Turkey Trot - Thanksgiving 2015

We were better prepared this year than we were last year when we ran the Turkey Trot. Our practice runs definitely payed off! Scott finished his SECOND 5K, and everyone did great. The weather was terrific, and the mood was really fun. Now, if only we could do something about the little hills on the course.  After the run, we went out to breakfast with friends and then home to get ready for Thanksgiving with grandpa, grandma and friends. Great way to start the day!

Before

After

Grandpa and Grandma Sirkin Visit - Thanksgiving 2015

We had such beautiful weather this Thanksgiving. The kids were able to play outside while we cooked. We even took a break to meet several families at the park for impromptu kickball and tag football games. 

 When it was time to eat, the girls insisted that they wanted to try Tofurky. I'm such a compliant mom that I bought the yucky stuff for them to try. Bluch. We had a festive house with all the kids decorations, and a really nice dinner too. And, as always, way too much dessert.

We were all sad when it was time for grandma and grandpa to go home. We met them at the hotel for breakfast and good-byes.

Fortunately, it's not a very long good-bye. We'll be in Miami in two weeks. :)

Zoe - Horse Camp

One of Zoe's birthday presents was a 2 hour horse camp at a local ranch. We were surprised to find out how many of these incredible stables exist in a relatively short distance.

At this facility, their belief is basically that anyone can trail ride because that's just about a horse's ability to follow the tail of the horse in front of them. In order to really learn to ride, they want kids to slow down and learn the basics of handling the horse and riding.

Zoe loved every minute.

Soccer Season - Zoe

While you still play several sports during the year, soccer seems to be gaining ground as your favorite.

This soccer season, you were committed to up your game. You wanted to play goalie, even though it gave you "butterflies in your stomach" before games. You also were far more strategic in your approach to the game on offense and defense. You had good team spirit, and the whole team wore matching cheetah socks this season which added to the camaraderie.  The team's efforts paid off. You were undefeated and first in the division, although I'm not sure if you even know that.

What I was most proud of though was how you maintained good sportsmanship. This was potentially a more difficult soccer season because your friends were split on two different teams and the coaches, for a variety of reasons, were at serious odds with each other. As a parent, I'd never experienced this before, and we had to remind the coaches that they couldn't air their conflict out in front of the kids, after they did so on one or two occasions. While the coaches had issues playing each other's teams, the kids didn't. Despite the coach tension which I'm sure you were aware of, the kids maintained good sportsmanship, played hard and kept it all very fun (including the random mid-field cartwheel).

Congratulations on a terrific Fall soccer season Cheetahs!

Oliver

A short note to say that Oliver is as awesome as ever. He had his one year check up earlier this month. He's really closer to a year and a half, but the vet wants to see him on the year anniversary of when we adopted him. He hates going to the vet, which means I hate taking him to the vet, but once there he was ok.

He is such a yummy, sweet little cat, and we are happy every day to have him.

Soccer Season - Mia

Mia, this was a seriously strong soccer season for you. This fall, you decided that you wanted to really learn the game and be more of a leader on the team. I think that your attitude was inspired by having last year's lead player leave the team to play travel soccer. You and several of your teammates went to a developmental soccer workshop one night a week in addition to soccer practice. That soccer workshop was an eye opener. Unlike team practices which are easily cancelled due to weather and poor lightening after daylight savings time, the development practices occurred rain or shine, dark or light because they were on lit turf fields. You played one 90 minute practice in pouring rain. While you thought they were crazy for not canceling practice, at the end, you clearly felt great.

Your team was supportive, cohesive, and talented. You also had wonderful coaches who know the game well, encouraged you to have fun and do your best, and were also very laid back. As a result, you all played really well together. Watching your huge smile after scoring a goal or blocking on defense was a treat. Given that your team name is the "Sharks", it's no wonder that you all wanted shark socks. Something about these socks seemed to help build camaraderie too. 

To celebrate the end of the season we toasted with donuts and hot cider. 

 

Make-A-Wish

I joined the board of Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic about 15 months ago. I was nervous about the commitment, but also inspired to try and meet it.

I became interested in Make-A-Wish a little over 5 years ago. I was so impressed to see how the impact of a wish was able to lift up a close family friend whose daughter was coping with Leukemia. I was able to follow the process of the wish and the outcome, and was completely moved by the power of the wish.  We referred to it as the one bright spot in an otherwise overwhelmingly challenging time. It was the one light where everyone felt excited and forward looking. They didn't have to worry about any details, doses, or damages. All they had to do was share their deepest hopes and ideas and let others work to make them come true.

After becoming a wish granter, I got to experience how much the organization gives to children in need and also to their families. But even more, it filled me up too. Being a wish granter means that you have the freedom to be a bright spot - to not focus on the illness but instead to bring joy. As a wish ambassador, I got to do more of the same, but for kids visiting our region to fulfill wishes granted by chapters in other parts of the world. To be a friendly face rolling out the red carpet for a family who has just taken a successful journey with an ill or recovering child is incredibly fulfilling.

But the greatest pleasure for me has been my ability to serve on the Board. Not only can I bring my skills in organizational consulting to the effort, but I can have a greater impact on wishes and children in our region. All of that is reinforced by my continuing to grant wishes.

This was on my mind tonight because I am preparing to meet a new family as their wish granter on Monday. A friend and camp alumni of mine from more than 30 years ago posted a message to all camp alumni asking for support. Two camp alumni friends have three children, one of whom has been recently diagnosed with a life threatening medical condition. I contacted the family to offer support and also to let them know about Make A Wish. Last week, the mom called me to say they were ready. Her medical providers have indicated that this is a "priority wish" which means we need to grant it within six months. Heartbreaking. Now though, we find a bright spot. We become the bright spot. An opportunity for the family to create a few happy memories, to help the child find the strength to comply with treatments, and to allow a focus on something far away for medical details and appointments.

I've done a lot of volunteer work in my life. Make A Wish has a power that is nearly unparalleled in my experience so far.

Zoe - 10th Birthday Celebration

Zoe, you have been riveted by horses this year. When it was time to think about your birthday party, all you wanted was something horse-related.

Dad and I were not as sure about this. Horse back riding is expensive. It can be dangerous. The locations tend to be further away.

After talking it through with you, we made an agreement that I think reflects the kind of considerate problem solver you've become. We agreed to invite about half as many kids as you normally would, to make a cake and eat it at home (vs. rent a party room at the barn), make our own invitations, and you would make the goody bags yourself. You also researched horse-related charities in the mid-atlantic region and selected one with a good rating on Charity Navigator. You then made the invitations to include the charity information and suggested donations for the charity instead of gifts.  For the goody bags, you wove a bookmark for each guest out of yarn in a colorful pattern.

We arrived at the barn and the kids were each paired with a helper and a horse.

From there, the kids were all fitted for helmets, and then brought all of their gear from the barn out to the stables themselves.

Each child groomed their horse with the proper combs for different parts of the body and used tools to get the crud out of their hooves. They also put on the bridles with some help and saddled up. 

They had a series of balancing lessons and then played a game of putting rings over cones while on their horses, before taking a tiny trail ride and doing a little trotting. 

After, they had a barn tour and ran through a relay race in the horse ring before setting out hay for the horses for the evening. 

Back to our house for cake (cupcakes).

 The day ended with a family dinner. Happy kids.

Blissfully exhausted Zoe. 

Footnote: I know almost nothing about your class birthday celebration because in 4th grade parents aren't invited! I dropped off zucchini bread as a class treat (at your request), and you offered a water buffalo from Heifer as a class donation (thanks to another Milk Mom who taught us about Heifer). From all reports, you had a great day.

Zoe - TEN Years Old!

10 Years Old.  Double digits.

A few weeks ago, I was walking in to the library around 11 am. Coming out were three little girls, likely around 18 months old, with their caregivers. They were leaving the 10 am story time and heading over to the play ground to play before lunch time. It felt for a moment, like that could have been us just yesterday. That was one of our routines. And now, you are well past library story times. It's still hard for me to get around how this can be the slowest and fastest time at once.

You are every bit a double-digit kid. Your room is getting a little sloppier as you acquire more things that feel like "you" and put them on your bulletin board or any other surface in your room. You are far more comfortable approaching adults you don't know to ask questions and work out issues, for example, at camp or at school. You are still highly self-motivated and learning to juggle after school activities with homework and play time independently.

Hygiene. You've become immersed in the pre-teen "about your body" books which has led to a long list of new morning and night time routines that you are considering related to self-care. In many ways this is good. There is less of a struggle to get you to shower after soccer. On the other hand, I'm having to convince you that you don't need deodorant just yet. And your showers - could they be any longer? I find myself nagging "if you don't get out soon the ocean is going to dry up."

You continue to be strong in sports. You've been playing soccer this Fall and have challenged yourself by playing goalie during many of the games. You also still play instruments. You joined the 5th grade violin group which plays in the morning before school, and you also help the 4th grade violin players in the morning on days when the 5th graders don't have practice. You are a safety patrol, and I'm proud to say that you don't abuse the power of the little fluorescent yellow safety patrol belt (meaning it hasn't gone to your head).

What comes to mind most though is how much I love the YOU that you are becoming. I enjoy your company, and look forward to outings and talks together. We talk, and if we have a problem, you are great about coming to me after cooling off to talk it through. You are compassionate and helpful, responsible and trustworthy, and an all around nice person.

Happy birthday Zoe. I love you!

Mommy

Halloween 2015

A witch, bat girl, super girl, another witch and boogie mask man.

 Mia demonstrating dad's infamous booger mask.

We did our traditional Bluemont parade, followed by dinner with friends, trick-or-treating on the street, and then an after party at a neighbors house.

Mia and Sophie got to wear their costumes nearly all day though. Early that morning, we ran the Insane Inflatable 5K thanks to another Milk Mom's suggestion. We all wore capes or other super-heroe-esque attire for the run. Mia and Sophie were good to go as bat girl and super girl, but Scott, Zoe and I had to come up with an alternative to witch and booger man. The race was so fun and a great way to start the day.