Bicycle Built for two

Note:  My posts are now officially a little out of order. We were excited about this bike, so we posted this right away. This happened today, just after Miles’ second soccer practice (post still in draft) Please be patient with the upcoming 'back-dating' - GASP!


Yes…  this sounds like the beginning of a really romantic post.  Sorry to burst the bubble so soon – it’s not!
BUT it is about the creation of a GREAT family moment and committing it to a written log of my favorite memories.

Nate’s former boss was cleaning out his garage and donated a  tag-a-long bike to us. We are thankful and EXCITED!  After assembling a few needed parts and pumping up tires, Nate and Miles were off!

I was super excited to be armed with a camera to catch the first moments in action!   I’m positive we have a new favorite family activity!!

  
As they passed by, I’d hear things like:
“We’re going so fast!”  “This is so fun!”  “Mom, we’re going to race you!”

I asked Nate, afterwards, what the ride was like.  He giggled and said that Miles kept singing as the ride continued…He can’t remember the song, but it was something similar to the wheels on the bus :)  Nate also said that Miles was a chatterbox – if he wasn’t singing about riding the bike, some action/adventure/exciting observation was being narrated.

Precious!

I REALLY wanted to snap more photos and videos, but Miles and Nathan were FAST and disappeared around the block often.  Then, they’d sneak up from the opposite direction, finding me surprised and trying to conserve the camera battery.

We did go on a second bike ride later this evening, but I left the camera behind so that I could enjoy the outing from my own bike instead of the curb.  I’m sure there will be more photo documentation to come, but this very short video will have to do for now :)

Bicycle Built for Two

Great day! Soccer practice and TWO bike rides!! Wow, I hope he sleeps well :)
Happy Saturday to all of you!

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Posted in: Bikes,Miles,Nathan,Video

Miles’ first Soccer Practice

Yes…. Miles has officially started his first organized sport: SOCCER!

Though this week’s favorite sport seems to be baseball, soccer was the obvious choice for Miles to learn how to be a team player.  Athletic fundamentals never seem to be an issue for him, but paying attention to his coach and sharing the spotlight have proven difficult.

The league started last Saturday (the day before Easter). He has 2 Saturday morning practices, and then 7 games.   His team… the Yellow hornets! 

Here he is dressing up for practice.  If you know Miles well at all, you understand how important his attire is for EACH and EVERY sport he plays! Check: Soccer shorts, sweatband, fast shirt, fast shoes, shin guards and soccer socks!!

At the field, Miles met new friends and his coach.  He ran a couple of drills and proved himself keeping up with the 5 year olds just fine.

After they warmed up,  Miles kept shouting, “I’m so pumped up! Let’s do this!” Ha – where does he get this stuff?

He was quick to make friends and talked their little ears off. He loves to show off what he knows and who he knows.    He’s also a great helper, trying to teach others his athletic wisdom :)

After practice, Nate and I took Miles to an open field, used sticks to set up a goal and practiced the drills run during practice. He’s a quick learner and a show off!

 

Next practice is when we get the shirts! 

Go Yellow Hornets!!

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Posted in: Miles,soccer,Video

Shamrock Recap, 2012

The Shamrock Shuffle was a family affair!


I hadn’t run Chicago’s Shamrock Shuffle 8K before, but wanted to give it a shot.  It’s the race that kicks off Chicago’s outdoor running season! Rather than running it with 39,999 strangers, I opened up the idea to several friends.

I know, for some of you, family and friends cannot be used interchangeably, however, I am one of those lucky people who can.

Runners and goals:
My goal was to finish.  For my first time running any distance for a first time, I don’t have a PR to try and beat.  My goal is always to soak in the atmosphere and finish the race.  Deep down, I wanted to hit 47 minutes and 14 seconds for a 9:30 pace per mile. I like this calculator for setting my goals…

Nate joined in!  I was super excited that we could do this together. He was up for the challenge, but seriously loathes running. His goal – to beat me!

Next to sign up were my sister, Sarah, and my soon-to-be BIL, Scott!  Sarah had been running short distances and was training for a few weeks for the race to increase her mileage.  Her goal was to finish! On the other hand, Scott ran in high school and set an INSANE goal for himself.  He challenged his high school self to a brutal dual.

Last to commit was my brother, Russ!  He’s the outdoorsy runner type.  He runs for fun, not so much for distance or time, but for the opportunity to get outside and enjoy nature. His hope was to keep a faster pace than he held for his 10 Miler last fall.

WaHOO for 5 runners….. + 39,995 strangers!


We had the best spectators, by far!  My parents came to help watch Miles. Kelly (Russ’s wife) also joined in for the family adventure.  She had plans for their cute little 6mo old niece. Last, but not least, my youngest sister, Emily tagged along.  She gave up the tail end of her spring break for this family weekend.  I’m going to speak for everyone else (I know – nothing new) and say ‘thanks fans!” THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!  We wouldn’t have had near as much fun without you!

Now onto race day!
Here’s the course map and the ‘players.

Aren’t we an adorable group?!

Here’s two of the spectators. They both love to people watch!
 

Out of respect for the other runners, I will only share my time.  However, I will tell you that everyone met or surpassed their goals despite forgetting to start watch timers, failing GPS’s bouncing off the huge buildings, and the overwhelming crowd.

Bib

FName

LName

City

State

Country

Age

Sex

ChipTime

ClockTime

Overall

SexPl

DivPl

23237

Kelly

Klinge

Chicago

IL

United States of America

30

F

49:21

1:35:39

17705

7624

1644

My pace was 9:55 per mile.  Yes, I met my “finish the race” goal, but an obligatory port-a-potty stop messed with my secondary goal. That urgent scare kind of makes me want to give up running/racing all together.  Eh… there’s always next year!

Anyway… congrats runners! 
I’m so proud of each of you and happy you made the trip to Chicago!!


Oh.. and want to know how we relaxed the night before??

Super fun family weekends are my favorite :)

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Posted in: Banwarth's,Chicago,Kelly,Miles,Nathan,running

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Luckily... the Doctor is in!

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Posted in: Instagram

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Everyone's sick tonight.

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Things my kid says

Set up: Just hanging out on the couch after dinner.
Miles: Dad - you have a ring on your finger. Rings are girl things. Why are you wearing a ring?
Nate: Mommy gave me this ring
Miles: Why?
Nate: Ah...  (long pause) Well, I love mommy and mommy loves me. We gave each other rings and got married.
Miles: Oh. Ok.
Fast forward a week or so, a new conversation that came from nowhere..!
Miles: Mom - I'm going to give Spree a ring.  She's going to give me a ring too.
Kelly: Oh really?!
Miles:  Yeah, I want a ring. Spree is my friend.
Kelly: Ok.. let's wait and see.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Set up: In the car
Miles: I am 3. My birthday is in October. On my birthday, I will be 4. After I am 4, I will be 5. When I am 5, I will be taller, taller, taller.  I will be tall just like my daddy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Set up: While in Iowa to attend a funeral, we had a big meal at Grandma and Grandpa's house. We all took our seats and quieted down for the prayer.
Miles waited the usual pause and simultaneously started to pray with Grandpa.
Miles: Dear Jesus,.....
Grandpa: Father, Bless...
They both pause, glance at each other, pause again, regain composure and start the blessing over.
Miles: Dear Jesus,.....
Grandpa: Father, Bless...
This time they pause and kind of flip each other a little glare.  Who's stepping on who's toes now?
Miles:  (sigh) Dear Jesus,.....
Grandpa: (sigh) Father, Bless...
Then...
Grandpa (being the bigger man! with a little giggle): Ok, Miles.  You go first, I'll go second...
Miles: Ok. Dear Jesus, thank you for this food.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Set up: I was scraping out the last bit of the applesauce from the cup for Miles when he exclaimed this gem.
Miles: Hey Girl, You got skills!Insert super cheesey grin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Set up: After walking around downtown Chicago, watching all of the Green Festivities for St. Patrick's day, we decided to eat dinner at an Irish Pub.  We got a table right in front of a TV blaring the ISU vs Kentucky game for round 2 of the NCAA tournament.  Miles was very into the game, as usual. After finishing our meals, we walked to the nearest bus stop.  Miles asked to run ahead to throw his trash in a can near the stop.
Miles took off running, spun, jumped and disposed of this trash!
Miles:  Dad, did you see that?  I bammed it!
Nate: Sweet bam, Miles!
Miles: Yeah, I know!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Set up: The three of us were eating our "big" Easter meal.
Nate explains, to Miles, where turkeys live, the sounds they make, and how they end up on our dining table.  Miles breaks out in song...
Miles:
Patty Cake, Patty Cake, hunting man
Make me turkey as fast as you can
Roll it
Pat it
Mark it with my pee.
Put it in the oven for daddy and me!
Yeah...
Nate and Kelly: (Quick eye contact, hold back the laughter) Oh my....

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Posted in: Things my kid says

300th post

Yes… this is my 300th post!!

I started this blog WAY, way back in May 2009 – just DAYS after we moved our family to New York.  Miles was just 6 months old.  It seems like forever ago….

I thought I would have passed the mark a long time ago. I feel like I’ve been narrating our lives for many more than just 300 posts.  How do we celebrate such a milestone? We don’t. I’m late.  There’s nothing to celebrate when you’re late – well, unless you’re pregnant. I am not :(

Anyway… I have averaged about 100 posts a year, but have recently fallen off the wagon a bit. I don’t want to be the giver of excuses, but  I do have a couple.

1) When I started this blog in May 2009, Nate was a grad student (read: never home) and Miles had an 8pm bed time.  I was alone, a lot!  Not only was our family far, far away missing out on Miles’ development, so was his dad.  I felt a strong obligation to keep up with Miles’ ever changing skill set.
2) After grad school ended, life got busy.  We moved and settled into Chicago.  I didn’t like blogging my evening away while Nate was home.  However, I home with Miles all day (read: unemployed) for the first 4 months we were in Chicago.  I tried to keep up as well as I could,  but also wanted to make the most of my stint as a stay-at-home mom while simultaneously looking for a job.  By this time, I had printed out the “first chapter, the New York Chapter” of the blog using blog2print.  Luckily, I realized how much I LOVED having weekly updates of the goings-on of the family. I was still doing a pretty good job..
3) Now.. I’m lazy, distracted, bad about keeping up with photo documentation. Blogs are always more interesting when they are loaded with pictures AND commentaries.  I’m usually missing the picture part of that these days.  Miles isn’t changing as fast as he used too and a lot of what we do seems repetitive.  Also, the new, blog-able moments pass WAY too fast.  Miles is smart, clever, and funny.  He’s a real person functioning in real-time at full speed like a real person. Where did my baby go?  I kind of miss the baby-delayed-actions (however, I didn’t feel life was very slow motion back then…)

Yes, these are excuses. Yes, they are poor excuses. I will try not to dwell on them, but improve on them.  This is just how my family has changed… and since this is a blog about my family, it's how my blog has changed.

So… since I’ve been lacking on the updates lately, here’s a few things you might like to know:

• Miles is signed up for Spring Soccer!!! I enrolled him in a preschooler park and rec league for 3-5 year olds that will take place for 2 hours on Saturday mornings for eight weeks starting in April.  Miles is stoked!
• Nate started a new job in the last week of February.  He’s now an architectural designer at Gensler.  It’s a large corporate firm headquartered in Chicago. Nate’s really excited about the opportunity to learn from peers and be involved in a diverse set of projects.

Nate’s photo for the company website! So official! 

• Grandpa and Grandma Klinge visited 2 weekend’s ago between drop off and pick up of two of their kids in Rockford.  We loved having them. Nate’s new job had a crazy deadline that really cut into the visiting, but we still have a great time together. Sadly, I was a little too flustered by the chaotic work schedule to remember to take any pictures. Miss you.. and ready for another visit whenver you are!
• The Shamrock Shuffle is this coming weekend (3/25). Nate and I are both running it alongside my brother, one of my sisters and her fiance.  I would love to say we’re excited to finally run the race we’ve been training for, but training would be an overstatement.  We probably averaged running 1.5 times a week since January.  Sadly, we were stuck running on junky treadmills in the complex, running about 4 feet from a stagnant, sage green wall.  It’s miserable!  However, these last few weekends, we’ve enjoyed running outside.  It’s still far to dark at 5:15am to move my run outside during the week though… We’ll posted about the race once we’ve completed it. We are excited to race, and excited to host the family for the festivities!

• Nate’s been taking on quite a few freelance projects. We finally set up a little workstation for him.  Nothing fancy.  Just an organized, well lit space with a desk, and extra monitor and a few other computer related perks. So far, so good!

• Miles was recently asked to be a ring bearer for Uncle Caleb and Aunt Laura’s wedding. He couldn’t be more excited!  He IS a pro, you know!! Miles was a ring bearer for the first time at the age of 2.5 months!!  In January 2009, Miles was ring bearer for Nick and Beth SyWassink . Again in April 2009, Miles was ring bearer for Tim and Carrie Klinge. Yes, he was exactly 6 months old! Ring bearer #3 was at 19 months for Russ and Kelly Banwarth in May 2010. Bring on October 27th, 2012!  Just 2 days after Miles’ 4th birthday  - Do I see a Wisconsin Dells birthday party coming on….?

(PS – Thanks for the shirt, Caleb and Laura!)

• Cooper turns 7 today.  Cooper was born in the Chariton, Iowa humane society on St. Patrick’s day in 2005.  He was one of 10 in a litter from a Jack Russell terrier stray.  We’re guessing the father was a large beagle (mix?). We were anticipating a 25lb dog, but still adore him, as is.  Even if he is twice the dog we signed up for… :)
• Miles loves the ladies.  That’s really no secret.  Yesterday, Miles’ teachers filled me in on Miles’ newest behavior.  He’s taking a liking to kissing his favorite girls. The teachers have been telling him to save his kisses for his mom and dad instead of his friends. We second that motion.  3 years old are efficient enough at spreading germs. We really don’t need this to speed the passage of cooties and illnesses, even if his two favorite ladies are super cute!!  Miles did assure me that he only kisses girls inside the school, not on the playground.  (did I miss something – was that supposed to make me feel better?) What a kid!  Daddy’s, lock up your daughters!

From SyWassink wedding in Jan 2009, 2.5 months old.

• Finally,  I think there’s a growth spurt coming on.  Miles has repeatedly downed enough food to feed me for two meals. For example, Miles as the following for lunch last weekend: one little tub of applesauce, 4 peanut butter sandwiches, 2 clementines, 1 piece of string cheese, and a large glass of milk. For Miles, one PB sandwich is 1 piece of bread with a light layer of PB folded in half - BUT STILL  - That’s a lot of food for anybody, especially a 3 year old!!

Yikes…. so now you’re caught up! I’ve missed you!

Happy 300th post!  Here’s to 300 more……

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Posted in: Banwarth's,Chicago,Kelly,Klinge's,Miles,Nathan,random,running

Laundry

But… not your typical laundry adventure. This was so much more than sorting your colors and monochromatics, or choosing a new fabric softner scent. I wish it would have been half as exciting as any of the above….
You see, I’m learning all of the time.
For instance, when there’s an “accident” in a sleeping bag, it’s a much bigger deal than the equivalent situation in a bed. Sheets, blankets, and waterproof mattress pads fit in my stacked washer and dryer just fine.  Sleeping bags do not!
So the hunt began for an oversized washed at a Laundromat… Luckily, there on one just down the street a little, Soap Box Laundry.
Miles and I headed out to complete the tedious chore: snacks, portable DVD player, and quarters in hand.
Now… it’s not like I’ve been to a lot of these things, but for a laundromat, I was impressed.  This place wasn’t so bad.
 
Once finding an open, Giant-Sized washer and starting the cycle, I set out to plug in Miles’ DVD player to keep him occupied with a little “Jake and the Neverland Pirates”.  We were both pretty devastated to learn there were no outlets available for patron use! Blast!
Miles started playing with my phone.  He played a few games while other children watched with amazement over his shoulder. Personally, I would have been annoyed to feel others’ breath on my neck, but he took it pretty well. Also, I would have loved to get a picture of this, BUT Miles had my phone!  Once he got bored with my array of preschooler games, he wanted to take pictures and be photographed.
Here’s one of his beauties…

Miles was supposed to take a picture of the washer swirling his sleeping bag around…. but what he captured was his own reflection in the glass of the front load washer instead. Silly.
Take 2

Miles started skipping from blue tile to blue tile…and racing some of the other kids.  The boredom set in fast and hard.
 
Well, that’s about 90 minutes of our life we won’t get back. Next time (should there be another), I WILL be better prepared.
Sorry for the boring adventure, little buddy.

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Posted in: Chicago,Kelly,Miles

Kitchen Helper

Cooper doesn't get much blog attention.  Here he is...

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This is where he loves to chill while dinner's being cleaned up...

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Posted in: Cooper,Instagram

Bulls Game Recap

And now the post that I’ve been scared to organize and compose for nearly a week…..

February 20, 2012

Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks

The Bull’s game was such a big event that I know I’m going to forget something.  There’s also the tedious task from grabbing the photos from multiple cameras.  Well…. here goes nothing!
As you already knew, the day began with  a Bull’s themed craft. That was followed by a welcome distraction (AKA phone call) from Papa B.  Of course Miles jumped at the opportunity to ramble on about the game. It’s kind of a big deal…..
Miles had the perfect outfit for the game: a Bull’s T, a Bull’s hat, new jeans, his Chuck’s and Baby Cow (the stuffed dog on his arm_ I still don’t understand how he came up with that name for his dog)! Miles was sure that Baby Cow and the 2 little Benny the Bull crafts were coming to the game too!
After getting fully dressed, there were still a few hours to fill before we could leave for the game. Once Miles gained dad’s attention, the ballin’ began. Just watch and understand:

Miles LOVES Michael Jordan (#23)!  This is mostly due to his own father’s love for the athlete, but also enhanced by this book. We’ve read this book at least 4 nights a week for the last year or so.
Miles’ favorite active Bulls player is Joakim Noah!  “He has lady hair.” While this is true, he is also a 6’11” rebound machine wearing #13!

Miles and Nate play A LOT of basketball. Don’t you love his special moves?! What about his need to reward his fancy shots with a medal? Crazy days in Chicago…
We ate lunch, packed up a few snacks and headed out the door around 1:30pm.  We decided to avoid the traffic and parking issues by taking the train.  Miles also gets a kick out of riding the train.  This day, in particular, he was so amped up he wouldn’t sit still at all and asked tons of questions. “Dad, read this to me.” “Dad, what does this say?” “Dad, this sign says to close the door.”

We walked from the train to the United Center and found our seats right away. We arrived 38  minutes before game time.
I tried really hard to get a few good pictures of Miles (and Nate), but both refused to take their eyes off the court. (sorry, I tried, really!) Our seats were not so good, but we had a clear view and Miles didn’t seem to mind at all.

 

See what I mean… he wouldn’t cooperate for the camera.  I can’t really blame him though – there was a lot going on.  He’d been waiting for this day for so long that he wasn’t about to miss a thing for anyone… even Mom! 
We watched Benny the Bull beat some kids at basketball.

Don’t those pictures look like we close….?!  We were not… Here’s the unzoomed view:

We watched a few scrimmages between a couple coed Special Olympics teams. We watched a huge Benny the Bull Blimp float around the arena (sorry, no pictures.)

Seeing and hearing the announcing of the starting lineup was intense. If you’ve never seen it, you can watch it here. I wish that I could say that I took that video, but I did not.  I was caught up in the moment too.  I can honestly say that this is also the moment that Nate was a giddy as a 3 year old little boy.  Dreams really do come true! Wow.. Each of you needs to experience this at some point.
Well… the game was great and Miles watched it all!  I wish I could say that he was on the edge of his seat, but that (apparently) wasn’t close enough. Can you see this? Arial view?

Yes, you are seeing this right.  Miles spent much of the game standing at the chair in front of him… or kneeling on the ground up against the back of the chair!  Miles love sports – we always knew this – BUT, I was surprised by how into the game he was and for how long it kept his attention!  We will definitely have to do this again!

Better yet, I would love to take him to a Bear’s game! Maybe preseason…..

Time to start working more so that we can buy tickets….. right?!

Sidenote: Nate grew up loving Michael Jordan. His career with the Bulls started in 1984. Nate would have been 4.  Miles is 3. Do you think Derrick Rose or Joakim Noah have the potential to be Miles’ Michael Jordan!? Will they pose for a “Wings” poster?

For those of you who do not follow the NBA, the Bulls beat the Hawks 90-79!

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Posted in: Banwarth's,Bulls,Chicago,Kelly,Klinge's,Miles,Nathan,Video