Steelers Training Camp

During the last week of August, I took a day to visit the Steelers training camp at St. Vincent College. The campus is located in scenic Latrobe PA, in the foothills of the Allegheny mountains. Both Tyler and Ellie came along and had lots of fun. We watched practice, took part in the NFL experience and even got some got some autographs. While we came close to getting fan favorite Polamalu - he one person down from Ellie, we did get lasts year's number 1 draft pick, Ziggy Hood.

Polamalu was impressive - last player off the practice field and last player signing autographs. And yes ladies, he does have better hair than you. The second photo is action shot of him making interception during practice.

There was plenty of stuff for kids to do - a whole NFL experience in which they could throw passes, kick a field go, go through obstacle course, and try one full pads. Take a look at the last photo - you can barely see Ellie's fingers sticking out of the shoulder pads

Ellie Swim Team Trials

Ellie has joined the swim team at our neighborhood pool - The Wahoos. We are not wild about the team name (kidding), but the team is good and the atmosphere great. Of course, Ellie is only 6, so we don't want to get carried away. She has great stamina and swims pretty fast. She needs to spend a little more time in practice on starts and finishes, but she is doing great for her first time. The first photo is start of 25 meter butterfly for 8 and under. She is in the bottom lane, with the white swim cap.

She is competing in all 4 strokes:

• freestyle,
• back,
  
• breast, and
  
• butterfly

Most important, she has lots of fun with the other swimmers and coaches. Her first meet is Monday, June 28th. I hope to post update a couple of days after that.

Quick update on Ellie's first swim meet; she swam three strokes and achieved 3rd in Butterfly (out of 8 swimmers) 8 and under, 1st in Breast (out of 8 swimmers) 6 and under, and 4th in backstroke (out of 24) 6 and under.

Ellie's new Bike

We final went and got Ellie a new bike, without training wheels. She took to it right away, zooming up and down our sidewalk. She still needs a little time to learn turns. The good news is, she has learned how to crash from one of the best, her old man.