LST 325

 This morning we went downtown bright and early to tour the LST 325.

We saw a Lego diorama, one of the MASH Jeeps, the kitchen and Captain's quarters and bunk rooms, and a bunch of other things. The kids learned about the rotating gun (and got to try moving it around themselves) and flags (and hopefully a few other things).

(This was certainly their favorite part!)

Everyone enjoyed the tour (and it was cold enough this morning to wear JACKETS, which was short lived, but STILL!)

ELSA SNUGGLES

He did not hold the tiny chicken willingly, I'll admit. But Cora was pleased.

GAME 5

This was the first soccer game my mom and dad were able to attend and I forgot to take a picture of them with the kids. Dagumit!

OVER THE RIVER RUN 2016

Mom and Cora (and Hazel and Adler and Jase!) joined me for the 2016 Over the River Run this morning. The weather was perfect! My hip was not. And I was undertrained (our group has been doing a track workout once a week since the middle of summer, but 4 x 400s is not enough to really build speed - we spend more of our time doing bodyweight exercises between laps). But I had fun and am so glad I ran it, even if it might not have been the smartest idea (recovery-wise, for that hip).

I ran on one of 5 USACE teams this year (our team was 3rd in the line-up as far as our anticipated finish times, and we ended up taking 3rd place!) Can you find me in the sea of red?

 The downhill start is always the best part. Adrenaline + DOWN hill = fancy-free flying.

The finish back up that hill is not nearly as exciting... I ran a great first 2 miles, then I got tired. By mile 3 my quads were shaking (even though I'd slowed down). By mile 4 my hip started acting up (it had been ok during my warmup, probably due to a dose of ibuprofen). I walked a lot of mile 4... The last mile was ok, but there was that uphill... luckily I had Cora and mom cheering for me at the top of the hill to keep me moving!

So I finished almost exactly 3 minutes slower than last year (when Christina and I paced each other for the majority of the race, and I was well trained for short, fast races). I ended up taking 3rd in the team category and 3rd place in my age group (but only because Christina wasn't there and Kristi had a hamstring injury and had to turn back after the first mile).

I loved having my mom at a race for the first time since high school track - thank you for coming out and supporting me mom! And my friends Ashley and Cari appreciated her being there too, since she acted as den mother :-)

KLONDIKE

We took mom and dad on a lunch adventure today: Klondike! Where they have the best fried chicken in Vicksburg, catfish and crawfish on Fridays, and a great beer selection. Just not the fanciest of decor (or cleanliest of bathrooms). They agreed that the short-order food counter was worth the visit though!

AR REPORT, FIRST 9 WEEKS

Southpark 2nd Graders had a 10 book AR goal for the first quarter of the school year. Not a point goal, but a book goal (e.g. they had to pass 10 AR tests). Next quarter the goal will be 15 books, but because they started so late this year (there was a delay getting STAR Exam results until the end of August and thus a delay in getting the AR Book Level ranges the teachers needed to determine which levels "counted" for each child to test on - they have to read books within or above their determined level), they had 6 weeks instead of 9 and therefore weren't required to complete as many AR tests. James finished out the quarter with 25 books (totaling >23,000 words), averaging a 98% on his exams and earning 13.2 AR Points. While he averaged about one AR test per day, he more often tested on two books every other day, combining his library AR book, his class AR book, and sometimes an AR book from home. It wasn't until the last few weeks that he really got into reading chapter books (e.g. books worth more than half an AR point) and decided that he wanted to push towards the top of the class (he finished out this quarter in 3rd place and was quite happy with himself), or that we started looking up test information for books from our home library. Now that he reads a chapter each night before bed (his choice - he reads for about 15 minutes, then turns off his lamp and goes to sleep without prompting from us), I suspect he'll test on a chapter book once per week, and test on fun, short books in between (both those from school and those one our shelves). We're encouraging him to read more (since he's supposed to read at least 20 minutes on his own each day), but not pushing him (thankfully we don't need to), and we're also trying to get back in the habit of reading TO him (and Cora) more often (we've been slacking since school, dance, soccer, and Scouts started back up and weeknights got busy).

Southpark 1st Graders were only required to read/test on 6 books during the first quarter (they took their STAR exam even later than the 2nd Graders, giving them just 5 weeks to work towards their goal). Next quarter will likely be 10-12 books. Cora finished out the quarter with 11 books (totaling ~2500 words), averaging an 89% on her exams and earning 4.9 AR Points. She is far more hesitant than James to test on her books and won't let us sign her folder (she isn't allowed to test unless we've approved her ahead of time) until she feels really ready. She can read better than she gives herself credit for and she stresses herself out the second she stumbles over a word, but hopefully her confidence will grow this year as she practices more and more.

We are very proud of the kids for reaching their AR goals this quarter and look forward to seeing where their interests take them this year!

WINE CLASS

I never go to Martin's Wine Class (it's every Thursday!) since I'm more of a Barley's Angels kinda gal, but with mom in town I KNEW we needed to try it out. Cora came along at her insistence (because "it's a GUWLS NIGHT mama!") and nobody minded a bit. We tasted 3 wine varieties from the front of the alphabet (they're starting Oz Clarke's Grapes & Wines Comprehensive Guide), learned a few things, had a delicious bruschetta appetizer (mom ate tomatoes!) combining feta and cream cheese, then retreated to the main dining room for dinner. It was a fun night, and it really made me wish mom lived closer so we could do these types of things together more often!

Cora hung out with John in the corner... PowerPoint technician, wine connoisseur, and friend to kids everywhere. 

GRAMBOT VISITS RIVERPOINTE

MISSISSIPPI BOUND

Mom and Dad drove through Yosemite, Las Vegas, and Waco (to visit Magnolia Market, because they're big fans) on their way to Mississippi. It's a LONG trip, so I'm glad they took some time to sight-see along the way!

BATTERY FAIL

This is how we feel about the van not starting on the morning of testing...

 Jetta battery replaced last month, Odyssey battery replaced today.
They don't last forever, but I wish they did!

DATE NIGHT = HAPPY KIDS

Clothes shopping for Jay (because I made him - he's starting his 3rd Acting Branch Chief position on Monday and he needs some real slacks and dressier shirts), followed by dinner and cocktails at ROCA. The kids were happy to have Miss Elizabeth over to babysit (she later told us that James said "we LOVE it when you come over because we always do all the fun things!") She brought Rainbow Loom supplies and taught the kids to make bracelets, let them eat pizza while watching Corpse Bride, read them EACH 3 books at bedtime, then got talked into reading an entire chapter to each of them (from James' borrowed Minecraft series, and I'm pretty sure Miss Elizabeth does not play Minecraft, so I can only assume that was a sacrifice on her part). I'm still not sure how she fit all that in during the few hours we were gone...

I found her asleep with her light on when we got home (James always turns his off after he finishes a chapter, but Cora usually falls asleep with a book in her hands).

(Her PJs glowed brightly once I turned the lamp off!)

CARA BETH'S KITTY PARTY

 Cora was invited to Cara Beth's kitty-themed birthday party at GymSouth this afternoon and James was allowed to come too (there were quite a few siblings there). Cara Beth is one of Cora's Daisy Scout friends (we shared a tent at camp this summer) and was in her dance class last year (this year she's on Cora's soccer team, but is sitting out dance). 

They've installed a rope swing, which was a big hit with all the kids old/strong enough to climb it.

 I never saw James climb to the high platform or bar (he's far more cautious than his wild card sister...), but Cora had me holding my breath through most of the party. At least she was careful to always wait until the pit was clear below her (unlike a few of the boys, one of whom landed hard on the back of his friends neck - not my favorite party moment, as I scooped the injured child out of the pit when he turned to me with a silent scream and his nose began to pour blood - thankfully, he "always gets bloody noses" and was more scared than hurt)

 Cara Beth acted as the Town Crier and called all her friends over for singing, cake, and ice cream (from the high platform). Then again later for presents. I love her confidence - there's a reason Cora likes her so much (she's smart, funny, independent, and a good mix of girly-girl and tomboy).

Cora, Julia, and the birthday girl

Most of these girls have known each other since preschool, but Cora knows them (other than Cara Beth) from dance only. Clockwise from the birthday girl: Anzley, Elle, Kauri, Cora, and Julia.

SOCCER "SCORES"

 By all accounts, last weekend's U8 Girls game was a disaster and we spent the majority of the rest of the day stressed out over it. On the flip side, this weekend was perfect. The weather was cooler, the humidity was down, the U8 Boys had fun on the fields, and the U8 Girls played so well (and with such a great ref and opposing team coach) that Jay was dancing on the sidelines and eventually asking them to work on skills other than scoring goals (so they wouldn't completely dominate the field). James and Cora both played well (and scored some goals, which they call "scores", and it thrills them!) and had a good time, and it was so nice for me to be a spectator and watch my family on and across the field (James chose to sit under the tent rather than with me during Cora's game - Kindles are easier to play in the shade and we weren't taking any chances with the girls overheating this weekend, even though fall was in the air) with smiles on their faces the entire time. 

After lunch, we split up (we always have 2 cars at the fields because I come straight from my long run) to start tackling errands and cleaning (Grambot and PawPaw left California today for the cross-country trek to the Deep South). Not sure what it is about the car wash, but both kids go nuts over it. Luckily, they also help out when it comes time to vacuum up all their detritus in the backseat...

OCTOBER!