It brought back memories to see the rush of feet and jostling bodies jockeying for position at the start of the two-mile race. Kenrick's in there somewhere.
Monday, August 27, 2012
First Cross Country Meet
Kenrick ran in his first Cross Country meet as a Monticello Sage last Saturday, an eight-team invitational just south of Clinton.
It brought back memories to see the rush of feet and jostling bodies jockeying for position at the start of the two-mile race. Kenrick's in there somewhere.
As the kids spread out a bit Kenrick got himself established about mid-pack. He was the lone sixth grader running for the Monticello varsity team, and the first race was certainly a learning experience.
The Clinton course is laid out so that the spectators can only really see the start and the finish of the race, so we made our way over to the final downhill slope to watch for purple uniforms. Kenrick finished well. Tired, but able to hold off a last minute effort by one of the competition to pass him on the bridge.
New time to beat: 15 minutes 4 seconds. Exhausted. Good job Kenrick!
Next meet is tomorrow. They aren't going to get much of a break this year! I'll try to keep up.
It brought back memories to see the rush of feet and jostling bodies jockeying for position at the start of the two-mile race. Kenrick's in there somewhere.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
End of Summer Catch-Up
Wait, did I just say that out loud? Are we really at the end?
Well, when the big yellow bus starts making its morning rounds that's usually a pretty good indication that the fun is over for another year. Today was the day at the Pandemonium Household.
The last month has been a blur. I'll try to summarize (pun intended).
Andrea just got back from Salt Lake City last night. She drove out to attend the annual Usana International Convention and returned fired up with renewed determination to keep the Pandemonium Clan healthy, wealthy, and wise. She took three of the four Chaos Makers with her and dropped them off at Grandpa and Grandma's on her way there. Sounds like they had a blast. Kenrick and I stayed home, juggling work and cross country practice and 6th grade orientation and groceries and generally enjoying the quiet.
Andrea and the kids left for Salt Lake directly from our annual church convention up by Chicago. We were able to be there for the full four days - a much needed break and an always-refreshing reminder of Things Most Important.
Did I mention Kenrick started cross country? Well, he did. He's running with the Middle School team, made up of about 34 enthusiastic 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. They've been practicing for about three weeks now; first meet is this Saturday. Kenrick just missed a spot on the varsity group of seven after their first inter-squad race, but I have a feeling he'll be up there soon enough.
Four weeks ago Kenrick and Anthony finished up their swimming season at the conference swim meet. Anthony qualified for one event and Kenrick in three. They both did well - Kenrick even came home with some hardware - and their team won for the first time in many years. Go Marlins!
Five weeks ago (has it been that long since my last post?) I finally finished a project that I'd had in the garage for a while and in my head for even longer than that. I built a compost barrel. Not just any wimpy bucket-size compost barrel, mind you, but a BIG one. One that I can shovel piles of leaves into in the fall and grass in the summer and scraps from the table on the rare occasion that there are some. The barrel ended up being about four feet in diameter by four feet long and is mounted on rollers so that I can agitate the organics inside and let it sift through the chicken wire sides. I'm not sure yet if it works. To make compost, I mean. It definitely holds lots of stuff, and is fun to spin around, but I'll have to provide an update after we try to make use of the end result.
Before that we took a trip to Idaho. See my last post.
In addition to our activities and adventures, this summer was memorable because of the weather. Or rather, the lack of it. No rain to speak of in June or July. Not much in May and hot all the way through. It was as dry as I've ever seen it in the Midwest. Our area wasn't the worst, but the crops suffered none the less. The corn especially is stunted, fragile, and dry already - the harvest expected to be slim. The beans enjoyed a respite last week with some much needed rain, but I think the farmers still have their fingers crossed. Tough.
Anyway, I think that pretty well covers the summer. Next up: new adventures in school, new adventures in Wrecking Havoc While Mom Isn't Looking, and a visit from Grandpa and Grandma! I'll try to keep you posted.
Well, when the big yellow bus starts making its morning rounds that's usually a pretty good indication that the fun is over for another year. Today was the day at the Pandemonium Household.
The last month has been a blur. I'll try to summarize (pun intended).
Andrea just got back from Salt Lake City last night. She drove out to attend the annual Usana International Convention and returned fired up with renewed determination to keep the Pandemonium Clan healthy, wealthy, and wise. She took three of the four Chaos Makers with her and dropped them off at Grandpa and Grandma's on her way there. Sounds like they had a blast. Kenrick and I stayed home, juggling work and cross country practice and 6th grade orientation and groceries and generally enjoying the quiet.
Andrea and the kids left for Salt Lake directly from our annual church convention up by Chicago. We were able to be there for the full four days - a much needed break and an always-refreshing reminder of Things Most Important.
Did I mention Kenrick started cross country? Well, he did. He's running with the Middle School team, made up of about 34 enthusiastic 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. They've been practicing for about three weeks now; first meet is this Saturday. Kenrick just missed a spot on the varsity group of seven after their first inter-squad race, but I have a feeling he'll be up there soon enough.
Four weeks ago Kenrick and Anthony finished up their swimming season at the conference swim meet. Anthony qualified for one event and Kenrick in three. They both did well - Kenrick even came home with some hardware - and their team won for the first time in many years. Go Marlins!
Five weeks ago (has it been that long since my last post?) I finally finished a project that I'd had in the garage for a while and in my head for even longer than that. I built a compost barrel. Not just any wimpy bucket-size compost barrel, mind you, but a BIG one. One that I can shovel piles of leaves into in the fall and grass in the summer and scraps from the table on the rare occasion that there are some. The barrel ended up being about four feet in diameter by four feet long and is mounted on rollers so that I can agitate the organics inside and let it sift through the chicken wire sides. I'm not sure yet if it works. To make compost, I mean. It definitely holds lots of stuff, and is fun to spin around, but I'll have to provide an update after we try to make use of the end result.
Before that we took a trip to Idaho. See my last post.
In addition to our activities and adventures, this summer was memorable because of the weather. Or rather, the lack of it. No rain to speak of in June or July. Not much in May and hot all the way through. It was as dry as I've ever seen it in the Midwest. Our area wasn't the worst, but the crops suffered none the less. The corn especially is stunted, fragile, and dry already - the harvest expected to be slim. The beans enjoyed a respite last week with some much needed rain, but I think the farmers still have their fingers crossed. Tough.
Anyway, I think that pretty well covers the summer. Next up: new adventures in school, new adventures in Wrecking Havoc While Mom Isn't Looking, and a visit from Grandpa and Grandma! I'll try to keep you posted.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Summer Road Trip, Part 4: Heading for Home
We left Boise on Thursday afternoon and headed east again, stopping briefly at Andrea's folks place before making the marathon trip back home. It was good to see them again.
Grandpa's tractor gets big points with Paxton
A couple of summers ago Steve made a coaster cart for the kids out of scrap lumber and some old wheelchair wheels. The kids love it, dragging it out every time we visit and spending hours pushing each other to the top of the driveway and zipping back down or rolling down the grass hill in front of the house.
Anya gives her brothers a push.
Kenrick and Anthony picked a few raspberries for Grandma. Yum!
Paxton picked for a while too, but petered out after half a bowl. I think most of the berries got eaten.
A Pandemonium Sandwich!
Grandma enjoys a little quiet time with Miss Pincushion.
Well, the stay was too short as usual, but sweet as always. It was time to head home, so we piled the crew back into the van and hit the familiar road once again.
If the success of a vacation is measured by how tuckered out the kids are on the return trip home, then this one certainly ranked towards the top.
Grandpa's tractor gets big points with Paxton
A couple of summers ago Steve made a coaster cart for the kids out of scrap lumber and some old wheelchair wheels. The kids love it, dragging it out every time we visit and spending hours pushing each other to the top of the driveway and zipping back down or rolling down the grass hill in front of the house.
Anya gives her brothers a push.
Kenrick and Anthony picked a few raspberries for Grandma. Yum!
Paxton picked for a while too, but petered out after half a bowl. I think most of the berries got eaten.
There's nothing like the summer sunset in Idaho Falls.
A Pandemonium Sandwich!
Grandma enjoys a little quiet time with Miss Pincushion.
Well, the stay was too short as usual, but sweet as always. It was time to head home, so we piled the crew back into the van and hit the familiar road once again.
If the success of a vacation is measured by how tuckered out the kids are on the return trip home, then this one certainly ranked towards the top.
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