Let's not speak about this

What has been consuming all my 'free' time for weeks?

The Fall Festival at school. It is a carnival and the main school fundraiser for the year. There have been three 'co-chairs' and now it's become one...me. I'm not sure what happened but I was given the official honor this morning - even though it's been in my lap the entire time.

I just spent two hours emailing and coordinating for this event happening on October 30th. Two hours that I didn't have and now will be really tired tomorrow when I go work out. I've already spent lots of other hours in meetings and emailings.

Let's not speak of this. I get sad when I realize how much of a time commitment this is and how I really don't have time for this, but alas, I signed up for it so I must do my best.

Labor Day Triathlon

This past Labor Day we cheered Austin on in his first triathlon. Aunt Vic, a super-athlete, always is competing in races and triathlons and Austin has been asking her for months to find a "kid's triathlon" that he could do. She did some research and found one in a nearby town on Labor Day.

Austin had been training for a month or so - swimming, biking and running. It was so cute to see him run with Randy. He would run by in his sunglasses and hold up two fingers in a 'peace' sign. I was impressed - he'd run three to four miles with Randy.

We signed him up for the longer distance (at his insistence) - it was a 150 yard swim, 4 mile bike ride and 1 mile run. It was geared for kids 10 and older, so he was the youngest by at least three years.

On the big race day, Austin and Aunt Vic got up early and headed down to the race to set up all his gear. We met them down there (just in the nick of time - we were running to the swimming pool) - Aunt Mary and Uncle Jake came too - and cheered him on. He was the last one into the swimming pool (thankfully - I was afraid he'd be mauled) and the last one out. The last two lengths of the pool he was the only one in there, so the entire crowd was cheering him on. He stopped, stood up, and looked at all the people cheering for him. It was so cute.


He then did the bike portion - I loved that we could go virtually anywhere on the course and see him. He looked so determined.

He then finished up with the 1 mile run. I was hoping the weather would hold out until he finished the race. It was a cold and stormy day and we could see the clouds moving in the entire race. Austin looked TIRED while running, but he finished it! He was exhausted, but when he saw the finish line he sprinted to the end (I think it was because he knew he was getting a medal). Literally two minutes after he finished it started hailing and a complete downpour. We were drenched and cold.

We finished the celebration with a pancake breakfast at IHOP with Aunt Mary, Uncle Jake, Aunt Vic and all of our wet, cold family. There's nothing better than hot chocolate and balloon animals to finish off a triathlon!

Way to go Austin!

School Pictures

It's two weeks into the school year, but hey, at least I have documentation of the kids first day of school. Ok, I only have the boys first day - I haven't taken any of McKell's preschool days yet. All the mom's had cameras at preschool snapping away. I was holding onto a very wet and stinky baby, still in her pajamas trying to get out of there.

Anyway, the boys are at two different schools this year - one made it into the Charter School (it's a lottery system) and the other didn't, so I am the shuttle bus this year. It's not so bad. I have super nice friends and neighbors that are willing to take Austin home from school most days of the week so I don't have to wake up Ellie and disturb her naps. Next year both boys will be at the same school - they are building a larger campus. I know there is an end in sight, even if it makes for a long school year.

I love the kids in uniforms. They look so cute.