I am sad the Olympics are over for another two years. Remember when Summer/Winter were held the same year and they were only once every four years?

The Winter and Summer Olympic Games were held in the same years until 1992, after a 1986 decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to place the Summer and Winter Games on separate four-year cycles in alternating even-numbered years. Because of the change, the next Winter Olympics after 1992 were in 1994.

I think London did an amazing job hosting the ceremonies. The city looks beautiful, the British seem so thankful and appreciative and I just love all the history and royalty the country brings to the games.

As family, we watched a lot of the games. And if you recall, even threw an Olympic-themed birthday party!

I feel like I know a lot about the games – but here’s what I learned this Olympiad.

• There are a lot of cycling events. I had no idea! I think each day of the Olympics another cycling event was on. Who knew?!
• I’ve decided I don’t like sports where people have to touch each other a lot – like Judo, Wrestling, etc.
• I’m thankful for the live stream of events online. I dream of a day where US tv just shows all the event LIVE as they happen across the country. Can you image the real social media conversations we can have? Right now it’s all…”don’t spoil it for me…” “I’m avoiding results…” blah…blah. Here’s the thing, it’s not a SPOILER if it’s NEWS. US Gymnasts win a gold medal – that’s news people and it shouldn’t have to be embargoed until NBC decides we need to know.
• I think it’s a bit unfair to call Michael Phelps the best athlete ever. The fact that there are simply more individual swimming events obviously means he has the potential to win more medals. Then you look at the divers. I swear they have been working all week, diving over 100 times, and at the end only one medal among them. I think Phelps is an amazing athlete with super human power – however- to say he’s the best Olympian ever is a bit unfair.
• I loved the daily Olympic Google Doodles – keep them coming.
• My kids really got into the Summer Games. I think their ages helped. But I also think the Summer Games are easier to relate to. People run, bike, swim, shoot archery, do cartwheels, etc. In the Winter Games, you need so much more equipment…and snow. Something we don’t have here in Florida. I think they really liked it because they can watch archery, then go in the backyard and shoot their own. I’m pretty confident the Olympics were part of the reason my son got so excited about completing a triathlon.
• I’ve found myself drawn to the following sports: Rhythmic Gymnastics, Synchronized Swimming, Diving, Shooting, BMX Cycling, Trampoline, Beach VollybalD