Track awards banquet - tooting their horns

Toby getting his award (I used to be able to embed these videos, but sadly I don't know how to embed "shorts" (the verticle videos))

Opal's award speech

This year Coach Pfarr said she was doing something she'd never done before. She called all of the Ryan kids up and all of the McCauley kids (two other middle/elem. kids they run with) and said these families basically dominate all of the races they compete in, and she gave them an opportunity to "toot their own horns" 😂

Awesome season, Ryan runners! They just have one more non-affiliated run on Saturday, the Wisco mile. And then they'll take a few weeks break before beginning training for cross country.

Mother-Daughter retreat {take 2}

Last weekend I had the opportunity to go on the same Mother-Daughter retreat with Opal that I went on with Iris back in January, but this time at Covenant Harbor Retreat Center in Lake Geneva. I liked the venue before, but between the weather, the beautiful surroundings and nature we were actually able to get out into (we had negative temps for the other retreat), the smaller, intimate group that we got to know and converse with more this time, and just the whole vibe in general, this one took the cake.

(Photos heisted from their website) While I liked the simple convent-ish cells of my last retreat with Iris, our rooms this time were luxurious. And we had a shared cross-through door with our friends- bonus!

Our picturesque view...

Always running (and matching when they can)

Up in the woods behind the retreat center, there was a "Big Swing," which we took turns riding, two at a time.

Opal and I also went together. I wish I'd brought my phone with me to this activity, but these were the photos that were shared with me.

I totally won tug-o-noodle against Opal AND Ella!

Bedtime crafting

I think this was my favorite of the five sessions, just because it was outside, in this lovely spot. We could hear the waves lapping at the sides of this gazebo dock, and it was just so peaceful.

There were only five girls (and their five moms), and after the first meal, we had moms and daughter tables, so we really got to know the others and not just the friends we came with, like last time.

I'm so grateful for the closer connections Opal and I were able to make on this retreat, and for the ways we got to know each other even better. She is such a gift to me!

Opal is 13!

Last Wednesday, we celebrated Opal turning THIRTEEN. And we again celebrated with Grandma and Grandpa (we celebrated her birthday with them three weeks prior, not knowing they would be returning this past weekend for another reason)

I wish I'd gotten a picture with her best friend, Ella, who was beside her at the table here 🤦🏻‍♀️

We had a wonderful day celebrating our adventurour, original, talented, humble, kind-hearted, studious, speedy, godly girl! Happy birthday, Opal! We love you!

Wisconsin State meet- Go Opal!

Our whole family (minus Jack, who was across the pond) drove up to Waupun last Saturday to watch Opal run in the Middle School State track meet. She has been running with the Homeschool Eagles based down in the Beloit/Clinton area and has really been enjoying her season. The coach is an Olympian qualifier herself, and she has coached Olympic athletes. She has an awesome, all for God mindset when coaching, and it's been an amazing experience for Opal to train under her. She improved a lot througout the season and qualified in the 1600m with a time of 6:04, the 800m with a time of 2:44 and the 4x400m relay with some other girls she's been running with this year on the.

Two weeks prior to State, I ended up taking her to the ER in the middle of the night due to excruciating pain in both legs. She said they felt tingly and she could not keep them still. After I had given her IBProfin with no improvement, I took her in. They said it sounded like severe dehydration (despite the fact that the child dedicatedly drinks her body weight in ounces of water with added electrolytes every day) and muscle cramps. She has been adding some oral magnesium glucinate to her diet at the advice of her doctor and coach, as well as some topical magnesium and other remedies, and things have improved for her a little (still waiting to see when we can get a bloodwork panel for her).

She ultimately decided to scratch the 1600m at State in order for her to focus on her best event, the 800m. This would also allow her best friend, Ella, to run the 1600m at State! She was originally 11th, which was one spot shy of qualifying, but this bumped her up. It was nice that all of the girls who ran in their relay also had another event they were competing in, and we enjoyed cheering them all on.

The day couldn't have been nicer. It was in the 60s, with little wind.

AS typical with Opal, she started in the back of the pack, but I wasn't worried. She runs such smart races, with even splits.

In this video, you can see her around the 300m mark, still squarely in last, but she didn't wear herself out in the first lap like some of those other girls.

Sadly, that pass on the curve cost her a second. Can we just take a look at how big those other girls are compared to Opal? These are all 6th grade girls.

And here is the final lap-- she told us after the race, with a smile, she knew she didn't have the long legs/kicks of some of those girls, and she wanted to give herself as much of a lead as possible going into the final stretch. Such smart racing.

3rd place, but only missed 1st by a smidge! So proud of this girl's dedication and hard work. Looking forward to co-coaching you in cross country this upcoming season, Opal! <3