A Puppy For Max

We are finally giving in.  Max has begged for a dog for years and we have always said no.  We know who would really take care of him, right?  (me!)  For a few years having an outdoor cat sufficed as a pet, even though in our experience you don't really play with a cat like you do a dog.  (no offense cat lovers)  Our kitty didn't want much to do with us unless we were giving her food.

I have been researching dogs for a while… I landed on a labradoodle or goldendoodle.  Both are intelligent, easily trained (they better be!), low shedding, and great family dogs.  (we hope)  I had contacted a labradoodle breeder in Cincinnati and was getting ready to send in a deposit when an acquaintance posted images of her new goldendoodle online.  I inquired.  The breeder is in Xenia (we can visit every week!) and the puppies will be available on July 25, right after Junior Olympics and the last day of swim practice for a month!  It was perfect timing.  Fate even.

Chris and I visited while Max was in school last week to make sure we were really going to do this.  Oh, once you are there and see the puppies you can't say no.  So we put our deposit down, took a ton of pics, and surprised Max with the news when he got home from school.

This week the puppies are 2 weeks old and I took Max for a visit.  We have two boys on hold and will have to choose soon.  We are waiting to see what their coats look like and if they start showing any personality traits.  Max has already picked out a name.  Flip Turner Christensen.  (named for all the flip turns he does every day in practice)  He will be called Flip, of course.  :)

Here are some photos of the day Max and Flip met.  Max was a little timid, just like he always is around dogs, but I know they will grow to be great friends.  I'm seriously worried about keeping the new house clean (a new house and a new dog?  People think I'm crazy… am I?) but I have to believe the love and life experience will prove to be much more important than a perfectly tidy home.

Third Grade

What a year.

Max completed his first year at a new school today… and had a fantastic year!

His teacher was Mr. Knightstep.  He is the man we have heard will be the best teacher Max ever has his entire student career.  Impressive!  And if you ask Max, he lived up to that reputation.

Max had speaking parts in two class plays this year in front of the school and parents.  He did crazy and fun projects:  he had to investigate and solve a crime scene with animals as suspects (the raccoon 'did it') and write a full report about his findings; he learned all about our government from the local level up to the federal and had to run for an office (he was elected to the City Council by his classmates);  he researched and wrote a report and did a power point presentation for his class on what he would like to be when he grows up (an architect, after he swims in the Olympics… duh);  he studied a country (Italy), gave a 5 page presentation to his class, and helped create a recipe book for parents;  he took a field trip to the Cincinnati Zoo and another to Downtown Springboro to learn about the slaves and the Underground Railroad; he also created an entire flip book comparing slaves to plantation owners and his own life today; he studied chocolate (!!) and got to eat chocolate covered bugs… I could go on and on…

Max also made a lot of new best friends, went to sleep overs and birthday parties, and of course continued swimming through it all.

I fully expect him to be crying when he gets off the bus today.  He will miss Mr. Knightstep and has begged him to teach 4th grade next year.  I'm thankful for wonderful teachers who encourage, support, and push Max and whom he loves and respects.  What a year!!!

More House Photos. We are T-21 Days from Moving In! (Fingers Crossed)

Things are coming along with the house.  I don't know how in the world they will be done in three weeks but they say they will be so…  They are already a month behind schedule so they'd better be!!!

Took a few pics tonight with my phone…  exterior paint has started but isn't complete.  Balusters are in on the stairs.  The basement bar is being built and put together.  Lighting and cabinet hardware are in.  Should be a busy few weeks!

House Progress, April 2014

Finally taking some pics of the house as it goes up.  Been bad about that this time.  Here you go!

 Lower level bar 

 Lower level bar, pool table lights, entrance to guest room

 Master closet light

 Interior doors

 Foyer

 French doors to office

 Front

 Front (hasn't been painted!)

 Front doors

 Great room

 Great room

 Guest room

 This heart (with wings??) was perfectly preserved in the dust.  A sign?  

 Back stairs to lower level

 Master bedroom

 Master vanities

 Max's room

 Max's vanities

 Beginning of office built ins

 Card table area

 Pool table lights

 Porch

 Powder room light

 Stone

From bar into theater room

Ohio Junior Olympic State Swimming Championships- March 7-9, 2014

When I say that Max has had a great year swimming it's really an understatement.  He just keeps getting better and better and I know it's from all the hard work he puts into practice.  On more than one occasion a parent has come up to Chris or me and said "Max is always working hard!".  He just loves the sport!

This year Max made 5 individual state cuts for the Junior Olympic Championship Meet that was held at Ohio State in early March.  Pretty big stuff and he was excited to go!  Besides the 5 events he also got to swim two relays with his teammates.   It was a long weekend (yes, he even had to miss school!) filled with not only swimming but also hanging with friends, staying up late, playing in the hotel pool (cause you know, we don't get enough swimming around here), taking breaks during the afternoon at the movies and fun restaurants, buying neon sweatshirts to commemorate the event, and so much more!

Since I print this blog every year I want to type out Max's events and time for record keeping purposes. These are the individual events he swam, his best time going into the meet, and the time he swam at the championships:

100 yd Backstroke:  Best time- 1:20.08    State Meet time- 1:17.21
50 yd Butterfly:  Best time- 36.53     State Meet time- 36.56
200 yd IM:  Best time- 2:55.27     State Meet time- 2:51.51
100 yd Butterfly:  Best time- 1:20.90 (after dropping 7 seconds just two weeks ago!)  State Meet time- 1:20.48
50 yd Backstroke:  Best time- 37.89 (back in December!  He hasn't been able to break 38.00 since then)  State Meet time- 37.34

So he had personal bests in 4 of the 5 with the 5th really being about the exact same.  It was a great meet to watch and Max loved every second.  Three times over the weekend he said to me "I cannot believe I'm really here" as if he just kept realizing the gravity of it all.  It was adorable.  He made a ton of memories and we were so proud of him and all he has accomplished.

After his last event of the weekend he changed into his clothes, grabbed his gear, and came up to find us in the stands with tears in his eyes.  We were confused because it was such an amazing weekend for him and we knew how much fun he had.  His reason for crying?  "I don't want this to be over!"  (He's a sap!  :)  Just goes to show how much heart he has in this sport and not just because he loves to race but also because of the respect he learns for himself, his peers and his coaches and for the awesome friendships he has formed over the last two years with this team.  It's a great place for Max to be!

To celebrate the end of the short course season the team hosted a banquet on March 17th.  Max was awarded the "Most Improved" for the second year in a row.  He coached gushed about how this was his first year in a faster training group and how Max proved himself to be one of the standouts in the fastest lane by working hard and improving all four strokes so well.  And it's true!  Hard work pays off.  No question!  According to USA Swimming, Max is the 13th highest rated 9 year old (overall!) in the state of Ohio!  How cool is that??

Here are a ton of pics I took at Ohio State… Enjoy!

 Heading into McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion at Ohio State.  

The first point where Max said "I can't believe I'm really here!"

 First event complete.  Best time in the 100 Back.

 Friends and Teammates.  Max, Ryan, and Keaton

 After the 200 IM.  Dropped nearly 4 seconds!  

That kind in lane 5 looked like he could have been 13!!!  

 Relay Team!  Ryan: breast, Keaton: free, Max: fly, Jacob: back

 The boys on deck and pumped for the 200 Medley Relay (see that kid in the yellow cap?  That's the kid Max had to race all weekend… supposedly he is 9 or 10?  What??)

 Ryan coming in from his 50 breast, Max waiting to dive in for the 50 fly...

 Coming in on the fly...

 Keaton waiting for Max to hit the wall so he can do the 50 free.

 Racing in the 50 Back (Max is closest to the bottom of the pic with the "Olympic Gold Glitter" goggles, of course.  Ryan Lochte style.)

He touched third…