Slacker.

I am a total slacker. I've been so very busy with work I have neglected my poor blog. A lot has happened since my last post on Max's first day of school. Shame on me!

First grade is going very well for Max. He is a great reader and according to his teacher has mastered all the math skills so far. He aces all his spelling tests. (and they are tough!) He has made good friends (mostly girls, go figure) and is learning lots! He says his favorite things about first grade are: 2 recesses and lunch in the cafeteria (he literally buys lunch every day, much to my dismay)

One funny first grade story: Max got off the bus one Monday and showed me his library book. He said "I got the same book as my gf". So I said "what's a gf?" and he said "girlfriend" so I asked "well what do you do when you have a gf?" His reply, "anything she says". ;) By the way, her name is Abby.

Max started and finished his soccer season already this fall. They were the K&W Dragons and they were mint green. Max had a great time with Daddy as the coach but the team didn't win but one game. They came in second to last in the league. Ho hum. This year they played on a huge field and most of the kids were too tired to even run by the third quarter. We lucked out with great weather this year though; no freezing cold games to worry about. It was a fun season!

Winter swim team is something new Max joined this year. It was a try out program and he made the cut. It is SO hard core. He swims three nights a week for an hour straight. No stopping. It's no joke. Max missed the first swim meet due to croup (ick) but had so much fun at the second meet. He swam a 25 (one length of the pool) backstroke and 25 freestyle and nailed them both. Swimming is something he really loves; I'm worried he may get burned out with winter swim though because it is so serious and doesn't involve as much play as summer swim team. We'll see... He's really good at it so I hope he sticks with it! (ps Abby is on his team)

Halloween is tomorrow so today we spent the morning at the SCCC Halloween brunch. Max has known for almost a year he wanted to be a vampire this Halloween. He typically chooses his costume a year in advance and seriously doesn't waiver. He is already saying next year he wants to be a zombie. ?? Anyway he loved the contests (limbo, hoola hoop, costume, dance), the food, the friends and just dressing up! It was a good test run for tomorrow, Trick or Treat! He also had a parade and party at school (more pics to come if I ever get around to writing another post! ha) so he'll be vampired out by November 1.

And speaking of November 1... it's the official start of BIRTHDAY MONTH for Max. Having his birthday on the last day of the month means we celebrate all month long! WOO! He just got finished going through the new Toys R Us catalog and circling about 34234 things he would like for his birthday and Christmas. Good grief!

Enjoy the pics! Happy fall and Halloween everyone!

New School. New Teacher. New Bus Stop. Here Comes First Grade!

I have been both excited for and dreading this day all summer... the first day of school. My baby was headed to first grade. That means away from my side all day long. Sad for Mommy. Exciting for Max.

In a whirlwind this week we got to attend orientation, "Meet the Teacher" (she is awesome,

btw), and send Max off on the bus. Max is very excited about going to the "big kids school" with kids in grades 1 through 5. He is also thrilled at the idea that they get TWO recesses!!! Oh, and the subject he is most looking forward to studying is art. FYI.

This year the bus was scheduled to come to our house at 7:30 am. School starts at 8:45. Uh, no. So when I told Max I would have to take him to school he got upset (he loves the bus) and said "MOM! I can handle it" Well then I learned you can have one other address registered with transportation so we made his pick up stop be in Fieldstone; a busy bus stop full of friends and a much later (8:20) pick up time. I'll admit, I was happy for him to have friends to distract him from the possible anxiety associated with the first day of school but at the same time I was sad we wouldn't get to share a private moment at our very own (lonely) bus stop at the bottom of our driveway. After seeing him this morning though, this was definitely the way to go! He was so happy; a little timid but still happy!

So it's begun... first grade! I remember what I wore the first day of school, who my friends were, what my teacher was like, and where I sat in her class. I'm positive Max is already making lasting memories. First grade rules!!! Enjoy the photos!

Max and Kenleigh... BFF

Hayden, Kenleigh and Max

Max and Kenleigh hang back and let the other kids go first

... and they are getting on!

Short on Words (kinda), Heavy on Pictures (definitely)

It's August already? I didn't make a single post in July? Well that's because we were so busy! So in order to do just a little catching up, this post will be heavy with photos and shorter on words, you know, to make sure you stay visually entertained and all...

June 30- July 6: we were in Utah. One of my BFFs lives in SLC and had her wedding at the Sundance Resort. Gorgeous. The whole thing! And as a double bonus Amy and Baldy (aka Steve) flew out with us AND I got to reunite with 10+ sorority sisters that I haven't seen since my college days. DG forever, yo!

On the 4th itself we attended a reunion with Chris's family at a local park. But before those festivities began most of us logged a few miles racing in the Freedom Run in Provo. Max ran his first mile race and did so in 12 minutes. Not too shabby for a 6 year old. I will toot my own horn an announce that I ran a personal best at a pace of 7:08 per minute and placed second in the 35-39 age group and was the 14th fastest female over all (there were over 2200!). Got a trophy and everything! Toot toot!

We watched the parade in Provo, went to a carnival (where Max got that snazzy tattoo you can see on his arm) and then hit the park for fun dressed in red, white and blue! PS- Max also saw Brad Paisley in concert while Chris and I were at the wedding. How cool is Max?

The last day of vacay we went hiking WAAAAAAAAY up the mountain to the "Y" near the campus of BYU. I did it years ago with Tara and didn't remember anything about it; I just thought it would be a fun thing for Max. I seriously can't believe he made it! But he did! It was steep. What a relief to be at the top and what beautiful views we had...

Once home Max finished out the swim team season. He is an awesome swimmer, I don't even have to lie. He ended up swimming the championship meet in just 12 seconds! That's a 10 second improvement over the start of the year! Dude is fast! That makes him the fastest 6U boys swimmer at SCCC and guess what else it makes him? Good enough to swim for the Coffman YMCA winter swim team which is hard core! GO MAX! He got a trophy during the swim banquet as well as certificate because the coach named him 'Most Improved'. He was quite proud!

A few weeks left to live it up till 1st grade starts... cry cry! Keep on enjoying summer!!! Oh, and guess I wasn't as short on words as I thought... oops!

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!