27 Months

We are close to glimpsing what "normal life" can look like again....though re-entry to normalcy is a little clunky. 

Max's last game of the 2014 season ended in round one of the State playoffs. Regardless of the loss, it was a huge accomplishment and something all 26 seniors can feel proud of. Of course, the following week brought evening parent/teacher conferences for Max, so right now we're in the midst of our first real week of recovery. I think we've hit the wall. 

As for the kiddos, there are individual updates on them below. We've had some fun milestones this fall, but can feel winter in the air. It snowed today even! Hope each of you is keeping warm as you look forward to Thanksgiving. 

Much love,

Courtney, Max, Ryan + Elise

The Kiddos

The kids are playing together more and more. Since Ryan is starting to read and Elise cannot consume enough books to satisfy her, it's great timing! Ryan is getting really good at trying to help us tame the 2 year old (most days). I think he got used to having to help me a lot while Max was coaching, so he naturally helps a ton and we're grateful for his spirit of mentorship when it comes to his baby.

Pics like these really make me understand the age difference between them. And how tall Ry is :) These next shots were taken at the sand hill neighboring our subdivision. The kids had a great time during our mini-photoshoot.

Max's Birthday

Max's birthday celebration coincided with the Michigan vs Michigan State game, so we had a great time watching Uncle E wallow in the loss. Once I got the date right, we made a lovely banana cake together and decorated with a homemade banner. Yup. 11 years of marriage and 12 years together and I got the date wrong. Thought it was the last Friday of regular season. Even had the players in on it...only to have to text them and admit what a terrible wife I am. Did I mention the homemade cake?

Our Boy Ryan

Ryan is built for kindergarten. We got his progress report and the only thing he got marked a "2" (3 is to grade level, 1 is below) in had to do with self-control when answering questions in class. I'm just excited he knows the answers. Reading and math are coming really naturally to him. He loves his homework assignments and begs to do more. His teacher is also really great at integrating art into the classroom, so we appreciate that. And he's made a ton of friends. 

My favorite thing to do is to come home at night when he's in a talkative mood and hear the day's play-by-play of who "lost their heart" from the behavioral chart, who sat with whom on the bus and what was the favored game that day on the playground. His competitive spirit leads us to a morning race to be first to the bus stop. And some days he cries when he has to leave his after school program (BAC), which we take as a good sign that he's exhausted from play and loving the people that are investing in him.

Monster trucks, Legos, Magna tiles and drawing are his most favorite things to do.

Little Miss Elise

Where do we start with this one? She's a firecracker. She's feisty. She's got a temper. She's passionate. She's cuddly. And she keeps us laughing. Right now her favorite sayings are: 

"Walk AWAY. Just WALK away."

"Oh my gosh!"

"Awesome!"

"Momma Courtney? Momma Courtney?" 

"Daddy Max."

Elise wants to anything her brother is up to.  She's mastered all her colors and most of her shapes. She even played Uno last night and matched the colors and knew when to yell out "UNO!" And she counts almost correctly to 12.

Hearing her sing along to the radio, the ABCs and Twinkle, Twinkle is very sweet. And dancing to "Happy," "The Monkey Song" and "What Does the Fox Say" keeps us amused most nights. Overall she's learning what it means to be a big girl as we are moving toward no binkie, a transition to a toddler bed and potty training is underway. She also great at posing for pictures (more so than Ry these days. And loves rides on Daddy's shoulders.)

Note: Photo credit for her school portrait goes to Wise Photography in Rockford, MI. Attitude credit probably goes to me for her creating a child that is mocking the photographer who was trying desperately to get her to smile.

 

Football

The pics sum it up. Inspirational season. Lots of rain. But tons of smiles.

 

Halloween

Ryan decided he wanted desperately to be "Wolverine" from the Xmen. And any good superhero needs a mighty sidekick, so Elise went as Wonder Woman...because hey, she probably could kick some bad guys ass. 

I had a ton of fun making their costumes. It all came home to me when I showed Ryan his for the first time and he looked sad. He said there was no muscles. So that night I gave him an anatomically correct 12-pack (yes there's such a thing. I'll just never see it in the mirror.) The next day he was speechless and just gave me a HUGE hug. Worth every stitch. 

On the big day, Elise and I spent the morning at ddm's annual trick-or-treat. Then on the way to her party at Milestones we got a call that detoured us to pick Ryan up. He had hit his head on the sidewalk on the way to the bus....running to be first....and was showing signs of a concussion. A few hours later he was fine and we were able to make his party (see him and his buddy showing of their vampire teeth) and then on to trick-or-treating on what was the most miserable night of the year to date. We were grateful that Max's playof game got moved to Saturday since his opponent had a shooting at their game the previous week. That way we were able to spend the time together and have over the Mascari's (Tessa and Brompton) and my parents for fun after the candy.

 

Field Trip

I chaperoned my first Kindergarten field trip to a local orchard. So much fun. And boy does it give me a new respect for teachers. (Not just because I'm married to one, but do you people UNDERSTAND what these amazing creatures do ALL DAY?) 

The kids got to pet goats, learned about apples, played on the slides and hay bails and enjoyed treats. A perfect day all around! I just loved seeing Ryan in his element with his friends, many of whom were new to me until that day. Sweet sweet kids.