Pinky Promise

Champ worked on putting together his race incentive (Legos).

This is the finished product.

Princess can master this fourth grade standard: find Indiana on a blank map of the United States.

I ran into a distant relative while waiting on Champ's baseball practice.  We spent a long time catching up.

Princess enjoyed playing with the daughter while we chatted.

Tonight Champ brought up that he would never move far from home.  He even made it official by requesting we pinky promise it.  That is good news for me!

Inspiring

This morning came quickly.  We began the day with me helping in Princess’s Sunday School room.  We played on the playground after service.  Next, we stopped at Target.  I got a bathroom scale and new laundry hamper, while Champ bought 2 new toys as his earned incentive for running the race yesterday.

We cleaned the house before spending the day outside soaking up the sun and socializing with our friends.  I also mowed the grass.

My favorite part of the day was when Champ thanked me for inspiring him to run the race.  He continued by saying that the training had sucked because he was so bored running around the track.  In contrast, the race had been a wonderful experience.  We talked about how the track was good because it was affordable and allowed me to have a safe place to keep an eye on Princess as I worked out.

All in all, this weekend was a much needed boost for me.    

Rocking the Rock the Block

Last night was our last night before our race. I treated the kids to a pasta dinner at Fazzoli’s before heading to Champ’s baseball practice.

Today was a fantastic day!  After about 10 weeks of training, today was finally race day for Champ and I.  Since there were so many times over the course of 10 weeks that he let me know that he was unhappy, I wasn’t sure how today would go.

Thanks to dad for the wakeup and good luck phone call at 6:45!  We were at the high school early.  Champ saw plenty of people from his school, my school, his before and after care program, etc.  Everyone told him they thought he could do it!  We talked about keeping our eyes on the prize.  We imagined how cool it would be to tell people that he ran the race the whole time.

We began the race with a lap around the high school before heading south.  The initial lap was good because he got a chance to be cheered on by his dad, sister, a teacher from his school, etc.

The next stretch had some hills and was along a main road.  I was giving him coaching advice to slow down so he could last longer and to not go so hard on the hills.  Next, we started going east.  My principal was handing out water at the one water station.  Champ slowed for water, but he kept his feet moving.  Sometime along this stretch, he held my hand.  He seemed a little choked up before saying, “I’m so glad you had me do this.”

Next, we turned into a neighborhood.  This was especially helpful for him.  There were more people in the neighborhood cheering the runners on than there had been on the main road.  Plus, there was also just more to look at.  I kept telling him he looked strong and that we had this.  Sometime after two miles he slowed a lot and said he wanted to catch his breath, but he kept his feet moving and then picked up the pace again.  He later dropped his hat, but he quickly picked it up and kept moving.  

We turned a corner, and I said with excitement that I could see the high school.  I was certain that he could make it to the finish line.  We pushed it at the end.  Although we crossed the line when the clock said 32 minutes, we weren’t the first people to cross the starting line.  I’m guessing we did it in about 31 minutes….a phenomenal time!  

We grabbed our water bottle and snack and headed for the car.  I had him change in the car so that we could head to his baseball game.  He said to me, “This was the best experience of my life.”  He felt so good about himself, so proud of his accomplishment.

At his baseball came, his coach had him at the end of the batting lineup and not playing in the outfield in the first 2 innings.  That was a good chance for him to catch his breath.

Champ made a hit on the first time to bat.  He stole 2nd and 3rd base.  He had to slide into 3rd base, but the umpire said he was safe.  Then he scored a run.

On his next time to bat, he struck out.  

On his third time to bat, he got hit by a pitch.  The pitcher is a current student of mine.  I made sure to walk over to the parents and say with a laugh that the kid’s grades were in jeopardy for hitting the teacher’s kid with a pitch.  The dad laughed and said it looked like he leaned in to get the pitch to hit him.  I said I taught him that trick.  It was a good laugh.  3 outs by the team prevented Champ from getting anywhere that time.

Champ’s best play in the field was catching a pop fly!

We ran home for lunch and showers before heading to Aldi to pick up some groceries.  We briefly stopped by the house again so that I could put groceries away and put together a fruit salad.

Tonight we had a family gathering at the farm in honor of the safe return of my cousin, Taylor.  The kids had way too much fun there.  Princess played chase with my cousin’s son, Luke.  Luke’s dad (Kyle) had warned the kids not to run on the driveway.  He specifically said I picture one of you wiping out.  About 2 minutes later Princess wiped out on the driveway.  It wasn’t as bad as I feared when she fell.  We only used 1 band aid on her elbow.

Taylor and Uncle Chris were awesome.  They took the kids out on rides on the 4 wheeler.  

Both kids wanted to hold my cousin Brad's twins.

Champ tried to hide when I wanted to leave, and Princess cried when we left the farm.  That is the mark of a good time!

Needless to say, Princess fell asleep quickly.

Did God Come from an Egg?

I love the conversations that I have with Princess.  Tonight she asked if God came from an egg.  I told her I didn't think that he had hatched out of an egg.  Then she said she didn't think he could come out of his own belly.  These priceless conversations make up for other times when she is obstinate and disobedient.

Princess tried a tumbling class last night instead of her dance class.  I think this class was more active and engaging.  I think she had grown bored of building on the same dance routine each week in dance class.

Last night we also went to a parent meeting for parents whose children will be moving to the next level of children's programming.  The kids ate desserts and fruits, as well as played games.  I enjoyed talking to others and learning more from the youth pastor.

Tonight was baseball practice.  Princess and I enjoyed looking through her Highlights magazine while we waited.  She loves looking for hidden pictures.  She loves comparing two similar pictures and finding what is different.  In addition, she also loves finding things that are silly.

A Productive Weekend...Again!

On Friday night, we ate dinner at a local taco restaurant.

Princess played on the playground during Champ's baseball practice.  I took a walk later around the neighborhood.

Saturday morning Vanessa and I ran from her house to a coffee place.  After enjoying lattes and conversation,  her mom picked us up and drove us home.  I spent 3 hours at school.  I watched an hour and a half of Champ's baseball practice.  I went to 2 grocery stores.  I volunteered at Champ's school's family fun night.  I was sore after running the Plinko station for 90 minutes.  I did cooking upon returning home.

Today I volunteered in the 5 year old Sunday school room.  Then I attended church.  I visited grandma. I stopped at Best Buy, Bed Bath Beyond, and Menards.  I have done some laundry, mowed the yard, and finished cleaning up the kitchen.  I've also worked on paying bills and adding things to my budget app.

Kindergarten Roundup

Tonight I signed Princess up for kindergarten.  One teacher told her she would be a tall kindergarten student.  She was thrilled to see 3 friends from her school and 2 from church.  In the classrooms, I showed her some words she could already read, like people's names that were the same as friend's names from her current school.

She got to practice getting on a bus.

She practiced sitting in the seat.

I think Champ took some random photos in the car.  I think Princess looks beautiful in this picture.

New running strategy: we talked about how a 5k is about 22 laps at our gym.  I put Champ in charge of timing the runs and walks with a timer app.  On the same app, I had him counting the laps completed as well as watching how long each lap took.  He was a completely different kid tonight.  This kid looked so strong tonight.  I believe this kid has what it takes to finish a 5 K.  When we finished, he asked if he could call his Papaw and let him know.  Thanks, mom and dad, for encouraging him.  We talked about short term and long term goals tonight too.

The high was short lived.  I made him study for his science test before bed since he didn't do it at kindergarten round up.   I've told him recently that there are no shortcuts for hard work.  Plus, I've also told him that he can get an F on a test, but he had better have worked his butt off to get it.  We believe in hard work.  Training kids is a hard and thankless job.

Monday Madness

This is a recent photo of my high school friends and I.

This weekend Princess started to be able to put her own hair in a pony tail.  Didn't she do well tonight?

Tonight Champ and I did day 1 in week 7 of a couch to 5k program.  I pushed him along.  My coaching tonight included there are no shortcuts for hard work.  I was glad to see 2 other parents running with their kids.  Although Champ doesn't love running, he likes the incentive he is working towards and hid feeling of accomplishment after he completes the next challenge.

Birthday Bonanza

Tuesday was a busy evening.  My mom took Princess to dance while I took Champ to baseball practice.  I ran over 3 miles outside while he was practicing.

Champ participated in an exercise class with me on Friday evening.  She did tons of stomach exercises.  Champ told me that they made his stomach hurt.  I explained that it meant that he was working those muscles.

Mom took Champ to his extremely cold baseball practice on Saturday morning while I took Princess to a birthday party at Monkey Joes.

Resting and replenishing after bouncing

Posing with the birthday twins

One twin is showing off the card Princess made.

The kids were so excited about all the gifts.

We dropped off Champ at a Lego birthday party in the afternoon.  Grocery shopping with only 1 child is excellent!

Today was my day to help in Champs Sunday school room.

The Weekend

On Friday, Champ went to a friend's house.  Princess and I hosted a neighbor and her three daughters.  Champ and I completed week 6 of Couch to 5k.  I just realized there are 2 weeks left in the program, but there are 3 weeks left before our race.  Hmmmm.

Friday evening I went to my neighbor's fiftieth birthday party at the local winery. Yesterday, I participated in an exercise class at the gym.  Then I went to Starbucks, Aldi, Meijer, and the nursing home. I also did a lot of food prep.  Last night I went to a going away party for a friend at a local bar/restaurant.  

Today I volunteered in a Sunday school classroom.  Then I attended worship service.  I also read my chapter for my book study, and I posted my response online.  Now I'm getting ready to do some school work, so I'm ready to get back to school tomorrow.  I also need to pick up sticks from an extremely windy Saturday and mow.

Last Day in Chicago

The kids went swimming in the morning.  That is apparently when you need to go in order for it to be less crowded.

The line looked super long outside of the aquarium.  So we headed to the Field Museum.  We ran into our children's pastor and his family there.

This was before the man said not to have shoes on the animal skins.  Oops!

The nature walk was a good look and find place for Princess.

They enjoyed the interacting with the volunteer here.  They had to determine whether things were living or nonliving.

Dinosaurs left big footprints!

Great smile on Champ as he poses with a dinosaur skeleton.

Dinosaurs had large bones!

The family room downstairs was great!

On the way out, we had a small and very late lunch at Burger King.  We stopped at Fair Oaks Farm to stretch our legs.  It is beautiful.  I enjoyed a yummy cheese sample.  We did a driving tour of Purdue before sitting down to dinner at Logan's.