Mills boys take part in local 5k

All three Mills boys got up early and ran a 5k today. Tyler had run the course before, and this was Cody's first time, so I got to run with him.

Tyler set off very quickly and he was on his way back before we saw him again. Cody was also doing a great run and we passed a lot of people.

Cody sprinted past me to finish with a time of 37:08.49, beating my time of 37:09.46. Tyler was sat down on the grass and we got his official time of 23:55.47, which is very fast. He was top 8 year old, Cody was top 6 year old.

Looks like I will have to start working on more 5k pace for next year.

Before the start

Cody run

Tyler run

Tyler out on the course

Cody out on the course

Results

Bike to breakfast day

This morning we took a long bike ride so that the boys could enjoy a McDonald's breakfast.  This was quite a long slow ride (my running pace is faster) but given Cody still has no gears and small wheels still quite good that he managed just over 12 miles.

On the bike path

Enjoying our breakfast

Tale of the ride

Cody and Tyler move up in swimming

Cody and Tyler both moved up at their swim team tonight. Cody is now in advanced, Tyler moves to a new pool (VMAC) and white group.  Let the scheduling commence..

Cody getting his award

Cody move up letter

Tyler getting his award

Tyler move up letter

Cody and Tyler are fish sitting

Cody and Tyler are looking after a fish for the next week or so.  So far so good..

One fish, 2 boys, what could go wrong

Golf and rope adventures

We had a rare evening off from swimming, so I took the boys to the local golf place.  Tyler managed to equal my score for the first time although his counting may be a little dubious.  Cody is still pushing the ball around so ended up scoring higher than Tyler and I.

Afterwards Tyler went to try out the rope adventure.  They basically strap you into a harness and then you go on a whole bunch of rope and obstacle courses up in the air. I was surprised at how well Tyler did it.  Next time we will see if Cody can do it, currently he is just below the minimum height.

Ready for golf

Plane down

Volcano hazard

final scores

Rooftop swing

Stilt walk

Huttu up

Cody rides his new scooter

Cody has been practicing on Tyler's scooter for the last few weeks and today his new 'go faster' scooter arrived, so he got to ride it and improve his skills..

Cody with his smooth wheels

Tyler showing off

Playing pinball at the arcade

Our friend Bill had his 50th birthday party at Tilt This is an old fashioned arcade with pinball machines and video games.  I don't remember playing in arcades as a kid, but do remember playing atari defender for hours at a time during the summer holidays.

DDR in heels

Good job the games were free

Happy birthday bill

Cody and Tyler at the state athletics meet

Cody and Tyler took part in the (very hot) state meet on Saturday.  Both the boys managed to take 1 first place. Cody focused on sprints, Tyler did some sprints, and an 800m.

Cody 50M - 11 seconds, 100M - 22 seconds
Tyler 200M - 35 seconds, 400M - 1 minute 17 seconds, 800M - 3 minutes 7 seconds.

Sprinting for victory

Perfect form

Finishing off his 800

Boulder Valley Velodrome

We have been watching the tour de france, and on our way to swim meet the other day we just happened to pass the boulder valley velodrome They weren't racing that day, but they did have open racing on the following Thursday. So after swimming we drove up to Erie to go check out the racing. The riders are pretty fast and it is fun to watch, although a little harder to follow as we were inside the track, so you have to keep changing position.  Looks like we will have to wait a few more years before the boys can try it out as the minimum age is 11.

One of these people is watching the race!

Tyler completes his first 14er - Mt Bierstadt

In July 2008, Siew Gin, Uyen, Steffen and I made it to the top of our first 14er.  In July 2016, Our friend Vivek wanted to do a 14er so Tyler and I tagged along to do the same hike.

Tyler and Vivek did a great job of hiking in almost perfect conditions.  We made it to the top in 2 hours 25 minutes, and back down again in 2 hours.  Tyler thought it was easier than bear peak and I think Cody could have made it this year if we had taken him.

At the start of the trail

Resting on the way up

Some snow before the final push

We made it

Found the GPS marker

Our hike today

Cody and Tyler at 8 and under swim champs

Cody and Tyler took part in the 8 and under swim champs this weekend. Tyler had a host of personal bests including a very fast 16.22 for his 25 free.  Tyler managed to finished second overall in the meet, Cody came in at 7th overall (highest placed 6 year old).

Cody in his 25 free

Tyler in his 100 IM

Tyler with some of his medals

The winning team

Late breakfast before state champ swim meet

The boys have 8 and under swim champ this afternoon.  Normally they are at 7 in the morning, today we get a lie in as the meet doesn't start until 2pm. We ate our breakfast outside today.

Tyler made the scrambled egg

Cody helped get the table prepared

Worlds lowest rainbow?

We had a big storm today while driving and it caused this strange rainbow to appear..

Low rainbow

Water day at the track

Tyler and Cody had two fun days at track this week. On Wednesday I joined them for parent day. When they make the parents run around the track and compete against the kids.  I got to spend some time with both of them and they are certainly getting faster.

On Friday they got to bring in water guns, and after a small practice they got to squirt other groups, each other and their coaches.

Ready for action

Cody and Tyler - future tennis stars?

I have been taking the boys to practice tennis over the summer break. They are improving a lot and I only just beat them today (3 games to 2) with modified rules.  It is funny that the new racquets are so big, the head of the kids racquets are bigger than my racquet..

Not sure they are showing good form in this picture

National French Fry Day

Who would have known that today was National French Fry Day.  Luckily we had some fries in the freezer, so the boys got to celebrate this great tradition.

French Fries and Hamburger Pizza

Cody passes Kumon Reading level CII

It seems only 2 years ago that Tyler passed Kumon Reading CII Now it is Cody's turn to pass, slightly lower score, slightly faster time..

Good job Cody!

Tyler reaches Kumon level G for Maths

Tyler has started on Kumon level G for his maths. He should hit level G for reading as well in the next month.

Level G.

Walker Ranch Loop

I picked an easier hike this week, as Tyler and I are going to attempt a 14er on Sunday.  Walker ranch is a 7.6 mile loop, with a couple of big climbs in it of over 1,900 feet elevation gain.  The boys complained a little bit about the length of the hike, but we did get it done in under 4 hours, which is about 30 minutes slower when we used to do it with just the adults!

Ready to start our hike

Found some water

Another trail, another ladder

Alan and Cody hanging out

The long loop