Stick a fork in them, the Reds are DONE

Within the last couple of years, the Chicago Cubs had a losing streak that reached double digits.  It was either their 11th or 12th loss where they lost the game on a bases loaded hit-batsman.  WHAT????  Who does that???  I remember at the time the mockery from the media going along the lines of...the Cubs were so bad they were actually finding new ways to lose.

Ugh.  Fast forward to 2014.  The Cincinnati Reds are not a bad team.  They do however, seem to be a rather unlucky and oft injured team.  Joey Votto has been on the DL since early July and isn't coming back anytime soon (my guess would be not this season at all).  Brandon Phillips just returned to the lineup after going on the DL shortly after Votto.  Our phenom closer Aroldis Chapman began the season on the DL after having his face practically dislocated in spring training by a line drive (if you don't understand what I mean, be glad...it's not a mental image you want to have).  Mat Latos, our #2 starting pitcher began the season on the DL.  Jay Bruce, an all-star outfielder, spent a stint on the DL.  Skip Schumaker, our #1 bench player began the season on the DL, and then was placed on the 7-Day Concussion DL right before the All-Star break.  Not a big deal, except that he was the back up to Phillips at second base.  Ramon Santiago filled in and when he was unable to play due to shoulder stiffness from a play he made, we were on our FOURTH STRING SECOND BASEMAN.  I mean, seriously, are you kidding me?  Todd Frazier has been our bright spot, and of course our pitching is lights out...as long as our starters can go seven complete innings and we can get to Broxton for the 8th and Chapman for the 9th (who is currently unavailable due to shoulder issues).  Middle relief...don't even go there.

This year's rookie manager has seen things in his inaugural year of managing that some never see in their careers.  For instance, the Reds and Rockies had their game Saturday in Denver postponed...due to a water main break downtown.  Yeah, that happens all the time (sarcasm, folks)!  They were all set to play the day/night double header on Sunday, when the game was delayed in the first inning due to weather.  Well now, who doesn't love the prospect of MORE time at a ballpark on the day of a double header?  And of course, Price probably feels he has earned a medical degree this year with all the time he has spent in conversations with the training staff.

This brings us to Tuesday night.  I did not stay up to watch the entire game because school is back in session and there was yet another rain delay.  We are also in the midst of a losing streak and it just isn't fun right now.  Still, I was not at all prepared to wake up yesterday to find out the Reds had lost (not a huge surprise) on a bases loaded hit-batsman.  Okay folks, that's the low.  You know the season is done when that is how you extend a losing streak (that they extended yet again last night).  Hall of Fame writer Hal McCoy wrote in his blog that the fans don't even seem to care...there is no riled up anger like there was in all those years that this happened with Dusty Baker.  My thought is this...Dusty Baker often managed as though he was going to stand there and get that square peg into the round hole...there was no talking him out of it.  He was not about to change his methodology no matter how many times you attempted to explain anything to him.  Bryan Price has been the exact opposite of that.  He as tried nearly as many different line-ups as there have been games.  Granted, part of that was necessity because someone who played yesterday may be injured today, but he was the first to admit when something didn't seem to be working.  He wanted to try something new.

It's also my opinion that Reds fans aren't angry...who is there to be angry at?  The baseball injury gods?  That's all I've got.  If anything, as a fan I'm much more sad than angry...sad that this team had so many injuries that they just couldn't compete at the level we had hoped, and probably expected.  I love this team, more than any team I can remember in recent history.  I love these players and their personalities.  I love Brayan Pena's smile (anyone who follows the Reds will know what I mean!) and I love the effort this team has shown...all of which just kind of adds to the sadness that this team is just done.  The season is cooked, and it's time to look towards football.

Finding this year's routine

Generally speaking, not much has changed about this year's routine.  Technically, Robert & Catherine's schools begin ten minutes earlier, but the bus is only coming about five minutes earlier.  And technically as well, Thomas's school begins ten minutes later, but the bus doesn't seem to be coming any later...so no major changes in our morning routine.  We did have to work out the bus stop situation for Catherine.  Robert rides to school with Andrew, and Catherine could do the same and catch a transfer bus to the middle school, but she has no classes with her best friend Emily, and the morning bus ride is their only time together.  Because there are more kids in the neighborhood getting on the bus, the stop is no longer at our driveway.  We ended up switching corners to one a little further away, but that I can see from the porch.  I'm still not crazy about her out there in the dark by herself though, so I think we are going to work on getting her a flashlight so I know that any drivers out there are aware she is there, and I'll watch from the porch.

Our after school is a little more challenging.  Thomas's bus doesn't get here until 4:45...really late if you have older kids with activities!  Everyday after school except Wednesday, Robert & Catherine have cross country practice until 4:30, and on Monday & Thursday he has marching band practice from 6-8:30.  He came to the conclusion himself that it's pretty silly to come home in between, so right now he is packing extra food and just hanging out at the school between the two events.  I don't really like not having everyone home for dinner every night, but I have come to accept that we now have a high schooler, and this is the way it's going to have to be.

I am grateful that it's been a pretty smooth transition to school this year.  I'm grateful that everyone seems to enjoy their classes and their teachers, and I'm optimistic it's going to be a great year!

Nope, nope, not at all for me!

After yesterday's experience of trotting alongside Catherine, I insisted that today we run around our "block".  It was an "off" day for cross country, but they were supposed to do at least 30 minutes of work outs on their own, and I was going to go with her.  It has been confirmed.  I still HATE running.  Hate it with every fiber of my being.  My body was clearly not cut out for this form of exercise.  Now if you will excuse me, there is a TylenolPM calling my name!

Cross country has begun

Yesterday was the official kick off of cross country meets...and I love this sport!  I remember my mom telling me that she always enjoyed watching my uncle run in his meets.  My dad ran too, although he did it mostly just to stay in shape for track.  Anyway, we had to venture to just outside of downtown Cincinnati for yesterday's meet...during Cincinnati rush hour traffic.  YIKES!  So grateful for my fabulous husband who doesn't mind driving in that nearly as much as I do!  We were able to see both kids prior to running and then figured out our plan for watching the race (sometimes we just plant ourselves at the start/finish line, but since this one had different spots we decided to become more "mobile" spectators).  Junior high girls ran right before high school boys, so Robert wasn't able to watch Catherine run.  Probably just as well...he is pretty critical of her.  Honestly, we've all been a little critical of Catherine's effort, or lack thereof, when it comes to her training.  She started off strong yesterday though, and I thought perhaps she was going to surprise us.

About half way through though, she stopped running.  In fact, I became concerned that she might have collapsed somewhere on the course because the last group of runners had passed and she was nowhere to be seen.  Eventually she came into view again, and anytime she would pass us, she started running again, although I could tell she had a pained expression on her face.  At about the last half mile mark, she was completely left behind and walking with her hand on her side.  I ran to meet her, and told her we were going to finish the race together.  Now, anyone who knows me know that I absolutely HATE to run...I would pretty much prefer almost any medical procedure to running...just HATE it.  But my daughter was struggling, and she was going to finish this race.  I'll be honest, inside my head I had my doubts as to whether or not I could even do it with her because I'm not exactly in running shape.  When she saw me running though, I saw Catherine set her jaw and begin to run alongside me.  Tears began to form in her eyes from the side cramp, but she kept running with me, and I actually kept running too, somehow!  She finished in just over 27 minutes, almost double the winning time...but most importantly, she finished.

One of the things I love about cross country is that no matter where you finish or how long it takes, teammates are along the "tunnel" at the finish to cheer you.  That was true in Catherine's case as well.  I remember looking up and seeing a teammate, Jenna, who is going to be a star in cross country someday, cheering on Catherine and reminding her she was almost done and to finish strong.  It meant a lot to Catherine that she was still being cheered on at the end, and she took that lesson to heart.  During the high school boys race, she positioned herself near the finish line and she cheered on and clapped for every single runner, even those that finished long, long after the others, as he headed down to the finish line.

Robert's race was much less dramatic and eventful.  After his success during track season, we had anticipated that a strong cross country season.  He ran 14:27, which was a PR for him in two miles.  I have to remember though, that he is now running against kids who are three years older than him, so the fact that someone finished in 11 minutes shouldn't be a shock.  This was a two-miler warm up race and most of his races will be three miles this year.  I have no doubt that he will continue to improve as the season goes along, and Catherine certainly has plenty of room for improvement as well!

This year's first day of school

Everyone is off and at 'em for the first day of school.  Oh my goodness, it is unbelievably quiet in this house.  Thomas got on the bus about ten minutes ago, and I have almost eight hours until anyone will be home again.  I know that I'll grow accustomed to it again and quickly, but right now it is almost eerie how silent it is.  I thought I would be so excited to have some quiet alone time again, but honestly, it's just too quiet.

I was a little unprepared for some of the emotions I felt this morning.  Going through all of this brought back so many reminders and feelings from doing this last year.  While I am so very grateful that things are smooth and I am sure it's going to be a great year, I couldn't help but feel the feelings again, and they aren't feelings I am in any hurry to experience again.  Even though the stress of last year is over, it felt palpable this morning.  It's one of the many reasons I am grateful I won't be working for a few weeks...we need this time to adjust to our routine without any other changes or stress, and I'm grateful that we can make that happen!

A year in this house

Exactly one year ago today we moved into our home.  I just can't believe a year has gone by...what a heck of a year it has been!  There is part of me that is sad it's been a year because I feel this date marks the beginning of the year of stress.

There have been so many good things about this move though.  We could not be happier about the kids and the schools...these schools are AMAZING.  I am also very proud to live in the district where my husband teachers.  It has been very humbling to hear what a fabulous teacher he is, and I just have absolute certainty that this is where we are supposed to be.

I am also filled with such pride about my kids.  Two years ago, Robert made the decision to leave behind a negative situation and break out into the unknown.  He did not HAVE to come here...he decided he wanted to be here on his own.  I am certain that no matter how bad things might've been, I never would've made the same decision at his age.  And I am also so proud of Catherine and Thomas.  They didn't have the choice like Robert did...we were moving and they had to go with it.  NEVER once did they complain.  They have been filled with excitement and enthusiasm from the very beginning.  They never once showed any doubt or nervousness about starting over in a new school system last year.  My children have inspired me in ways I couldn't even imagine.

Andrew and I have spoken many times over the last year how much I love this house.  What I really love though, is the life we have in this house.  I grow more grateful every day and feel amazingly blessed to be living this life!

Last day for sleeping in

I am grateful that we finished the summer on "high" note...although Monday morning's wake up times are going to be soooo early!  Originally we were told that Catherine & Robert's bus would be arriving at 6:10, but we received a phone call last week that moved it back to last year's time of 6:35/6:40.  Robert doesn't plan to ride the bus, but Catherine will be.  Their school is starting 5 minutes earlier and getting out 10 minutes earlier, while Thomas's school begins 10 minutes later and gets out 10 minutes later.  He is not currently scheduled to get off the bus until 4:45, which is a real pain for those of us that have older kids in activities.  There may be many days that I arrive to pick him up at school in order to get us out the door and going!

Last evening we were able to meet Thomas's teachers.  As a fifth grader, he now has "team" of teachers and not just the one.  I am excited about the year for him.  Catherine received her schedule in the mail, and although I don't know all of her teachers, I am pleased about the ones that she did get.  Robert received his schedule at a meeting, although we already knew which teachers he had because Andrew had gone into guidance last spring and gone over the schedule with the counselor (a "perk" to being a teacher in the district).

I am so grateful to be settled (or as much as we'll ever be) and to be looking forward to the school year!