The Color Run 2016

Back in April, we signed up under the team "Lithuanian Express", led by our fearless leader to participate in the Color Run on August 20.  In May, when the boys were off-track, we practiced "walking without whining" for three weeks, where I took the big boys on a 2-3 mile walk while Quinn was in school.  After those couple weeks, I was confident that Wyatt would do just great walking a 5k and I already knew that Elliott could probably run the thing.

Fast forward to Saturday, the 20th.  Our team also included the Binggeli's, Meranda and Pedro and Natalie.  We arrived early in the morning and on time and participated fully in our matching t-shirts, sweat bands and enthusiasm.

Elliott decided to run the whole thing with Willie - they finished in about 30 minutes.  Wyatt and I walked, mostly with James and Jack and the two of us finished in 54 minutes.  The others were either before us or behind us, with Haley and Molly bringing up the rear, Molly riding in the wagon.

As if we weren't coated in enough color at the finish line, we threw the packets of color they gave us all over ourselves and were sweaty and sticky rainbows when it was finished.

Upon purchasing the celebratory slurpees and diet cokes, the boys declared this activity one of the most fun things they have ever done and asked if we can do it again next year.

Of course we can!

Before Pictures:






After the race:

Quinn's first day of preschool

Friday, August 19th was Quinn's first day, of his second year of preschool.  He is in the 3-4 year old group, even though he will turn 4 on September 2.  Being the oldest has it's perks I suppose, there is a little girl in his preschool class who is turning three on August 31.  I'd rather my kid be the oldest than the youngest, that's for sure.

He is also the biggest.  No shocker there.

We lucked out and signed him up with the same teacher, Mrs. Beuhler, that he had for the mini 3 group from January - May of this year.

He was nervous at orientation, but when it was time to go on Friday, he was ready.  He knew what to do, and did it well.  Most importantly, he was happy and excited to tell me all about the first day on the ride home.  Hooray, Quinn!

The Griswold's go :: Las Vegas

We'd had the idea for a while - a quick trip to Las Vegas to eat some good food, hit up some outlet malls and then head home.  After some back and forth we decided to make it work as the tip-off to the boys second summer 3 weeks off track.

Bad idea.

Long story short - it was one of those ill-fated trips from the beginning.  I'll spare you the details but they involved heat (114 degrees in the shade), poorly planned sleeping arrangements, and two parents who couldn't get on the same page.

Either way, the kids had a good time.  We ate chicken fingers at Raising Canes, went to the Hoover Dam, shopped, ate at Shake Shack (which Elliott declared to be the best hamburger of his life) and sweated a lot.

Back to School :: 2016-17 School Year

Well, as of today, the boys have been back to school for a whole week.  They returned to dual immersion Spanish and new grades, Elliott 4th and Wyatt 2nd on Tuesday, July 26 and we had back to school night a couple days after.

Back to school is pretty uneventful, mostly because it was just three weeks from when the previous school year ended.  Elliott's English language teacher, after the second day of school was hospitalized and he finished out the week with a substitute.  We received a letter from the administration yesterday that his teacher of two days, had a stroke! and had resigned her position.  I feel so bad.  We never met her, Elliott was unable to describe what she looked like, how old she was, or anything specific about her so she will forever remain a mystery.  A new teacher has been hired and will start on Monday.  I look forward to meeting her.





Otherwise, we've fallen quite nicely into our routine.   The boys keep growing up faster than I'm ready for.  Quinn starts school in two weeks and then I'll have two hours, three days a week where I will be completely by myself....whatever will I do?  Probably mope around and be lonely.