Daddy's Day 2011

We spent Father's Day doting on Daddy in our house. Breakfast in bed (Applejacks and two fruit snacks). Gift opening (Insanity Workout-- do we think Chris will do it?). Shopping with Max at Dick's. Steaks, chicken, corn on the cob and coleslaw at my parents. It was a very nice day!

I got a few shots of the guys (minus Nathan and of course Gavin) outside playing horseshoes. Male bonding on Father's Day. Dad's rule!

Let's Kick Off Summer With Some Excitement!

I mean, really! Saturday, day 2 of summer break, started off with some drama. Chris was out of town in NYC for work (yes, on a weekend... so lame and no, he did not invite me to tag along... even lamer). When Chris is out of town I take a few extra precautions to make myself feel safer at home. This time before going to bed I locked the deadbolt on our door from our mud room into the garage as I usually do but I also locked the handle lock on that door which I have never used in my life.

Saturday A.M. Max and I were up bright and early... we headed out the door at 7:30am so I could take him to my parents while I went for my run. I asked Max to unlock the door not realizing that the handle lock would still allow the door to open even if he had NOT unlocked it. We go out the door, get into the car and then I realize my keys are inside. I go to open the door back into the house and about rip my arm off... the door is locked! LOCKED!!!! DUDE!!!! I have no keys to drive, no keys to get in any door of our house, no open windows and even though I did have my cell phone the stupid thing doesn't work to make phone calls (my new iPhone from Apple is actually being delivered as I type this!!!). I won't lie, I started to stress. (who, me?)

Max, in turn, got a little worried and felt like it was his fault. I reassured him it was not and that everything would be ok, I just needed to take a moment to freak out then I would calm down. He accepted that.

In a moment of "genius", I tried to kick in the door. I'm not kidding. Uh, didn't work. I frantically texted my dad, who thankfully had his cell on, and begged him to rush over with his phone so I could use it. I texted Chris in NYC, who was awake at that time getting ready for work, and asked him to call Clearcreek Twp police for me. He kept asking me lame questions via text like "which door did you go out of?"... "do you have your keys?" DUDE!!! The door we always go out of and no I don't have my keys because if I did I wouldn't be LOCKED OUT! Stop asking questions and call someone!!!

When my dad arrived I used his phone and called Springboro Police since CC Twp. wasn't open. They sent police and fire. HOORAY!!! When the police officer pulled onto the driveway Max put his hands in the air and said "I surrender, I surrender". Where does he get this stuff? Anyway, they were so nice (and cute and probably made fun of the zits on my chin when they left) and tried to break in but couldn't. My two options, call a locksmith who would charge me an arm and a leg on a weekend OR have them take an axe to my door and chop the handle off. Uh, option 2 was WAY cooler... so I chose that one!

Chop, chop... off it came. No damage to our door at all! How awesome is that? Max and I were back in! :) I made a pit stop at the hardware store after my run and bought a new handle and installed it myself (ok, with a tad bit of help from my friend Amy-- thanks smart Amy!) and all is well! Phew!

Don't worry! My phone may not have been able to make calls but I could surely take pics... SEE!

Kindergarten, Before and After...

Today is the first official day of summer at our house. The calendar might only say June 3 but school is out so that means summer has arrived... Yahoooooo!

Max had a great year at school. He loved kindergarten so much. He impressed me in so many ways this year, growing on all sorts of levels... especially emotionally. I still can't believe he got on the bus that first day without hesitation or tears. What a big boy!

This school year he made new friends, kept old ones, learned math, rode the bus, read up to Level K (which is 3rd grade... yes, I'm bragging), found a love for science, played soccer, basketball and t-ball, caught a lot of viruses, decided "creation station" was his favorite station, and fell in love with his teacher, Mrs. Dillon. What a year!

He was super sad on the last day; in fact, I got a text from his teacher as he was leaving the building that read: "Ok, Max is breaking my heart. He is so sad leaving here." Awww. He has a tough time with goodbyes. :( Wonder where he gets that? ;) After the sad wore off though we read a book called "The Night Before First Grade" while Max was getting ready for bed. He seems excited to be moving up with the big kids and heading to first grade in the fall. I remember first grade so well; I can't believe how long ago that was. I hope time slows down for Max...

As I did in preschool, here are his first/last day photos! Not as much change this year... he gained one pound in body weight since the start of school but grew an inch and a half... Next up: swim team, tennis, Kings Island (and bigger roller coasters since he's over 48" tall!) and sleeping in... YEA RIGHT. Max doesn't sleep in!

Left: First Day, August 2010 - Right: Last Day, June 2011 (no those are not the same shorts)

First Day Close Up

Last Day Close Up

Happy Summer!

My First Race

How many years have I been running? Like 19!

I run every morning. It varies between 5-6 miles. I know how my mile pace. I know how to challenge myself. But even so, I've never entered a real race, like where you get a timing chip and a bib number and run. I've always been "afraid"... I have such a screwy, competitive mentality that I have been afraid I would push myself too hard just to stay with the pack, or hurt myself trying to win, or beat myself up if I don't! Well that all changed this weekend. I entered the "Fastest 5K in the Midwest", the Lou Cox in downtown Dayton. I mostly did it because I knew the path well, and it was flat, and it was Memorial Day weekend and seemed like the "thing to do".

It is called the "Fastest 5K in the Midwest" for a reason... the people are FAST!!!! I mean, I felt like a dope walking around Welcome Stadium. All these supremely built men and women stretching and warming up and decked out in the most high tech running gear... all for a 5K? I felt like I was getting ready for the race of the century or something! I mean, I never even stretch! HA!

On the encouraging of a lady I don't know, I got up front to start the race. It was a big crowd of 732 and they did not stagger the runners, so we all took off at the same time. It was 81 degrees at race time and we had an "air quality advisory" plus I was stuck in this huge pack of people! All I could do was look down at the ground and put my hands on my hips (elbows way out) as to keep people from getting too close. Claustrophobic!!!

The race started and holy crap I should NOT have been in front! I typically run a 7:30 pace and these people were way faster than that! At mile 1 I was just under 7 minutes so I knew I was in trouble...TOO FAST! Mile 2 killed me!!!! I made the halfway turn at minute 9 and actually thought I was going to complete the race in 18 minutes... HA! I ended up finishing at 22:36, a 7:17 pace. I was 7th in my age group... the first of the people ages 35-39 to be in the "7" minute pace per mile. (see! they were all so fast!) I REALLY wanted to place 5th or above. In another race I'm sure I would have. Not the Lou Cox, man.

Max and Chris were cheering me on in the stadium as I entered for the final lap. Overall I was happy I did the race. My body was not though. Tried to do my usual 5 or 6 this morning and had to stop at 4. Pushed too hard yesterday. I have another race (a trail race... yikes) coming up on the 12th. I'm taking that one leisurely! ;)

Max making me stretch...

My competition... YIKES!

Post race. Like WHOA!

A Boy and His Guitar

The other night while lying in bed Max whispered "Mommy, how much is a photo session with you?" I told him the price. He then said "but what would you charge me?..." So I replied "5 kisses." Then he lifted his hand and held out his pinky and made me pinky swear that I would do a session with him; he wanted to hire me to take pictures of him! Duh, GLADLY!

Saturday afternoon was cloudy. Perfect for pictures. Max had great ideas for his photo shoot; I only had to come up with the location. Apparently he is a fan of the "serious"-faced pose now, after all he is 6 years old. ;)

He was the perfect client. And he is very handsome, if I do say so myself. ;)

"My Love"

That was the title of the book Max authored for me for Mother's Day. He wrote about the reasons he loves me. Because we dance together. Because when it's cold I make him hot cocoa. Because I taught him how to brush his teeth. Because I'm the best. He drew lots of hearts and "xoxos" on the pages. It was the greatest gift!

At 6:45 am Max came into our room whispering "Happy Mother's Day, Mommy... I brought you breakfast in bed". I should have taken a picture! The tray held a bottle of Advil (I had a headache the night before! HA!), a granola bar, a bowl with a few kernels of cereal, water and gum. What more could I need? He also handed me a pretty pink bag with gifts inside: a bag of Sour Patch Watermelon candies and two new running shirts. :)

What a way to wake up, eh? I couldn't even act tired, he was so giddy!

Chris attempted to take some photos of "my love" and me to commemorate the day; I have no photos of just the two of us! Yikes! He didn't do too badly with the camera after a bit of coaching; a bit overexposed maybe but I think they are beautiful! Thank you, Chris!

Hope all the mothers out there had a special day! Moms are the greatest!!!

It's Baseball Season (Sometimes)

Max finally had his first baseball game this weekend. His first two that actually... Saturday and Sunday. This rainy weather has caused cancelation after cancelation so the kids were glad to finally get some play time!

I'll admit that t-ball is not my favorite sport to watch. Lots of waiting around; no outs really made; everyone hits around... BO-RING! This season though, Max is really into it. Well, into his friends more like it, but has a lot of fun during the game.

This weekend he had a few BIG hits over the outfielders heads and each time around was the only kid to slide into home plate (no, a play was not being made, it was just his idea of fun). We need to teach him the proper way to slide now that we know he's going to do it; he goes in on his knees... OUCH!

It was so fun to watch! Here's hoping next weekend's games don't get rained out. Chances are...

Hip-hoppin' on 3rd base. Oh geez.