While it's spring time in Seattle.... even with the gray skies that seem to be here day after day, I'm going back to the end of January 2022. On the mend from Covid, we had crazy cold weather. Upon finding my love for swimming in cold water over the past year, myself and two friends decided we'd go for a dip when it was 29 degrees outside. The beach covered in snow, the parking lot all ice. I guess this is my mid-life crisis / new found desire to live dangerously? Never been a thrill seeker except for a good rollercoaster now and then. Swimming in water that was approximately 42 degrees with an outside temp in the 20's is dangerous. Some would call it foolish. I found it exciting, exhilarating and humbling. The three of us swam to what we all call the first buoy, took us approximately 6 minutes. At that point it was very apparent we needed to start our return to the beach. My first sign of hypothermia is lack of ability to speak clearly. (oddly I don't often feel very cold in the water - it's afterwards). At that first buoy, I couldn't speak well at all. Katja, one of the other swimmers was in agreement, we turned around. It was a 12 minutes swim, out and back. Alex - the thrill seeker stayed out for about 8 more minutes and regretted that decision greatly when he finally turned around toward the beach. Some people in very cold water die of shock and shortness of breath. Alex got short of breath and it scared him. He got in safely, but was truly humbled and we all acknowledged the power of the ocean. We were able to warm up within a reasonable amount of time. Would I do it again? Probably. I've learned a lot this winter, as I swam week to week in different temperatures and conditions. It's an activity that requires full attention in the cold. It is an adrenaline high. It requires full respect of the conditions and what they offer week to week. It's my new found love.
Other highlights:
Making an awesome pretzel cake with Nutella buttercream and Nutella ganache
Rabbit sitting for Kathryn as they travelled for winter break. I'm envious, they went to Knott's Berry Farm!
Traveling to Spokane with co-workers to see the son of Dr. Bratt get married
The kids first school dance. In fact the first middle school dance EVER at Shoreline Christian School.
Spokane is a beautiful city. The river that runs through the downtown is stunning
Kathryn's classmates - with the exception of one girl, they've all been together since preschool.
Left to right: Addie, Eldana, Kathryn, Sofia, Alex and Lexi
My clowns. Attempting to get a picture of them together. Two things in this picture that I won't forget..... Ryan wore a Hawaiian shirt to the dance (but at least put on nicer pants vs his usual sport shorts!) and that hair. He wants to grow his hair long enough to be cut in to a mullet. 😬 His Mom does not want this... but whatever, it's just hair. Right now he is a wooly mammoth with all that hair.
Most of the Middle School
6th, 7th and 8th grades
The girls that have been together since preschool all had a sleepover at Lexi's after the party. A trip to Dick's Burgers before returning home.
Kathryn describes the night as one of the best ever. 💙
