X-Country

Katie ran in her first ever cross-country meet yesterday. I almost didn't go. Katie said she didn't really want me to go - nerves I think. Then we decided that I would go because she didn't want to ride the bus back to school and risk missing her youth group meeting last night. I admit that I wasn't sure AT ALL what to expect. I got there and just followed the crowd heading up the hill , hoping that they were heading to the race and not some other sporting event happening at the school. We topped the hill as the starting gun fired and the girls were off. I had no idea where to be to see the race. Fortunately I found a couple of friends with kids on the team, and they clued me in. Thank goodness. I wasn't expecting to know anyone there! I saw my girl finish the first lap (there were three for a total of 5K) and cheered her on. It was actually very cool. I was proud then. But not as proud as I was when she was making that final climb up a steep incline to the finish line. She came up the hill coughing. I was clapping and urging her on. She looked at me and said, "I think I'm going to throw up." UGH. I felt bad for her. The only thing I could do to help her is encourage her to keep going! The finish line was in sight and she was just about there. "Keep going! Don't stop!" I yelled. My friend Donna looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, that poor thing!" We both turned our heads just in time to see Katie sprinting to the finish line, determined to beat the girl in front of her. I don't know where she got that last burst of energy! I went and found her after the race and gave her a Powerade. She was all smiles and feeling good about her achievement! That's my girl... I'll have to Facebook her exact time and finish position after she gets home from school. She didn't get that info before we left the meet. Next week is a home meet. While I was apprehensive about yesterday's meet - not knowing what to expect - I'm downright excited about next week's!

Becky and Allison start piano lessons today. This will be the first time for Allison! She's very excited. The fact that she is so young means that most of her practice time will be with me helping her. It's a pretty big commitment on my part and one that I hope I'm ready for. Becky practices all on her own with very little help from me. She's becoming quite a good pianist! Katie doesn't take lessons anymore but she'll sit and the piano and play sometimes. She has a knack for teaching herself to play a song that she's heard on the radio or somewhere. Becky hasn't shown whether she can do that or not yet. She seems more comfortable reading the music. It'll be interesting to see how Allison does...

Inspired

I just finished watching the President's speech to school children (I recorded it while I was at work). I have to say that I found it inspiring. If you haven't seen it, click here to read a transcript of the speech. The speech - to me - seemed to encourage students to take accountability for their education. President Obama pointed out that even adversity in the lives of our youth is no excuse for them to turn their backs on school or to be disrespectful to teachers and other authority figures. I liked that. He even gave examples of students from various parts of our country who have overcome great odds to achieve their educational goals. The speech was given at a High School in Arlington, VA. After he was done speaking, President Obama went down to the crowd and shook hands with staff and students from the school. I watched as students expressed their excitement over meeting the president with big smiles and kind words for him. The respect they showed was commendable. I liked that too. I know there was a lot of hub bub about the whole speech and I honestly don't know why. Cspan also showed former presidents Reagan and Bush addressing school children and I plan to watch those speeches later. I'm interested to see what challenge those presidents presented to ME and my classmates. Anyway, I was inspired this afternoon as I watched our president speak to the youth of America and I just wanted you to know.

So. Tired.

Wiped Out. Day three of school and I am wiped out. Katie seemed spent this morning but has perked up a bit now. Becky is so even keeled it's hard to tell. And Allison was down right grumpy when she got off the bus. Even as I type this I desperately want to lay down and take a NAP! And I'm only working half days!! Must be that getting up early stuff! It stinks! Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday and we get a long weekend to rest up.

The first day of school was sort of anti climatic. Everyone got up and out the door without any fuss. It was as if we'd just been on a little break from school and now we just picked up where we left off. I don't know what I expected. This year was so much easier because I didn't have the anxiety of sending my baby off into the big bad world without me for the WHOLE DAY. We're used to that by now. And Katie is just so cool about the whole going to the big high school thing that I wasn't the least bit worried for her. Then of course, Becky has this awesome teacher this year and all her best friends are in her class so no need for worry there either. Hmmm....nice.

I saw one of my little Down Syndrome friends in the hall yesterday. I was walking along, minding my own business when I heard, "It's Mrs. Cook!! Hi Mrs. Cook!" I looked around for the person belonging to the sweet voice HOLLERING my name. I spotted my little friend and went over to give her a hug and do a bit of catching up since we hadn't seen each other all summer. She was really too cute! Stuff like that makes my day.

My tomato plants finally lost the battle against the plight that has destroyed so many tomato plants this year. I have green toms sitting on the vine, but the bottom of the plant is yellowed and pretty much dead. Oh well, I don't really like gardening. There, I said it. I don't like bugs. Bugs live in gardens, I don't like bugs, doesn't seem like a good hobby for me. I do however LOVE tomatoes - I'll need to figure something else out...

That's all. I'm tired now. And my children expect me to feed them dinner. Not sure what I'll do about that.