Last weekend, Oct 12-14th, was likely one we'll never forget, at least in terms of sheer volume of travel and athletic competition. I left school early Friday to go home and pick up the family as we headed for Toronto. Sarah was scheduled to run the ZooRun (the final fixture in the Canadian Running Series) and Geran was pretty darn excited about going to the Zoo. We left Ottawa just before 3pm, stopping in Belleville for supper, and arrived in Scarborough at our hotel just after 8pm.
The next morning, we headed off to the Zoo. We wandered around, trying to find some animals that weren't still sleeping (we did get to see the Siberian Tigers and the Snow Leopards...up real close). Mommy's 10K started at 9:30 and she was running very well, until about 7K, when she developed a bad stitch in her side and limped to the finish line. She was limping so bad I thought it was her achilles bothering her, but it was just the stitch (it hurt so much each time her foot hit the ground it looked like she was limping).
After Mommy's race, Adara and I did the 5K Fun Run (we finished in just under 24 minutes), and the Darion and Geran ran the Cub Run (about a half kilometre) and to everyone's delight, Darion won! Geran ended up completing the race on Adara's back!
Anyway, after all the races, we jumped back in the car, leaving the Zoo just before noon and driving back to Ottawa so we could get Adara to her 5pm hockey game. Normally we would have missed it, but it was her first game of the season (and Darion had his first game at 7pm).
More running news, Adara and Darion finished 8th and 9th respectively at their school meet and Adara qualified for the Board Championships where she finished 14th.
Cross Country season is in full swing for my school team and we recently stomped the competition at the West Conference Meet. We hope to win the NC meet next week. Info about the high school scene can be found at www.nchighschoolxc.blogspot.com
Monday, October 22, 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
Turkey....or the fixings??
Thanksgiving dinner means something different to everyone I'd imagine. All the talk surrounding Thanksgiving dinner focuses on a rather large (and ugly) bird, but there is so much more to it than poultry. We all gathered at my parents house (about 21 in all, excuse me if I've missed someone...obviously you're not that important to me) for the feast. We ate insane amounts of food. Only 10 minutes ago Darion came up from bed complaining that he felt sick (because he was so full). I'm gonna try running a survey to see what part of Thanksgiving dinner is everyone's favorite. Please feel free to vote. If I've left something off, sorry....just read the first line of this post.
Fall has Fallen
Summer lasted a little longer this year! We've had the hottest, driest fall I can remember, but it all came crashing to a halt this weekend. As I started my school workout with the two athletes from Glebe that were brave enough to show up the heavens opened and we got soaked. There is something about running / training in the rain that I've always liked, but let me tell you, standing around and coaching in it, ain't that fun at all.
Speaking of the heavens opening, this weekend was General Conference. The priesthood session was excellent, followed by the Denny's ritual, in which 20-30 priesthood holders decend on Denny's in South Keys following the session for what (started as milkshakes) has become a six or seven course meal. There was alot less food consumed this time, largely due to the fact that Eric and Derek were absent. Derek can be excused as he moved to
Calgary, but Eric...where were you? We watched the Sunday morning session at home after spending a good part of the morning on a family walk. The colours this year are amazing. Apparently the warm days and cool nights are good for the trees in terms of fall colours. The sections of McCarthy Forest we walked through were simply capreted with leaves of various shades of yellow, red and orange.
Deal of the week! Food is good, but free food is great! Last week in Toronto Sarah had a pasta for dinner that we had never tried before and it was really good. While standing in line at DiRienzo's, waiting for what is possibly the best sandwhich in Ottawa, I spotted the pasta we had enjoyed in a very large (it was huge) bag. I picked it up intending to buy it as well. Unfortunately they only took cash and the bag of pasta was $30, which was all the cash I had on me. The girl behind the counter, nodded, held out her hand; I gave her the cash and paid for the pasta and she essentailly gave the two sandwhiches to me - free! Great business. Think I'll go back? For sure.
Speaking of the heavens opening, this weekend was General Conference. The priesthood session was excellent, followed by the Denny's ritual, in which 20-30 priesthood holders decend on Denny's in South Keys following the session for what (started as milkshakes) has become a six or seven course meal. There was alot less food consumed this time, largely due to the fact that Eric and Derek were absent. Derek can be excused as he moved to
Calgary, but Eric...where were you? We watched the Sunday morning session at home after spending a good part of the morning on a family walk. The colours this year are amazing. Apparently the warm days and cool nights are good for the trees in terms of fall colours. The sections of McCarthy Forest we walked through were simply capreted with leaves of various shades of yellow, red and orange. Deal of the week! Food is good, but free food is great! Last week in Toronto Sarah had a pasta for dinner that we had never tried before and it was really good. While standing in line at DiRienzo's, waiting for what is possibly the best sandwhich in Ottawa, I spotted the pasta we had enjoyed in a very large (it was huge) bag. I picked it up intending to buy it as well. Unfortunately they only took cash and the bag of pasta was $30, which was all the cash I had on me. The girl behind the counter, nodded, held out her hand; I gave her the cash and paid for the pasta and she essentailly gave the two sandwhiches to me - free! Great business. Think I'll go back? For sure.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Divide and Conquer
Our family was split up over the weekend as we headed off for different parts
of the province. Grandma Peggy and Papa Gordon took Adara, Darion, Geran and Koko up to Petawawa with them while Sarah and I headed off to Toronto for Sarah's half-marathon debut. Grandma and Grandpa took the kids on a rural ramble where they visited farms, greenhouses and various other rural settings and had a good time. Sarah and I left for TO after I finished coaching Saturday morning. We stayed with Carine Caughill on Saturday night and got up real early Sunday am to be downtown for Sarah's 7am start. Sarah was more than a little nervous about her first half-marathon, but ran nice and smooth and even. She said everything felt easy until about 15K and then it really started to hurt between 17 and 18K. Her 5K splits were 18:30, 18:37 (37:07), 18:44 and 19:14. The last 5K was really only due to 2K's that had the uphill sections that Sarah struggled on. Otherwise she ran awesome and right through the line to finish 2nd in 1:19:20. She and Paula Wiltse (her Saucony teammate) were 2nd and 3rd respectively. After the race Jason and Natalie treated us to a relaxing lunch at thier home before we hit the road for home. Grandma brought the kids home Monday afternoon, so they've only got a 3 day school week this week (as Friday is PD). Life is Good.
of the province. Grandma Peggy and Papa Gordon took Adara, Darion, Geran and Koko up to Petawawa with them while Sarah and I headed off to Toronto for Sarah's half-marathon debut. Grandma and Grandpa took the kids on a rural ramble where they visited farms, greenhouses and various other rural settings and had a good time. Sarah and I left for TO after I finished coaching Saturday morning. We stayed with Carine Caughill on Saturday night and got up real early Sunday am to be downtown for Sarah's 7am start. Sarah was more than a little nervous about her first half-marathon, but ran nice and smooth and even. She said everything felt easy until about 15K and then it really started to hurt between 17 and 18K. Her 5K splits were 18:30, 18:37 (37:07), 18:44 and 19:14. The last 5K was really only due to 2K's that had the uphill sections that Sarah struggled on. Otherwise she ran awesome and right through the line to finish 2nd in 1:19:20. She and Paula Wiltse (her Saucony teammate) were 2nd and 3rd respectively. After the race Jason and Natalie treated us to a relaxing lunch at thier home before we hit the road for home. Grandma brought the kids home Monday afternoon, so they've only got a 3 day school week this week (as Friday is PD). Life is Good.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Cross Country is a Killer!
Cross Country season has begun and our family is begining to feel the crunch. I always look forward to back to school, largely because it means the start of another XC season. Our family is very involved in XC largely because, Sarah and I first met each other (in the post-mission era any way....before I left on my mission she was too young) at a University XC race in our first year of University.
Since we no longer compete ourselves in XC we are both involved in coaching, myself at my school (Glebe CI) and Sarah with the Ottawa Lions Fall Camps. This year, Sarah has hooked me into the camps as well so that I can take over the group Saturday mornings after I finish coaching my school kids, so she can train with the Lions groups herself. She has the itch to get back into racing, although I think those days are long gone for me.
Both Adara and Darion are also involved in the camps so it's a whole family affair. Geran loves coming to Mooney's Bay aka "the track" to play on the "track-tor" (the fourwheeler used by the City employees at the track to haul equipment around...they all know us very well and think Geran is pretty cute) or playing in the park by the beach. Tonight I brought Koko with us and she spent 40 minutes chasing the ducks and playing in the water, so it really is something the whole family gets involved in.
I hosted my Glebe Open XC meet this past week at Mooney's Bay and we had good results. Our school won the meet, defeating Renfrew CI by a single point in the overall aggregate. My midget boys won their second meet of the season, after having won the Trinity Invite the previous week in Port Hope. What really excites me about this group, is that unlike all my XC teams from the past, this one is comprised of kids who like to run! Not simply soccer or basketball players looking for some other school sport to get them out of more classes. The meet does take a lot out of me though and I was pretty tired by the time it was over. The week leading up to the meet I hardly slept at all (I'm a bit of a worry wart and a perfectionist and if I think something has the chance of going wrong.....I worry). I kept waking up in the middle of the night thinking about things I had to do and then not being able to fall back to sleep. I imagine this is only going to get worse as my children grow older and I start worrying about them.
Since we no longer compete ourselves in XC we are both involved in coaching, myself at my school (Glebe CI) and Sarah with the Ottawa Lions Fall Camps. This year, Sarah has hooked me into the camps as well so that I can take over the group Saturday mornings after I finish coaching my school kids, so she can train with the Lions groups herself. She has the itch to get back into racing, although I think those days are long gone for me.
Both Adara and Darion are also involved in the camps so it's a whole family affair. Geran loves coming to Mooney's Bay aka "the track" to play on the "track-tor" (the fourwheeler used by the City employees at the track to haul equipment around...they all know us very well and think Geran is pretty cute) or playing in the park by the beach. Tonight I brought Koko with us and she spent 40 minutes chasing the ducks and playing in the water, so it really is something the whole family gets involved in.
I hosted my Glebe Open XC meet this past week at Mooney's Bay and we had good results. Our school won the meet, defeating Renfrew CI by a single point in the overall aggregate. My midget boys won their second meet of the season, after having won the Trinity Invite the previous week in Port Hope. What really excites me about this group, is that unlike all my XC teams from the past, this one is comprised of kids who like to run! Not simply soccer or basketball players looking for some other school sport to get them out of more classes. The meet does take a lot out of me though and I was pretty tired by the time it was over. The week leading up to the meet I hardly slept at all (I'm a bit of a worry wart and a perfectionist and if I think something has the chance of going wrong.....I worry). I kept waking up in the middle of the night thinking about things I had to do and then not being able to fall back to sleep. I imagine this is only going to get worse as my children grow older and I start worrying about them.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Back To School
Well the kids are back to school. Adara is now in grade 6, Darion in grade 4 and Geran attends a pre-school, one morning a week at the Sawmill Creek Pool Community Centre. W
hen walking to school with mommy, he told her, "I want to go to 'Dara and Darion's school." We think he'll be good and ready for JK next year.
I'm back at Glebe for another exciting year. Sarah is doing occasional work again and has already been called in one day to Fisher Park.
Darion had his third birthday party this week.
Last weekend we went on a Thousand Islands boat tour on Gilles and Nancee's boat. Adara, Darion and the pirate "Geran the Jolly" went on a treasure hunt and found some sweet sticky goodness. We had a fun time looking at all the beautiful homes amongst the islands. Of all the trials I haven't been faced with, if I had to pick on, I think it would be wealth. It'd be tough, but I'd try to persevere as best I could.
Soccer season is wrapping up. Adara's team (OSU Power) is in a 4-way play-off, fighting for 2 spots in the Premier Division next year. They lost their first game 3-2 on penalty kicks this week and have two more next weekend. Darion's team (the IMPALA), with me as the coach, lost to the #1 ranked Gazelles in the semi-finals, but ended up winning the bronze medal match on Saturday after Darion's (second) party. Darion found himself in the right spot on a free kick and managed to knee-in the game winning goal in a 2-0 victory. I was surprised he had the energy to do anything after his party in which 7 boys decended on our house for a sleep over which featured ball hockey matches (see video for award winning camera action), a campout in the tree fort, and a rock fight at about 10:10 pm! Mommy put a quick end to the rock fight once we found out that was going on.
hen walking to school with mommy, he told her, "I want to go to 'Dara and Darion's school." We think he'll be good and ready for JK next year.I'm back at Glebe for another exciting year. Sarah is doing occasional work again and has already been called in one day to Fisher Park.
Darion had his third birthday party this week.
Last weekend we went on a Thousand Islands boat tour on Gilles and Nancee's boat. Adara, Darion and the pirate "Geran the Jolly" went on a treasure hunt and found some sweet sticky goodness. We had a fun time looking at all the beautiful homes amongst the islands. Of all the trials I haven't been faced with, if I had to pick on, I think it would be wealth. It'd be tough, but I'd try to persevere as best I could.Soccer season is wrapping up. Adara's team (OSU Power) is in a 4-way play-off, fighting for 2 spots in the Premier Division next year. They lost their first game 3-2 on penalty kicks this week and have two more next weekend. Darion's team (the IMPALA), with me as the coach, lost to the #1 ranked Gazelles in the semi-finals, but ended up winning the bronze medal match on Saturday after Darion's (second) party. Darion found himself in the right spot on a free kick and managed to knee-in the game winning goal in a 2-0 victory. I was surprised he had the energy to do anything after his party in which 7 boys decended on our house for a sleep over which featured ball hockey matches (see video for award winning camera action), a campout in the tree fort, and a rock fight at about 10:10 pm! Mommy put a quick end to the rock fight once we found out that was going on.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Welcome to Dillablogh!
Well, we are finally getting around to creating our family blog. If it's anything like my journal, there will be several posts in a short time followed by years of nothing. Summer 2007 was eventful with both Adara and Darion playing soccer, as well as Mommy and I. We were at the soccer pitch every single night of the week.
We had a student from Spain (Bea) stay with us for four weeks, ran our summer sports camp for one week, built ourselves a "tree"fort (it's not really in a tree, but hidden up in 'em), spent 6 days canoing with the Wiwchars up north of Sudbury on the Wolfe Lake system, and another week at Carine's cottage in Muskoka.
We ended the summer with a Labour Day BBQ in which we all got together to celebrate the sending of our kids back to school. I'm sure glad they are going back.....if it weren't for school, I wouldn't have a job!
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