October? Really!

The first month of school has positively flown by. The weather around here is making it feel like fall, and the calendar agrees, but I find myself still stuck in the end of summer (read :  vacation) mindset.
Today Odin had a one hour late start at school. The district does it the first Wednesday of each month. This morning as we were getting ready to go to school, I realized that I completely forget to make him lunch. I had a whole extra hour to do it and it still didn't happen! Instead of trying to whip something up lickety-split I just had him buy lunch today.

Tomorrow will be his first meeting at the after school lego robotics club. I am very excited for him, and he is beyond excited. The club is totally parent run and part of the First Lego League. Where basic robotics are paired with lego bricks. There was a parent meeting last week, and guess who is the assistant coach? It's Me! I will let you know how it goes.

Friday was a big day.

As you may know, I spend great deal of time at a wonderful nonprofit farm. I started there leasing a horse, then I volunteered at the summer camp, and this summer I was the summer camp director. About a week ago, the farm launched an online fundraising campaign to help raise funds to overcome an unexpected financial burden (you may have seen the link that I posted).  Friday afternoon the farm's director received a call form a news station wanting to do a story on us, in two hours! It was a crazy whirlwind evening trying to do what we could to get things ready for a tv crew, but by the time the van arrived we were ready. It aired Friday on the 10 and 11 pm news and also Saturday morning. link to King 5 news story (Be on the lookout for me right at the beginning!).

It has been such a rewarding experience for me to be involved with the farm. I have watched the farm grow so much in the last year and touch the lives of so many people. The farm's mission statement is to bring young people and animals together to build empathy, teach responsibility, and inspire hope. You know that I am not a born fundraiser, but this is something that I support all the way. I have donated countless hours of my time and also to the fundraising campaign. If you still have donation based money in your annual budget would you consider spreading the love? Every little bit helps, and I promise I will not ask again!

Here is the link to the farm's website
Nature Nurtures Farm

New pictures!!

 

Odin got this haircut yesterday.

And then about an hour later, this one.

My happy place, and it needs help!

New beginnings

About two weeks ago while I was working at camp I received a text from John stating that there was a spot for Odin in the Montessori school that we had applied to in the spring. We were to respond two days later. After the initial shock wore off, we realized that it was what we really wanted for him, and we took it. Today was his first day at his new school and I am hopeful that he will find it fulfilling, challenging, and engage his curiosity.

2nd grade, can you believe it?

Really its all of our achievement.

I have loads of other summer doings that I hope to put on here in the near future. . .

You get what you train for

When I was in Michigan a week or so ago I bought a new top for my triathlon. That night I was shamed into going for a run by a tag on the top. It read "Nobody gets lucky in a triathlon, you get what you train for". My training plan was not very dedicated or organised. I tried to fit it in where I could. In the end I did a fair job training.
Today was the race and I am very pleased with my result. My performance matched my training with one large exception. I did not train in changing bike tubes. I got a flat at the beginning of the bike portion and it took me a long time to change it. How long, I am not sure, because my watch battery died 5 minutes before my start time. Did I have a good race? Yes I did! I even met my personal goals despite my setbacks. And yes, I think I will consider doing another one.

Fun times

Today after work (or play) we all went to the county fair. It was opening day today so admission was only $1 and the rides were also a buck each. We did some rides first, then ate, checked out the dogs, rabbits, chickens,cows, horses, and then, back to the rides.

Want to hear one of the most exciting parts of our adventure tonight? We left Freki at home! All by himself, and he did great! This is so far the longest interval that we have left him. It was just about three hours, I am very pleased, and very happy that we have taken it so slowly and that he feels comfortable at home. He will likely still come to the farm with me for camps because he loves it and is loved on by many, but at least now I know he doesn't need to come EVERYWHERE with me.