Richardzz: 2012

Friday, June 15, 2012

Track & Field

Track Week at Perry! We've had a super fun week of track camp and track meets. Since Uncle Layne is the head track coach at Perry High, we were enlisted to help coach at the Perry Track Camp! Don and I both had a blast. It is so awesome to see kids get excited about running. I think out of all 75 kids at Track Camp, my Miley was the most determined to improve. Every night when we'd come home from the track, Miley would ask if she (or we) could do more running exercises, races, push-ups, sit-ups, wall-sits, or anything that would make her a faster runner. One time we had to pull over to the side of the road because she INSISTED on running home. All her efforts paid off. She ran the 400m in 1 min, 37 sec. Very impressive to a proud momma! As some of you know, the 400m is a race that is near and dear to my heart. As she was running down the home stretch, my heart tightened and my eyes welled up. The look on her face was one of shear exhaustion, desperation, and determination. I knew exactly what she was experiencing--the conflict between physical pain and the desire to win was written all over her beautiful face.

The next day, Miley ran the 200m. It was a photo finish... Of course, I didn't get a photo of it. I was too busy cheering! Miley caught Carly, who beat her in the 400m, right at the finish line. It was so exciting! Look at this picture--these two girls were so fast, they blew away the competition!

200m

Long Jump

Miley also won ribbons for the 100m, 50m, and long jump.

Here is Miley with her cute friend, Caitlyn.

Since Miley did so well, she's now qualified for the Lake County Jr. Olympic Track Meet!

{yay!}

This video is Miley's 100m. She was 0.1 seconds behind Carly.

This is cousin, Brayden. Another awesomely close race!

This is not good quality, but it still makes me happy to watch her win the 200m with a strong kick!

Friday, April 6, 2012

Easter Astray

I knew I'd miss my family terribly during Christmastime, but this Easter season is bringing a terrible heartache that I wasn't expecting! We've spent every Easter with my parents (and sisters) since Miley was one year old.
Everything Easter reminds me of my mother; bright sunshine, cool breezes, flower blossoms, and calming pastels. Being outside makes me think of her, and I wonder if she is weeding her flowerbed too.

Then Don starts a fire in the pit and that reminds me of my dad. My dad with a hotdog on a stick with a bag of marshmallows in his lap. Classic. I love my dad for so many reasons, but being the greatest grandpa is the best thing that he has ever done for me. Grandpa loves to play with the kids, and the kids are always greedy for his attention.

I've never had to put too much effort into Easter because Grandma S. has always made it perfect! Nice decorations, wonderful food, a craft or a game for the kids-- it all equaled out to an excellent holiday with me doing nothing! (I've been so spoiled.) It's almost like this Easter is a little crooked, or has gone astray or something. It's not quite right.

So this Easter, I've got to do something that might make up for the fact that Easter is Grandparent-less. :( And Aunt-less. :(

So far, none of my ideas are good enough. However, a bonfire and ice cream party fits with tradition, and you don't mess with tradition!

Since I'm reminiscing, I thought I'd throw in a few old Easter pics.

I miss the fam-damly. So dern much!

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Sunday, March 4, 2012

Failed Promises

I made promises to myself and many family members that I would update my blog more often now that I live 1,753 miles away...

...Bah! Look, if you don't forgive me, then I can't forgive me, then I'll never be able to blog again. So let's just make peace and blog on. Deal?

Okay, quick update:

Things in Ohio are great. I still feel like I'm drowning in all this water, but I'm grateful that I can see green grass at all times; even though it clashes against the naked trees and grey sky.

The kids love school; first grade, pre-school, day-care. We are down to once a week day-care for the kids, which is nice.

Don is doing well in school. I am constantly amazed at how he finds time to study, take care of the kids and myself, go running, not to mention wash the dishes that have been piling up for Heaven knows how long --Bah! We need a dishwasher! Quick rant: I've decided that the first thing we are buying after we close on our house is a dishwasher! So dern tired of washing dishes....!

I am now a nurse at Geauga Medical Center. It's a small community hospital in Amish country. I absolutely love being a nurse! Helping people is so rewarding (that sounds so cliche, but it is so true). I love that I can relieve pain, comfort the weary, and befriend the cantankerous. I recently moved to the night shift; a change I was very wary about, but have quickly decided that it is perfect for me. After the lights go off at 10:00 and all the friends, family, and doctors have gone home, it is just me and my patients. Night shift is so calm compared to the crazy-hectic-nonstop-never-rest day shift. My props go out to those day-shift chicas (and the occasional chico).

I want the people that I love to see how we live in Ohio. So random and crazy.

Starting with Christmas pictures that I never got around to sharing:

(I like the different levels of outfits here: Ava in pj's, McKoy in his Sunday best, Ike in his summer clothes...)