You were meant to do this...

There is absolutely no denying that you were meant for this sport.

Seriously, kid, you are amazing and we were so proud of you on the completion of your third triathlon! Your dad and I are always shocked at how fluid your running is and how smoothly you transition from the run, to the bike, and then on to swimming. The Kids' Tinman Triathlon is a 3/4 mile run, 1/4 bike, and 2 laps in the pool...and you finished in just over 18 minutes which is outstanding considering that it was over 100 degrees that day! You finished fifth overall for your "orange" group and in your age group you finished 2nd -- but you made sure to tell me that the kid in front of you was cheating all over the place and cut all of the corners!

Your secret weapon is that you pace yourself...so much so that you end up picking nearly every kid off the track because they are sprinting way too fast at the beginning. We are always impressed by your ability to control your enthusiasm and get into your own rhythm and groove without worrying about anyone else but yourself.  

Your school has an upcoming cross-country practice/season that is for 3rd graders and up, but we think you have what it takes and are going to chat with the coach and see if there might be an exception...we just know that you would love it! Great job Owen!

They were giving away free hats and you were so excited that you wore it for days after the race!

Cheerleader #1

Cheerleader #2

Luke's face shows that 1. He's hot and 2. The race was delayed by 45 minutes

Owen always goes to the back so that he isn't up front with the sprinters!

Go Owen Go!

You swam all by yourself this time!

Cheerleaders watching Owen swim

Daddy always just a few feet away from you...LOVE this!

Rounding the corner to the finish line...you and daddy are so much alike!

Awesome job buddy! Congratulations!

The Three Amigos

 



I was given a glimpse of what it would be like to have three boys when we hosted Jack for an entire weekend. The boys had a blast playing at the park, swimming in Aunt Sylvia's pool, going to the aquatic center and finishing off the weekend by cheering Owen at his triathlon. Jack survived the sweltering heat and only complained a few times that he was hot...poor guy. The three amigos...they are (for the most part) the best of buddies and I can only hope that this friendship continues to grow as these little guys turn into young men.

 

 

Zoo Favorites

Owen's Kindergarten Class had a field trip to the San Diego Zoo the first weekend in June. We had an absolute blast and this was the first time (ever) that we were able to see all but three of the animals at the zoo. The boys walked their little hearts out, up and down hills, raced between exhibits, and miraculously when we looked back at the map -- we had seen nearly every square inch of the zoo. Pretty fantastic day!

Here are our family favorites from our day at the Zoo...

Nothing can be more funny to little boys than poop...now add monkeys playing with poop and you've added a whole new level of funny (and disgusting). As you can imagine, we stayed in this area the longest out of any exhibit in the entire zoo!

The zoo has so many interactive spots that the kids can explore...here's Owen making friends with a seal.

Owen showing off his finished zoo scavenger hunt worksheet.  

Luke pretending to be a catepillar

And one of my personal favorites...a beautiful butterfly

"Look, it's my name!"

This big boy was pounding on this container in the water...Wish I could've watched him break into it!

If there was a statue within eyesight the boys made sure they climbed on it!

A very feisty porcupine!

One of the last animals we saw for the day -- a sleepy bear with a sleepy Luke.

 

Official Pre-K(er)

Luke officially graduated from preschool in May, which for the summer means a whole-lot-of-nothing because he gets to stay in his favorite Rainbow Room class...but by the end of the summer we will have a pre-k(er)! I cannot even fathom that in a little over a year's time, this little rascal will be heading to kindergarten.

Oh how I LOVE this boy and am so grateful for what he brings to our family...god knows that his very serious mama was in desperate need of constant joy, laughter, silliness, and spunk in her life!

Can't you just see the love for life in his eyes -- I can. He is loud, and real, funny, and expressive. He is strong, sweet and smart as a whip! His wonderful teachers Ms. Elsa and Ms. Jenn put together a portfolio of his work this year and boy does he have an imagination!

Except for those first 30 minutes when he wakes up from a nap, he is the most lovable and fun creature on the planet!

Such a handsome little man with the absolutely cutest dimple on his left cheek!

sneaking a peek at the graduation program

 

Always waving...

So many littles...

His favorite teachers, Ms. Elsa and Ms. Jenn -- words cannot describe how wonderful they are and what a blessing they were to our family this year!

This Little Light of Mine...

Dear Owen:

This week you graduated from kindergarten and my heart has been bursting (exploding would be a better term), with absolute pride at how much you have grown and matured. Oh little man, you are something really special and we are blessed beyond measure to have you in our lives.

You are filled with a love and passion for learning and your curiousity about nature, animals, and the world around you is something I know I will envy for the rest of my life! I am always in awe about how quickly you were able to do a math homework problem in your mind and then would write down the answer without even having to count them aloud. Obviously, and thankfully, you got that skill from your dad!

I saved every piece of homework and artwork you created over this past year and I cannot wait to go back through everything to see how much you've changed. I remember how your tiny fingers would akwardly grip your yellow pencil and now you write with such ease and grace. Your doodles became masterpieces and I can honestly say that you have become an artist!  Oh the places you will go Owen...

During the graduation program you and your class sang the most beautiful song that makes me cry nearly every time I hear it, because, goodness little man -- your light is shining so brightly and I know that with every day you are on this earth it will get brighter and more brilliant!

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine

Let it shine,

Let it shine,

Let it shine.

 



Congratulations Owen! You are one AWESOME kid!  

 



 

 

 

St. John's Lutheran School - Kindergarten Class of 2013

Today

Today.

Today was rainy and wet.

Today my boys seemed to have more energy than usual after school.

Today the boys had a soccer game.

Today the boys were out of control...they fought each other during the game, they couldn't hold still while sitting out as the subs, they were constantly harrassing each other, and the littlest one, oh gosh, he was so disobedient that he became a major distraction to the coach, the team, and the game. I was forced to leave and place him in the car before the team meeting had concluded. He even stuck his tongue out at his grandma who came to watch him play.

Today I was yelling more at my boys to behave than I was cheering them on while they played.

Today (after the game) there were tears, time-outs, no television, and an early bedtime.

Today was like every other day.

Today was an opportunity for them to learn and grow from their mistakes.

Today was perfectly imperfect.

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. Proverbs 118:24