Happy Birthday Levi!!!!

Okay, so I am a wee bit behind in blogging. Levi turned 14 on May 3. I really can't believe he is that old. I can still vividly remember calling the hubs and telling him it was time to go to the hospital.
His response was....are ya sure? Yep, my water broke, and the doctor said to go on and he would meet us there, was my response. As you can see, 14 years later, we spent the afternoon and evening at MPHS on the track.
He did very well. As we were leaving, he noticed the huge board on the stadium with all of the track records for the high schoolers. Talk about incentive. He didn't even have to say it outloud, I knew he was thinking how awesome it would be if he was on that board one day.
I am really not sure when the short, chunky boy turned into the tall, lanky boy that he is today. It was a gradual process that seems lightning fast presently. Happy birthday to Levi, my firstborn. I love you!

Getting Closer

This week the track meet was at Kannapolis Middle School. Here is the boy running the 1600. Several Harris Road boys ran a five minute mile at this meet. It was pretty amazing to watch. Levi is improving every week and has been running a six minute mile. His personal best.
I did get him over a hurdle. Not the shot I was hoping for, but I am getting so close I can taste it.

Track pics

Trying to get a good shot at a track meet is rather hard. Take one. Let's see......where is Levi? Yep, he isn't in the shot.
Take two. Try to get one of him actually over the hurdles. I got his feet.
Take three. Unless this is an advertisement for the Hickory Ridge track.....this is too far away.
Take four. He is the only blue runner in the leading pack of the 1600. Kind of far away, but I'll take what I can get.

And...yes honey....I was talking. But that wasn't the problem. I promise.

Perspective

Boy-I had to run an extra lap at track today.

Me-Why?

Boy-I was tapping on the cooler.

Me- You were tapping on the cooler......

Boy-Yeah. I was tapping on the cooler and Mr. Brooks told me to take a step back.

Me- Okay.....

Boy-So I took one step back and kept tapping on the cooler.

Me-You kept tapping on the cooler. (frowning)

Boy-Yeah. And then he got real mad and told me to take a lap.

Me-You KNEW take a step back meant to stop beating on the cooler.

Boy-He never said to stop tapping the cooler....he SAID to take a step back. Which I did.

Me-You directly disrespected his authority.

Boy-But mom.....

Me-What?

Boy-It was a great beat.

Reebok Reezig & Repeat

After looking at the Reebok website, emailing them and calling them, I found out that I can indeed return defective shoes at the store where I purchased them. I called the store manager and she said bring them on. Without a receipt and without the box. She didn't seem at all surprised that the shoe was falling apart.
Upon arrival at the store, I get two teenagers whom only seem interested in finding out if I am related to a buddy of theirs. They didn't have any of the cool colors the other stores did, and the boy was not happy. The workers wanted the original box and I told them their manager said not to bring it.
These were the only pair on the mens side that weren't white or solid black. At a different store I found out that MANY pairs of Reezigs have been returned. It seems Reebok may have rushed this design before it was tested properly. Notice how everything is thicker now and more reinforced. I think we will go back to a Nike running shoe after this is over and done with. Hopefully this pair will last the six week track season.

ReeBok ReeZig=Reebok ReeRip

Two weeks ago I purchased these running shoes from Reebok for the boy for track.
They are supposedly some "new" technology that is super light and thin, and the shoe is allowed to breathe as you run.
The boy loves wearing them to run in and says they are really comfortable. Problem? They started getting tiny holes in them last week, that have now started to turn into a rip.
I went back to Foot Locker, but they can't do anything because the shoes have been worn. They did say to contact ReeBok. I have emailed the company and am waiting a reply. Hopefully the shoes won't fall apart completely while we are waiting.

UPDATE: ReeBok told me I can return them to the store for an even exchange. Stay tuned.

Track

The oldest boy is trying out for track again this year. Seems the coaches have finally realized they actually need to cut a few (i.e. 20 or more) kids. Last year was crazy because they kept everyone and we had around 30 boys and 35 girls. This year they SAY they will keep 20 of each. Every sport at the middle school has a mandatory parent meeting. The main rules for the parents are: don't talk to the coach about playing time as this is not a rec sport, don't schedule doctor and orthodontist appointments during practices, and BE ON TIME for pick-up promptly at 6. Yesterday I was there at 5:58. I don't get in the pick-up line because I will lose my religion in it. I parked under the tree where I waited last year. As kids started running back to the auxiliary gym, I became uncertain as to whether or not the boy would remember this. I got out of the car and started walking toward the gym. I turned around half way there and saw the boy walking toward the car. We had passed each other in the bus parking lot.

Boy- MOM, what are you doing?

Me- (laughing) I didn't know if you would remember where I like to park.

Boy- I remembered.

Me- I can't believe we passed each other.

Boy- I can't believe you got out of the car.

Me- I didn't want to sit here all day.

Boy- Just DON'T get out of the car.

Me- What?

Boy- Do NOT get out of the car. Just wait here tomorrow.

Me- I can feel the love.

Track @ J.N. Fries Middle School

This was my first track meet ever. It was long, but fun. We were there for three hours. There was some confusion among the coaches as to what event was taking place when.
The boy was scheduled to do the 200 meter hurdles and the 800 meter race. Then he got changed to the 1600 meter race, which is a mile. He didn't look thrilled. But....he didn't quit, and he wasn't in the last group.
The coaches thought his 2 regular events were going to be back to back, but they weren't. Hopefully this can be remedied by the meet next week. Finally after hours of everything else, came the 200 meter hurdles.
I was quite stoked to see this, until a girl bit it badly and fell face first onto her right elbow. Then my nerves were shot people. Thankfully no boys were injured during their heats. Levi did a great job! I still can't believe he can do this.
I love sports like track and wrestling because it is all on the athlete. If they do badly it is their own fault, they don't have a team to help them out. Can you believe how high these kids are jumping? (there were 4 middle schools at this meet, the other ones were at another school-we can't have them all together at one time-next week, Mooresville)