Running and Balloons

This fall Micah is participating in a cross-country club through school.  They had their first meet last week, and Micah got second place!  It was a 2K race, and his time was 8:31.  We think that means he ran under a 7-minute-mile.

Sunday afternoon we went to Ravenna's Balloon Festival.  Five years ago we went for the first time and loved it.  Since then we have struck out.  For two years in a row it was too windy for the balloons to take off.  One year we didn't even go.  But this was our year!  No wind! Clear skies!  We got a great spot and rode some rides.  

They didn't get started at the scheduled time, but all the vehicles carrying balloons were out on the field.  Just when we thought we were out of luck, they started setting up the balloons!  But alas, that was all they did.  Apparently you can't fly a hot air balloon when there is NO wind.  But they set up all the balloons and let us come look at them.  So now the kids can say they've been in a hot air balloon. :) 

picture from Micah's teacher of a group project

Hannah's Birthday

Here is Hannah on her actual birthday.  She generally refuses to let me take a good picture: 

 But she was so excited for her birthday, she couldn't help but smile.  At school you don't have to wear a uniform on your birthday.  She chose her Africa dress from Nana and Papa.

putting together new legos while wearing her new ski goggles

Her request for that night was to go to a playground, but we had a thunderstorm.  We went for ice cream instead.

We had her party at the gym where she took gymnastics this summer.  It was amazing.  The coach did a fantastic job with the girls, and they had a great time.  I hope she chooses to do this every year. :) 

learning the rules

they even provided the cake!

I had her take a picture with each friend after she opened their present.  They were so wound up and happy that Hannah had no trouble smiling.  Their poses cracked me up!

Taylor (school friend)

Lea (school)

Gwen (church)

Maia (neighbor)

Ella (school)

Ainsley (church)

And sweet Ally, even though she's in 4th grade, is so kind to everyone that she did not mind at all coming to a 1st grader's party.

Finishing Off Summer

The last night that our local pool was open, we met church friends, ate a picnic, and stayed until closing.

Dads vs. kids touch football

Hannah had not been brave enough to try the slides all summer (and, truthfully, she's just a hair shy of the height requirement).  But on the last night, she agreed to do it, and all our sweet friends walked over to the slides to cheer her on.  Video link

A couple of parks around us have these tire swings.  It was a big favorite this summer.

This sweet picture of Hannah and her friend Gwen was taken at a church event.

The kids have really enjoyed building friendships with our neighbors this summer.  It's so fun to see the kids running from house to house together or overtaking the cul-de-sac with various bicycles, tricycles, and scooters.  

Playing their own version of "4-square"

Matthew is glad to have McKinley with us one day a week.  They are pretty adorable together.

Micah and I ran a 5K on Labor Day.  He was pretty pumped to win his age group.

at least he was reading on me instead of jumping...

And this picture was from Micah's game today.  He has starting playing goalie pretty regularly.  

First Days

Micah started school a little earlier this year as he switched to public school.  He seemed very calm about the transition; I was a bit more emotional.  He has our next door neighbor to keep him company on the bus and a soccer teammate in his class.  We're almost a month in now, and he still seems to be doing very well.

walking to the bus stop

Hannah started first grade at Cornerstone a week later.  She said she was not excited to go back and that she wanted to stay home and play.  But sitting at a table with some of her friends seemed to help.

Finally, almost 2 weeks later, Matthew got to start preschool.  He's in a 3-4y.o. class that meets two mornings a week.  He could not wait to go to school and counted down the days and hours...until we were getting in the car.  Then he said, "Mommy, I think I'm scared about school."  I assured him that 2.5 hours was very short and that we'd be home before lunch.  He regained most of his confidence and went in with no struggle.