Rinkel Family: Cross Country and Birthdays

Valynn started cross country a couple of weeks ago. She seems to be enjoying it (well maybe not so much after she gets done running and is tired, but during the run). She has had three meets and has improved every time. Her time from the first meet was 17:57. The second meet she was the 5th Princeville girl to finish and had a time of 16:29. The third meet she finished first for the Princeville girls and had a time of 16:38. The last meet was on a very hilly course. Valynn and another 6th grade course "dogged" it in practice so the first meet he didn't expect much and they have surprised him. Valynn is now running harder at practice. I know she struggles because her good friend is also doing cross country and Valynn likes to run with her and visit, but her friend isn't as fast. School is going well. Valynn is switching classrooms this year. She is going to do declamations this year (kind of like speech). Practice will be starting up for that soon as well.

Kyra turned 7 on August 21st. She had a party on the 23rd with 7 friends. They played on the slip and slide and had a lot of fun. School is going well.

Kyleigh turned 5 on August 27th. She starts school next week. I never realized how hard to was to entertain mom when the others were at school but Kyleigh has napped 14 of the 16 days since school has started.

Mason turned 10 on September 3rd. He is having a party tomorrow. He has adjusted to school. His first soccer tournament of the fall is next weekend.

I'm keeping busy with PTO, I had my first meeting as president on Tuesday. I'm getting things ready for Rally Sunday at church this weekend.

Mark took today and tomorrow off of work. He is digging up the dirt around the foundation of the house to put a dry lock on, possibly plastic along the outside wall, and drainage tiles if needed. He's trying to stop water from entering the basement. He will also be putting egress windows in. Once that is done we will continue working on the basement and hopefully finish it within the next couple of years.

Valynn is the second runner from the left. This was the first meet and we've been working on her form.

At the end of her first race.

Kyra's bunny cake.

Kyra and Kyleigh being good at Valynn's third cross country meet. Understandably they are bored so it was a bonus that this meet was at a park. To make it every better, we stopped for ice cream sundaes for supper after this meet! Lots of mom points scored! Mason was happy because we let him stay home alone for about 90 minutes when he got home from school before Mark picked him up for soccer practice.