Team Color Me Tired

After all the tee ball games and soccer matches and swim meets of the last year, it was finally the kids' turn to be the cheerleaders from the sidelines this morning.  Everybody headed to Maryland this morning for Traci's 5K Color Run.  This run is much more party than race:  it is not timed, you'll see more people wearing tutus than serious running shoes, and the participants get colored powder thrown at them at points throughout the race.  You can just see how messy everybody ended up by the end...

Traci had a blast running with some of her closest mom friends.  From left to right, we have Jamie, Angela, Kelly, Julie, Emily, Traci, Kim, and Cristina.  Between the eight of us (dubbed Team Color Me Tired), we have 23 kids.  Many of the kids were there today cheering us on and throwing packets of the color powder all over everything.  So much fun!!!

Birthday Boy

Backing up to Michael's birthday weekend now....

As is our tradition, Traci took Michael out for his "Night Before Birthday Mom-Son Dinner" on Sunday evening.  The only rule is that Michael must choose a new venue every year.  So, we were sooooo "lucky" to have him select Chuck E. Cheese this year.  (If by lucky, we mean that we never have to go there again....)  Well, it was dinner time on a weekend at the loudest restaurant in the world, so you can just imagine the atmosphere.  There were at least 75 other birthday parties going on at the same time, never mind the folks just coming in for some dinner of their own.  Michael, who is not really much of a gamer yet, was entertained for only so long.  So, of course, Mom had to get out some of her old skee-ball skills so that he would win enough tickets for the random c-r-a-p that they pawn off at the reward shop.  Oh well, we still had a nice dinner together, snacking on junk food and watching an oversized mouse dance with some other kids.  Just preparing us for Disney World someday, right?

On to the birthday party....

Run, Nevie, Run

It's time for a little catch-up with our posts.  We need to cover Michael's party, his night out with Mom, and Neve's first gymnastics class.  We'll go with the most recent first.  Yesterday Neve started her Parks and Recs gymnastics class.  Our little one basically worships her big sister and wants to do whatever she is doing.  So, she is constantly trying her 2-year-old version of Katie's beloved handstands and cartwheels.  It was a no-brainer to sign her up for a class of her own.  Nevie was delighted to try the balance beam, low bars, wedge mats, and spring boards.  She only really got mad when Mom forced her to share the equipment!!  As for Mom, it is soooo nice to finally only have one kid to run after at a class.  A person could get used to this.  Can't wait to see what she does next!!

Happy 5th Birthday, MJMIII!!!!

Annandale Cheetahs?

Michael decided to forgo fall t-ball this year in favor of trying his luck at soccer (in full disclosure, that decision was made in the midst of World Cup action).  It's a "mighty mites," 4-yr old, 4-on-4 league.  The first week was a little rough.  Since the kid still doesn't eat much, he's had a hard time mustering up the energy to run around for an hour at a time.  And Week 1's game gave him his first taste of contact (a shoulder to the head) and disappointment (not scoring).  We're still proud of him for getting out there.  He at least runs with the scrum of players chasing the ball (an improvement from his former soccer classes at the community center), albeit towards the back (safe from contact).

Anyway, this morning was Week 2's game.  We agreed on three simple objectives in advance : (1) no tears, (2) kick the ball at least once, and (3) congratulate his teammates with high fives when they scored a goal.  Well, it must be his birthday weekend, because he did kick the ball once...AND SCORED!  Actually, it was pretty funny.  The ball went out of bounds and a parent threw it back in.  Somehow the ball made its way past about four kids and crossed inside the box.  Michael was stiff as a board, but then I saw his little leg cock back and send the ball into the back of the net.  I think he was beside himself with excitement, but, like his Dad, you wouldn't have known it.  He just returned to mid-field for the next center kick with his little chin jutting out.  You know, that face you make when you're trying not to laugh while appearing serious.  Yup, the males in this family have that one down.

Anyway, it could not have happened at a better time.  This weekend is all about our almost 5-yr old.  His birthday party was held this afternoon (more on that tomorrow).  Grammy and Papa are visiting for the weekend.  Mommy-Son dinner is tomorrow night.  And the official 5th birthday is on Monday.  But for now...GOALLLLLLLLLL!

Mom!! Christ the Redeemer is Here!!!

Michael started his final year of Preschool this morning. It's going to be a very, very, very good year for him. How do we know? First, 10 out of 18 members of the class are boys. The poor kid is surrounded by not only his sisters, but also his sisters' girl buddies, all of the time. For once, he might get some bro time. Second, he already knows the majority of his class. He basically could have walked in today and played with most anybody there. Third, and most important, the first thing he spotted at today's Open House was a globe with Christ the Redeemer on it. Say what? If you get to know Michael, you understand pretty quickly that once he gets obsessed with something, it is his end all, be all until the next obsession rolls around. He is currently obsessed with the Christ the Redeemer statue that overlooks the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. (Don't ask us.) He not only found a rendering of the statue on the globe, but also on a big bulletin board depicting geographic marvels from around the world. Even better? His preschool teacher is married to a Brazilian, had visited the statue numerous times, and will bring him some personal vacation pictures of it this week. He is over the moon. Like we said, it's going to be a very, very, very good year for him.

Second Grade

When did this happen? 7 going on 16? We sent our new 2nd grader off to her first day of school this morning. And we claim no responsibility for the wardrobe (i.e., that was all Katie). We've had a great summer, so it's hard to adjust to the new fall timing once again. We'll be in the swing of things before you know it, but I think all of us were a little sad to hear the alarm clock come early this morning. For Katie's part, she has a new (i.e., MALE!) teacher named Mr. Davis, whom she seems to like. And she said that she had an "up and down" day. "Up" because she had fun. "Down" because they had to do work on the first day! Gasp. (and go, Mr. Davis)