Colorado Springs

This past weekend, I was blessed with the opportunity to go to The Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs for the National Select Camp! It was without a doubt the most educational experience I have ever had for coaching. Not only did I learn a lot of new swimming ideas and a lot of different techniques that I can work on with my swimmers, but I was also able to mingle with some of the big name coaches in the sport of swimming. It was awesome! In between classes, I took every chance I had to take pictures around campus. Here are a few that I shot! I also gotta add that it was pretty awesome to look out of the windows during class and be able to see Pikes Peak! This was truly an experience that I will never forget!!

Sunrise at JMU

A few weekends ago I was a JMU for a swim meet with the team I coach. It was so awesome to actually be able to play and work at the same time! During the day I would be at the meet coaching and cheering on my kids to swim faster. Then at night or after the meet I was able to hang out with my friends that still go to school there. The only weird side to that weekend was I wasn't competing in the pool where I spent countless hours training and competing. I was standing on the side of the pool, thinking that this is a really weird feeling to be coaching and not competing. Any who... I believe that JMU/ Harrisonburg has some of the prettiest sunrises and sunsets that I have ever seen. That weekend was no exception either. When my friend was dropping me off at the pool early in the morning on Saturday. I told her to pull over so I can take a picture of this awesome sunset and of course I never travel anywhere with out one of my cameras, so I just pulled it out and snapped a quick picture of the sunrise. The sunrise was beautiful and I wish I was able to see more of these beautiful sunrises more often!!

Mr. Prez!

Thanks for the photo!

So at this point in time I am a little jealous of all of my friends that live in the D.C. area and all the ones that had the opportunity to watch the inauguration LIVE! I wish I could be there now to capture this historical moment with my camera.

I just want to wish our new president, Barack Obama, all the luck in the world with his new life that starts today! May you get this country back on it's feet!

Christmas Day

Just like Christmas Eve, there was plenty of laughter (thanks to Nathan) and love flowing throughout the house. To see the joy on Nathan's face was just priceless. He was on cloud nine the whole day! Nathan was so excited to see all the presents under the tree and that Santa thought he was a good boy this year!! I truly believe that Christmas isn't about how many presents you get, how much your loved ones spent on you, or how much you spend on them. Christmas is about being with the people that you care most about and seeing the joy and happiness that the Christmas spirit brings in their lives. In saying that, the best part about my Christmas was seeing all the excitement in my two nephews' faces!

Christmas Eve

This past Christmas Eve, we spent it at my grandmother's house in Halifax, Va. I always love going down to my grandmother's. Life just moves in slow motion there and it helps you appreciate everything that you have in your life. Each holiday that we spend at my grandmother's house, there is always plenty of food, laughter, and of course love. Here are a few pictures from wonderful Christmas Eve with my family!

Tracy & Uncle Dub

Colin

Billy and Aunt Linda

My loving Grandparents

Colin again

Gavin