Spring Break 2013 - Destin, FL

Ahhh... spring break.  Man, we needed one this year.  It is April 5th and it's STILL winter in Ohio.  Max had his winter coat on for school today, I had to wear winter running clothes including gloves and ear warmers, and not a flower or leaf is in bloom.  We have had winter since October, for real.  (remember the sleet on Halloween folks?)  So for a trip to spring weather, we were ready!

We left after school on Friday and made our pit stop in Nashville.  This time we decided to stay for two night so we could catch a Vanderbilt baseball game on Saturday evening.  Chris had a great time showing Max where he played, telling him about the differences to the field now, and even running into an old teammate while we were there.

Sunday we left for Destin... destination, the Plasiers.  We always have a great time with them.  The kids play so well together and Max and Brody are just one year apart, so they have a lot in common.  Plus Carrie and Eric know all the unique, local things to do and are just great hosts, always!

The first three days in FL were chilly (but better than the snow that arrived at home) so we did non-beachy things... we had fun getting in a "spring training" hitting and baserunning practice for the boys at a field in Destin, took them to The Track where they got to drive go-carts, race bumper boats, crash bumper cars, play mini golf and more, visited friends staying at a nearby condo for swimming in their heated pool and even got to be the very first kids EVER to be allowed to visit the Meyer Skimboard Co. in Miramar Beach- the kids got to pick out and paint their very own skimboards (in which they put to good use on Thursday and Friday at the beach).  We also spent a day at Baytowne Wharf where Max did the unthinkable and climbed a really tall ropes course all the way to the top and rang the bell.   It was really fun!

Max out on the plank, ringing the bell!

The latter days of the week were PERFECTLY warm.  We spent lazy mornings playing video games and getting ready for the beach.  On Friday we even set up an egg hunt for them in the sand using eggs they colored earlier in the week as well as plastic eggs buried with coins so they could use Brody's metal detector to find them.  Then we spent all afternoon just lounging in the sand while the boys kayaked, made sand castles, threw a football, learned to skimboard, etc.  Ahhhh.  If only I lived there!!!  

Thursday night the three of us headed to Watercolor Inn and Resort for family photos taken by Red Stone Photography.  I was relieved to give control over our pictures to someone else.  No more setting a timer and running for me! :)  We spent time exploring the cute little town and beautiful resort as well as shopping a little bit in Seaside then met Carrie and the kids for dinner at a fun place called Elmo's on 30A.  

us, jumping at sunset

On Saturday it was time to head home but we convinced Chris to let us have one more beach morning. So from 9:30-12 we beached it again!  Then we went home, showered, packed up and headed north to Nashville for the night... wishing the whole time we could turn back and spend more time with our friends.

It was a much needed break.  We came  home with a lot of memories and a little sun... and proposals of doing it all over again next year.

Now... just 30-some days till Disney and only 8 weeks of school left!!!  Wow!  Here comes summer... (wonder if Ohio will have a spring first?)

Fishers, IN Mudsock Classic | January 11-13, 2013

Max's first big travel meet!  He was so excited to stay in a hotel with the team.  Only 5 of the 8U boys attended this competitive meet and Max did a fantastic job!  He swam his heart out and earned 7 ribbons (swimming personal bests in nearly every event) and was the third highest point-earner on our whole team!  It's so fun watching him as he excels...

Four meets left over the next month and a half before short course season ends.  Then a short three week break before long course starts in April.  Swim, swim, swim!

 Max out in front on the 50 free

 The 8U boys watch the 10U kids warm up

 Breast stroke.  His least fave.  He has improved this stroke 1324x over!  Lookin' GOOD!

 Leading the heat in breast.

 50 backstroke. One of his favorites due to the unique flip turn he gets to do.

 Four of our Sharks in the fastest heat for the 100 Free.  Personal bests for all! (Max is the one in focus... with the long name on his cap near the top of the photo)

 And they're off!

 Coach Lee and Max discussing a few things during warm ups.

Coach John and Coach Lee with the 8U team.

Sporty Weekend

Basketball season officially began for Max this past weekend.  We were up early on Saturday for his 8:00 game at Springboro Intermediate.  The scoreboard wasn't operating properly but we won 62-14, or something like that.  The highlight of the game for Max was when the other team's coach approached Chris and asked "Who is that tall kid on your team?  He is a great shooter!"  It's kind of amazing to see how far the kids come in a year's time.  Rebounding and passing has improved big time making it even more fun to watch.

 Max and his buddy, Nathan

 He shoots and scores!

 The team... Max looks like a giant!

 Rebound!

 Dribbling down the court.

Playing D and blocking the shot.

On Sunday Max had a swim meet at Cincinnati Country Day school.  This was his best meet by far!  He knocked seconds off every single one of his strokes and earned a mass of ribbons.  His favorite event of the day was the 100 IM.  He won his heat and got 4th overall, and this was a meet chock full of super fast kids.  We are all looking forward to his meet next weekend in Indiana... a sleep over meet!  It's going to be highly competitive and really fun to watch.  Go Max!

 Backstroke

 Waiting in the clerk of course

 Backstroke

 Breast stroke

100 IM

An Almost White Christmas... and More

Christmas is especially fun with an 8 year old.

On Christmas Eve,  Max set out a sampling of cookies for Santa and left him a short but sweet note.

Christmas morning he was up before the sun, too excited to even try to sleep past 6am.  The three of us made our way to the great room to see what goodies Santa delivered; we also read the very nice notes both Sweety the Elf and Santa left for Max.

Max is very patient when it comes to Christmas.  He was willing to let both Chris and me have turns opening as well but we declined, let him go to town ripping open present after present.  His biggest wish this year?  A slide whistle.  A $3 plastic slide whistle that his music teacher uses in class.  It's all he asked Santa for!  Thank goodness Santa came through.

After the gifts were opened we hosted our third annual "Christmas Brunch" with my parents and grandma.  Then later that night a family Christmas dinner at my parents' house.  

The day after Christmas we had a blizzard.  Yes, literally.   Now before you think we got dumped on with 15" of snow you must know that really it was 6 inches but with major winds so that equals a blizzard according to The Weather Channel.


It was perfect for the school break.  Max actually got to use his sled for the first time in two winters!  He took his friend, Esmé to Sycamore Creek's golf course for her first adventures on the "big hill" in the US.  They were daredevils.

As of today the snow is still on the ground.  Max loves it.  Me, not as much.  But hey, it's winter and it's Ohio so what can I expect?

On New Years Eve Max had the idea to have a "party" complete with sparkling apple juice, hats and noisemakers.  He invited Kenleigh to join him for the fun; we went to Skateworld for their annual balloon drop skate, had pizza for dinner, made ice cream sundaes, played tons of board games, toasted in the new year and then finally at midnight watched the ball drop in Times Square.  Those two never tired, not once.  Chris and I on the other hand....  sleeeeeepy!

It was such a great holiday break!  We (well, Chris and I) slept in, created puzzles, played with new toys, had friends over, ate great food, watched Christmas movies and just enjoyed our time.  If only it could have lasted a few days more.  January 2 was "back to school!"  First time EVER Max uttered "I don't want to go to school!"  He got over it quickly though.  Phew!  Cheers to 2013!

Turning 8.

All November long we look forward to the very last day of the month.  As a family we love celebrating Max's birthday month and are always anxious for our favorite day of the whole year to arrive... November 30th.

This year Max's birthday fell on a Friday.  Fun!  Max had a lot of ideas on how he wanted to celebrate "8" including big extravagant scavenger hunts, a pool party (indoors of course) and more but he finally settled on having his party with 12 friends at Skateworld in Kettering.  He loooooves roller skating so this seemed like a perfect fit.  For two hours he had fun skating and sweating and grooving to music with his best friends.  The bonus for me was no one got hurt.  Success!  (I don't have pictures to upload here yet... they are on my point and shoot and I haven't taken them off yet!  Shame on me.)

Before his party though Max woke up in the morning and found our hallway filled with 8 balloons just for him, each one with a note from us tied to the string.  He loved that.  He also loved that it was "elf day" at school (part of a fundraiser) so he got to wear red and green and a santa hat to school as part of his celebration.

Chris and I took McDonald's, per his request, to him at lunch and then helped him pass out treats to his classmates.  "8 IS GREAT!  THANKS FOR HELPING ME CELEBRATE!"  That's what the treat bag tag read and inside were two donuts stacked to make an "8".  Yum!

All weekend long he had a swim meet at which he had several personal bests and won tons of ribbons! At the end of the weekend we had a family party at home where he enjoyed cake, ice cream and gifts.

I still can't believe he is 8.  Every year I feel like whatever age he is sounds so old.  He's just a little boy!  I tell people all the time how blessed we are to be Max's parents.  He really is a good boy.  He's SO good.  He's is always happy too.  (how??) You will often find him humming or singing to himself or dancing to music in his head.  He is kind to others and always tries to include everyone when he plays.  With all the mistakes we make as parents we must be getting something right because he really is just a great kid!  He could spill less often but... I'll happily clean up those spills as a trade off to what joy and life he brings to us!  So here we go... celebrating 8!  Happy birthday to our very best thing!