Riley at 14

 

8th Grade Recognition

What a year it has been for this kid! He ran cross country (8th grade) and made varsity for conference meet. He worked hard on strength training and running with us all winter at the Y. He completed the Indoor Ironman (full Ironman during the month of Feb) at the Y. He participated in middle school track and was the conference champion in the triple jump. He trained for and ran his first half marathon (ON his 14th birthday- recap to come). He graduated 8th grade. He jumped right into high school with band and summer school. He has worked hard at summer school to get credit for fall and realizes the importance of that. He has become an avid fisherman. He knows more than just about anyone I know about fishing and loves to be out there even if he doesn't catch anything. He has become an amazing role model for his younger brothers.

 

8th Grade Recognition night





Friends at 8th Grade Recognition

Family at 8th Grade Recognition

Brothers at 8th Grade Recognition

It has been amazing to see the growth and change in Riley over the past year. He is no longer my little boy! He is turning into an amazing young man and I couldn't be more proud of him! I have seen him step up and be more responsible and he has been more willing to help out when it is needed. It has been so much fun to be able to work out with him at the Y and to experience training for and running his first half marathon "with" him! It has been wonderful to see him become interested in fishing and to watch him in his element.

 

It is crazy to think that he is now a high schooler- how the hell did that happen? He was my first baby and now he is a high schooler! I am excited for this next stage in life and what it will all bring for him.

 

 

Here is my interview with Riley:

1. Name: Riley Owen
2. How old are you?  14 years old
3. What is your favorite thing to do? Play baseball 
4. Who is your best friend? Ethan
5. What is your favorite color? Purple
6. What is your favorite food? Pizza
7. What do you like to do with your family? go on vacation
8. What is your favorite toy? my fishing pole
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? Game warden
10. What makes you happy? fishing
11. What makes you sad? losing a big fish
12. What is your favorite show? Mountain Men
13. What is your favorite book? No idea
14. What do you love to learn about? science
15. Where do you like to go? to the lake (Lake of the Ozarks)
16. Who is your favorite teacher? Mrs. Arellano (band and TA)
17. What is your favorite treat? ice cream
18. What do you think about before you fall asleep? nothing
19. What sport do you like best? baseball
20. What are you really good at? baseball
21. What would you buy if you had $1000? fishing stuff
22. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? chocolate, chocolate with chocolate stuff on top
23. Who is your biggest hero? Derek Jeter
24. What do you hope you'll get to do before your next birthday? catch a big fish
25. What do you like to do best with your friends? fish
26. What is your favorite song? Thunderstruck by ACDC
27. I am very proud because.... I was conference champion for triple jump and I ran a half marathon.
28. I am afraid to.... go somewhere really high without a harness
29. Imagine that you can become invisible whenever you wanted to. What are some of the things that you would do? Pretend to be a ghost and scare people.
30. Pretend that you can fly whenever you wanted. Where would you go? I would go really far away to where it is good fishing.
31. Where do you want to go on vacation? Alaska or Hawaii
32. What is your favorite thing to do with Mom or Dad? run

Little man turns 7



Having a summer birthday and wanting to have a party can be tough... especially when your brothers play traveling baseball and have tournaments nearly every weekend. It is really tough when both brothers have a tournament in different places ON your birthday and your family can't even be together.  This was the case for Aidan this year- Riley had a tournament in Holmen, WI (close to home) and Isaac was in Marshfield, WI (a couple hours from home). I think it is safe to say that Aidan made the best of it and had a great birthday. He got to celebrate all weekend with his baseball family. He got to stay in a hotel. He was able to swim. But, the biggest reason he had a great birthday... 

 

The "twins"

... He got to celebrate it with one of his best friends and baseball sibling, Sissy (aka Cailyn). Sissy is just 2 days older than Aidan so we celebrated the two of them together all weekend at the baseball tournament!

me with the birthday kids

fun at the park



 

birthday treats for the baseball family

swimming with friends

 I think it is safe to say that they both had a great birthday weekend!

 

Exactly 7 years old!

 

It has been a year filled with lots of fun for Aidan. He played basketball. He is playing coach pitch baseball and is also doing summer track and field. He got to spend lots of time playing with friends and experiencing new things. There were several trips to visit family in Iowa and Missouri which he seems to love. He learned to tie his shoes (finally) and has lost several teeth. He has started to read more and is learning so much. It has been such a joy to watch him develop into his own little person over the past year. He is very social and likes to be silly but can be serious when he needs to be. He is very sweet and loving. One of my favorite memories of him from this year would have to be how he would leave flowers by my water bottle when I was out training for my half marathon so that I would find them when I got home. That always made my heart melt! He is still snuggly and LOVES to have his back rubbed. He is smarter than he knows and I hope that he finds more confidence over the next year so that he starts to realize how smart he is.

 

I know it sounds cliché but I really can't believe how fast the years have gone! It still feels like he should be a baby. He will always be MY baby and I am excited to see what is in store for the next year as he moves into second grade.

 

Here is my recent interview with my little man:

1. Name: Aidan Everett
2. How old are you? 7 years old
3. What is your favorite thing to do? Play with my friends
4. Who is your best friend? Josh, Jack and Sissy (Cailyn)
5. What is your favorite color? Purple
6. What is your favorite food? Mac and Cheese
7. What do you like to do with your family? go swimming
8. What is your favorite toy? toy cars- motorcycle and monster truck. Oh, and snuggle bear
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? Police Officer
10. What makes you happy? my birthday
11. What makes you sad? not being with mom
12. What is your favorite show? Mountain Men
13. What is your favorite book? Little Critter
14. What do you love to learn about? dinosaurs
15. Where do you like to go? Virginia
16. Who is your teacher? Mrs. Roesler (1st Grade)
17. What is your favorite treat? candy
18. What do you think about before you fall asleep? what I am going to do in the morning
19. What sport do you like best? baseball
20. What are you really good at?  running
21. What would you buy if you had $1000?  a cool racing remote control racing boat
22. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? vanilla with cookie dough
23. Who is your biggest hero?  Uncle Steve because he was in the military
24. What do you hope you'll get to do before your next birthday? go to the zoo
25. What do you like to do best with your friends? play on the trampoline
26. What is your favorite song? Can't Stop This Feeling by Justin Timberlake
27. I am very proud because.... I can run fast.
28. I am afraid to.... do a backflip on the trampoline
29. Imagine that you can become invisible whenever you wanted to. What are some of the things that you would do? Spy on people and play tricks on them.
30. Pretend that you can fly whenever you wanted. Where would you go? Virginia, Grandma's (Elkader, IA) and to Missouri to Papa and GJ's house
31. Where do you want to go on vacation? Virginia and Florida
32. What is your favorite thing to do with Mom or Dad? going to the lake

Isaac turns 11

This kid... What can I say? He continues to embrace every experience put in front of him and works hard at everything he does! He is one determined 11 year old. He knows how to lighten the mood and isn't afraid to be silly. This year marked the end of elementary school for him. This fall he will be moving onto a new building and lots of new experiences. He recently started learning how to play the trumpet. It has been amazing to watch him grow and change and I am excited for what is to come for Isaac!

Staying in line with the last several years, I recently sat down with Isaac to interview him. I am excited to look back in the years to come to see how his answers change over time.

1. Name: Isaac Paul
2. How old are you?  11 years old
3. What is your favorite thing to do? Play with my friends
4. Who is your best friend? Sam
5. What is your favorite color? Purple
6. What is your favorite food? Burgers from Burger Fusion (local restaurant)
7. What do you like to do with your family? go to Missouri
8. What is your favorite toy? phone
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? DNR Officer
10. What makes you happy? playing baseball
11. What makes you sad? when it rains and I can't play baseball
12. What is your favorite show? Mountain Men
13. What is your favorite book? UUUMMMM... I don't know.
14. What do you love to learn about? wildlife
15. What was the best part of your birthday? going go-carting
16. Where do you like to go? to my grandmas
17. Who is your teacher? Mrs. Turgeon
18. What is your favorite treat? ice cream
19. What do you think about before you fall asleep? the next day
20. What was your favorite birthday present? money
21. What sport do you like best? Baseball
22. What are you really good at? taking care of dogs (Mollie)
23. What would you buy if you had $1000? Fishing stuff
24. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? blue moon
25. Who is your biggest hero? my big brother
26. What do you hope you'll get to do before your next birthday? go to the Mall of America
27. What do you like to do best with your friends? play baseball
28. What is your favorite song? Kill the Lights by Luke Bryan
29. I am very proud because....  I am good at catching fish. 
30. I am afraid to....   be catcher again in baseball because I got hit in the knee.
31. Imagine that you can become invisible whenever you wanted to. What are some of the things that you would do? Scare people.
32. Pretend that you can fly whenever you wanted. Where would you go? I would go to Florida and Wyoming. I would also go visit Papa and GJ in Missouri and go fishing.
33. Where do you want to go on vacation? Disney World
34. What is your favorite thing to do with Mom or Dad? Going on vacation and to baseball games.