More Holidays

Well, even though it is Girl's 14th birthday (squeeeeeeee!!!) I will finish up the holiday postings....

We went to my cousin's house to visit with my cute second cousins, shown here with the Cutest Nephew

Christmas Eve meant going to church here and then to Jelly and Dude's house for supper. Much fun ensued with Karaoke compliments of my brother's crazy friend. Nothing like having friends who don't have children to pick the LOUDEST presents possible.

Christmas Day was a whirlwind of wrapping paper and food.

Brunch at Gran's with presents and cousins,

aunts and uncles,

and then we loaded up for the two hour trip north to El Dorado, Arkansas and Gran and D's

other house.

Christmas with D and my stepfamily.

It must have been all the excitement of the day to allow the Grumpy Guy and Boy to pack the roof rack THUS:

Do you note any problem?

Look closer:

So with much groaning, laughter, cussing, and repacking,

we were ready to leave early Boxing Day (or December 26th, for you non-Anglophiles...)

It was a long drive home-11 hours- but worth it, getting home and able to sleep in our "own widdle beds".......

Yet another holiday season successfully survived!!!!

Time Flies

As I was reading Allison's blog, I was reminded of a picture taken of Boy when he was about the same age as her son is now.

And here he is now.......

It's amazing how fast they grow up.

Allison and Jeff, enjoy every minute with Evan. He will be running out the door before you know it.

And if you have a minute, gentle reader, go read the incredible story of the first year of a little guy with a brain tumor. (Don't worry, he's fine now)!! Here's the link again.

Justification for School Uniforms

For your viewing pleasure, I present Monday of Brentwood Spirit Week-
Wacky Tacky Day!!


And special picture just for their grandmother, aka "Imelda"--


Gran would be so proud!!

TEAMWORK- Running Style

Now I ask--Would any kid voluntarily get up at 5 am on the last Saturday of summer vacation???

Kudos to Girl and her teammates on her school cross country team -the Brentwood Eagles- for doing so.

9 of the 17 members of the team participated in a race about 90 minutes away on Saturday. And if anyone knows how hot it's been in Georgia-well, everywhere- the past few weeks, it's understood why the run would take place at 7:30 in the morning. Back into the travel time, and now it's apparent why the 5am wake up call.

5am. 5-freaking- am. It's still dark. Even the dog isn't up. Boy went with us, ever conscious of the fact that his sister has supported his athletic endeavors for years. But he let Dad drive, which is highly unusual, as the new driver wants to chauffeur us everywhere. 5 A-M. . .

We all met up at the neighbors' house and caravanned to the race- 4 cars full of sleepy families, the only traffic for miles on backroads.

Gotta hand it to my next door neighbor- who is also Girl's running coach. She's 3 years younger than I, and seriously started running only a couple of years ago. She looks great. She and her husband ran the Chicago marathon last year.

She has licked these kids into shape. They have been out training 3-4 days a week all summer. Of course the kids grumbled. Of course they whined, moaned, and complained. But they kept at it. More kids joined in. Misery loves company, they say.

She started with 6 runners last year. Now she has 17. And most are 8th grade or younger. They have fun, and all get along well. They pace each other and help each other through rough patches. She has, in fact, formed a TEAM.

There were lots of personal best times. A few of the older runners stepped up from 5 km competition to try the 10 km. They each succeeded in their own way. Some got trophies, some didn't. But the kids were all made to feel like winners because they did the best they could.

That's what coaching is all about.

And I don't think that there was a prouder group than the kids when all three of their coaches took home first place trophies in their respective divisions.

Now that's EAGLE PRIDE!

The Last Week of Summer Vacation

Ah, the last week before my little darlings return to school. Thursday is open house and Friday is the first full day of classes.

Kids grow up so fast. I know we are all told this as new parents, but here it is, 16 and 13 years later, and I can't help thinking about the "old days" when first days of school meant new outfits, new backpacks, pictures on the front porch---the whole works. Now it means getting teenagers back on a normal schedule (waking up at 6:30am instead of the crack of noon) and going shopping for back to school clothes with your girlfriend instead of your mom.

But back-to-school also means I get my house back to a semi-normal state of disrepair. We love being the house where all the kids hang out- makes me feel younger than my 46 years- but there are times....especially when Boy's pals all get their electric guitars going for a jam session...or Girl's friends start thinking that it's more fun to throw the billiard balls into the pockets instead of using a cue. On Friday, it will be my quiet house again, with just the Grumpy Guy working on his start-up company from the comfort of the den. I won't have to retreat to my closet with my noise cancelling headphones just to get a little knitting done!!

It will be awfully quiet then.........