Reading is Fun!

We have a reading choice board every month

that we have to do 10 of the 20 activities.

But Mrs. Kasper would be REALLY excited if we did all 20.

I'm a man on a mission...

Reading in sunglasses on a towel

Reading in a Royals shirt,

under a tree,

on a nice day

(that's 3!)

Just a few more activities to go...

Tuck's BIG ride

So I got this new bike for Christmas

with just 2 wheels.

Dad and I have been working on learning to ride

for months.

I throw a pretty nasty fit

about getting on it

but I also do NOT want to ride on the co-pilot anymore.

So we are at an impasse.

And everyone keeps wanting to go on bike rides.

Well, today, they pushed me hard.

We were going on a ride one way or another.

But I'll be honest.

I'm a little scared of my bike.

What if I fall?

What if I can't get going?

What if the turn is too sharp?

Mom and Dad said they'd help me every peddle of the way.

So after some tears and maybe some yelling,

I got on.

We headed down Blackwell

with just 1 topple.

And I got back on.

We took the back Legacy Loop.

I had to walk up a big hill or 2.

Mom and Dad walked with me.

But guess what?

The longer I rode,

the easier it was and the braver I got.

I was shifting gears to make hills easier

and even managed to itch my nose with one hand.

Maybe I like bike riding after all.

Our planned destination was the hidden waterfall and watering hole

in Legacy Park.

Me and Mom stayed on the main path

while everyone else hit the mountain biking path

with the plan to meet there.

Well, Mom and I wandered all over but couldn't find it.

Beckett popped a tire and Dad had to stop to fix it.

Twice.

Just as we were going to give up

(all we could find was a dried creek bed),

we heard voices and found this:

Jack and Wes found it!

The rest of us from above

The water was freezing

but a quick dip was all we needed.

Jack creeped us all out

by claiming there were leaches in the water.

Hmm. 

I wasn't sure I believed him,

but I also wasn't sure I wanted to get back in...

So we chilled on the shore for a bit.

We decided to head back...

and then Weston blew a tire.

I was having so much fun,

I insisted we turn our already 7 mile ride

into a 10 mile ride

with a stop at Dollar General for a cold drink.

Everyone was so impressed with my new found love of biking,

no one could disagree.

I told Mom my "worst-case-scenario" about riding a bike

was falling off and cracking my head open

and dying.

Well, she couldn't argue that that IS a worst-case scenario.

But she pointed out that I fell off

5 or 10 times

and didn't even have a scrape.

Ok. Fair.

I guess I DO like biking.

And I guess I'm better at it than I thought. 

Outdoor Fun with Friends

It was a good weekend for some outdoors fun.

Beckett went to a bounce-house-birthday party

and the weather was so nice,

we decided to walk to pick him up

instead of drive

Nothing like a walk

to work off our Friday night tacos!

In fact,

our walk looked so enticing,

other friends decided to ditch their parents' cars

and join us on our stroll!

On Saturday,

we all had a game

so we were at the ballparks

from 7:30am to 5:30pm.

Whew.

That's some outdoor time!

My BFF Mack needed a place to stay

while his parents were out of town

so we had an impromptu sleepover.

And more outdoor time.

We hit up a park

for some playtime and pizza

Can you see us?

There was a lot of tag and hide-and-seek

We paused for just a minute

for a picture

before we climbed in the jeep

for an ice cream run.

The most fun of the night though

was frantically waving at everyone we passed

to see how many return waves we could get.

Turns out, people think all us kids

stuffed in a jeep are pretty hilarious--

we got a TON of waves and even a few honks!

It's been a good day.

 

Things we don't want to forget

Somehow, this post that Mom started in December 2019

got lost and unpublished.

She said she had to share it

because it was too good to miss.

And how about this MASSIVE

Geotrax city back when Tuck had his own room?

Aww.  A little blast from the past.

The big kitchen remodel

Well, it all started back in February.

We liked our downstairs,

but after 12+ years, 

it needed a facelift.

We put in a new backsplash a few years ago,

but it was time for more.

We started with a new wall color,

a few new light fixtures,

and some new barstools and kitchen table

It was a bit hard,

but we decided to paint the stained cabinets.

Lots of furniture to move...

Well, that's different!

And now...

for a new island.

Everyone is always in the kitchen.

We might as well make it more functional!

Coming together

Island is in!

(and another set of barstools--

the first ones fell apart.

Apparently we're rough.

Hard to believe.)

And now...

floors.

We had to move out of the house

for this part

(remember?  Our hotel adventure?)

After a few more months of Dad's hard work,

here's the final product:

Dining room:

(new paint, new lights,

wainscot paneling, and an amazing ceiling)

Living room:

(a bit of paint and a new picture)

Hearth room:

(new furniture,

new paint, new fan)

And the finale--

the new kitchen:

(new...well, everything)

Before:

After:

LOVE IT!!!

Back in his running shoes

Mom and Dad were impressed

that even a 6:30am practice time

didn't deter me from running with Cross Country again

I like it!

My first meet was Monday.

I took it at my own pace,

staying in the pack

But at the end, 

I turned it ON

SMOKED HIM!

Doing it for the popsicles.

Our second meet today was a HUGE one

between 15 schools.

I hung back and let the crazy, jostling pack go ahead

(yep, I'm literally dead last).

All part of my plan

I finished in the first 1/3 to 1/2 (times aren't back yet).

But I did beat my friends Callum and Ryker.

That's something!

If they could just get our times out a little sooner--

surely I'm setting some personal records out here!

Tooth #2!

Look what happened!

I lost my second tooth!

I LOVE losing teeth--

I've been watching my brothers do it for so long

I'm glad to finally join the club!

I had to tell my buddy Ethan all about it.

 

CHIEFS!

Know what's better than Friday?

Red Friday.