna, Jaylyn, Kylee, Hailey H., Coach Hill, Mattie, Emma, Jessica, Hailey M., Sara (from left to right starting with top row)

Hailey had a great time playing basketball this winter. Most of the girls were from her class at school. At the beginning of the season, Hailey struggled with the various skills involved in basketball, but by the end of the season she was confident to shoot, dripple, and pass. It was really amazing how much all of the girls improved in just a few months. The season ended at the end of March. Soccer overlapped basketball by one week, which was a bit crazy....
We are now in the middle of soccer season, and loving every minute of it! Hailey plays with several girls from school. Some of the same girls from her basketball team are also playing on her soccer team. They have really enjoyed playing together in both sports! Hailey loves her soccer coach. Her coach is really good at teaching the girls the basics of soccer in a fun upbeat manner. This is Hailey's third season with this coach, and team, and every season her skills improve and her determination to play harder increases.

Picture #1~ Jakey splashing on the side of the pool....the most difficult part of swimming lessons!
Picture #2~ Hailey's basketball picture
Picture #3~ Hailey practicing her flip turns
Picture #4~ Daddy helping Hailey understand the basics of defense in soccer (Daddy loves soccer!)
Picture #5~ Freestyle swimming
Picture #6~ Mommy trying to keep Jake out of the water
Picture #7~ Freestyle

Picture #8~ Hailey playing soccer THIS season with the BLUE DRAGON FLIES!!
Picture #9~ Swimming
Picture #10~ Jake splashing again!

Picture #11~ Butterfly stroke
Picture #12~ Soccer

Amber was also involved in sports this year. She swam along the side of Hailey, but never competed. She is also taking ballet right now, which she loves. She wanted to play soccer like Hailey, but our rule is one sport at a time, and in the end, ballet won out over soccer.

Here are a few pictures of Amber tearing it up in the water: