My good friend Jennifer sent me these pictures so we could remember our awesome time at Detroit Lakes. (Since my phone died and I didn't get any pictures myself from the trip) It was such an incredibly relaxing and fun trip. 10-14 families we knew went and the kids and adults all had such a great time.
That's Jennifer's husband Jeff and my Eric and kiddos out in the lake.
This is where I prefer to be snuggling babies and manning the beachfront kids getting in and out of the water.
It was beautiful.
This was the dessert cookoff night with all families together.
I finally felt calmed down enough with the move and camping and my family reunion that I could think about swimming lessons for the kids two weeks before summer break ended. Thankfully there were openings for Jack and Avey in a swimming lesson option I had forgotten about until I saw one of my friend's get ready for it one day. Basically it's run out of the backyard of someone that owns a pool and it's high school kids teaching, cheaper and no middle man. We pretty much got in at the end and had private lessons since it was petering out and there weren't as many kids.
The kids made amazing progress in a week and a half and I now I know what i can help them with all winter when we go swimming. I am no longer worried about Avey drowning because she can't bob and stay afloat if she goes deeper than her height, and Jack can do the backstroke really well, and is getting better at his front stroke as well. Yay!
Hood to Coast was better than I thought it would be!
Loved my van! All the girls did amazing! Our team name was Baker's Dozen- we're tough cookies!
This was my first leg/exchange- I felt great during the 6.6 miles. Then we had some van trouble that turned into a miracle and we didn't quite get a nap in, but we did make it to our next exchange with van 2 without any lapse.
This is Heather showing what my night run looked like. Two lights on front, one in back and a reflective vest. They don't kid when it comes to safety at H2C. I didn't get a picture of me in that leg, but another miracle, I happened to be stopped at a light at the first part of my leg and I asked the girl next to me what her pace was, and she said 9 minutes, and I asked if I could run with her because we couldn't listen to music on that night run, and she said yes, and so I ran that leg much faster than I would have because it went by so quickly talking to my new friend. (That was at 10:30 at night)
This is me trying to sleep in the tents they have set up at exchange 24. After missing our van 2 exchange because of no cell reception and van 2 being faster than we were planning, and traffic we got off to a rocky start at 5 AM, but at least I got 2 hours of sleep.
And this is us at the end! My third leg was supposed to be my easiest and I felt great for the first two miles but then got a little prideful or cocky or both and started going faster and faster especially as we started going down hill, but I don't know if it was the lack of sleep, poor nutrition, or just excess of miles, my body developed a HUGE side ache that I couldn't get over for the remaining 3 miles. So sadly I didn't end strong, but at least I finished, and I really did enjoy the experience. I would even do it again, if that says anything.
We had our book club in August with the book I chose. The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown. If you haven't watched her
Ted Talk, do it right now, you will be inspired by it. (She also has a
new one out since that one.) Kathryn hosted and we had DELICIOUS Italian Sodas at her house.
After back to school supply shopping one day we had a few extra minutes before lunch and the kids said they wanted to stop by Barnes and Noble and the Pet store. So we did.
Ellie pretty much thought this was the best place ever, and kept saying puppy, puppy the whole time and smiling and running to the next place. (That's her word for any animal, but she does especially love dogs)
Jack started 1st grade! He loves it, and mom loves it too! He's gotten two otter notes (like a good job for good behavior) in the first two weeks. He received one total last year, so I think he's on the right track this year. :)
This was our first picture of the first day of preschool, at the wrong house next door. :)
This was the REAL first day of preschool picture!
Music classes started, and this is what it looks like every day after school. Just kidding. But the kids do love to practice this year, and having all my classes on one day is pretty much the best choice I have ever made, so things are great!
Jack also started soccer, which he enjoys.
This is Jack at his game this week.
Comments