Saturday

Saturday was a busy day for us!  Will had a game Friday night and again Saturday morning.  He has another one tomorrow night!  He was pretty tired on Saturday morning and fell going after the first ball played.  After that, it took him a bit to warm up again.  Eventually, he did get back into the game and he got some great hits.  

Right after the game, we headed to the train museum which was open for free rides on the fully restored maintenance train they have.  Our friends met us there for a quick train ride and tour of the old cars.

The little yellow train went down the tracks and over the road and stopped just before the big CSX and Amtrak train tracks.  We happened to be there right as two Amtrak passenger trains were coming by.  It was pretty cool.

Kylie had swimming lessons after lunch and she ROCKED it.  There is a set of skills for each level and during this lesson alone, she mastered 6 skills.  Amazing!  She's working on flipping like a pancake while floating from front to back now.  After her lesson, Mom and the kids swam for about 30 minutes before Mom dropped the kids off at home with Dad and headed out to work at Girls' Night Out at the Y.  Phew!  A long day!

Photo Round-up

Mom and Kylie have spent some fun afternoons in the yard the past few weeks.  We try to do fun Mom and Kylie things on Tuesdays and Wednesdays since every other day is a work day or a busy school day.  We ate lunch on the trampoline, draw with chalk A LOT, practice baseball and football and play dolls.

Sometimes, we let Will join in when he gets home.

Last weekend, we went to a chalk art festival downtown.  Josh and Will were inspired to draw some 3D stuff at home.

Also, back on September 12th, Will lost his 2nd tooth.  In the backyard.  Off the trampoline.  He drew a map for the fairy to find it.  She left a note saying she found it and thanking him for the map.

Every afternoon we head out to the bus stop to meet Will.  Often, Kylie is still dressed from playtime with Mom.

Hooks Game 2

Will had another amazing baseball game this morning.  He is so naturally good at baseball and he really understands the rules and the situations of the game way above most of the kids his age.

He played left field (not much action there), pitcher and first base.  As pitcher I think he got 3 kids out at home plate by racing them there with the ball.  He even realized that if he couldn't beat the kid running home by the time he fielded the ball, he could throw to first to try to get another out.  Impressive thinking out there.

At first base, he pays such close attention to the plays.  We're still working on which foot belongs on the base.  

Race for Grace

Today was the annual Race for Grace.  This year was even bigger and more special than last year.  We represented Team Y again at a race to raise money for kids fighting cancer and their families, but, this year, TJ was their number 1 guy!  Each year, they select a child who is actively fighting cancer or a cancer like illness and this year, it was TJ!  

TJ, and his mom, Vanessa, were Y members before TJ was diagnosed and we have been with them through it all, delivering meals, support, prayers, visits, dog sitting, and organizing blood drives.

TJ is finally well enough to play with us again, and boy, he has energy stored up from all those months in the hospital.  The kids were THRILLED to hug him and play with him again.

There he is, getting pinned as the number 1 runner.

Some of our 'team' ran the 5K, so we cheered them on.

TJ ran through the finish of the 5K, jumping out of the stroller to run with the kids to the end.

There was a 300yd Rookie Run which Kylie, Izzy, Sadie, Abby, little Ethan, Ramsey, TJ, and Lilly all did.

The bigger boys did the 1 mile fireman chase.

Alex and Will raced to the finish line.  Will's time was 11:44 and Alex's was 11:45.  It was a close one.

The rescue helicopter made it's big appearance on the soccer field while we all gathered to watch.

Then, TJ got to go up in the bucket up on the ladder truck!

After that, it was the Xtreme 1 miler with firefighters in full gear, on oxygen tanks.  Firefighter Bob did that one!

After all the races are done, we released balloons to Grace Oughton, the race's namesake, and all the other cancer fighters who fought the battle but didn't win.

This kid, though, he is winning.