XC Districts

Rylee was in cross country (XC) again this year.

Let me tell you... cross country at the highschool level is WAY more HARD CORE, than in middle school!

They began their practices in July and ran 5-8 miles a day; rain, shine or 100 degree weather. Even on their days "off" they were encouraged to run "just a few miles". What?!

Rylee was on track to be invited to join the Varsity team, but then at the beginning of the school year, she injured herself and was out for the first few races. The school trainers helped her with therapy on her injury, so she was able to run the last 3 races of the season, on the JV team.

Districts were held at Eagle Island State Park.

Side note: While I was waiting at the start line for the race to begin. There was a man there blasting music to pump up the runners. He turned to me and said I looked familiar and asked if I had gone to Valley View. No. After visiting briefly, we figured out how we knew each other. He was one of my 6th grade teachers at Garfield Elementary, Ted Coe.
So weird... I couldn't see Mr. Coe in him..he looked like an old man (he was wearing a hat and sunglasses too). Wouldn't want to know what he thought of me.. lookin' pretty rough that day. :)
Half way through the race, Rylee looks good.

Here she comes down the home stretch... still lookin' good.

Whew... tired.

Rylee, we're so proud of you. :)

Running buddies- Sarah Bruneel & Rylee

I'm so impressed that these kids WANT to do this. Running has never been my thing. Watching these young athletes is amazing. During races I fluctuate between yelling encouragement to tears of pride. I even cry for the opposing school runners. They are all AWESOME!

If you see me at a meet.. please don't mind my blubbering.. I can't help myself. I'm just so proud of them all. :)

Cousin Fun- Day 2

After breakfast we gathered, packed and swim-suited up for our short drive to Eagle Island State Park.

We had a BBQ lunch and then walked over to the water and beach area.

Julia and her boys found us and got in on the cousin fun.

Colton, Jade, Emma & Taylee
The kids discovered they could go all the way out to the yellow divider rope, still touching. The water was a bit cooler than the pool and took a few minutes to warm up to.

Jordyn
The kids made sand castles with motes...

and took turns burying each other in the sand.

Emma made a lovely mermaid... and Abree was her sidekick.

After having hours of fun at the beach, we went home for dinner then got ready for "Movie in the Park", at Settler's Park.

Jordyn, Cameron & Emma

As if they hadn't had enough water for the day, the kids started off in the splash park.

Colton, hoping he's in the right spot for the water drop.

Yep, perfect spot!

Emma

When it started cooling off, we wandered over to the play equipment.

Settler's Park is almost always a MAD HOUSE. It's big and has lots of fun things to play on... a kid's dream. But because it's so fun and has so much to do, it can be nearly impossible to keep track of your kids... a parent's nightmare.

Taylee followed Joshua around, leaving Julia only 3 to keep track of.

We only lost Matthew and Carson once.... that I'm aware of.

Abree

When the parent's couldn't take the "fun" anymore, we walked back over to our chairs and blankets, to get dressed and wait for the movie to start.

We've been enjoying "Movie in the Park" for several summers now. They blow up a HUGE movie screen and put speakers all around.

Each summer they seem to improve. This year, the sound improved greatly. We also appreciate the lights that go on after the movie. Last year, after the movie, people used cell phones and flashlights to try and gather their children and stuff. I remember leaving the park hoping that we got everything and resolving to be ok with it, if we didn't.

We ALWAYS came home with all of our children tough. :)

Joshua says,
"Bring on the movie treats!"

Abree and Taylee being creative in getting dressed.... personalized dressing rooms.

We watched, "Ice Age 3- Dawn of the Dinosaurs".

Not as dreadful as I thought. It made me laugh a few times. :)

The kids spent the night, in tents, in our backyard. It took them a little while to settle down, but we wore them out pretty good.