Where Did That Weekend Go?

Tony packed up Troop 113 for the Fall Camporee and then drove back to watch Colin's race. After the race, he drove back to the Camporee! He was running his own race this weekend! Connor was my big helper with barn chores this weekend. He wore his cowboy hat and boots. If he does not become a farmer our west, all will be lost. Colin did well. There were over 6,500 runners at the McQuaid Invite from all over the US and Canada. His team was bumped up into the seeded race. In other words...he ran with the big guns. Out of about 200 runners or more and the only 8th grader, he came in 20th with a time of 16:13. We were thrilled,but he was disappointed. He is too hard on himself. He has so much to learn and time to grow. We remind him he races against people with facial hair! The link to the right of this blog will take you to his picture about 4 meters before his finish at McQuaid on dyestat.

Back to School Bash & Wildcat Intvite Week!

Who's Grandma rocks? Connor's...well at least she does the Electric Slide, and not afraid to do it in front of about 300 other people on a grassy knoll behind Freewill Elementary. I think Pop-Pop was ready to run and hide in the woods! Connor loved showing them his school. He didn't miss a room or anything in it! Especially the library and Cuddles the rabbit!

Colin lucked out and had BOTH sets of grandparents show up for the Wildcat Invite at Marcus Whitman near Canandaigua. They were not disappointed. His whole team was just awesome! Pierce Morgan (a senior on Colin's team) paced he and Yanko through most of the race. He is such a calming force out there, making sure they are on the mark and their heads are in the game. Then Colin was able to be lucky enough to outrun the really nice Dinan kid from Geneva who schooled him a few weeks back at their first home meet. He ended up winning his race with a time of 17:39 for 5000m. It was a great race. Even more wonderful was to see how his team mates support each other and run hard straight to the end. The older kids on his team are wonderful role models, are extremely patient and very positive to be around.

It was a great weekend and we are so grateful to his grandparents for driving so far to cheer him on!

The Final Season!

Tony, Garrett, Mark and Colin got spontaneous and at the last minute took off for a NY Yankee game in New York on Sunday! What a game! A Grand Slam by A-Rod and Jeter tied Lou Gherig's all-time hits record! Great memories on a hot, humid day in NY. Something I am sure Colin won't quite soon forget.

His race today: He placed 2nd in the race, 1st for his team and his team won! Yay! They are currently undefeated in their dual meets record. He has a huge race at the Marcus Whitman Wildcat Invite on Saturday. That should prove to be a great race to watch with over 200 runners!

Connor is doing well in school. He loves his teacher and talks about his friends. They are rhyming and singing. Quite often I find him humming a tune from school. He plans on a big camp out this weekend with mom in the woods! Yahoo!

Our Sasha

She came to us as a gift from Karl and Jenn 10 years ago. Who knew we would get so attached so easily? She was a spunky free-spirited snow dog. We remember all of the times she pulled the kids on sleds or Tony on skis!In recent years, the boys built a klondike sled and returned the favor, pulling the queen on her own sled and loving every minute of it. I swear she helped train Colin for his big race! She would roll and bury herself in the snow so deep all you could see were blinking eyes looking at you! She loved her bone and cuddled Connor. When he was in the height of his sensory disorder, she was the one who comforted him and let him hold her to bring his senses back into check. At the end, she only let him hold her again. It was too quick, unexpected for us and on her terms. True to herself to the very end. She and Mugsy have reunited and the best buds are most likely planning their next bit of mischief! Look out St. Peter, they are known for their escapes! Our Sasha, we love you. 9/8/08

Back to School

Well, so much for my triathlon in 2 weeks. I have a severely sprained ankle that even the doctors couldn't believe was not broken. A few weeks on crutches and I can't even swim or bike. This just stinks. On the bright side, it is not broken. The boys have been hauling it this weekend on their own with mowing, laundry and making meals. It really has an impact when one team member is down. Colin and Tony have been pulling quite a load. Connor's first week in kindergarten has gone well, and Colin has enjoyed being back with his friends and cross-country team. His next race is Tuesday and Tony will post the video from it on Wednesday on You Tube. Tony has already caught his first cold from his students,but has a cool Smartboard he is having a blast with! I have been blessed to have many nice students in my classes helping me hobble around. One even wheeled me in my office chair to my next class! We may make an Olympic sport of it! This next week holds a race, scouts, PTO, and Curriculum nights...the race begins.... We hope to visit Garrett on Saturday night. If we do, I will post pictures.

Our Big Kindergartener!

Connor's first day of Kindergarten was today. Aunt Collen is a speech/lang teacher there and she greeted him. He had his picture taken with his Principal, Mrs. Wright, his teacher, Mrs. Knox, and the Supt. of Schools, Mr. Havens. He had a blast and loved every minute. He told his teacher " I am your helper!" I am in debt to Carol Dennis, the speech and lang teacher at my school who covered 2 of my classes, and Mr. Durkee a SS who covered the other so I could enjoy this morning with Connor. He got to see Colin get on the bus first, and then it was his turn!