One more Jib Jab...

I decided to make one for my kids too!

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Another Halloween Jib Jab

It's that time of year again.  Thanks to my cousins Mike, Melissa and Jim (Rory too) for lending me their...heads.
Hope everyone has some great tricks and treats!

Be sure to have your sound turned up and click on the bottom right of the video to go full screen for the best viewing.

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Spencer went for a little run today too....

Spencer competed in his first triathalon today!  It was the Southwest Sprint Triathalon, sponsored by TriFort Triathaletes.  Click on the link for more information about the event.  The race consisted of a 25 meter freestyle swim (at the pool where he trains now...nice to have homefield advantage!), a 1 mile bike ride and a 1/4 mile run. 

He was one of 27 kids in the 7-8 year old group.  He did very well in the swimming, getting out of the pool second in his group.  Then he got dried off and changed quickly for the bike portion.  He sprinted to his bike, got his helmet on and took off. 

Here's a video of him finishing up the bike portion and getting ready for the run.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIkpZ31VDUk

Once he hit the track for the 1/4 mile run, he started off strong.  Then he ran into the strong headwind, at which he had to start walking.  But then he picks it back up and finishes strong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1PcgNpAtHE

There were lots of kids in the event, including some of his SWAC swimming buddies and kids from his school.  He was pretty excited to see his buddy Max and his brother Jake competing too.  Here's a picture of the three boys after the race. (Spencer in back, Max and his younger brother Jake in front)

And here's Spencer.  We're not sure exactly what place he finished in, but it was pretty high, if not first for his age group.  We're very proud of him and can't wait for next year's triathalon.  We're hoping Syd will join in too!



Christine goes for a little run

Forrest Gump:  "That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run.  So I ran to the end of the road.  And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd run to the end of the town.  And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd just run across Greenbow County.  And I figured, since I run this far, maybe I'd just run across the great state of Alabama.  And that's what I did.  For no particular reason, I just kept going."

On Saturday, Christine decided to go for a little run....her first 10K.  Maybe she didn't go as far as Forrest, but we're proud of her anyway.  She ran in the Fort4Fitness race in downtown Fort Wayne.  You can click on the link to see her results, just search by last name.  She and friends Richelle and Michelle did the race together and all did really well.  Next up, the Detroit half marathon next month.  We'll be cheering her on at that race too!

It's been a while since we've updated, so I'll give a little snapshot of what we've been up to.  Besides Christine's running, the kids are also doing athletic extracurricular activities this fall.  A couple weeks ago, Sydney tried out and made the SWAC swim team.  This is the same competitive team that Spencer is on.  Syd is in the Betta Fish group and Spencer has moved up to Barracuda (there are difft levels of the team, each getting higher in the food chain...see the link for info).  They both love it and are very good swimmers.  We'll be sure to update the blog with their swim meet results this fall.

Spencer will also be doing a kids triathalon next weekend.  It consists of a 25m swim, 1 mile bike ride and 1/4 mile run.  He's looking very forward to it, especially the swimming and biking.  The run is just one lap around the track at the local middle school, so he should be okay.  We'll try to update after that one too.

Along with swimming, Spencer is also playing flag football again.  His team, the Jets, is struggling this year with a record of 1-2, but this week's win showed lots of improvement and we're hoping more wins will come.  Next year, he'll be eligible to play PAL football, the tackle league for 4th grade and up. 

The kids have also started French lessons after school one day a week.  They had the option of Spanish, French and Chinese.  So happens that the French was offered at their elementary school  right after school and we wouldn't have to cart them somewhere else for the other languages (the other languages were each at a different elementary).  It's only been one week, but they both seem interested.


That's all for now.  We'll try to stay on top of updates a little more often.  We know the summer came and went without many updates, but who wants to sit inside and type on a computer anyway!

Sunday Night Fever

Don't worry, none of us is sick.  Instead of Saturday Night Fever, the kids did a little dancing today, Sunday.  We went to one of Christine's co-worker's daughter's graduation party today.  After some initial shyness, the kids finally wanted to play Just Dance on the Wii.  You pick a song and then you have to follow along with a person on the screen and dance to the song to score points.  Both of them had a blast.  Each of the kids danced with one of the girls attending the party.  Then Syd cut a rug with Miss Beth.  Miss Beth and Syd share a close bond.  Not sure what it is, but to quote Forrest Gump, "they're like peas and carrots".  Anyway, enjoy the dancing!

Syd:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as0tHJ1BYks

Spencer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz8WFx21Uo8

Syd and Miss Beth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLqGCSrkV7U

More swim meet videos

It's been a couple of weeks since Spencer's second swim meet June 11-12.  He swam in 3 events on Saturday and 3 events on Sunday, adding the breaststroke and butterfly to the freestyle and backstroke he swam last time.   Here are videos of his 100m freestyle, which he got 1st place in his heat.  The other video is his 50m breaststroke. 

100m freestyle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t86DjsNKpuk

50m breaststroke
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0HYuctlCXM

Even though there are no more meets until the fall, he still has practice Monday-Thursday afternoon.  It's a nice break during the hot afternoons!

Spencer's First Swim Meet

As some of you know, Spencer is now swimming on a competitive swim team.  It's called SWAC, SouthWest Aquatics Club.  His group is the Piranhas, which are 8 and under boys and girls.  He started around the second week of April.  Its been a big change from his once-weekly lessons through our YMCA.  Once he tried out and made the team, its been a bit of a whirlwind ever since.  He's got practice 4 nights a week for 45 minutes each.  His strokes have improved, as well as his endurance.  But he enjoys it so far. 

This weekend was his first swim meet.  SWAC hosts 4-5 meets a year.  There are many other meets around the area and you can choose which ones to partipate in.  This particular meet, the Spring Splash, was the last SWAC meet of the season.  It was up to Spencer's 3 coaches (Coaches Amber, Brittany, and Kelly) on which events each swimmer will do.  They try to pick the strokes the kids are best at and make them stretch themselves distance-wise.  Spencer is definitely strongest in freestyle and backstroke.  As such, he swam both in this weekend's meet.  On Saturday, he swam the 50m backstroke and 100m freestyle.  Today, he swam just the opposite, 50m freestyle and 100m backstroke.  Here are his results:

50 backstroke:  14th overall (out of 21 swimmers), time 1:03.65 (minutes, seconds)

100 freestyle:  9th overall (out of 20 swimmers), time 1:50.27

50 freestyle:  8th overall (out of 20 swimmers), time 0:50.25

100 backstroke:  10th overall (out of 16 swimmers), time 2:13.34

Not bad considering this was his first competitive meet!  Here's some video from the meet.  The first video is the 50m backstroke.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pA5v5zvqBM

This next video is the 50m freestyle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKJfb3QKxRU

I'll try to keep posting new videos as he competes.

SURPRISE!!!

Some of you know that both Christine and Spencer have a birthday coming up this week.  As a result, I decided to throw her a surprise party this past weekend.  Makes sense since she would totally not be expecting it.  I invited a few of her teacher friends and their spouses, our friends Chris and Richelle and our neighbors Doug and Lyla.  It was a bit of a stressful afternoon, getting everything in place and making sure all the logistics of her arrival were in place.  Luckily, my mom and sister came down from Michigan to help wrangle the kids while I did some last minute running around, getting the cake and party food. 

Everyone showed up at 5pm for the 5:30 surprise.  The surprise went off without a hitch and everyone had a great time on Saturday night.  Now, I'll just have to try and top it next year for one of the biggest birthday milestones!  (you guys can ask Christine which one when you see her next!)

Another tradition ends in tragedy...

Tonight, after dinner, we embarked on another one of our holiday traditions that we've been doing with the kids....building gingerbread houses and trains.  We've done it for 5 years now, even before Syd was born.  It makes an incredible mess and we usually have a couple of squabbles, but everyone ends up laughing and having a good time.  Spencer and I worked on the train while Syd and Christine took on the house.  Christine and I put the basic structures together and the kids end up putting on all the decorations (at least what's left of the candy that they haven't eaten!).

Syd posing by the early stages of the house

Spencer adding some candy details to the train

All appears to be going okay.  However, the icing that holds the walls together starts to lose some of its stickiness with the heat in the house.  As such, things start to droop and sag....

...And pretty soon you're roof is in the living room!!

Finally, you end up with catastrophic failure of the structure.  Sort of like a mini gingerbread earthquake took it down.

At least the gingerbread men and christmas tree survived the devastation.

And the winner is.....Spencer's choo-choo train.  As of 30 minutes after finishing, it's still standing.  Pretty good job by the boys!

Another holiday tradition continues...

That's right.  It's JibJab time!  Check out the mad skills by Spencer and our friend Bob.

Click on the link to view the video.

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/FlnKYuGAC0KfAa0bh09b


By the way, the sporadic snow flurries today as predicted by the local weather guy turned into a few inches of snow.  Sweet!

I thought those guys were rocket scientists?

Per the previous teaser post, Spencer and I made a surprise trip to Florida on Halloween.  For a couple of months, I had made plans to surprise Spencer by taking him to Florida to see the Space Shuttle Discovery launch on Monday, November 1st.   The flights had been scheduled, the hotel room booked and the car rental reservation all set.  Leading up to the day we left (Halloween day), I had been checking daily the current status of the launch.  If you follow the space shuttle at all, you know there are almost always delays of some sort.  However, I figured after 26 years of doing it, those guys at NASA would have their sh-tuff together.  Yet, when I made a last minute check on the shuttle website the Friday afternoon before we were to leave, my stomach dropped.  They had found a leak during the filling process of the external fuel tank.  The launch was now pushed back one day to Tuesday, originally the day we were supposed to come back.  So, Christine and I made a quick decision to stay with the game plan and add the extra day to our trip.  I promptly got on the phone with Expedia and proceeded to spend the next half hour rearranging our return flight, adding another day to the hotel and the rental car.  Now, we were still leaving on Halloween day and returning on Wednesday, 11/3.  Fingers crossed, knock on wood, rub a lucky rabbit's foot.  No more delays, NASA!

Friday night and into Saturday morning, I finished packing, got the camera and video camera batteries charged and finished up all the little details before we left Sunday morning around 8am.  Saturday afternoon I was watching the Spartans get beat up by Iowa.  I was in a bad mood because of that.  Then I popped over to the shuttle website and guess what....another delay!  I won't tell you what I said at that point...use your imagination.  I think I sat and stared at the computer for 10 minutes before going outside and grabbing a cold adult beverage.  I couldn't believe what just happened.  Two months of planning, then last minute scrambling to change our plans (more time, more $$$) all down the drain.  After I came back in the house from cooling down outside, we again decided to make it a go for the trip.  We wouldn't be able to stay for the launch, now scheduled for Thursday, 11/4, but I could have a special "guys" trip to Florida.  It was going to be fun for Spencer anyway, as it would be his first ride on a jet plane and his first time going to the ocean. 

Long story short, we did have a blast, just the two of us on our adventure in Florida.  He loved the airplane (except for the decents which hurt his ears) and our rental car.  We ended up going to the Kennedy Space Center on Monday for most of the day.  We got to see life-size rockets and a life-size space shuttle.  After spending the day there, we had some dinner and decided to go find the beach.  We were staying in Cocoa, FL which is about 25 minutes from the beach (Cocoa Beach, FL).  Spencer absolutely loved the ocean.  We had no intention of getting wet Monday night, but a large wave took Spencer down.  Then it was a battle to get him out (I think the moon and stars coming out did it!)  We decided to spend Tuesday at the beach.  It was a bit overcast and sprinkled on & off in the morning, but we had a great time anyway.  We found a bag full of seashells, swam lots, and then ended our day by walking on the Cocoa Beach pier.

Although our trip didn't quite turn out as I had planned and we didn't get to see the shuttle launch, we still had fun.  There were many other families in town that had the same plans we did and ended up going home without seeing the shuttle launch as well.  At least we weren't the only one who left a bit disappointed.  As of today, the shuttle is tentatively scheduled for Nov 30th-Dec 5th launch window.  I doubt that we'll be back to see it, but at least we tried.  Hopefully I was able to help burn a little memory in Spencer's brain for the trip.  Here are some photos.  We have loads more photos and I'll be happy to fill in details when we talk/see you next.  Stupid NASA.

Spencer getting a tour of the cockpit before we leave Indy airport for Orlando

Our rental car.  Spencer picked it out and named it "BumbleBee"

He had loads of fun swimming in the hotel pool

Driving across the NASA causeway to Kennedy Space Center.  This is the shuttle assembly building in the distance.

Our first picture at the Space Center, in front of a mural of the Space Station.

These life-size rockets were awesome

Just hanging out in an Apollo spacecraft

Getting ready to watch the 3-D IMAX movie, Space Station

Spencer in front of the space shuttle

Standing by a life-size replica of the Mars rover Spirit.  It was made of Legos!!!

Loving the ocean!

Hanging out on the Cocoa Beach pier

Do we have to go back home??

Goodbye, Florida

Florida pictures coming!

I know some have been asking about pictures from Spencer and I's trip to Florida last week and they're coming.  I'm gonna try to get them on here over the upcoming weekend.

Monster Mash 2010

Looks like this might become a new tradition.  No people were hurt in the production of this short film.

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Busy Saturday

It was a very busy Saturday for us, although most of them are anyway.  Today started off with Spencer and I heading out to the store around 8am to find him a costume for trick-r-treating since we were going to the zoo with some friends and their kids.  The kids got to wear their costumes and get treats while looking at the zoo animals.  After that excursion, we were back to have some breakfast and get ready for football and soccer games.  Spencer's team, the Irish, was taking on his good friend Collin's team, the Gophers.  It seems that Collin's parents want to start a bit of a rivalry, as they planted some propaganda in our bushes Friday night.  Although I'm not too concerned, seeing as how R is a U-M fan, and we all know how that turned out last weekend (GO GREEN!!)

In the end, things didn't quite go the Irish's way, as the Gophers ended up winning 21-16.  Oh well, there's always next year.

Syd's soccer game was another 3-on-3 thriller with 3-4-5 year olds.  Syd had a special audience, as our neighbors Mr. Doug and Miss Lyla came out to watch both kids.  They were excited about that, and the fact that they brought the greatest neighbor dog ever, Skylar.

After all that fun and excitement, it was back home to grab some lunch and watch a little of the Spartans beat up on Illinois (which MSU ended up winning and going to 7-0, baby!!!)  Then we had to get ready to head up to the zoo for Halloween at the Zoo.  Syd donned her witch costume and Spencer was sporting his newest Boba Fett costume.  While waiting for our friends and their kids to show up, we saw an adult in costume coming out of the zoo.  It was a life-size Boba Fett.  Unknown to us beforehand, the zoo was having a Star Wars costume parade just finishing up as we got there.  Here's the two Boba Fetts posing (in case you get confused, Spencer is on the right)

Spencer was really excited about that whole experience!  Soon after, our friends showed up and we made our way through the zoo.  Here's a couple of photos from the day:

Once all that was done, we headed to B-dubs for some wings and drinks for dinner.  By this time, everyone was pretty much wiped out from the long day.  All headed home and early to bed.  What party-ers we are on a Saturday night!!

Our little hockey player (we wish...)

As those of you who either see Spencer or talk to him on a regular basis know, he had been hanging on to his two front baby teeth for what seemed like an eternity.  Those things held on for-ev-er.  The first one came out while he was at a sleepover at one of his friend's house a couple of weeks ago.  The second one finally fell out Sunday night while he was sleeping.  Luckily, he didn't swallow it; it was laying in his bed.  All I know is that the Tooth Fairy had been circling our house for about 2 months, waiting on those things to fall out!

Last Friday was my birthday, so Syd decided to get creative and make daddy a birthday hat.  She spent a really long time on it, putting on lots of personal touches and even adding a chin strap.  We were outside by the fire with some of our neighbors when Syd came out of the house with my hat.  She was excited and I thought it looked great....

...until I put it on.  All in attendance that night came to a general consensus that I looked a bit like - the grand dragon of the Fort Wayne Klu Klux Klan chapter.  Can you see my excitement?

Thanks, Syd.  I love ya anyway!

Who's the little brother now?

34-17  MSU beats U-M and goes to 6-0!  Gotta love those Spartans!!

Week 4 of soccer and football

Everyone won today...Syd's soccer team, Spencer's football team (well, actually they lost...more on that later), and the Spartans were victorious. Syd's team was no match for the other team, with a final score of 8-2. Syd scored 4 goals and assisted on 1. The final of Spencer's game was 14-7, but it should have been a 14-14 tie. Spencer's pass and resulting TD were called back due to the receiver stepping out of bounds. Considering it was raining so hard this morning that there was no paint left on the sidelines, I don't see how the ref could've seen where the out of bounds was. Oh well, it was still a great pass and play by Spencer (he's the QB, #10, in the video below). And the #24 Spartans beat up on the #11 Wisconsin Badgers in Big Ten opening play. This victory will go a long way in helping the Spartans prepare for next week's epic battle against another 5-0 team, the Michigan Wolverines. Since we put down one rodent this week, I don't see us having issues with a wolverine next week! Go Green!!

Be afraid.....

.....Wolverines, be afraid. We'll see you in a few weeks and we'll bring a bigger army!





(click for full size)

Let the Fall Sports begin....

Both Spencer and Sydney started their fall sports last weekend. Spencer is playing flag football again and Syndey is playing soccer. Both seem to be very excited. Since the games are at 11:30am and noon respectively, Jason and I are splitting up and alternating each weekend. Last week Syd and I were at soccer where her team blew out their competitors. Jason was with Spencer, who lost his first game. It was a cold rainy day, but they both had fun. Here is a video clip from Sydney's first game and a couple of pictures.

This weekend the weather was incredible. The sun was shining and Spencer posted a win. The final score was 3-1 (they only count the touchdowns as 1 point, no field goals or conversions). Spencer was the quarterback for the first quarter. He threw a touchdown pass and then handed off to the running back for a second touchdown. I managed to get both touchdowns on video.

Spartans are 1-0

Christine and I traveled to East Lansing this past weekend to watch the Spartan football team on Saturday. Coincidentally, they were playing Western Michigan University, which is where I spent my first year of college before transferring to MSU. We dropped the kids off with Grandma Sandy on Friday afternoon and continued on to E.L. There, we met up with our friends Bob and Jackie. After dinner and some drinks, we made it back to the hotel for some zzzz's before a long day on Saturday.

We were up and ready to tailgate at 8am. It's been roughly 90 degrees every day all summer, yet somehow, the weather forecasters decided to throw a curve ball on Saturday. It was only about 45 degrees and VERY windy on Saturday morning. We took our spot atop one of the campus parking structures, ready to have some fun before the game.

A couple of party animals!

Gotta love the JumboTron

Good times on a chilly day

Even though it was cool, cloudy and rather fall-like, Christine managed to find a little sunshine and happiness in East Lansing when we got to her favorite Canadian indulgence, Tim Horton's . She promptly ordered up a large double double (that's double cream, double sugar for you novices). Along with her to-go drink, she purchased a couple of large tins of Timmy's to hold her over until her next trip to Canada. Somehow I don't think they'll last til Halloween at best!