I have not been very good about updating my blog. I don't update my blog because I have a huge following. Instead, I update it so at the end of the year I can print a book from my blog and keep it to show the kids in the years to come. It is an easy way to scrap book.
Warning: this post includes a lot of random events but I want each event in my book at the end of the year so I decided to make one large update/post.
Kira's Team Tennis Event: This past weekend I found myself at my old stomping ground, Wood Valley Racquet Club in Topeka, for Kira's team tennis event. The players from Body First Tennis Center played other players from Wood Valley Racquet Club. When we arrived I walked with Kira down on the courts to find her coach. When I walked down the steps I was overcome with emotion. I was not expecting to have some of the feelings I had but I spent seven years on those courts practicing with my college team and teaching tennis while I was a student in college and law school. I had such vivid memories of matches I played on every court there. Some were good memories of wins and some were disappointing memories of losses. It was so strange to sit and watch Kira in the same seats where my parents sat for so many years when they would travel to watch me play.
Mustache Night at KSU Baseball: We had a great night at the KSU vs. OU baseball game. There was a lot on the line for the Wildcats. A win of one of the three games would allow KSU baseball to be Big 12 Champions. A win would mean that KSU would be Big 12 Champions in Football, Basketball and Baseball. The Cats pulled it off and it was so exciting to watch the team clinch a win the first game of the three-game series. It was also mustache night at the stadium and they handed out mustaches to the fans. I am pretty sure, for Keylee, the mustaches were the best part.
Two days after the game and Keylee is still entertained with the mustaches finding different ways to wear them.
Runners for Boston: Everyone is aware of the tragedy in Boston during the Boston Marathon. Whenever I meet someone else that runs or enjoys running as much as I do then I feel an immediate connection. When I heard the sad news from Boston I immediately felt overwhelmed and I was in disbelief. I, like so many others, started to follow the stories of the people injured and the family and friends of those who knew people running. Boston is a qualified run meaning not everyone who runs marathons would have the opportunity to run in Boston. The people who run The Boston Marathon are those who have accomplished time goals for their age group. There are some who were injured to the point that they may never run again. All of the events of Boston surrounding the marathon bombing are tragic. Our local running store, Manhattan Running Company, held a benefit run for Boston. They ordered t-shirts for a cost and all proceeds went to benefit a fund for Boston.
A great group of people showed up to run a group run for the people of Boston.
Olathe Half Marathon: Tanna, Angela and I ran the Olathe Half Marathon on April 20, 2013. With Boston being the Monday before it was sure to be an emotional run. I remember tucking Keenan in on Thursday night and telling him that after I drop him off at school on Friday morning I would not see him until after the race on Saturday when I returned to Manhattan. Keenan gave me a big hug and said "Mom please be careful of the bombs." This was a heartbreaking moment. I felt so bad for Keenan and wondered what our world has come to when a young child is fearful of his mother getting hit by a bomb at an event that should otherwise be carefree and safe.
It was a smaller race but the weather was great and the course was good and it was fun spending the weekend with my running friends.
Keenan's Baseball: Baseball is in full swing. We have many nights consumed with practice and weekends with tournaments. Keenan is enjoying kid-pitch this year. The coach has the players play a variety of positions but Keenan spends most of his time on third base and will occasionally pitch.
Keenan pitching in the Hutchinson Tournament.
My parents drove from Dodge City to watch Keenan play in Hutchinson.
Since the team was going to play on turf in Topeka for the Mother's Day Tournament, they practiced one evening at the "old" KSU stadium and had a surprise visitor. (Keenan is second over from the right which I say because, to me, the kids start to look alike once they put on their baseball hats)
Westward Movement: Each year it is the Fifth Grade end-of-year project and program at Marlatt School. The classes each play games which have them loading their wagons with items they can both afford and haul as they travel westward. The classes then put together a program for the school and parents which has music and dancing. Each child has to design and decorate a covered wagon for display in the school's library. At the conclusion of the music and dancing program we all had a pot-luck lunch with our children where we brought items of food that may have been eaten on the trail.
Kira with her covered wagon and friend Wendy.
