Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Girls on the Run

Vivian has been a part of  Girls on the Run this fall and it has been phenomenal! GOTR is so much more than a running club. It's a way to empower young girls to strengthen their bodies, minds and spirits. The core values of GOTR put it best...

Girls on the Run honors its core values. We strive to:

  • Recognize our power and responsibility to be intentional in our decision making
  • Embrace our differences and find strength in our connectedness
  • Express joy, optimism and gratitude through our words, thoughts and actions
  • Nurture our physical, emotional and spiritual health
  • Lead with an open heart and assume positive intent
  • Stand up for ourselves and others

For three months now Vivian and her GOTR team have met twice a week to work together to solve problems, talk through life lessons and last but not least, to RUN! They've set goals and crushed them each day all to prepare for the big race - The Turkey Burner 5K in Montgomery next Saturday! Yesterday the team did a practice 5K and it was a blast. Viv finished in 44 minutes and 6 seconds and she only wanted me to run the first half with her - the last half she did completely on her own. She set her own pace and she finished strong!

Vivian, I am so proud of you and I can't wait to be your running buddy in your first big race!!
Warming up 



Viv's favorite sign...she wanted this picture to show the boys!
Her last lap and big finish!

The little girl in the pink was the last one to finish...
Vivian decided to run the last two laps with her 



Good luck on race day, sweet girl!!





Monday, November 5, 2018

Life in October Pictures

Whew, October flew by! The best I can do with the last couple of weeks is to put it in pictures...life is good...
Matt got a couple of cotton field pictures before they were completely picked 

While Hen and I were in Williamsport with Maxwell
Matt and Vivian had a big weekend!
Boo at the Zoo
Fall Festival at Maxwell AFB



Matt and Viv hiking Ruffner Mountain 



Matt and I and Gerry and Clair were invited to
 the Halloween Bash at the Montgomery Capital City Club... 
it was a little out of our league but so much fun!





Happy Halloween!
For the first time in I don't know how 
many years we had a warm and sun-shiny Halloween!





Even Moose got into the Halloween spirit
(and he said this was a looooong night!)


We're lucky enough to have great neighbors who know how to throw a party!
Now on to November...









Wednesday, October 24, 2018

College Life

Maxwell's been away at school for two months now. I wish I could say that he's eased into college and has loved every minute. He didn't though and he hasn't. He's loved some of it, but definitely not all of it. Being away from home has been hard for him. He's felt the weight of college life and responsibilities heavy on his shoulders. I think each day has brought a different feeling for him. Some days he sounds like a strong, young man who's ready to take on the world, and other days he sounds like a young eighteen year old trying to navigate a windy road by himself.

It's funny that your kids' college life is a lot like your kids' preschool life. When you have a preschooler you want to compare your kid to everyone else's even though all the books you've read say that every kid is different. That kid over there is reading already. That kid can tie his shoes already. That kid can pee directly into the toilet already. My kid, on the other hand still thinks a cow says "woof". Still eats play-doh and will probably go to high school wearing pull-ups.

What the heck is wrong with my kid??!

This whole college kid thing isn't much different. Everyone else's kid seems to be sailing through this first semester like they've been doing it their entire lives. They've all found their place and they don't need any help from back home.

The more I talk to friends who have college freshmen though, the more I know that not everything is as it seems. Not everyone's kid is sailing through, and in a strange way, it makes me feel better that Maxwell's not the only one that has had to really work through this transition. 

Moose is finding his way though. Seeing him this past weekend was exactly what he, Henry and I needed. He wanted to eat, sleep, take a bath and repeat. We had some really honest talks about what he worries about (which is waaaaay too much) and what he's excited about. I met some of his new teammates who have completely rallied around him and understand that he's really, really far from home. They and Maxwell's coaches are the perfect support system for him right now.

We miss him like crazy, every single day, but we're also pretty dang excited to see the amazing things that are coming his way.

Moose, go be awesome. 
Some of my favorite recent snap chats from Maxwell...
Before the team left for their first scrimmage...

The two lax Max's...
thankfully mine has since shaved off that ridiculous mustache! 
Hanson #2... 
the first fall ball scrimmage in Muhlenburg, PA 


 Moose was the first freshman to score in the scrimmage...
talk about a confidence boost!
It was so nice to take a road trip with just Henry.
I think his college life experience is going to be much different than Maxwell's.
I really think Hen would go to college tomorrow if he could!


We got watch an early morning (cold) practice 




Lycoming College 
Family Weekend 2018 







Monday, October 15, 2018

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