Final Cross Country Meet / Camping!

Leave it to me - to wait until the final meet of the season to try and get some really good photo's...  That might not have been the worst idea in the world except for the fact that it was pouring down rain like no other. 

 

Did I ever tell you how much I love our RC family?  I think I have said it before but, they really do make you feel like you belong there. 

 

This past weekend was our final meet of the season which was held at Maumee Bay State Park - what they usually do is camp the weekend, some stay in tents, some had campers and they have one big exciting weekend - Connor's friend Ethan's parents (friends of ours now) invited us to come along and stay in their camper with them.. 

 

Practice was held there Friday night then we all (about 15 families) had a pizza party.  It was a great time.  Connor & Ethan (and the rest of the cross country runners) had their meet bright and early Saturday morning (Which started out as a beautiful day for runners especially)  and right when it was time for the younger kids to run the rain started!  And I really mean it started - to pour buckets and buckets - Connor was soaked from head to toe before it was even time for him to run.  He did ok - but you could tell most boys were  taking it a little slower so, they didn't slip and slide (like lots were).  Saturday was filled with playing, eating, watching football, and thankfully drying out a bit once the rain had passed us!

 

We had a great fire!

 

The boys got the dads to play boys vs. dads football game!

 

 

Connor with his friend Jacob - playing on the swing set!

 

 

I did my best (even in the pouring down rain - and (NO I did not have my water proof camera) to take some pictures - It was my last chance!

 

National Anthem..

 Stretching

Warming up a bit :)

 

 RUN CONNOR RUN!!  SOAKING WET!

 

I'm sad to see the Cross Country Season come to an end - we met so many wonderful people, Connor learned a lot (including, he can run a whole lot farther, then he ever thought he could), he had amazing coaches, great friends, and we are so very much looking forward to next season!  After the banquet that is!  Connor will receive ribbons for every race he ran in!

2nd, 3rd and 4th Cross Country Meets

Connor is absolutely loving cross country, he is also doing well and getting lots of exercise in the mean time - would not have it any other way. 

 

Week 2 - Lucas Country Rec Center - Was a bit bumpy, it was not a very well laid out course therefor 200+ kids had no where to go when the race started.  Connor ended up on the bottom of a pile and could of just quite right there but, he got up and finished the race - he was a little shaken at the beginning but ended up passing a lot of boys and finishing about 135.  He was pretty bummed since he had quite the audience this week - Gigi, Papa Pat, Grandma Sandy, Uncle Tom, Aunt Lauren, Grandma April and even Zennon plus mommy and daddy.  At least he finished the race!  We were all proud ( Just wished everyone could of saw a better race)

 

This is the chaos at the beginning of the race! 200+ boys!

 

 

 

 

Week 3 - CYO Fields - Connor you rocked this race.  You improved from last week but, most of all you had a great time!  You finished 99 out of 200+ kids!  This week Michael (dads friend from work) came to watch you along with mommy and daddy.  Every time you ran by us you had a huge smile on your face- just purely enjoying yourself.  It was a fun weekend - left straight from your race - to head South (More on that to come- next post).

Connor before his 3rd race!

 

 

 

Week 4 - UT- Another great run, started out strong, stayed strong and finished even better than the previous week.. This week you were 91 out of 200+ boys!  I am so proud of you, your doing amazing - I just keep reminding myself how great you are doing since probably half of the boys you are running with are in the 1st grade!  Speaking of 1st grade - It's so cool that this year you are running the race against Van!  I'm so glad they moved close and you two will be able to grow up together!  Here is Van rocking this last race!!!

 

Great Job Van!

 I am not very good at taking photo's - I see him and I get all teary eyed (proud) and start cheering and totally forget to snap the picture - although blurry, on week 4 I managed to capture this!  I'm thankful one of the coaches has been snapping photo's all season long - I can't wait to see how his turned out!

 Playing duck, duck, goose before his race!

Happy Birthday Aunt Jenn

 

We all are wishing you a very very happy birthday!!  Hope you have an amazing day!!  See you soon - Love You!

 

Packers vs. Bengals

Eric, Connor, Me, Papa Pat, Grandma Sandy and Uncle Eddie all headed south down to Uncle Tom & Aunt Lauren's for a weekend full of family and football :)  The game didn't quite go as planned or have the outcome we wanted it to have but, it was still a great time!  We were at the tailgating lot around 8AM - just in time to toast some bagels on the grill.  Played tail gate toss, watched all the exotic vehicles, cooked some more, and enjoyed each others company. 

Our little PACKER for the day!

 

 

View of the tailgating site ( courtesy of Eric's Cell Phone)

 

 

Connor with The Packer Fans

Uncle Tom

Aunt Lauren

 

Uncle Eddie & Grandma Sandy

 

Uncle Eddie

 

 The Whole Group

 

Shots!

 

 

Us with our Boy!

 

Connor, just eating his cheeseburger

 The Guys!

 

 The stadium - we were tailgating about a 10 minute walk from this!

 Me and my boy! I just love him so much!

 Ohio State's Band did the half time show!

 Tired boy, slept just about the entire ride home - went straight to bed when home - and got up Monday morning for school like it was no big deal at all - We had such a great time with you Connor - glad you could join us for the game.

 

Zane & Zoey!

Eric and I could not have been more honored when we were asked to be baby Zane's Godparents!  The baptism was postponed a few times for a good reason and a partial baptism was done in the hospital before his second major surgery.  But the day was finally here!  Zane and his older sister Zoey - were both baptized (beautiful ceremony, beautiful church, just the perfect day)  for obvious reasons I was not able to take pictures, and my boys were ready to leave when it was over so, no super adorable pictures of those two all dressed up nice and fancy but, I did get a photo of us 4 (Eric, Me, Connor & Zennon) with two of our favorites (Zoey and our Godson Zane).

 And the best of cousins at it again!

Forever best friends!!!!

GiGi turns 81!

It's hard to believe it has already been a year since we threw this amazing woman a birthday celebration to celebrate her 80th birthday - 

 

 

 

 

We were able to get together with her and some of the family on the Saturday after her birthday to once again celebrate her!  She does so much for all of her family, friends, and even strangers!  A bigger heart then one can even imagine!!!  We love you GiGi and thank you so much for all you do for us and how much time you spend with Connor & Zennon - we all love it:)

 

 

1st Cross Country Meet of the Season

Today was Connor's 1st Cross Country meet of the season.  He has been practicing (running) his little heart out most of August and I don't think he could see the end result coming.  Finally, it was here and he was so excited!  As soon as we arrived he wanted to run, he just didn't know what to expect.  He walked the course 1st with his coaches, stretched, did a couple warm up laps and it was race time!

This picture was sent to me by Tara (cousin & Connor's coach)

All the boys before the race!

 

 I was so proud of this kid.  He came in 77 out of 190 boys! 

Connor is running in the PeeWee's - which is Kindergarten and 1st graders!

The PeeWee boys from his school came in 7th overall. Out of about 20 schools :)

Were looking forward to next week! 

GO CONNOR!!!!!!!