Memorial Day Heat

Memorial day means a couple of things to this family....... running races for the kids and me and a sweet local parade.  All week, we watched the weather, hoping that the anticipated heat and humidity wasn't really going to happen.  Alas, as the weekend crept up on us, it was clear that it was going to be a scorcher.  I was secretly hoping they'd cancel the marathon.  I really, really, don't like running when it's above 80 degrees.  But, I paid $170 to split the half marathon with my dear friend, Jen, plus we trained a lot throughout the spring, so I was going to do it.

The kids decided to run the 1 mile kids race the year before the race.  I knew there might be problems when an ambulance delayed the start of their race-- it was called in for a 9 year old who ran the 2 mile race?!?!?!

But the kids did great!  They ran the whole race and stuck together with their good friend T.

Fortunately, we have friends with beautiful ponds with gorgeous back drops, so we got to cool off after the kids big race.

Jen and I managed to finish the marathon before they shut it down because of extreme heat.  We were actually well within the cut off.  In fact, we won the women's master's 2-person relay by 17 minutes!  Hard to believe, given that it was a slow race for me.

This year, both the kids and John were in the Jericho-Underhill Memorial Day parade. The boys were with their little league team and Cally was with her Daisies troop.   I got to sit back under a tree and watch the whole thing.

In other news, John finished the new barn doors for our garage siding project!  Now onto the Mud room.

This guy has had an amazing year at Poker Hill School.  Not only has he absolutely LOVED going to school everyday, but he's become quite a personality on campus.  He seems to get along well with so many of the kids, but he also has endeared himself to a lot of the teachers.  When it came time to pick an M.C. for the spring show, we were proud to hear that the teachers selected him.  I'm not sure if the video I took will load, but it doesn't really do what he did justice.  He was loud, poised, and charming.  He also got to sing his favorite song, "Hockey Monkey" song. 

In other events, the kids got to bowl in an MMU Science vs. Math department competition.  I think they helped the science department maintain the cup.

I also pulled the kids out of school to participate with my advisory in some community service at the Davis Farm.  It's pretty awesome to see the big kids warm up to the little kids.

And finally, hazey has been playing on a t-ball team coached by his tireless and patient and proud papa.  John has been reluctant to coach soccer, but because baseball was such a big part of his childhood, he felt obliged to coach Hazey's team.  The regime included one practice a week and games every Saturday morning at 8:30am?!?!?!?  Not to sound too boastful, but Hazey really has some amazing hand eye coordination. He doesn't even really need a tee.  It's rare that he misses a parent pitched ball.

At times it looks more like herding cats than playing t-ball, but they all seem to be having a super fun time. 

MLM's 75th

The matriarch of my family had a milestone birthday!  She taught me to LOVE birthdays and to celebrate and honor yourself on a birthday.  Therefore, I tried to make this one as special as possible, without making too big of a deal about it (because she didn't want a big deal being made).   The kids and I arrived in time to have a celebratory dinner on her actual birthday.  We even came with homemade carrot cake cupcakes. 

Saturday was spent playing with cousins on the trampoline, riding bikes, and going to lacrosse games.

Upon Grandma's request, all of us went out to her favorite restaurant in New Canaan.  Everyone got gussied up. These two looked particularly cute.

 Our big gift to her was a book of birthday wishes from her family.  I think she really like it.

MLM is a very modest woman.  She's taught me a lot about about being humble, loyal, kind and caring.  I'm so glad we got to honor her in a special way.

Climbing & Wrapping up the year at UVM

Six months ago, John brought the kids to the indoor climbing gym and they lost interest within a half hour.  He hasn't been pushing it to bring them again.  However, on a recent rainy Sunday, the kids asked if they could go.  Hazen got a gift certificate for his birthday, so it was hard to say no.  Plus, we have all the gear and it was fun for the kids to get to use it.

Hazey is a "go for it" kind of kid. But when he gets to a certain point beyond his comfort zone, he definitely admits his discomfort.

Cal, on the other hand, is a heady climber.  She needs to scope, plan, and then try and retry her attempts before she eventually bounds up to the top of a climb.

 It's so fun to see their smiles of accomplishment.

As is always the case, right after we return from my April vacation, John gets busy wrapping things up at UVM.  It's a bit of a tease, as I still have six weeks of teaching before my year ends.  The kids love the gatherings with the college kids.

the senior Outing Club awards banquet at Halvorsons

The Outing Club picnic at High Meadow

Because John had already secured High Meadow for a late afternoon picnic for his Outing Club, we decided to invite some of our local friends up for some playing around the pond.