Gumption

Our tenacious one is at it again.  She keeps me young!

Big sister Erin, got our 7th grader geeked on running.  Last year they ran the Martian Marathon "together".  Erin ran the 1/2 marathon and C. ran 1.2 miles.

The 1.2 miles was the culmination of running, up to 2 miles at a time for weeks before hand,  to get to the 24 miles needed to round out the 26.2 miles for the marathon.

Last year was a struggle.  She was in pretty good shape but there were unexpected hills and she was pretty pooped when she was done.

Nonetheless, she decided to run again this year.  She took it up a notch and decided to run the 5K all on race day.

Thankfully she had gym last semester in school and was in much better shape for this race.

The weather (cold and snow)  and a 10 day upper respiratory infection that started two weeks before race day kept her from practicing as much as she would have liked.

The weather forecast was daunting:  a cold 36 degrees and 100% chance of rain.

I woke up at 4 a.m. to the sound of a steady downpour.  I also woke up hoping she would decide not to run.

No such luck.  She was pumped!  She wanted her t-shirt and her medal!

She had her running clothes on including  a raincoat, winter hat and gloves and she was ready.

Erin helped me get her to the starting line as there were road blocks and little parking (runners are diehards who don't let a little rain stop them).


She did it!

She got her t-shirt and her medal and a great run time: 43 minutes and some odd seconds.  She was drenched, tired and happy.  

Keep it up no-so-little one. Your tenacity will take you places. 

My other blog.

Home For School

Our tenacious one has decided, after much prayer on her part, that she would like to be home schooled this year. She was home for kindergarten and first grade with her siblings.  In second grade and again for third she was in private school.

She did very well both years, even conquering spelling!

I'm very sure she made the right decision because for days afterward she had more energy and more joy than during the rest of the summer (and until she got poison ivy!)

It was like this huge weight was lifted off of her shoulders and she was free.

Being thrilled with her decision, I immediately let the school know what was going on, and then ordered her books.

When the books came, true to form, she had a plan. At first, she was much more interested in the box than the books.

 This is why:

She needed it to make a locker for her supplies. 

It is complete with a "combination lock".

She has all of her books in there, plus various trinkets to make it personal.

She even decorated the insides to her liking.  

On top of the locker are her three science kits, which she was very excited to receive.  We've already done the first two experiments which involved growing bacteria and fungus (including making our own agar!)

Anyone who knows me knows how I hate clutter.  However, in the hopes of a great school year, this locker, in all it's "loveliness" will grace that portion of our living room until next June.  

Here's to a great 4th grade school year.

www.centeredinchrist1.blogspot.com

Fun With Chocolate

Our tenacious one saw a post on the computer somewhere (maybe Pinterest), and decided she needed to do the same activity.

Said activity?  Chocolate bowls filled with candy or ice cream.

For two days she has been talking about making these bowls.   She showed me the post and together we watched the how-to video and then she made her shopping list:

• Balloons
• Melting chocolate (Milk chocolate and white chocolate so her sister who can't have chocolate could share in the fun.)
• Candy from the Bulk Food store: Skittles, Jelly Belly jelly beans, lemon drops, and licorice bites

First melt the chocolate and blow up the balloons.   Next dip the balloons into the chocolate to cover the bottom and part way up the sides.  If you tip the balloons to make 'petals' the bowls look really cool when they are done.

Put the chocolate covered balloons in the fridge to cool.  When cool, pop the balloons and carefully peel them away from the chocolate. Fill the bowl with candy or ice cream.

Viola!  Candy bowls.  And a happy girl!

 


www.centeredinchrist1.blogspot.com