The City of Puyallup puts on a 5K (and a 10K) run called the Haunted Hustle. We registered both Daniel & David, but Daniel could not run because he wasn’t feeling well. So… David went out and won the under 14 age group with a time of 20:21! He came back looking like he could have run a lot farther – maybe he should try the 10K next year. As a result of winning his category, he can participate next year without paying the entrance fee. Overall, he finished fifth. What a runner!
Category Archives: Photos
Birthdays
It was birthday week here at the Averill home. Daniel’s birthday was on Monday, October 8 and David’s followed on Friday. Because of soccer and other activities, we gave them their gifts early in the morning and then get on with the day. We took a few pictures and, since they’re such good looking kids, thought we’d share them.
Daniel & Columbus (&Isabela too)
Our big cat, Columbus, really likes to spend time with Daniel. Columbus will sometimes follow him around until he sits – wherever that might be. Occasionally, Columbus’ sister, Isabella, likes to get in on the action. Here are a few recent pictures of Daniel with the cats. And as I typed this, Columbus jumped in my lap!
Birthday Party 2012
As in previous years, we were pleased to host a gathering / fundraiser to honor the boys on their birthdays. Our goal is to continue to connect them with their heritage, and to teach them that there are things they can do help other kids that are currently in the situation our boys were in just a few short years ago. We ask our family and friends to consider donating funds to support the orphanage in Ethiopia as a birthday gift. We also gather at Bradley Lake Park so all the kids can run around, kick a soccer ball, and do the other things they like to do (and, really, there’s nothing they like to do more than kick a soccer ball).
This year, we had amazing weather (last year we had a downpour). And we were (are) overwhelmed with the generosity of our family and friends. Thank you to everyone who helped us raise about $1,500 for Adoption Ministry’s Orphan & Widows Home. The orphanage provides a safe place for many who desperately need one. And it united us with our sons!
Cross Country
Like last year, Daniel and David were able to compete in a cross country racing series conducted at Bellarmine High School in Tacoma. On three consecutive Sundays, they raced against boys in private schools (the series is put on by CYO and includes all private schools in the area). David ran against kids in third- through fifth grades; the course was a little over a mile. Daniel competed with boys in grades six through eight on a course a bit over a mile and a half. In the third race, David considered running with the older kids on the longer course, but he was suffering with a head cold and decided to stick with the shorter course.
David came away with three first-place finishes and plenty of good experiences. Other strong runners congratulated him and he thoroughly enjoyed it. Daniel also enjoyed it, but the competition was much tougher at that level. He had some truly exciting races. In the first race, he finished third and gained some good experience about racing on a tight course. For the second race, he came out with a plan to stay in second for most of the race and then take over first at some point after half-way through. This strategy worked well and he finished first against a very tough competitor. The third race was also exciting, with Daniel using the same strategy. This time, however, the other top runner had a bit more in the tank. Although Daniel did take the lead, he was not able to hold it. He finished in second. After the race, he congratulated the other runner and they got to know each other and show mutual respect. It was a great experience to be part of this competition.
Click the picture above to see more pictures from all three races (all in amazing weather).
The first video is a compilation from David’s races.
The next is from Daniel’s races. It’s a bit long because the entire third race is shown. It’s so exciting that we just couldn’t cut anything out.
Crossing Guards
Our boys are known for being responsible and, as a result, they’ve been selected as crossing guards at school. On selected weeks, they need to be at school early every day to make sure all the kids get safely across the street.
First Day of School
David (left) and Daniel
There is not enough space in the internet to describe how well Daniel & David are doing in school! They continue to have some challenges, but their progress is beyond logical explanation. So far this year, what has impressed us the most is Daniel’s sudden ability to do most of his homework on his own. Through last year, he was doing very well and had essentially caught up to grade level, but he was virtually unable to do his homework without close supervision. Suddenly, he seems to “get it.” David, meanwhile, did not really need to catch up because he started school in the middle of first grade.
The school year has started out very well. Click the picture to see a few more from the first day of school.
First Day of 6th and 4th Grades
This is the last year that Daniel will be in elementary school, and it’s the first year that Daniel and David are on the same recess schedule. That makes this year a very special one in which they get to spend some time together. We continue to be amazed at the academic progress made by these two very intelligent kids. We’ve come to expect their athletic performances, but progress in school is nothing short of miraculous. To top it off, they enjoy school. Here are some pictures from the first day of school – click on the one shown to see more.
Soccer Tournaments 2012
The boys both played in soccer tournaments this summer. In fact, David was able to play on Daniel’s select team for a tournament in Vancouver, Washington. They played very well against great competition. A couple times, the team played up a year in age. They had a great time, scored some goals, and generally improved their soccer skills. We put together a quick montage of video highlights, and we picked a few pictures for you. You might get a bit confused as to which tall Ethiopian is which… Daniel wears either white of black and is number 7. When David plays on Daniel’s team he is not wearing a number; on his team, he’s wearing either bright green or black and is number 22.
Sounders!
We experienced our first Sounders soccer game as a family. The boys had been before since Margie spoils them, but Sary-Jo and I had never been. What a day! The crowd was absolutely electric. Our seats were high and in the corner (the “cheap seats”), and they gave us a great view of all the action. It was great to see the whole field and watch the teams set up their offense, move the ball around, and look for that opportunity to strike. The Sounders beat the L.A. Galaxy, and then we stayed around for some post-game festivities, which included a lot of music from the marching band. What a blast!