Fun Run

The final post from last year.

A few weeks ago I challenged the kids to run 2 miles -- from our house to Kim's. We started a series of training runs trying to build their stamina. Although we had not even gone halfway on those training runs, the kids told me that they were ready to run the whole 2 miles. And they were. They all made it without stopping. Everyone but Jake had to battle through some ache or pain, but they did it. I was impressed.


I promised the kids an extra large shave ice from Ice Age if they could do it. (I know it is somewhat confused to promise a reward that has more calories than we burned in all of the runs combined, but they could actually use the calories.) It was great motivation.


The kids all look like they got chemical peels, but they really just ran 2 miles. The red faces come from Amanda.

Katie's Crash

Another post from last year...

Last week we went to Midway and hung out with the Brian and Angie. We have a history of very happy and unpleasant events in Midway. One year Matt and Claire rode a saucer down the hill and into an icy, moss and algae filled swamp. The next year Matt broke his collarbone while trying to show the kids how to take a jump on a tube. So, this year we tried to avoid any accidents. We were pretty successful until our last day there. On that day we took the kids to hit balls. While the rest of kids were hitting balls, Katie ran down the hill to get a drink. As she ran, Amanda immediately sensed that Katie could not see a rope hanging down about ankle height between two stakes. Amanda warned her to watch out for the rope, but the warning came to late. Katie tripped over the rope running full-speed and landed face first on the asphalt. She bruised her forehead, bloodied her nose, cut her gums, and received a fat lip. It was tragic.

On our way home, the following conversation took place:

Matt: Boy, I hate to see you guys get hurt. It makes me sick to my stomach. I would much rather get hurt myself than see you guys get hurt.

Claire: That's funny. I would rather have you get hurt than me.

At least she gave it to me straight.

P.S. Katie healed amazingly quickly. Within a week all traces of her crash were gone.