Cheerleaders performing at the Opening Ceremonies
At the Jacksonville Airport waiting to go - we are so excited.
Sisters waiting in the airport
on time - miracles never cease
The grass was so much softer in the midwest - Elena and Lily doing grass angels.
Grace was happy we finally got to eat. Mexican, yum yum
Elena's so happy, she is doing cartwheels!
cartwheel #2
Elena catching up with friends on email in the Hospitality Suite at the Host hotel
Erin Popovich and Dave Denniston, both from the US Paralympic Swim Team coach the kids in an early morning swim clinic before the opening ceremonies.
Susan Beth Scott, US Paralympic Swim Team, also assisted in the Athlete Swim Clinic. They went over all 4 strokes.
Lily trying to stay warm during the clinic instruction.
Dave Denniston giving instruction. He was originally on the US Olympic Swim Team until his spinal injury. He now swims with the US Paralympic team - that's a come back!
Lily swimming 50 backstroke - she came in 3rd in this event.
Backstroke drills with Susan Beth Scott
Lily swimming breaststroke.
More clinic photos
St. Peter's Rec Plex. This pool has a moveable floor
freestyle drills
Elena in the vortex in the family fun pool at the Rec Plex
OOPS! Elena helping Lily out of the Vortex at the Rec Plex
Yea! they made it to the side, and Lily is now above water
Opening Ceremonies line up with our Florida State Flag bearer and sign holder.
Proudly displaying the JCLA sign at the ceremonies.
Color procession before we marched in.
Key note speaker.
Colors
In come the athletes by state.
Some came in teams of 20-30 athletes.
In comes Lily and Jenny, representing the state of Florida.
Jenny & Lily coming in
Warm ups
Rec Plex photos
Family fun pool at the Rec Plex
More Rec Plex photos
Lily waiting to warm up
Diving in for 25 freestyle - Lily won 2nd place in this event.
After a full morning of competition, we went to see the Arch - otherwise known as the Jefferson western expansion memorial
1st bridge of it's kind to span this distance.
A view from the Riverboat
Energy plant. Used during the World's Fair in St. Louis. Now only used for steam.
A car on the riverbank - what happened here?
Grace, Lily and Elena on the riverboat.
Beautiful day and a great ride on the boat.
Jenny on the riverboat
We walked up these stairs with wheelchair and all to get to the Arch.
A view from the top of the stairs.
Relaxing on the lawn under the Arch.
A view from under the Arch
Midwest grass is soft!
The Old Courthouse
Cheerleaders at the Opening Ceremonies
Warm ups day 2
Grace and Elena
Grace and Elena again
A view from the stands
Jenny getting her heat sheet ready
Swimmers getting ready to compete. Lily is in the middle left - with the green Loggerhead swim cap
She ended up not going off the blocks because she didn't have an assistant to hold her. Jenny wasn't allowed on deck, since she wasn't registered as a coach.
50 Butterly - Lily came in 1st in this event.
Butterly
Getting ready for breast stroke
Lily came to visit us in the stands in between races.
50 Backstroke - Lily came in 1st in this event.
Grace and LIly at the Arch
Nothing like a 44 oz Blue Raspberry Icee to cool you off after climbing all those stairs.
The men who designed and built the Arch.
A sample of the tram that takes you to the top of the Arch (and Elena).
Grace in the tram.
We took the South Tram up to the top.
Elena and the tram tickets. She was so excited to ride to the top. Better than the 1076 stairs.
We took Tram #1.
A view from the top. The St. Louis Cardinals were playing the LA Dodgers. Looks like a sell-out.
The Old Courthouse from the top.
More views from the top.
A closer look at the Baseball stadium
A view of Illinois from the top.
Lily dressed up in a bonnet at the General Store.
Elena in a bonnet.
Kelly Behlmann tries to fit Lily's feet in the racing wheelchair.
Getting the straps just right - notice the purple fuzzy pillow that she is using to make the seat fit better.
Helmet on, and they are off around the track for a trial run.
Coming into the finish. Kelly actually gave this chair to Lily, on loan, until she gets her own chair. We promised to bring it back with us to camp next summer. Lily can't wait to get home and get on the track to use it.
