First Triathlon

Collin participated in his first triathlon this morning.  To prepared, he has been riding and running a lot (because of track, soccer and baseball) but he had not put all of this together yet.  Yesterday, we set up his bike, shoes and race number in a transition area.  He then went to the other side of our pool.  he then jumped in, swam to the other side, got out of the water, ran to his bike and got ready to ride. We had talked about what to do when he got out of the pool.  As I watched him get ready for the bike the first time, I realized I forgot to tell him to take his goggles off.  We both had a good laugh at this. He tried it again and remembered to take his goggles off.

We woke up at 5:15am to leave the house at 5:45am because we had to put his bike and things in the transition area before 6:30am.  We knew the traffic would be bad because there were over 600 racers expected.  That's the bad part about racing...early mornings and big crowds.

Because only one parent could be in the transition area with each child, I went in with Collin to help him out. We found his number, 177, and started getting his things ready.  He and I walked through how to find his bike in the crowd and what to do each time he came into the transition area.  He was not excited about wearing the swim cap, but had to so they could see his number which was also on his cap.

In the transition area

We then met with Dad and walked over to where the swim started.  We waited until they called for the 9 year old boys.  Collin raced as a 9 year old because the racers raced at the age they will be by December 31.  He LOVED that he was racing in an older category.  It was time to line the boys up for the swim and then the parents had to leave.  He was with Oliver who had raced many times before.

It was not long until we saw the boys in the water.  I found him easily because he had a shirt on and black goggles.  The swim was 100 meters in the lazy river at the water park.

Taking a quick breath before swimming to the end

He is on the top right of the picture

He could not wait to take his swim cap off

Headed to get his bike

He did a great job running to the transition area after the swim.  He quickly found his bike, got his shoes and helmet on and ran to the Bike Out location.  He finished riding 2 miles fast but I was there to see him ride back to the transition area.

When he was back in the transition area, he put his bike back in the rack over from where he was supposed to.  So, he was not able to put on his race number for the run but at least he had his shoes on already to run 1 mile to the finish line.  Because of so many bikes, I could see why he got lost but we will have to work on that the next time.

It was not long until he was at the finish line.  Here he is about to finish.  Look how fast he is.  Love that they called his name out, too, when he crossed the finish line.

At the finish, he got a medal and then ran back to watch his friend's run in.  He was so fast that he beat them in.  Here they all are after the race.

Collin and Owen

Another one of Collin and Owen

Collin, Owen and Oliver

While waiting to see how he did, we took some pictures and got some food.  The boys played a little and were getting antsy to ride some of the ride at the water park that were not open yet.

That's my tired triathlete

So proud of this boy!

We found out that he placed 14th out of 93 in his age group and 43 out of 608 total in the race.  He looked fast....and really was fast.  So proud of him!!!

I am sure he will want me to sign him up again for another race.  I have already checked the calendar to see when the next race in the area is.

Soccer Tournament Weekend - Day 1

Today was Day 1 of the soccer tournament.  The boys had a game at 9am and then again at 11am.  The weather was not too bad for late May especially because there was not a chance of rain in the forecast, finally.  The boys had not practiced together in about 2 weeks because of the rain and baseball playoff games.  I was interested to see how they would do.  For the first game, I could tell they had not quite woken up yet and needed a warm up before the game, which they did not get.  They played hard but did not call out to each other and followed the ball around instead of playing their positions.  In the end, the lost the first game 0 - 5 and the second game 0 - 7.

Close to the goal so Collin tried to get the ball out of there

Going after the ball

Way to take possession of the ball

Collin played more aggressive the second game and kept getting in the middle and getting the ball

Collin in the middle of the action

Get the ball Collin!

Coach letting the boys know they need to play together as a team

Cardinals - No More Playoff Games

The Cardinals played hard but it was not enough to win the game.  They were not hitting like they have been the last few games and there were a few mistakes in the field.  Plus, the other team had some great hits and they could throw when in the field.  The boys were sad to lose but were good sports about it.

Collin did make several outs at 1st including two times because of him getting the grounder and running to 1st base before the runner made it there.

Great play by the 2nd baseman to 1st base

Catching from the pitcher

He did strike out when he was at bat the first time but got on base the second time with a strong hit to left field.

Great hit!!

The boys were good sports about shaking hands with the other teams.  The coach gathered them around and talked about the game before handing each of the players a game ball.  They then posed in front of the sign Collin and I quickly made before the game.  Afterwards, they had fun tearing it off the fence and keeping pieces with their name on it.  Collin was in tears because he did not find his name and only had scraps in his hand.  I knew it was not about his name but about him wanting the piece he originally had which was taken by another boy. There was no way to make him happy so we headed to the car to at least walk away from the area.

Congratulating the other team

After receiving their game ball

In front of the Cardinal's sign

Thanks for a fun season Cardinals!  We enjoyed watching the players grow and get better with all of the practice and games.  I especially enjoyed watching Collin play 1st base.

A Boy and His Bike

Every day, Collin is on his bike whether he is riding to and from school, to and from swim practice or just riding around the neighborhood.  Even if we have 15 minutes until we need to leave the house, he is on his bike.  He LOVES his new bike and loves to be outside riding.  There have been times I was too tired or just did not feel like getting sweaty but, when he has asked me to join him on a ride, I do go.  I end up enjoying just being with him and watching him have fun.

During one of our quick trips, we explored the trails behind our neighborhood.  Because of all of the flooding and continued rain, the trails have been under water.  I was curious about the damage to the trails and how the plants looked.  Most of the trail was not under water but there were sections that were a muddy mess and some of the trail had fallen into the bayou because of the erosion of the sand and dirt on the side of the trail.  Collin even noticed one of the dirt trails we usually ride on was gone because it, too, had fallen off the side.  

We spent almost an hour riding and needed to head back home for lunch.  On the way back, Collin found a huge muddy section and got stuck in it.  I let him figure out how to get out which he eventually did do.  

Even though we rode longer than we really had time for and Collin and his bike came back muddy, we sure did make some great memories.

Underneath one of the bridges where the trail had been under water for a week.  Stinky and muddy now

Collin got his shoe stuck. 

2 feet of the trail is now gone

You can tell how much of the dirt/sand is now in the water

The dirt bike trail that fell 

A happy boy after going through a large section of mud

Cardinals - Playoff Game #1

Well, the Cardinals pulled it off again and won their first playoff game. They won it in the field.  Collin got 5 outs at 1st base.  Alex V had two double plays at 2nd and Clayton made throw getting a runner out at 2nd.  They played the best I have seen them in the field that day.

Their hitting was off. Collin got his second strike out of the season when he was up at bat at the start of the game.  He did make it up with his other hits eventually scoring twice for the team.

The boys were so excited for the win but I think the parents were even more excited.  We play again tonight if the weather cooperates.  It was a really rainy weekend and it's supposed to be close to 90% of rain today.  Wet fields does usually mean no baseball playoffs.

Mother's Day

I had a fantastic Mother's Day.  I got to spend time with my Mom that morning because she spent the night to watch Collin while we went out to a museum gala.  That morning, we had yummy breakfast tacos at a locally owned restaurant.  Great choice too because it was not crowded.  We could have a conversation without straining to hear.

Mimi and I on the front porch

Collin took a great picture of Mimi and I in the front yard

At home, Collin rode his bike and then we started a game of Monopoly.  I know how this ends so it's hard to start the game because of the time it takes to set it up only to know that we will not finish. Collin lasted longer than I thought he would but did get bored and wanted to quit.

Mimi left to see the rest of the family as we, along with one of Collin's friends, went to a baseball game.  The boys immediately wanted to eat when we got there:  pizza, cotton candy and peanuts. I had to have some popcorn because I was not too hungry just yet.  The boys did enjoy watching the game.  Collin noticed the players were wearing pink and he asked if I would be on the big screen for breast cancer again.  He remembered the time I got to do this about 2 years ago with my previous firm....to be honored as a survivor.  I said I was not going to be up there and he liked that I would not be leaving him.  It was a great game and Dad and I did not want to leave but the boys were ready a the top of the 7th inning.

Really, they had to shove that big of a piece of cotton candy in their mouths?

Keep those sticky hands away from me

Cotton candy tongue

I think they liked the cotton candy better than the game at this point.

At the house, the boys played outside while I rested inside.  It has already been such a long weekend and I wanted to get in a little scrapbooking before dinner.

Great night to have dinner on the patio and to end a nice day.

Here is what Collin made at school for me.  I love it when he writes about me because I get to see what he thinks.  He was spot on for a lot of the answers.  I especially loved that he actually knows what a I do at work.  I am sure he hears about it enough but it shows he is paying attention to me.  I cracked up when I saw the response that he wants to go to Hawaii with me.  I do remember mentioning this to him or us ever talking about it.  Dad, I guess we need to add Hawaii to the travel list.

Collin's responses about me

Butterfly made with his hands...literally

You Are Doing it the Wrong Way...Again!

We have known Collin likes things a certain way for a long time now.  His requests are not too surprising anymore.

• "Snuggling" does not mean to just lie in bed with him.  He wants one arm to be over his side and that hand on his arm while he is laying on one side or the other.  Don't snuggle too close or touch him anywhere else.
• "Wrong way again mom!"  An example of one that has taken me MONTHS to remember is to not touch him and then move my hand, leg or whatever part of me that is touching him the opposite of the way the hair on his body is growing.  For instance, at night, he loves to have his back scratched.  Do not dare to scratch down and then go back up.  Huge no-no!  Scratch down, pick your hand up, move it to the next location on his back towards the top and then scratch down again.

First Duathlon

Collin was nervous about doing his first duathlon.  A duathlon is a run, then bike and then run.  This duathlon was for kids 9 - 12 to the run was 3/4 mile run, 2 mile bike and 3/4 mile run.  He has seen me do these and was excited to do his first one.  We knew he would do great because he is a good runner and cyclist.  I was not sure how he would do though running and riding with so many other kids.

The race had a 10K, 5K, 1K and the duathlon.  I signed up for or the 10K which was supposed to start 1 1/2 hours before the duathlon.  I should have been finished in plenty of time to watch Collin race.  However, it started to pour for 30 minutes before I was supposed to start so they delayed the race 5, then 10 and then 20 minutes.  I was getting worried I would not finish  in time to watch Colin start.  Finally, the 10K did start and I had 1 hour and 10 minutes to get back.  I am not fast these days and thought it would take me at least an hour and maybe another 5 minutes.  It was so humid because of all of the race and the recent rain so it was challenging to run as fast as i usually do.  However, I had a goal to get back and see my boy.  I was so excited to see him and Dad waiting on the frst loop.  That gave me a little kick to run a little faster around the second loop.  I  finished in less than an hour and plenty of time to watch Collin.

Dad was at the start and I was waiting were Collin's bike was set up to help him in case he had questions.  The race started and it did not take the kids long to run to their bikes.  Collin found his bike quickly, put on his helmet, grabbed his bike and he was off for the bike portion of the race.  He looked so confident.

Listening to instructions at the Start

Glad he wore his Captain America shirt because he was so easy to spot in the group

His bike is ready and waiting for him

Getting his helmet first

Pulling the bike out

He was back from the bike portion of the race so fast.  I hardly had time to look through the pictures before he was back putting his bike up and then running back to the finish.  When he started the bike, he was in the middle of the group.  When he finished, he was about 8 kids from the front.  He was doing fantastic and looked like he had enough energy to get back to the Finish.

Looks like he passed a few kids heading back around the corner.

After the race, he was not ready to put his bike away.  He wanted to either ride it or push it around whit him everywhere we walked.

Just after the race and showing no signs of fatigue

"Mom, take my picture"

Sitting with his bike waiting for the awards to start

While waiting for the awards, I walked over to him and said that he was really fast but he might not have been in the top 5 to get an award.  No matter if he got an award or not, Dad and I were really proud of him. He said, "It's ok if I do not win.  I had a lot of fun.  You hardly every get an award and you still have fun".  Not sure if I was proud of him or wanted to laugh because he just called me out for being slow and not winning too many awards.

Finally, it was time for the kid's Duathlon awards.  He did end up getting 5th place and was really excited...other than having to stand on the stage to get his award.  He was the youngest of the group which made him even happier.

Receiving his award on the podium

Group picture 

Just one more by himself

Heading back to the car, he asked when we would be signing him up for another race.  He actually is racing next month in his first triathlon.  The duathlon was a good first race so he could see what it was like.