At Jacksonville Landing with the boys

Mom is running the Tour De Pain (10k, 1/2, 5k).

Jacob is getting an award for good grades

Stop laughing.

Dinner with the Whitescarvers

Our Ragnar team members are falling like really tall flies.

The little boys are watching Warren Miller videos.

Warren Miller produces extreme snowboarding videos. The boys are less impressed than I expected.

Alan pulled me to a 2nd place finish in my first 10k

There are times in life being the little brother is not fun.  This was not one of them.

This morning Alan (my big brother) and I ran a 10k together.  Anyone that knows Alan knows he would rather punch himself in the midsection than not try his best in any athletic event.  Today was different.  He could have easily beaten me by 5-7 minutes, but he didn't.  He stayed with me, providing support and pep talks exactly when I needed them.  Maybe he knows me very well.  Maybe I was breathing like I was giving birth.  Either way, he knew when I needed help and he provided it perfectly.

Sometimes I wonder if my pride for others goes too far.  It's easy to be proud of Alan's achievements.  Professional Engineer, model dad, outstanding soccer player, ridiculously fast runner, etc..  Today I am proud for a different reason.  He put his goals on the back burner and focused on helping me achieve mine.  To him, allowing me to finish the race before him means he gets a bronze medal instead of a silver one.  To me, it means the world.

Will and Matt have a new toy at Nana's and Grandpa's

5th and 6th member of our UCF golf scramble

We shot 10 under par (with their help)

Wills first day of soccer practice

Parenting advice welcome

Consider the following scenario.  What would you do next?

- You have a brilliant child who gets straight As whenver he/she wants.
- One day, he/she decided not to get straight As anymore.
- The poor grades are results of not studying and forgetting to turn in classwork.
- He/she gets Cs in participation (how is that possible?)
- He/she has been grounded for 75% of high school because of bad grades.
- You have offered your own time and efforts to help with studying.
- No progress is made.

Do I say "You win.  I don't care about your bad grades anymore.  Good grades are less important than enjoying high school.  Here is $100 and the keys to my car.  Have fun!"?

Suggestions?

That is sick!

Literal version:

Matt got a stomach bug last night and threw up more than I've ever seen. Will decided to outdo Matt by projectile vomiting off the top bunk. We will be researching carpet cleaning services today.

The 80s slang version:

Jennifer finished 1st overall female in a 5k this morning (4th overall). 20:50. That is sick fast!

Jen won another half marathon

Her dad placed 3rd in his age group

Jen 1:40:07
Alan 1:41:??
Mr. Costello 1:49:??
Kim B 1:59:??
Kristi-Anne 2:??:??
Rhiannon 2:15:??

Eric B ran the 5k and placed 3rd for his age group. 24:??

Golfing with the boys (except Will)

Just like PGA pros, we stopped for a snack after 5 holes.

What do you find more amazing?

- Matt had a birdie (2) and a 35 in the same round? (FYI - Everyone kept their own score)

- Jacob shot 13 over par on the back 9 (Great job Jacob!)

- With Matt's handicap (120) and Jacob's handicap (25), I finished in last place with 1 over par

- Something else?

Matt tried to start the Harlem Shake...

Nobody joined the poor guy.

He didn't mind being on his own.