14 Years Today

Can you believe it?! This kid is 14 years old today!

We celebrated with a pile of waffles and bacon for breakfast and Bertucci's pizza for dinner. Little does Superkid know, but he was conditioned to love Bertucci's Puccini pizza as this was the pizza that Pops and I dined on every week before our birthing class while we awaited his arrival into this world.

Actually, we are all fans!

Superkid has a large fan base, his second mother, Sandy, sent him a birthday text and this flash-back form our great Eastern road trip.

Isn't he just the cutest?

Then we were home to open presents!

Everyone likes to take a turn whacking Superkid over the head...

Cake time!

Cold Stone Peanut Butter Perfection ice cream cake for the win.

We love you so much Superkid! Let us count the ways!

1. You are really fun to talk to. I think Pops sometimes slips you caffeine so he can sit up late with you discussing American history.
2. You are a fantastic artist! We love the masterpieces you have created in your art class and your sketches of sail boats, airplanes and characters.
3. You have your own eccletic taste of music ranging from sea shanties to 80s music. And your dance moves aren't too bad either!
4. You have a passion for fiction. You have pulled us all into some really outrageous series like, Ranger's Apprentice and Percy Jackson.
5. Your X-Man power is listening. You almost never forget something you hear.
6. You love information about how the world works from history to current events to Ted Talks to "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell me!" (The NPR news show).
7. You are a carb camel. You can go days without eating until you find something specifically to your liking. You especially love Pizza and cookies. Also, You have a 6th sense for when dessert is ready. You always enter the kitchen right as it comes out of the oven. 
8. You are capable. Remember the time you tore apart the wall, ran electrical wiring, put up new sheet rock and then mud and taped to repair the wall? Seriously, what 13 year old can do that?!
9. Tadpole says he likes how you are tall so you can always reach things that are up high. You are actually crazy tall! 5'11"!
10. You are an awesome swimmer! It has been so fun to watch your skills develop and your friendships grow on the swim team.
11. You hardly ever complain. Even if the food is not to your liking, or if the chores pile up, or the bike ride is long and unrelenting, you just keep going.
12. You are the most persistent student ever. We are so proud of your improvement over the last couple of years. You are managing your own work load and pulling really great grades!
13. You have a funny sense of humor. You have keen observations and a quick whit.
14. You have a tender and loyal heart. Everyone who meets you emphatically tells us how they genuinely like you and how you are a, "really good kid".

We are so happy that you are ours! We love you to pieces and forever!

Happy Birthday Superkid!

Biking Bud

This kid loves a long bike ride.

I am a sucker for a really long bike ride.

And I am also a sucker for this kid.

Also, he slays me on the hills.

School Days

School Pictures for 2017-2018

100 Miles

The big day finally came. We all met at Bob Chatfield's house at 5:30 to drive down to Provincetown. We loaded up the support vehicles with gear and anxious bodies and fastened all of the bikes on back. We made the hour and a half drive down to the tip of the cape wondering how long it would take to peddle back.

There were several minutes of adjustments and second-guessing for everyone...

Then a group shot for all the crazy Hingham-Wardites who signed up for this feat.

And a priceless pic of this mother and son team.

A few more adjustments and we rolled out.

I cycled the first leg- about 18 miles. 

There were plenty of hills and plenty of troubles with my bike seat and chain falling off. Not to mention the cramps in my calves.

I was pretty happy to take over driving the support vehicle after the first leg. Amy was manning the post when we rolled in. She said that she had seen everyone except Mike, Ike, Kim and Howard. I knew they were ahead of us so I drove off in pursuit of this crew. I found them a few miles down the road. They had missed the turnoff to the rail-trail. I gave them some fresh water and Gatorade and helped them find the closest route to the rail trail. I next bolted to the other end of the rail trail where I had missed the first of the pack (Steve, James and Luke), but got there just as Justin and Eric pulled into the lot. After refreshing their fluids they took off. About 2 minutes later the rest of the crowd rolled in. I later found out that at this point Sam was literally falling asleep on his bike. He nearly biked right into the van. He looked dazed to me. I told him to drink some Gatorade. He started to wake up. He used the bathroom and ate a sandwich and he looked 100% better.

Some of the bikers decided to stay on the rail trail, the rest took to the road. Amy had only biked about 12 miles and she was anxious to ride more so I hopped back into the support vehicle and raced to the church in Barnstable that marked the half way point. Just as I got off the main highway and started down the roads of Barnstable, I spotted James, Steve and Luke. I raced ahead to the church and set up the rest area. I was really grateful that I caught them. I had missed them at the last rest stop and I knew that they would need some fresh fluids and a snack. When this crowd peddled into the parking lot they were going full throttle. I have never seen Steve completely ghost white in the face before. They took a good long break and got plenty to eat and drink. They took off after about 30 minutes. Next Justin and Eric rolled into the parking lot. They were ready for a break too but were feeling strong and confident about finishing. They took about a 20 minute break and then pulled out. Next came Bob and Miene. They were grateful for water and Gatorade and a minute to stretch off their saddles. They decided at that point that they would ride to the bridge-70 miles in total. A really strong show. They left and it was probably 20 minutes or more before I saw the rest of the crowd. They had taken a wrong turn, but they were in jolly spirits when they rolled into the half way point.

At this point Jenn recommended that she and Superkid take a break and go get a sandwich. She reasoned that the ride was longer than 100 miles so it was okay to take a little break. While Superkid looked pretty good at the 50 mile point, he looked scary enough at the 35 mile point that I encouraged the break. I offered to drive the support vehicle another leg so I could stay with Superkid. Everyone else except for Jenn and Superkid rolled out.

I found these kiddos something good to eat. It was fun to eat at a beach hut- but the service was anything but speedy!

We pulled up to the Sagamore bridge right before the last of the riders got there. Amy and Jenn M. jumped into the support vehicle and Superkid and I hit the road. Jenn A. rode with Bob and Joan in their car. The plan was to meet in Plymouth Center and Jenn would meet us there and cycle a leg. However Jenn M. and Amy had to leave as this bike ride was taking a long time. Jenn A had already changed out of her biking gear so she said she would drive and support Superkid and I. I was kinda hoping to drive at this point- but I also wanted to be right by Superkid's side at the end. Jenn drove ahead and found Mike, Ike, Kim and Howard. Kim had a flat tire so Jenn helped repair that. Then she stuck with us. It was getting late and we were starting to drag. At one point she stopped us and gave us a jolt of energy drink. It tasted so horrible that we literally gagged it down- but, boy! Did that energy drink give us a kick!

We were just a few miles out from Bob's house, the finish line, when it started to get dark. Jen rode behind us blocking the flow of traffic from hitting us. It was getting really scary on the narrow 3A and there was no shoulder to protect us from the traffic. I was really grateful to Jen for protecting us. We finally made it to the Chatfield's house! What an amazing journey.

Later that night when I was reflecting on the journey, I remembered the time that I hit a rock as I was soaring down the hill by the Pilgrim Nuclear plant. I should have fallen, I felt my tire slip and skid, but somehow I was safe. I was going so fast that I would have been road hamburger, not to mention Superkid probably would have rolled over me too. I remembered how Jenn had literally been our life-saver. She stopped us several times at the end to give us Gatorade, energy drinks and good cheer. She made sure we made all of the right turns. She blocked us from the cars that were nipping at us night approached. Then I remembered a conversation I had with Jen after we picked her up that morning. She said that she was seriously considering not coming. She didn't feel prepared for the ride. The day before the ride, Sandy George text me asking for Jenn's phone number. The night before the ride, Sandy text Jenn to thank her for encouraging her to run a marathon. Also, for starting Feed the Need and encouraging others to become physically fit. Sandy said that Jenn had done more to help people in their fitness journey than anyone else she knew. When Jenn got the text, she said to Mike, maybe this ride isn't about her, Maybe it is about helping others on their way. I know Superkid and I couldn't have done it without her, she was our angel.

I recognized the other angels that protected us from danger all day long. Also for the help and inspiration that was necessary to find our biking buddies throughout the day. With this guidance we were able to provide directions, nutrition, water and bike repairs. Everyone made the journey safe and sound. 

I am truly grateful for the angels seen and unseen that protected our way.

And thank-you once again to Jenn A. who gave this congratulatory gift to Superkid!

Welcome Conference Weekend!

The handsome gents are ready for Priesthood Session, 

by way of Five Guys for some burgers.

I think we've turned a corner on our conference listening skills. 

The littles grabbed their sketch boards and drew pics of the speakers while the rest of us actually listened.

Sunday morning Abizella whipped up 6 BATCHES of cinnamon rolls!

She argued that we could consume them all, which is actually what I was afraid of. I relented and insisted we share with the Andruses!

This was seriously the best batch we've every made!

Made even better with cream cheese frosting!

No complaints here!