Henley Invitational

I think this is our last 'home' run of the season.  Morgan has been doing well, but not really putting forth a strong effort.  I asked him to run hard and do his best today...meaning I didn't just want him to pace, I wanted him to RUN.

He looked awesome for most of the race, until the last 200 meters and then the pain started to kick in.

He finished the 5K race in 21:24, a PR.  Pat really wants to help him with his form, but Morgan isn't quite ready to listen yet.  Morgan has asked about the possibility of getting his nose fixed in the near future.  He has a terribly deviated septum and can hardly breath when he is even the least bit congested.  Maybe something to look forward to in the summer.

Kitchen Remodel and Anniversary

I guess you could say that we are officially finished.  Though I need to put up the backsplash and we are going to tile the front entry.  Hopefully, these things should get done before the end of the year.

In addition to the kitchen, we put new flooring in the dining room and took about 8 inches off the front entry wall.  We can now see from the kitchen into the front room.

The laundry closet that we removed is now a peninsula/bar that is 9.5 feet long.  The sink and dishwasher are also here.

Looking toward the dining room from the computer area.

Island area.

The new laundry room, where the old kitchen used to be.

We are very happy with the way it turned out.  It is so much more functional and I love cooking again.  Pat has already planned a couple of parties and after Oregon States whipping of USC, we are looking forward to our annual Civil War Party.

We also had an anniversary of sorts this past week.  9/25 was Morgan's diagnosis date.  3 years.  Obviously I have mixed emotions.  100 years ago he wouldn't be here, but we would all rather that there was a cure.  The past couple of weeks has been difficult trying to get his glucose back in range.  Must be another growth spurt on its way because his insulin needs have almost doubled again, even with running cross country.

Prefontaine

So the cross country team headed over to Coos Bay yesterday to run in the Prefontaine Race. I was checking in today to see where Morgan came in. I was told that it was just another fun race and that they were going to dress up. (Is there going to be a serious meet?) I heard that some of the girls were dressing in a 'Wizard of Oz' theme. Well, it took me 18 pages but I finally saw where Morgan finished.....895, right smack in the middle of a bunch of girls....9 of them from home and 3 from Coos Bay and my son. Go figure!

Mud Run

Yesterday was the 6th Annual Mazama Mud Run.  This is a fun race that Mazama High School hosts that draws schools from all over Southern Oregon and Northern CA.  There were 2 mud pits, a smaller one that people ran through twice and a much larger one that they ran through 3 times.  Morgan ran in the boys JV race, which was the 3rd race, so by the time he got there is was a thick, soupy pit.

Before the race...

nice and bright

The larger of the 2 pits.  This one was about waist deep.  The uphill side was very steep and after a few races was a very slippery slope.

When the runners came through, it reminded me of those scenes on TV when the wildebeast are crossing the river avoiding the gaitors and it is just mass chaos.

The second time through, cannonballs and flips are typically the norm.  Morgan performing a front flip, and yes I was worried that something would get broken!

You definately do not want to stand too close to the pit, nor do you want to be wearing anything light colored.

Fun after the race!

Morgan ran this race 3 years ago a few days before his diabetes diagnosis

Can You Call It Finished?

Even though there is no range in the kitchen?  My contractor finished his work except for finishing the back of the island, but we are waiting for a piece that had to be ordered.  I am hoping to get my electrical finished in the next day or two.  In the mean time, my microwave and frig are connected to extension cords and my range is in the laundry room.

It is so roomy, we all love it.  It opened the house up so much.

When I am not so exhausted, get the range in and the second frig out of the kitchen and into the laundry room, I will post more pictures.