Another cross country season has come to an end, and it feels like we have barely had a moment to breathe since August 20th. Every single day has been packed with something. From the start of school where I was doing a long term sub job, to picking up an assistant coaching gig, to flag football, to cross country… it has been nonstop.

But now, finally, it is time for the boys to rest. They get to come home and do absolutely nothing for a change. Perfect timing too, because the winter chill has officially arrived. It is freezing outside, and I am sure Charles is beyond thrilled that he doesn’t have to run in it anymore.

With the season wrapped up, we can shift our focus to the holidays and actually enjoy some time together. Well… as much as we can, considering we are still booked solid through Christmas. Sometimes I do not think people realize just how busy we really are. Our days are so full that even we forget how much we are juggling until we stop long enough to look at the calendar.

That is why it means so much when family comes to where we already are. We are already pulled in ten directions every day. The easiest way to spend time with the boys is to meet us in the moments that make up their lives… on the field, on the sidelines, at the track. That is where their hearts are, and that is where we spend most of our time.

And speaking of showing up, I have to give a huge shoutout to Grandma (my mom) for coming out to watch the boys play flag football this year. It meant so much for the boys to have someone else cheering them on… someone who is not Matt or Andrew (they always show up). And Uncle Michael absolutely deserves his own gold star for flying in just to be with the boys overnight and getting them to their game so Donald and I could finally have one night to ourselves in this completely packed schedule. As grateful as we were for that tiny break, it was so hard to actually miss one of their games. We are at everything. Every practice, every meet, every game. Showing up is just what we do. So letting go for just one night felt strange and a little guilty… but knowing they were having fun made it easier.

Now that things have finally calmed down (even if only slightly), I can look back at how Charles’s cross country season wrapped up… because wow, what a finish.

This past weekend he ran at Nationals in Knoxville, Tennessee. The course was a full blown muddy wreck… slick, sloppy, and slow. But despite all of that, Charles killed it. He started off strong, got himself exactly where he needed to be, and held on just like we told him to. And it paid off: top twenty five medal, and he placed twenty fourth. We were beyond proud.

Our trip was quite fun. We flew out of Dulles on Thursday night, giving us all day Friday to explore, walk the course, and get settled. Seeing the mud in person was an experience. That night, the team had a pasta party where Charles definitely went back for thirds. We hung out for a bit then got Charles tucked in early.

Race morning was lovely weather but the course was a complete disaster. My biggest regret was not packing another pair of shoes. There was truly no avoiding it… I even saw a woman wearing cleats. It was so cold at the start line with the boys all shivering but almost impossible to do stride outs because of the mud. When the gun went off, Charles got himself right into the pack, fighting the mud with every stride. He stayed focused, stayed confident, and he looked strong. By the final stretch, he dug deep and pushed with everything he had left, crossing the line in twenty fourth and earning that Nationals medal he worked so hard for. I always make sure to tell him that the only way he could disappoint me is if he does not try. Medal or no medal, we are so proud.

After the race, we cleaned him up as best we could and headed downtown Knoxville for a little celebration. Charles met up with teammates and friends, and they went ice skating in the outdoor rink. It was the perfect mix of post race celebration and pure kid joy.

Our last day in Tennessee was a bit slower. Since we had a late flight, we explored the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. We continued on to Gatlinburg, which was decent but probably not somewhere we would rush back to. And driving through Pigeon Forge on the way to the airport was definitely not a place I need to see again.

By the time we boarded our flight home, we were exhausted but happy… mud, medals, mountains, memories… all wrapped into one fun Nationals weekend that we were able to share with friends.

Now we are settling into the cold, the quiet…(just kidding, the boys struggle not being active) and the holiday season ahead. The boys finally get a chance to breathe, and I get to go stand in the cold for indoor track season. I am OK with it. My inner Michigan self needs the cold sometimes