XC

 

Maggie is doing cross country this fall.  Her friends are all doing it is well, and it seems like she's having fun!  But this picture shows the agony of the first meet, at which is was nearly 100 degrees with horrible humidity.  I only saw one girl vomit.  Maggie survived, and this week in the cooler weather she was the most improved on her team!  Go Tigers!

 

 Serious at the start!  Check out Mairead and Phoenix on their mark!

  

It was a beautiful setting this week!

Size comparison

Hopefully Rumpus won't roll over and accidentally squash Oliver someday.

New Grinnellian!

As the three of you who look at this blog probably already know, we were thrilled when we found out that Sarah, oldest daughter of our good friends from Madison days, Pete and Paula, chose to come to Grinnell College this fall!  Of course, we think Grinnell is an awesome school, and she is going to have a great time there.  But this means Pete and Paula and Norah will have to come visit!  Woot!  They live much too far away in Maine.  AND we will hopefully be able to steal Sarah away from campus every once in while, even though she will be monumentally busy with classes, friends, and activities! 

It's only the beginning of the semester, so we stole her away last night and took her to the annual heirloom tomato tasting at Grinnell Heritage Farm just on the edge of town.  It's the source of our CSA veggie share, but they sell organic produce to places like the New Pioneer Co-op and Whole Foods as well.  Anyway, it was too hot, but it was still fun to go out, walk among the kale, listen to a little bluegrass music, and enjoy a potluck dinner with folks from all over central Iowa.  We were hoping to give Sarah a little (and literal) taste of Grinnell!  And we're just really happy to have her here in G-town. 

First movie trailer

The two Ms amused themselves mightily making this trailer.  One of Maggie's first movies on her new school Macbook!

Annie

Much of Maggie's summer (and ours) was devoted to the community theater production of "Annie." She was Pepper (the mean one!). She had a fantastic time, and I thought she did a great job! I was also pleasantly surprised at the quality of the show. Cuz y'know...community theater. Some of her best buds were in the show, which made it extra special. My mom and dad and sis Noelle came to to town to see the show, and my mom got some good pics!

Sigh...

I've kind of had it with this weather.

Brown Belt!

Max earned his brown belt in tae kwon do last week.  He was very proud (as he should be).  I am continually impressed by his memory in tkd.  I always ask him to help me with the forms because he remembers them all!  Our instructor, Mr. Gibson, said some very nice things to Max (as he always does) when he was tying on his new belt.  He told Max that he was very impressed with his seriousness and focus, and that Max would be successful in whatever he wanted to try with those skills.  Mr. Gibson also told Max it would be cool if he waited for Maggie and I to catch up, and we all tested for our temporary black belts together.  I kinda think it would be cool for Max to be the first in the family to be a black belt!!