CLIMBING, JUMPING, FLYING

We went to a new-to-us "jumpy place" so that the Girl Scouts could earn their climbing badge. James and Cora both had the best time and were totally worn out by the end!

Climbing badge earned!

LUCKY BLACK CATS

 

OVER THE RIVER RUN 2019

At the starting line with the Mack Pack:

On course photographer:

Taking Cora out for a warm-up mile before her race:

James and Noah at the top of the bridge:

Starting line of the kids 1-mile fun run. Cora made sure to be up front:

And she's off!

(She told me later that she felt like she was flying, and I believe it - she was really moving out!)

She led the pack out to the turnaround, then battled a couple of boys on the way back and was in third place overall as she sprinted up the hill. James had gone down the hill a ways to help run her in and I thought it was so sweet that he wanted to help and encourage her. He did NOT want to race today, and we did not force him to, but it was nice to see him participate in his own way.

It's a lot of work to run a mile as fast as you can, especially with an uphill finish. It's pretty inspiring to watch Cora race - she's determined and (overly?) confident, so she really goes all out for the entire mile, often leaving her tank on empty as soon as she hits the finish line.

I think she has the best form! She ended up taking first overall female with a time of 7:39! I took 3rd in my age group and was awfully pleased with that since I ran a 50:14 (a far cry from my PR in this race of 41:50). 

ESCAPING MATH

Cora's math teacher makes learning as fun as she can. Today the kids were split into teams and tasked with beating the clock to get out their "escape room" by solving math problems. It was a fun competition among them all (and it's always nice to see Cora smile about math, which is NOT her favorite subject!)

CHROMEBOOK KIDS

We decided that James needed his own computer for 5th grade assignments this year (lots of Google Docs and Google Slides due each week, and with his ADD, he doesn't get everything done in the classroom), and because we buy everything in twos for our family, Cora got one too. We went with ChromeBooks because 1) that's what the kids are used to and 2) school accounts can be used to log-in (so the same safety features used on campus also apply at home, and they can then save progress on assignments from home). So far, so good. Weird to be parents of computer-aged kids already... My high school didn't even get a computer lab until my senior year (and it was rarely used). Times sure have changed...

MATH SUCKS

It's 9:30pm on a school night, we're not done, mama has given in, and math sucks.

KNOTTY

With Jay coaching Cora's soccer team on Tuesday nights and soccer/Cub Scout schedule conflicts for James, he's lucky to make to every other Scout meeting this fall, and when he goes, I take him. I have to admit that this year has been much calmer and more productive (one less kid - and the ones who stay tend to take it more seriously as they get older), and I've truly enjoyed my evenings with James. We usually grab dinner solo on the way home too and it's so nice to sit and have conversations with just him - he's a truly entertaining kid :-)

DOG PARK FAIL

I had a free morning, so after school drop off, I took Buster down to the 1/4-mile paved loop trail around the community garden, to be followed by playtime at the dog park there. Well, lazy dog gave up after two laps and I almost had to drag him through the third. Then he was too hot and tired to play (he just sat next to me looking pitiful). So we went home. Where I could have just as easily dragged him around the neighborhood for a loop...

SPORTS FORCE TOURNAMENT

The weekend-long tournament turned out to be nearly a bust, as James' team had zero games (the team they were supposed to play backed out and didn't let anyone know, so we were there, dressed, and warming up, waiting on them - super rude) and Cora's team had one planned game and one scrambled up game (where they played up against U12 team on the big field because their second U10 team backed out last minute). James' team ended up doing their own scrimmage/practice, and took home medals anyway (you get to be #1 even if you're the only team on the roster). Cora's team played great in both games and also brought home championship medals!

Team huddle and prayer before their scrimmage:

James got to ride the onsite zipline for the first time since Sports Force opened (we're usually there on weekday evenings only, and the zipline is only open on weekends):

For their U10 vs U12 game, the RiverBelles recruited a few of VSO's U12 girls to build out their team (you need more players on the bigger fields), so they switched to the royal blue VSO uniform (they all needed to match, of course).

Then it was Cora's turn to try the zipline:

We were hot and tired by the afternoon, but decided that since we were there when the putt-putt course was open, we should try that out too...

All in all, it was a good day! We just wish Sports Force would give soccer the time and attention that it gives baseball... It is SUCH a nice park and we know plenty of teams that would love to play here, if only the tournaments were well advertised and the cost was lowered.