Sunday, November 30, 2025

November Leftovers

November is always busy with work but extra so this year as we had our 5 year cafe celebration. It is, also, the month for Beach's favorite holiday, Thanksgiving.  We had a few other moments including a visit with my sister and family where we got to see Josiah, too!
It was brief but sweet.
I guess Shiloh had some selfie time with my mom on my phone.
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Drinks and snacks while we wait for our pick up order!
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The business of the month means Beach often falls asleep in random places at times, maybe even the dinner table. 
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Other selfies found on my phone for the month...
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Zoe came out in this handband and it reminded me of one she had that was similar when she was a baby.
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We match!  I suppose it calls for a picture.
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Beach enjoys making a cheesecake for the holidays each year.  This time Ezra helped as well.
I later found him on the floor inspecting it cooking!
And then even later found Beach doing the same thing! 😂
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When you kids choose to smosh into each other while waiting and you attempt to take a picture, it made Ezra flee.
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Zoe went to a Josiah Queen concert with a friend and ran into the cousins!
Much of the other time was working with little pictures to show for it.😃

Sunday, November 16, 2025

XC Season Round Up

One of the things that Zoe enjoys the most about school is Cross Country, her coach, and teammates. While the training began in the summer, the actually races started in August.
The first one was pretty muddy!
 
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The girls team is pretty small this year with mostly new runners.
Zoe was excited to be team captain again.
Many early Saturday mornings to watch our girl do what she enjoys!
Some XC courses are easier to see them run at different points.
Finishing strong!
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Another day, another race, this time after school on a very hot day...
Zoe's best buddy on the team runs a similar pace as her, so they enjoy running together and pushing each other.
She's cute even post race (and throwing up).
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Mean mugging me before another race...
Just kidding their silly!
Sprint to the finish!
Zoe was so excited to see her friend and former teammate that has already graduated had come to cheer her on.
She made a cute sign and everything!
Such a sweet blessing!
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Some of the team went to Aiken to check out the trail for the state meet that was soon to come.
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A beautiful night for a race....
Pacing with her buddy!
Finish line in sight!
After meet hang time, I found them on the playground.
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The team had a service project for Mission Lexington.
Sorting and packing...
and a little shopping afterward.
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Ezra had a great time when he was able to go to the meets.  He was the manager for the team and participated in their practices.  Since he was just in 6th grade, he could not run in the meets yet but was fully supported by the team.
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We held the final XC banquet at the cafe.  I snagged a photo with a couple of the coaches and Ezra.  So thankful for all their hard work!
Zoe ended up getting VIP for the girls team, which she was surprised about.
Zoe loved having these special girls on the team with her!
We took a few more pictures on the patio.
Lots of giggles
Reenacting the 6-7 and disgust over it that the year was full of everywhere it seemed.
Sweet girls and friendship that was such a blessing.
And that's a wrap.  Zoe would say XC was her favorite thing about school, including her coach and teammates, and she was sad for it to come to an end.  Ezra blended in well and it was a good fit for him, too.  They are both looking forward to joining in next year for continued fun and connection!