#12

I'm so glad I finished #12 last night ~ as I woke up to an email saying my digital library loan had ended & the book was gone {poof} from my kindle.  So I can't give you any of my good quotes {I think there were two or three} and, for the first time, there won't be the first line or the last line.  But, oh well.  I could check it out again, but there are 45 people on the waiting list {I checked}.
#12 was Maeve Binchy's A Week in Winter.  Her last novel ~ as she is now dead.  I am saddened to know that this is the last Maeve I will read.  Her stories are so rich with real characters who have flaws and wrinkles, just as in real life.  They show what the human spirit is capable of ~ or not capable of.  She illustrates to me that much of our destiny is in the choice of attitude we have about our circumstances.

I Love Running

Why I love running.
Today was the Red Bird Run & because I'm a giant dork, I volunteered instead of running.  I was afraid I'd hurt myself for the half next weekend.  Now, I've never hurt myself running a 5k before...but why take chances?  So I volunteered to work the chute...making sure people stayed in order & kept moving...making sure that there wasn't the Turkey Day 5k fiasco of 2012.  Since we had a fraction of the runners, it wasn't even an issue.
But that's just the back story.  This is the story.
The mother of one of my 7th grade XC kids has recently started running.  Inspired by her child, who worked so hard during XC to do something that was not easy for her.  I've been following her progress on facebook, So I knew how much she had put into this.   She was so nervous to run today for many reason...all of which I think everyone in the running community can relate to.  It was her very first race EVER.  She had never run 3 whole miles before.  She didn't want to embarrass herself.  She didn't want to FAIL!  Haven't we all been there?  Whether your first 5k, your first half...my second half {kinda scared I'll fail}...Mike's first FULL...{Rather freaked out for him!}  We have ALL felt that feeling.  What if I'm not good enough?  What if it's too hot?  What if it's too cold?  What if I get sick?  What if I get hurt?  What if I just can't do it?
When she crossed the finish line she was tired, sore & elated!  She RAN the WHOLE way.  The PRIDE that she had in herself, the confidence in her ABILITIES, the JOY in accomplishing something once thought impossible, all something worth celebrating.  Human strength at it's best.
That is why I love running.

Brothers Barton

Yesterday's box scores:  Both Bartons score a win.



Shout out to Coach Mark Vidmar.  He pretty much made a dream come true for two Barton parents today. In the match against Chardon, he put Jacob & Patrick in at first doubles, together.  They didn't win...as Chardon's #1 & #2 were playing first doubles together...but they made it to deuce a few times.

 This has been a season to remember :)

Midnight Kid

Midnight Rider meets Billy the Kid

When Lake Catholic didn't bring a player for third singles, Patrick moved down to play first doubles with Billy.  Patrick went back to his car and grabbed his hat, so he could 'fit in' with Billy.  Bill saw him and ran to his car to grab his sunglasses.  Too Funny!

In the end Patrick removed the hat and Billy removed the sunglasses. 

And they won: 6-3; 6-0

Quite the doubles pair.  It was fun to watch them.

May is flying by

Some overdue stuff ~
First of all ~ the box scores from Monday's tennis match {the one I posted a picture of yesterday}~ Finally an initial in front of the Barton :)  While it was very cool to have both boys playing side-by-side, a victory would have been nicer.  SO.......

I would be remiss if I didn't add a previous box score ~ where Madison, as well as both Barton boys posted a victory.

 May is really going by tooo quickly.  I've got Patrick's graduation invitations mailed out & I'm furiously thinking about packing up my school room for the big move.  On top of that ~ I'm READY for my second 1/2 marathon {I do hope}.
We've also had the final band concert of the year {and of Patrick's career}.  He finally made the "good band" (where he is last chair) and Jacob is in the "bad band" (where he is first char).  I find it interesting that they both sit in the same spot in their respective bands.  They certainly dress up pretty well.

 AND the last thing I need to mention.  PROM was this past weekend.  And since I spent more on that tux rental than a new suit would have run me.  I better enjoy the pictures :)  The kids had fun & after the dance {Held at the Lodge in Geneva} they went to Maggie's and had a fire.

And ~ under the category of REALLY strange.  We received a very cute birth announcement in the mail telling us that Madison Paige Myers has been born to Perry and Erica Myers.  They live in Rome, Ohio.  And neither Mike nor myself have ANY idea who they are.  I even found them on facebook & their faces are not familiar in the slightest.  An interesting stalker fact I gleaned from FB...Perry graduated from Chardon...and he named his baby Madison.  It makes me wonder what he named his dog...Geneva?

  

There are a few possibilities:

1.  We do know them ~ and are too old to remember {scary ~ but possible}

2.  They know different Bartons ~ and have the wrong address {much less scary ~ much more likely}

3.  They sent announcements to random people ~ hoping for some extra gifts {weird ~ and unlikely}

And, I can't believe I forgot to write about this...I MADE MY GOAL WEIGHT!  I had become quite unhealthily obsessed with my Lose It! app...so I stopped cold turkey.  So a week without counting calories...and I'm keeping my weight consistent.  After my run on Saturday, May 4, I weigh in.  129.0.  DONE.  I did open my app and record that weight & I got all sorts of bells & whistles {kinda makes me want to set a new goal}  Then my allotted calories shot up 500/day.  I have to eat 1800 calories to maintain this size 6 body.  But I'm done counting.  I'm just using the scale and the feel of my pants {until they get too snug!}  but I should be ok, training for a marathon will keep me burning the calories.

Varsity singles

Patrick played second singles and Jacob played third. It was incredibly cool to watch both my boys play side by side. (Both lost, but played well)

Smart & Pretty

Let's start with the coolest:  Last night was Ninth Grade Academic Awards night at Madison High School.  My JB was given his award for being smart & was recognized at the "Top of Their Class" in English.  Pretty proud of the kid. I did make the joke that we was proficient in his native tongue...but thinking back, the boy didn't even start talking until he was three {and you couldn't understand him until he was 5} ~ so that makes it even more impressive.



Then there are my MAGNIFICENT MAGNOLIA trees.  I will let the pictures speak: