T swims at the Hula

For most of the Memorial Day weekend, we spent it pool side for Thompson's first long-course swim meet, the Hula Meet.  He swam five events Saturday afternoon and another five Sunday afternoon, swimming the anchor leg in a team relay each day.  Below are his times for each event and his ranking in the boys ages 9-10 division.  Two highlights for him were achieving "B" times in both of his backstroke events, and he's very close to that benchmark in his other strokes.  Needless to say, we are proud and he is recognizing all those hours in the pool pay off.

100M Breast 2:14.45 13th/19
50M Backstroke 54.55 7th/13 **
50M Free 45.45 14th/21
200M IM 4:09.56 11th/16
200M Medley Relay

100M Back 1:52.58 9th/16 **
50M Breast 1:04.89 13th/16
50M Fly 1:00.63 8th/15
100M Free 1:43.91 9th/16
200M Free Relay

Celebrating Preschool

Friday morning, we said farewell to Around the Son Preschool, the beloved place William has called "his school" for the past four years.  Words cannot begin to express how much he has (and we  have) loved this preschool.  Quite simply, and amazing place.  The school had a darling graduation ceremony for their 4-year old and Transitional Kindergarten classes to send them onto Kindergarten.  Afterwards, we had a celebratory lunch at iHop (William's choice).  Next stop...INVEST COLLEGIATE Imagine.

 

Biltmore Kiwanis 5K

Albeit an early start, it was a beautiful morning to be on the Biltmore Estate. This time - the Biltmore Kiwanis 5K.  William opted for a "sweepover with Nay-Nay" knowing chocolate chip pancakes would be awaiting him in the morning.

Thompson achieved his goal of running it faster than last year (by 1:43) and Bobby podiumed in his age group.  As for Herb and I, we just ran...

Thompson 27:34 - 37th (304 participants); 4th place in Under 15 male category
Bobby 25:20 - 21st overall; 2nd place M40-44
Avery 31:03 - 97th overall; 7th place F40-44
Herb 32:49 - 114th overall; 5th place M45-49

Mother's Day

How blessed I am God chose these two fine boys to make me a mother!  And on this day, I give thanks for my mom, mother-in-law, and all the other mothers I know who inspire me to be the best mom I can be.

A surprise wish from Thompson's class

T's 1st Official Crit

This weekend, Asheville is hosting USA Cycling's National Collegiate Championships.  Thompson and I headed downtown Saturday morning to watch some of the criterium races...

and he ended up riding in his first crit race as a junior!  He was the youngest and smallest racer on the startling line but with a whole lot of heart.  In 30 minutes, he completed 7 laps of the 0.84-mile circuit.  It was a tough course (of course, it's the college championship) with the first half entirely uphill and the back half downhill.  An accomplishment of which to be proud!

40 for 40

We decided to celebrate our 40th birthdays by riding in the Five Boro Bike Ride: 40 miles through the boroughs of NYC on streets totally free of cars.  We road-tripped it with Herb and Kristine and Graham and Bart joined us for the adventure.  With 32K riders, the 5BBR is the world's largest charitable bike ride.

 getting ready...Verrazano Bridge in the background

 on the Staten Island ferry en route to the starting line in Manhattan

before

along the route

G & B riding through Central Park

Herb and Kristine in Central Park

G & Ave in Central Park

along the route

waiting to get onto the Queensborough Bridge

approaching the Queensboro Bridge

under the Queensboro Bridge

in the "Dumbo" area

(down under manhattan bridge overpass)

view of Manhatten from the Verrazano Bridge

we did it!

Avery and Kristine at the Finish Festival

T - Student of the Week

Thompson informed us this afternoon that he was chosen as this week's Student of the Week for third grade!  From Mrs. Wellman, his homeroom teacher:  "He is an excellent example of an engaged student and is a great model of responsibility and helpfulness.  We are so delighted to have the opportunity to recognize him and all of his hard work and continue to enjoy having him as part of our third grade family."