Play Ball!!!

I never thought I would ever say... "Go Tarheels!!" It's hard to say coming from University of Kentucky, but since Jacob's baseball team is the Tarheels...I'll make an exception!

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He is playing coach pitch baseball with the local rec department and he is loving it. He doesn't care for the practices, but LOVES the games. The kids get to play in the evening under the lights. Tod says that he would have loved to play under the lights as a kid. Our coach isn't a good pitcher and he enlisted the help of another Dad on the team to pitch. It's got to be hard to pitch to someone who is only 3 1/2 feet tall!!

Here is Jacob in right field watching the pitch.

Playing under the lights.


Jacob at first base after a great hit. He brought two teammates in with this hit.

That's Jacob running HOME!!! Tod and I were so excited. Jacob looked up at us just after stepping on home plate with a huge smile on his face. He was so excited that he almost ran right into the back stop fence while giving up two thumbs up!!

We are so proud of him. We don't have any games this week and practice has been rained out. He wasn't disappointed that he didn't have practice, but he said..."If it was a game I wouldn't be happy about that." Go Tarheels!

Normal

It has been such a stressful 6 months for our family. In the Spring Brady's preschool teacher wrote us an email with some concerns she had about Brady's development. The things that she was telling us were not things that we had noticed about him. She told us that Brady was just so far behind the other kids in the class. Wow. What a slap in the face of reality. All of the concerns that his teacher had for Brady pointed toward Autism.

After many sleepless nights we put Brady on the schedule to be evaluated through the school system. I filled out dozens of pages of forms and behavior surveys we finally had his evaluation in August. It was an hour long evaluation on his development and speech. Yesterday, the school psychologist did the classroom evaluation to see how Brady followed direction and interacted with other kids.

Today I get the phone call. The phone call to tell me what her findings are about Brady. The phone call that could take our family in a different direction. The phone call that I have worried about for months. I listened carefully and took notes so I could relay all information to Tod. Then she said the most fantastic words a I could ever imagine..."Brady is a normal three year old little boy." Aaahhh. I think she could tell that I was teary and trying to hold it together. I was just so relieved.

I told myself that I would be thankful either way. I would be thankful if there was something wrong and we were able to catch it early to help him. I would also be thankful if there wasn't something wrong and be happy to have a normal little boy. I can't help but feel angry. Angry that we had all of this useless worry, sleepless nights, and unlimited tears shed because of what his previous teacher thought she so expertly saw as developmental problems. I also can't help but feel grateful. Grateful that we have proof that we have a normal little boy. Grateful that he is in our lives. Grateful that he is loved and healthy.

I cannot express how relieved I am. I can guarantee that we will all sleep better tonight.

Miss Understood

I will probably offend some of you with this post...but I have to get it off my chest. I cannot stand being called Miss Kathryn. There. I said it. Whew, I feel better.

Growing up I always called my friends parents by their last name, i.e. Mr. Williams, Mrs. Hughes. We had very close family friends that we called them Miss Peggy and Mr. Todd, but that was an exception.

I heard the other day from a New Yorker that it must be a "Southern Thing" that kids these days call adults Miss/Mr. First Name. Well, it isn't. I was born and raised in the south, with a brief and unfortunate spell in Cincinnati, and this was not a practice in any city or small town that I lived in.

I must confess that I don't like being called Mrs. O'Donnell either. Not that I don't enjoy being Mrs. O'Donnell. It's just that whenever I hear it I expect to see Tod's Grandmother pop up with salami and cream cheese roll ups. And the only time I ever hear "Mrs. O'Donnell" is at the DMV.

One thing I do believe is that Miss First Name should be reserved for preschool and Sunday school teachers. It's appropriate.

So, in the event that I still have friends... it's Kathryn, Kat, or just Hey You will do!

Brady's first day

Today is Brady's first day of preschool in his new school. We feel like we made the right decision by switching schools. Brady was so excited this morning. I think he would have left the house at 7am if he could.

The school provided each kid with backpacks and Brady LOVES his. He wore it all morning. When I put his lunch in it he said it was "Too heavy!" and decided he didn't want to wear it anymore.

He waltzed right into his classroom and sat down to work on a new puzzle. I told him that I loved him and would see him after lunch. He said, without looking up, "Bye bye, Mommy. I eat lunch with my friends." My heart sank thinking about him eating lunch with his class and me eating lunch by myself. Sigh. I know he is going to have such a good time today. I can't wait to see how he did at school!

39:12

Today I ran in the Yiasou Greek Festival 5K. I ran it about two years ago and just love running through the Dillworth area in Charlotte. So beautiful (and shaded!). My goal was to run it in 37 minutes. I haven't been in a race in about a year, but have been running 3 miles a couple times a week on the treadmill for a long time. I know I am slow. Ok...I'm VERY slow. My short legs just don't go very fast. I have to admit I was a little disappointed that I didn't make my goal by over two minutes. BUT seeing my family close to the finish line made my morning. Tod was shouting, "Go Kat!" and the boys were yelling, "Yay Mommy!" I almost hyperventilated because I was so choked up. Jacob joined me and ran with me over the finish line. What a great way to start a Saturday!

First Grade!!!!!

Today I have a first grader!!


This morning started out very early. After a long summer of lazy mornings, it was surprisingly easy to get Jacob out of bed and ready for school. He has been super excited about first grade and had counted down the days. After Meet The Teacher night he was even more excited. Another boy from our neighborhood is in his class, and his buddy from preschool is in his class as well. I could see him sigh in relief that he would know someone in his class.

This year is going to be a little different. Jacob decided he is big enough to ride the bus to and from school. Last year, about mid year, he decided he wanted to ride the bus home. I allowed him, but paced the floor every afternoon waiting for the bus to come. My heart would race until I saw him step off the bus. Well, at 7:00am I put him on the bus to go to school. He looked so small, but I could tell he felt SO big. He sat by the window about half way back. I could see his face barely tall enough to see out the window. He wouldn't wave but gave me the tough-guy-head-nod. I could tell he was a little nervous, but he was also very proud of himself.

A Mile High

We have officially had the Denver Experience! Tod and I flew out to Denver to spend a few days with my sister and brother-in-law, while the boys were visiting my parents. Ellen and Jim showed us what living in Colorado is all about. They even had a cocktail party so we could meet all of their friends. It was such a fun group of people.

They live a few blocks from Washington park and we took full advantage of this. On Thursday we all went for a run through the beautiful grounds. There were so many people out using the park with kids, pets, or just out for a run themselves. After our cool down and shower we decided to take a bike ride down Cherry Creek to have lunch in downtown Denver. I believe the total round trip was about 7 miles. I can't believe I survived this!! Here is a picture of our bikes parked outside of the cafe for lunch.

On Friday we took off for the mountains. We headed west to Copper Mountain. Jim and their friend, Nan, took part in the Copper Triangle cycling event. It was a 78 mile bike trek through 3 mountain passes. Grueling! We couldn't be more proud of them. Everyone teared up at the finish line. The good part was the last 10 miles was downhill!!

Here's the view from our condo. You can see the moon just over the mountain. And, yes, we did take advantage of the heated pool!!

Ellen and I out on the balcony.

Tod and Jim walking through the village of Copper Mountain. You can see the railing and flags from the cycling event.

The beautiful creek that flowed near our condo.

Tod and I at the marina in Frisco at Lake Dillon. We went kayaking during the cycling event. Tod had a single and Ellen and I had a double kayak. In the picture you can see the storm coming up behind us, but while we were kayaking it was a beautiful sunny day. We say a hawk dive for a fish and carry it off! Just amazing.

Tod, Ellen, and Jim at the marina. You can tell it was a little cold that day!!

We found a pub in Frisco for happy hour. Here is Ellen and Nan the night before Copper Triangle.

The next morning Jim and Nan started on their 78 mile journey through the Rockies. Tod and Ellen woke up to see them off. (I slept through the whole thing :( ). This picture was taken about 5:30am.

We found yet another pub at the finish line to watch for Jim and Nan to cross the finish line.

Unfortunately we almost missed Jim!! We were paying our bill and getting over to the railing and he saw us! We hooted and hollered at him. Yay Jim!

We did get to see Nan cross the finish line about 30 minutes later. She is actually smiling after 78 miles!

The two champions!

After the Copper Triangle we got cleaned up then headed to the slopes!! Well, we just took the chair lift to the top. It was a little scary on the way back down.

I was shaking with fear while taking this picture. That's why it's a little off center.

Ellen and I on our way down the mountain. I couldn't let go of the bar....I was truly trying to be brave.

We so loved our trip to Denver. Tod and I have never been to a city and said, "I could live here" until we went to Denver. Although, we have never spent a winter there..... Thank you, Ellen and Jim, for such a wonder trip!!!