College Visits

Austen on campus at NU (no Peyton photos -
not allowed at event)

Last Saturday, Peyton had a swim meet in the city at Northwestern University. Now if you ever have been to NU from the western suburbs, you know how difficult it is to get there. It takes an hour at least but lucky for us her warm up time wasn't at the crack of dawn. So off, Peyton, Austen and I went. (Tom was taking Hailey to a birthday party and then to an Indian Princess campout in Indiana for the day/night, and I told Austen he wasn't sleeping in and lying around all day so he came too, and he was glad he did.) 

It was a beautiful day. Once we found the pool (Peyton's swim team and high school pool is so much better than NU's pool), we dropped Peyton off for warm ups and then Austen and I walked around campus for an hour and a half. Their sports facilities (except for their football field) are right on the lakefront. This is all relatively new as the last time I had really been there was when Austen went to soccer camp there when he was entering the 5th Grade. The view was gorgeous. The soccer field actually has the best view and much to Austen's pleasure the team was practicing that day, preparing to take on #20 Penn State the next day. After our long walk through campus on a gorgeous early fall day, Austen parked himself in the bleachers and watched most of their practice while I ran back and forth between Peyton's swim events. 

Me and Mia!

It's short course so Peyton swam a 25 Free, 50 Fly, 50 Back and 50 Breast. She shaved time off of all her events and even qualified for a regional cut in the 50 Breast (finally - first time she got to swim it since she had to qualify last year and the meet got rained out and then missed the next qualifying event because of our country club championships). The hard part is that she still competes 11/12 but trains 13/14. Once she turns 13 at the end of December, any of the times she has now won't matter for regional times in March so she'll be working toward attaining regional times at 13/14 which will definitely be more challenging. Anyway, good first meet for her. 

I decided that this was the day for campus tours so after collecting Austen and texting my niece, we decided to travel 20 minutes south and explore the Loyola University campus too. Mia gave us a great tour and it was nice we finally got to visit her now that she's a junior! We enjoyed a late lunch/early dinner close to campus before venturing home.

Both kids said they had a great day. Peyton was happy with her times and seeing all of her swim friends again. Austen was thrilled because he got to see a college soccer practice AND talk to the head coach. The coach had noticed him watching, I guess, and approached him after the practice. Austen said he addressed the coach by name and they discussed the team and upcoming Penn State game before he asked what soccer club Austen played for and graduating year. He mentioned to Austen doing one of their ID camps this winter too. Austen can't wait to sign up! All in all, a very fruitful day for my two oldest kids!