Red Barn

Last week was a busy week. Oma and Opa came for a visit. We started the week off by heading north to another bike race. 

Here are the boys lined up for the kids race (we did not do costumes as that was optional).

 Gerrit had a slight issue during the race - his pant leg got caught in his chain...after a few tears and some help from dad, he hopped back on his bike and finished the race.

 Gerrit and Emmit were the only 2 who did the barrier...made their dad proud!

Emmit knocked the barrier over but insisted he do it himself. 

The best shot I could get of the four boys. Luke is on the left, Paul is on the right.

Here is Adam in action - no that is not fire, it is orange cob web decoration on the course to help aid in the Halloween theme of the race.

Oma and Opa are always good sports no matter what the weather is like! 

The race was at a Christmas tree farm - can you tell?

Opa taking in the action. It really was a nice day - not too cold when the sun was out and little wind.

Emmit copying a racer who had just come across the finish line and won.

Not sure what they are discussing, I'm guessing Emmit was getting help with his gloves.

Reaching His Goal

In school, Gerrit takes tests throughout the year to monitor his progress in various reading and math topics. We saw his scores from September and he'll be officially tested again in January. Until then, he does practice tests at school each month and we were given some to do at home. He sat down with his teacher this week to set goals for this winter regarding his scores....

Last night Gerrit asks: what we will do if I meet my goals, mom?

Mom: what would you like to do?

Gerrit: how about have a cake and friends over...he proceeds to describe his Lego birthday party and asks me if I can make a Lego army dude cake!

Mom: why not something with just our family - like DQ blizzards????

Gerrit: Ya, I guess that will work, maybe a game or 2 as a family? Like a running game and I'll give Emmit a head start seeing I'm faster than him.

Mom: sounds good to me....we'll see how much of this he'll remember come January!

Hudson at the Y

Last week was the family's first official cyclocross race of the year. I wrote a little about it before but here are a few more pictures of Paul and the boys' race.



We are off to another race tomorrow - it should be a bit warmer and definitely drier than last week! 

Hooked

Yesterday we spent the day at another bike race.

It was not as warm as we thought but luckily I packed warm clothes for the boys. We watched Paul race and then the big event:

the kids' race!

Emmit barely could contain himself he was so excited to race. Gerrit was sure he was going to take first place. They did part of the course and even had their own barrier (shorter than regulation height). All 5 kids received medals and Gerrit ended up 2nd if you really want to know. 

This is what Gerrit spend the better part of a 1/2 hour doing today after church. 

It was his idea, he just needed a little help from dad setting up the barriers. If Emmit had seen this, he would have been out there too! At least he's outside getting exercise (and practicing up for next week's race).

The Big E just got Bigger

A few new milestones at our house these last few weeks:


Yes, Emmit is potty trained (90%). I didn't take many pictures of him during his 'training' days and thought I should have a few. This is my favorite when he sits backwards on the toilet. He rarely does this now as he's a big boy and stands up (I prefer sitting - less of a mess).  Needless to say, we took the changing table down this weekend (bittersweet for me, not for Adam). Emmit's room is starting to look like a big boy room - finally. It won't be done until summer (I have some furniture to paint), but I'm excited to get the finishing touches done.

Another 'milestone' - Emmit can sit and watch a movie for a long period of time. Actually, I wouldn't call it a milestone, rather funny that he always asks for headphones and its always the same movie: The Lorax. He pretty much owns this DVD player and movie but when I need time to get stuff done and now worry about him - I am more than happy to turn this on!

 

My baby is getting big and definitely has a different personality than his brother. It is fun watching them play together (nicely) as well as grow into their own person.

Let the Season Begin!

I realize I am lacking (again) in blog updates. Part of the reason it seems all we do is play football and you can only have so many posts about football. I realize our summer consisted of BMX and swimming based on the blog posts.

The other reason is SCHOOL!
Yes, Gerrit loves school - especially PE (which the first week of school he hated). He is working on learning site words to read and enjoys all that school has to offer (including convincing his dad to go to the homecoming game when it was 40 out).

I am trying to stay afloat with school myself. My classes are good and I'm adjusting to teaching middle school and a little elementary. The elementary is not my favorite time of the day, but I survive.
It is trying to get all my grad school work done before due dates that is tough. I not only sit in class o Wednesday nights (and stay at my friend Sue's overnight), but have papers etc to write on top of my everyday life. Needless to say, there is not much down time for me but it's only for the school year and I'll be done (that is what I keep telling myself). I can't wait to have my 'free time' back!

Anyways, besides school, Adam has started his season of racing. We just finished BMX (even though they are still racing, we are not going to try and do both) and Adam just started last week. It was a beautiful day so we all went to cheer him on (even though we did not see much of the course because of they way it was laid out).
Notice the look on Adam's face - its the same look on every other picture of him racing. The difference - the kit. Yep, TEAM BEAT is an official team - Adam is president and Paul Dahlen (15 yr old) is vice. My brother Jeff designed the kit and we love that Adam (and the rest of the guys on Team Beat) stick out from the rest. Yes, it is MSU green, but frankly, not too many teams have these colors which is why we went with them.

 

From now until December, our weekends will consist of a bike race, either on Saturday or Sunday. I have become a fair weather fan and will stay home (with Emmit) if the weather is questionable. 

First Day of School 2012

Gerrit had a great first day of Kindergarden. We met his teacher on Thursday during his pre-school conference and he seemed excited and ready to go. Adam and I braced ourselves for a rough morning on Friday, bit it went great!  There were no tears, he was excited and seemed confident in what he had to do and where to go.

Here are a few pictures:

If you remember what last year's pictures looked like - these are very different! (It really was not that dark - it was 7am and the photos look worse than it was.) Gerrit is smiling and happy; last year he was mad and still eating breakfast! Emmit felt he needed a 'pack back' which is what he calls a back pack. So before we left he walked around with his diaper bag that is a back pack.

Now that he's had 2 days of school, he said today was even better than Friday. He had show and tell and brought in one of his trophies from this summer. He has made a few new friends (most of his friends from preschool stayed at Kids of Christ for Kindergarden).

He's really starting to grow up and is even nice to Emmit (on a regular basis). He's more helpful around the house and turning the corner (for the good) compared to earlier this summer.

I'm excited to come home each day to hear all about his day at school. It is fun to hear what he has learned and what the best part of his day was.

Emmit is making strides in the potty training area. He seems to be getting the concept faster than Gerrit did. I'm not sure how people can make money off of books titled "Potty Training in 3 Days" because I don't believe it! I'm hoping it is mastered before we have to get back to pants because shorts and crocs are much easier to clean than dealing with pants and tennis shoes!