And That's a Wrap

 Austin successfully completed his Sophomore year in cross country with an official 2-minute PR over the entire season. The team is officially the 4th fastest in Salem history! Last Saturday at States was an incredible experience! Sam and Owen came along for moral support, which was so nice since Jason was in TX. and Erik was at his final soccer game (they finally scored a goal!) Kade made the hour drive out to cheer Austin on, but couldn't commit to the full time of Austin arriving early and then the cool-down process at the end. 

Owen and Austin have been friends since birth, but we started having play dates with him when they were 3. Owen's dad is our Bishop. Sam and Austin have been friends since 3rd grade. We really got to know Sam when I coached STRIDE at Miller Elementary. Sam has always been a fast runner. It's always been his thing. Owen has an older brother who got him really involved in xc and has always been fast as well. The two of them have been such great friends and examples to Austin. They were a big part of the reason Austin chose to do xc rather than marching band or swim. They're very fortunate to be at the same high school as well. Since the high schools are selected via lottery, not everyone gets assigned the same school as their best friends.

At Michigan International Speedway, where States is held every year, there were tons of spectators and schools from all over Michigan. We met Coach Goodrich on the way over and Austin rode in with him, so I was so glad to have Sam, who knows the stadium from having been there to watch the race cars, and Owen who just knows where he's going. We met up with Austin amonst all the tents so Owen and Sam could warm up with him. Then they mapped out the best places for us to go to see him run. I met Kade when he arrived and we followed Owen and Sam during the race to try to catch Austin as much as possible. It was pretty hard to do with the pressing crowds. The race started in the stadium, and then the runners ran out, so all the spectators had to squeeze through the very small openings to get out and watch, which is no easy feat when everyone is rushing to see their runner! They finished in the stadium as well. That's when it was the hardest to see. Kade and I decided to stick with Sam and Owen to see Austin the second time outside the stadium, which meant a quick sprint back to the finish line. With everyone pressing through the opening in the gate, we were stuck in a crowd before we could get out and sprint again. Which, Kade and I are definitely not as fast as Owen or Sam!! They were sweet to try and slow down for us, but they had to leave us to make it to see Austin cross the line, which was another difficult feat with all the people there. I did get to see him about 100 m before the finish line, but I was far back and there were so many people in front of me. 

Starting line: he's in the white amongst the Canton runners in the black and red.

The group running out of the stadium. 

This is coming up to the finish. He just barely passed someone!

He's in the white, so far away!

Austin finished 127th out of 252 with a 16:30 time. The top 30 finished 15:48 and down, so that tells you how many came in during that 42 seconds of time! He looked and felt good, for which we're so happy about! Coach was so proud of his efforts! Owen and Sam cooled down with him, definitely determined to make it to States as a team next year! We went to Panera Bread on the way home to enjoy Austin's favorite restaurant. 

His name is under Divison 1, at the top.

The xc banquet was on Friday and Austin was awarded to Coach's Award. Some other teammates got well deserved awards as well. The next day, Saturday, was the final meet, though not necessarily part of the season. It's called the Meet of Champions and anyone can run in it, but not sponsored by your school, though times count toward the season. Austin hadn't been feeling well the 2 days leading up to it, but still ran a 16:30. Jack came back with a vengeance, as I thought, and ran a 16:10 and Isaac got his senior PR of 16:18, so we were happy about that. 

The whole Salem Team.

The sophomores. They're such a great group of kids.

Austin's special award and his blue teeth from his cake.

I didn't get to the meet yesterday because it was 2 hours away and I was going to the DSO (Detroit Symphony Orchestra) with Kade and the school orchestra. That was a beautiful night of music. They played Gustav Holst's The Planets. We got back very late to Jason and Erik watching the BYU game. Needless to say, we're all extremely tired today!

Halloween Happenings

 I probably mention it every year, but Kade really loves Halloween. It's his most favorite holiday. We decorated on the first day of fall this year, even though Kade wanted to do it earlier. Kade also got a seasonal job at a haunted house over the weekends of October, which he loved! And he finally got to have a Halloween party at our house with his friends, like he has talked about doing for years, but never got a chance, being in color guard and all their activities in October.

Halloween party feast. He put out the spread mostly by himself. Jason and I grilled the hamburgers and hot dogs.

They wore their costumes, ate, and played a couple of games, but mostly just goofed around.

Kade put up lots of spiderwebs! One of the games they played was the throw the bean bag in the ghost cup you can see in the sunroom.

Kade was Casey Jones. He made his mask from scratch!

Here's Kade in the field of the hayride at the haunted house. He mostly worked in the field, but one time in the actual haunted house. His job was to scare everyone!

Here's his makeup under the mask!

Earlier in the month, Jason and I went to see the annual scarecrow display in Downtown Plymouth with Erik. Then, Kade, Erik, and I visited Downtown Northville's skeleton display last week. The weather was nice all month long, so it was very comfortable outside. 

I've always liked Popeye!

Room on the Broom is one of my favorite children's Halloween-type books.

An electric company sponsored this one!

With all the political happenings...

This was during the time Victoria had her displaced rib. Jason suggested we send this chiropractic-sponsored one to Victoria!

Schoolcraft College is where Kade will go next year.

Northville Skeletons

Selfie with the selphie skeleton!

Edward Scissorhands!

Soccer players!

Skateboarders!

We went to the ward party for the trunk-or-treat, the kids carved pumpkins with friends instead of at home, and they went their various ways on Halloween night. Erik and Kade went trick-or-treating with friends and Austin handed out candy with a bunch of friends at Sam's house. He was prepping for States which was 2 days away and not supposed to eat of ton of candy.

Owen (Marty McFly) and Austin (MF Doom) were kinda twinning with their red vests.

Erik was the Grimm Reaper.

We were has-beens. (Cheerleader and Tennis Player)

Kade was Alvin at school with some friends, but they didn't wear their chipmunk costumes!

Ready to hand out candy!

Ready to trick-or-treat! 

Jason was in Texas supporting his parents during his dad's open heart surgery, which was successful, so I just got some stuff done while handing out candy at our house alone. I can't believe October is over!

Another Exciting Week

 We had another week full of surprises and excitement, some bad, but mostly good.

Victoria's all healed from her bronchitis and displaced rib, but she had a mishap with too much excitement going on with friends in a car and she shut the car door on her thumb. Turns out that she has a broken thumb along with strep throat, which she suspected she might have after being around someone who had it. So she has to take more antibiotics now, which gave her a rash and stomach issues, though that is improving now. Two rounds of antibiotics within a month was not a good idea. I keep reminding her to eat lots of yogurt. It seems she is improving now, so fingers crossed she doesn't have any more problems this semester!

Kade performed so well at the Fall orchestra concert this week! He decided not to try out for symphony for his 7th year of orchestra, and just stay with concert. While I supported this decision, it would have been fun for him to play with the more advanced students, especially because he is really improving. His new expensive viola helps with that too! The good thing about him staying in concert orchestra is that they need his help! The violins are okay in that group, so some good violas are really necessary. In one of his pieces, which I'll include, many people commented on how the violas carried it and did so marvelously. I agree! I'll also include the piece with the concert and symphony playing together with the choirs. It's amazing!!

Warming up. Kade's in the middle.

I was chaperoning the musicians in the balcony, so we snuck a little selphie in.

I told the stinker to smile when they were done, but he did not.

A smile with Izzy, though.

Finally, Austin ran in regionals yesterday. It was a breezy, sunny, but chilly day. He and Jack went out pretty quickly and Austin got a PR on his first mile with a 4:53. He stayed very near Jack and Isaac for most of the run. It was the final half mile that made a huge difference. When I saw Austin running in as the first Salem runner, finishing with a 16:26, not a PR, but still amazing, I was surprised to not see Jack there. Then I saw Isaac about 20 seconds later and I thought I had somehow missed Jack. But then he came in about 20 seconds after that and he did not look good. I cheered the rest of our team on as they came in one after the other, before going past the finish line. I always try not to get in the way nor approach Austin right away (we're actually not supposed to), but I always want to get a glimpse of him standing. I saw so many guys on the ground, including Jack. Austin looked pretty good, but he was worried about his friend. He and some other teammates helped Jack up and walked him to sit on a bench. The rest of the post-race was solemn as everyone worried over Jack who was numb, vomiting, and had a hard time with his vision. Austin and Isaac said that their arms had gotten super numb during the race because of the temperature. It wasn't that cold, but they had their little tanks on and the way their bodies warmed up on the inside but were cold on the outside was not a good mix. Jack had the same problem, but the numbness went to his entire body. He ended up in the ER yesterday, but I believe he is doing better now. In the meantime, Austin is the only Salem runner who qualified for States. Isaac missed it by 1 place and 5 seconds. Somehow, our whole team came in 5th in that meet! So, while we are so excited that Austin gets to run in the State Championship this Saturday, we are also grieving Jack's health, who always seemed invincible, and Isaac's situation who is a senior and missed his chance for States by so small a margin. (Isaac is actually pretty upbeat and chipper, I think he's mostly worried about Jack.) Austin is excited, but he really wanted to run with friends. I told him he has to run it for the whole team! And the final meet after States, Jack will be back with a vengeance! (A healthy, safe vengeance in my opinion).

While we were waiting for the meet to start, Jason and I tried to keep up with Erik in soccer.