Nadando - Swimming

Olvidé esas fotos de nosotros en Arkansas... en un restaurant que se llama Outback con el hermano mayor de Danny, Chuck, y su esposa, Opal, con su hija, Kimmy... y al fin, mi parte favorito, cuando los niños me ayudaban quitar todo de la camioneta a ayudarme regresar todo a su lugar. :)

I forgot these Arkansas photos... At Outback Steakhouse with Chuck & Opal's family... and my favorite part, the kids helping put everything out of the van and back where they belong. :)

Aqui hay fotos de las ultimas semanas. Here are photos of the last few weeks.

Cumpli 37 años el 19 de junio. Aqui hay fotos de la fiesta privada que hicimos. Mami, gracias por las flores, y Joseph, gracias por el dinero - su regalo pagó por las clases de waterpolo para Jonathan. ;)

I turned 37 on June 19th. Here are fotos of our private party. Thank you mom for the flowers, and Joseph for the birthday money - your gift paid for Jonathan's waterpolo classes. ;)

Jonathan - Waterpolo - # 8

Aqui hay una foto de nuestra primera sandía creciendo en el traspatio!
Here is a photo of our first watermelon growing in the backyard! Good eyes Tara!

Jonathan y Gabby tuvieron campeonatos de natacion en la picina Willow este verano. http://www.willow-pool.org/ Nadaron estilo mariposa y libre nadaron en un relevo. ¡Las felicitaciones a ellos! Recibirán sus trofeos y medalias anunciando los tiempos finales esta noche.
Jonathan and Gabby were on the swim team at Willow pool this summer. They made it, including friends named below, to championships this year and swam butterfly and a relay where they swam freestyle. Tonight they receive their awards and certificates and I will ask about their times to share with you. Aqui hay fotos de Jonathan... tan alto! Here are some photos of Jonathan. He's so tall!

Tyler and Jonathan - I saw Tyler swim butterfly! Congrats to Tyler making it to Championships!

Pierre - freestyle! Congrats to Pierre!

Steven - Breaststroke. Congrats to Steven!

Tyler - butterfly!

Aqui hay fotos de Gabby. Here are photos of Gabby

Freestyle and backstroke (backstroke from previous meet, not championships)

Inez - butterfly - congrats to you!

waiting

Aqui hay fotos de Anna haciendo piruetas, pasando el tiempo durante las competencias. Tambien ulgunas fotos de ella con algunas amiguitas:

Here are some photos of Anna doing gymnastics... cartwheels I think they're called, during the swim competition. Also with photos of her with some of her friends:

Hailey, Lille,Kylie, Kristi goofing off for Gabby's photo.

Que bonita su pelo Anna...

gracias por dejarme areglarlo!

What pretty hair Anna, thank you for letting me make your hair "pretty-pretty!"

Despues de la competencia, Paola comiendo su yoghurt. Leka Leka! ;)

After the competition, Paola ate some yoghurt, Leka Leka (my grandmother Mutti used to say that to her cat, Moni, after he would do a trick for us.)

Mi mamá, Sonja Urria VonderForst, me dió el permiso de poner este sitio en mi blog... De mi mamá, papá, Juan Jorge Arentsen, abuela Mutti (Ingeborg VonderForst), y tío Pancho (Francisco Urria).
http://helanodices.blogspot.com/2006/06/helanodices-n-24.html

Speaking of Mutti, my maternal grandmother Mutti (Ingeborg VonderForst) was a championship swimmer in Chile... she swam in Breslau in 1938 as a Chilean (As you can see, she is obviously German born - she's on the left - but her family had her swim as a Chilean. She is standing next to her German swim mates)

Mutti in Breslau 1938

My mom, Sonja Urria, when she was a little swimming champion.

Mutti and Sonja (my maternal grandmother and my mother - both Chilean swimming champions)

Sonja and Pancho (my mom and her brother, uncle Francisco Urria) at el Museo Olímpico in Chile in 2006. Pancho now owns a GREAT pastelería in Las Condes, Santiago, Chile - Entitled Pasteleria Franzel - On street Del Inca 4709 - phone number - 001.56.2.206.6059 - GREAT PASTERIES! He is THE BEST in Chile!

I need photos of Pancho and Juan Jorge please. :)

A picture of my sister (Carolina - in the middle) and I on our dad in our home in Villanova, PA, where we grew up. Pool lovers run deep in the genes of the children of Danny and me.

My dad now:

http://www.pasteur.cl/medicos/Dr.%20Juan%20Jorge%20Arentsen.html

Eso es todo por el momento. Buenas noches. Mientras los niños estan nadando, siempre pienso sobre mi familia en Chile (y Rhode Island). Gracias por sus exemplos... no solament para mi, ahora son elemplos para nuestros niños también. Gracias por ser parte de mi. Besitos a todos. Les extraño mucho.

That is all for now. Goodnight... Thinking of Chilean roots and family. Grateful for your examples. Missing those in Chile and RI. Love you much!

Arkansas

End of May/first week in June we travelled to Arkansas/Missouri to:
1. Attend the wedding of Genevieve and Jason
2. See family in Arkansas
3. Spend time with Houston friends in Arkansas/Missouri.

We had a great time doing all three! Thank you Chuck & Opal for letting us sleep over at your place, thank you Kimmy and Todd for playing with your Houstonian cousins, and thanks to Chris & Cinnamon for letting us wash our van at your new business venture: Jalopy Joe's.

http://www.jalopyjoes.com/

Thanks also to Dave & Nicole, Scott & Cindy, Walter & Michelle, Matt, Gen & Jason, Carolyn & Joe, Joseph and all the cousins for all your love and support, hospitality and kindness. We're glad you're family. We love and miss you lots.

The ride up went pretty smoothly, we were all excited about the adventures awaiting us!

First signs of nature!!!

1. At Genevieve's wedding: left to right: Danny, Matt, Scott, Dave, Genevieve, Walter, Chuck and Chris during the wedding. Thank you for the photos Kimmy, I had forgotten to bring the camera. Janez, Emily, Anna, and Gabby were flower girls. They all did a great job! Tanner, our new cousin on Jason's side, was ring bearer. Jonathan especially is glad to have you as family Tanner! He thinks it's great to have another boy around his age in the family. Paola, as you can see, wanted to be a flower girl too. :) Thank you Candy for hemming the dresses, you did a great job!

2. Spending time with family:
After the wedding, spending time with cousin Kimmy at the park.

A true-blue OU fan... we start 'em young!

Our camp site at Beaver Lake. http://www.beaverlake.com/

Jonathan earning Cub Scout badges!

A day at Beaver lake with family and Walter & Michelle's Sea-doo!

Go Cinnamon!

Tre with mom and dad... he's growing so fast!

Danny and Margarita enjoying the Sea-do, and pulling Jonathan and Gabby around.

Gabby was determined not to fall off this time... she fell off last time when she was being pulled from David & Nicole's motorboat... she was relieved to learn that Walter & Michelle's Sea-do goes just a tad slower. :)

Danny and I taking turns toting the kids around.

Paola enjoying a more calmer recreational activity with mommy.

Taking time to enjoy, take care of, and learn about life and the beauty Heavenly Father and Mother Nature provide us for free... Hope we always learn to take care of our Earth and all its beauties. This is why we recycle and have a compost pile!

War Eagle Mill: http://www.wareaglemill.com/

We just can't resist the clean water at War Eagle mill! Since the time I first jumped in when pregnant with Jonathan over 10 years ago, with grandma Carolyn and nephew Craig (he was Jonathan's age then), everytime I see the water by War Eagle mill, I have to get in it and explore! Looks like our whole family now has adopted this tradition.

First floor is the working mill and purchase of milled goods, second floor has neat trinkets to buy, and third floor has a restaurant. Fun all around!

3. Spending time with Houstonian friends in Arkansas and Missouri.

http://mdc.mo.gov/areas/hatchery/

While walking the trails:

Sophia found a froglette!

Lana, Olivia, and Paola stop for a rest.

Back at the fishing place, Jonathan, Adam, Danny, Lane, and Lana experimenting with different ways to catch a fish.

Everyone absorbing the peace, quiet, and solitude of Missouri nature.

We had a wonderful time in Arkansas and Missouri with family and friends! We miss Arkansas and Missouri and all the family and beauty residing on/in its clean land and water... hope to see you again soon!