Really, Are You Serious?

Working the Check-In Table | Mommy and Me Monday | 853rd ed

Krystyn — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:57:37 +0000

Working the check-in table is one of my favorite things to do at a track meet when I’m not coaching. The kids tell us their names and the race, and if we are lucky, the heat and lane they are in and we give them a sticker for their hip.

We try to be fast and efficient while also being a friendly face before a stressful race. I’m convinced after seeing some of my coached kids absolutely defeated after checking in that it’s a pretty important part of the pre-race puzzle.

Sometimes, the people working the check-in table to not seem happy to be there. They are short, quick to snap and rude to the kids. Sometimes, it’s a kids’ very first race and they don’t understand the process. Sometimes they get flustered. Sometimes they mumble. It’s not hard to ask them to say their name again or ask questions.

We also try to move the line quickly. If we notice the girls line is backed up, they can go to the other line. Whatever moves them along the fastest and most efficiently is what we will do.

It really isn’t a hard job, but it sets the mood. And when we smile and they leave smiling with their sticker in the right place, it helps the people in staging areas as well as the race starters. All around winning and smooth!

What did you do this week?

GET IN THE PICTURE WITH YOUR KIDS! Who cares what you look like? Who cares how you appear? Who cares what you are wearing? JUST DO IT! Come share your picture on the Facebook thread or use #MommyAndMeMonday!

It’s time again for Mommy and Me Monday. Pop out from behind that camera and capture yourself in action with your kids. Check out the inaugural Mommy and Me Monday for more information. Need another reason to participate in Mommy and Me Monday? Read my post about why I blog with words from a friend’s husband.

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Ice Bathing with N | Mommy and Me Monday | 852nd ed

Krystyn — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:26:36 +0000

This is us. Smiling through the shivering.

The temperatures took a drop outside this weekend which meant the air in the garage was also colder than it has been.

N asked me to join her in an ice bath.

Admittedly, it’s been a while for me, so I told her I’d join her. And then I completely forgot until it was time to go to the garage and get in.

Usually I can get my breathing under control quickly and settle in. But I wasn’t having it and had a full on shiver the entire time.

It’s a good thing there was good company!

What did you do this week?

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College Spring Break | Mommy and Me Monday | 851st ed

Krystyn — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:32:26 +0000

The oldest had her first college spring break and spent part of it with friends at the beach. She also graced us with her presence for a long weekend which was nice.

N had a race Friday night, so four of us fought Atlanta traffic to watch her run. It wasn’t her race with quite a few variables fighting against her, but we are very proud of her and had a good time cheering her on.

Plus, we were able to get a picture of our athlete and her cheering section!

Saturday morning was almost confusing for us. Not a single one of us had a race to attend or anything hard on the calendar; just that some runs needed to be accomplished. We had a later 9am start and slowly made our way to a park to get their runs completed while I walked.

It was nice for all 6 of us to be together for the weekend. We did some chores and checked some things off our list and had a good time socializing.

What did you do this week?

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ALL the meets | Mommy and Me Monday | 850th ed

Krystyn — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:34:14 +0000

It was yet another very full weekend at the Serious house. There were three meets and all of our girls were running at them. It was one of those weekends were we couldn’t be at all the meets, but there was milesplit stalking and lots of texting back and forth.

I was off to assistant coach the middle school race with E and B. And, I thankfully remembered to grab a picture with E before she ran her open 800m (and got a season PR). She also got a season PR in her 1600m

I didn’t grab a picture with B before her 4×800 where she and her relay team scored points for the overall girls team. Not did I grab a picture of her before her 1600m where she got personal best ever! But, I grabbed one before she got in the house. So, I’m calling it a win.

The oldest was off with her team where she had a PR in her 1500m race and also ran the 4x400m and had a chance to stretch out her fast legs. Thankfully, she sent a picture with a teammate and they are great at supporting each other.

Mr. Serious was off into the big city with N where she got first place in her race! Whoop! I think they were pretty equally proud!

This weekend is a little more chill with only one race! I’m not sure how we’ll manage, but it should be fun to watch!

What did you do this week?

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A race and PJ ice cream | Mommy and Me Monday | 849th ed

Krystyn — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 17:51:00 +0000

This weekend was back to racing again! The youngest two were with me and the oldest drove out to watch Mr. Serious race about an hour and a half away. It’s one thing to divide and conquer when it’s a kiddo that lives at home, but when the kiddo lives away from home and I didn’t get to see it, it’s a little harder.

Last week, I didn’t get a picture, so we made sure to grab one before the race even started. It’s nice and cloudy and cooler, here, but it warmed up a lot.

We were at the race from 8:30 to about 3:30 so we all got pretty hot! E had good 1600 and 800 times and also DJ’d the tent music. B had some good times for her races too and had less than a second PRs in both her 800 and 1600.

After watching our last runners in the boys 3200, we were all ready to go home.

Everybody got in a nice shower and felt much better, then, after dinner we headed to an ice cream shop that had free ice cream if you wear pajamas night! We thankfully made it between the evening rain storms.

Next weekend, there will be three races between all the kiddos, so it’s not looking like we’ll get to see them all. We haven’t figured out how to divide 2 by 3 yet!

What did you do this week?

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Baking Lessons | Mommy and Me Monday | 848th ed

Krystyn — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 20:40:28 +0000

This weekend, B wanted to bake a lemon blueberry bread that she enjoys baking. But, she’s not a huge fan of eating it. E, on the other hand quite enjoys it, but not so much baking.

So, I suggested E help B with the baking (and really B had to give some direction and teaching too).

During the process, I sneaked a spy shot of them working together…and Mr. Serious photobombed it.

So, I call this a winner!

The bread came out pretty good. But, reminded me why I’m not a huge fan of baking a loaf type “bread.” It’s almost always undercooked in the middle and overcooked on the edges. But, it was quite tasty and still eaten.

What did you do this week?

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Airport Pickup Hugs (A Remake) | Mommy and Me Monday | 847th ed

Krystyn — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:47:55 +0000

After being out of the country for 10 days, I asked Mr. Serious to bring the girls to the airport with him to pick me up.

They all obliged and not only did they pick me up, but they also surprised me and came inside. I’d like to think it was to give me an extra hug and see me sooner, but it was because they also needed a potty stop.

But, it got me extra hugs sooner! So, I’ll take it! They all snuck up on me and gave me hugs as I came out a different door than they were expecting. Nothing like a good sandwich hug! However, there was no picture.

So, I requested a remake…and maybe that got me another couple hugs.

Mr. Serious did get hugs, too. And I’ll have to figure out when I’m going to next get hugs from the oldest!

What did you do this week?

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Biking with N | Mommy and Me Monday | 846th ed

Krystyn — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:36:00 +0000

Sometimes, N does a cross training workout instead of a run on Tuesday mornings. And sometimes she likes company. Which means I get my planned bike ride done early and she joins me…or I join her.

Most of the rides she’s iffy on the music and the ride structure itself, but hey, exercising with company makes it go quicker and easier.

And then a fun post-ride front-facing-camera-usie with some fluffy hair and all of our mismatched workout clothes, because a garage workout is a great time to get the clothes from closer to the bottom of the dresser drawer.

What did you do this week?

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A busy week | Mommy and Me Monday | 845th ed

Krystyn — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:01:00 +0000

It’s been one of those weeks where up is down, down is up and I’m in different cities and running around crazy. It’s a good crazy, but I have to sit and reflect and remember what all has happened every day.

I started the week downtown with a campus visit to Georgia Tech. It’s crazy that we are already doing the college tour thing again.

The week saw appointments, haircuts, a field trip, car repairs, district honor band and I’m sure I’m forgetting some things.

The oldest came in town for prom dress shopping for N. She made it home before everybody else got home from field trips and honor band so we got to catch up on The Pitt.

After the honor band concert and lunching, it was time to head to the store for prom dress shopping. There were a lot of good choices (and this wasn’t the one). It was fun to spend the hour with her trying on all the different dresses.

And we wrapped the week with a sick visit with this kiddo. This is the face of a kiddo that apparently gets strep throat without a fever.

Doing the antibiotics thing to knock this out.

What did you do this week?

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Hot yoga and coffee | Mommy and Me Monday | 844th ed

Krystyn — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:08:32 +0000

It was a rare opportunity that I was checking my gym’s app and noticed a Sunday morning yoga class I wanted to attend. N was sitting next to me as I was booking it and I asked her if we she wanted to come. To my surprise, she said yes! Woohoo!

It was a “foundations” class on paper, but I like to call it “flow light” because it was challenging. We were both sweaty messes (which is an odd feeling when it’s 20F outside). But, it was a good class.

Across the street was a coffee shop (yeah, that one!) and after a cold and swift walk to the car, I wanted a warm up and offered a little treat.

While I got a hot drink, this goof wanted an iced drink. We had a laugh because they labeled it “pinkity drinkity.”

It felt like a good opportunity to grab a picture and document our hot yoga and post-yoga hot and cold drink combo.

What did you do this week?

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