Laser Tag and Carrot Cake

Just a few of Asher's favorite things that he got to enjoy on his 9th birthday!

"I'm Nine!" He giggled as he broke through his celebration decorations first thing in the morning.  He had to giggle silently since he was the the 1st kid awake that morning. He has been getting up every morning before school to run a mile and this day he wanted to run 2! A kid after my own heart. Joel ran those 2 miles with him and it brought such sweetness to my soul to hear them chatting every time they passes the house.

All Asher ever wants for his birthday - carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

And a laser tag party with his family and closest friends.

Asher says is wasn't a good day, it was a GREAT day! He has such a sweet spirit, never complaining or whining, always thinking of other and seeing the best in the world. I hope that never changes. 

Happy 9th birthday Asher!

On the Sidelines

On the sidelines....not my favorite place to be. A week go, I was set up to be running a 10K with my sights on a 1/2 marathon on June 1st. These weren't just any races to me...I have been doing speed work and training 6 days a week in order to set personal records. Not only that, I have a dear dear friend flying in from Montana to run the 1/2 marathon with me - we have been counting down the days! So why the sidelines you ask? My last run before the 10K, I trip on the edge of the asphalt, roll my ankle inwards, and fall down an embankment. Not one of my finer moment as I am howling at my running partner while sitting in some thorns, and spectators on the trail call an ambulance.  I do have to say that my running partner Susy and I have reached a new level of friendship! Even though I am yelling at her while she she is trying to extract me from the thorns, she held my hand and prayed over me.  She made a million phone calls for me and took Josie during my ambulance ride and ER stay. I know her heart is broken just from seeing the how ordeal. As much as my heart is broken (I think I cried more tears over my race dreams disappearing than I did the pain), I am so blessed to have such a special friend. One that runs with me, complains with me, runs with me some more, laughs with me, pushes a stroller when I can't, leaves me in the dust, runs with me again, and is by my side in prayer and tears in the pain. My ankle is not broken, but is a borderline 2nd/3rd degree sprain. That just means it is really really bad. As I write this post it has been a week since it happened. I am more mobile thanks to a walking boot, but in constant pain every time I bear weight. Life has been put in this strange holding pattern of no cleaning, no carpools, no food (as in who can drive to the grocery store), and maybe a shower every other day. It has been hard on the whole family but we are managing to limp along one day at a time. I have another appointment in a week to see how healing is going...the hope then is that maybe I can get on a stationary bike and be driving by then, and maybe I can still "run/jog" on June 1st but there will be no personal records.  I am trying to remain hopeful!

In the meantime, being on the sidelines has shown me something in my kids that I never new existed - a spirit to run.  Maybe I just focused on my running too much and never gave them the chance. Joel and I disagreed on giving Asher my bib for my 10K race even though they let us switch it to the 5K. I didn't think he could run that far, especially by himself. Joel's positive attitude (and Asher's) won me over. Joel predicted a 40 minute 5K for him, I predicted a 35 minute. And I guess since Asher was running, why not sign Anna up for the 1 mile fun run. Then Josie said she wanted to race too...so Joel decided to push her in the stroller. While Jesse and I sat on the sideline and cheered out little hearts out! And my kids shocked me! Anna ran a mile in 7:15, being the second girl to come in. And Asher rounded the corner coming towards the finish line smiling from ear of ear finishing in 27:53! I was so shocked and unprepared that I didn't even get a picture! He placed 68th out of 275 people! Now both kids are begging to be signed up for more races and have been running a mile just about every other day in "training". I am ecstatic that my love for running may be something I get to share with my kids now. I never would have given them this chance this early if it weren't for this injury.

 The sidelines pre race. It was a chilly morning!

Another pre race photo.

My speed demons.

And I can't forget to brag about Joel! He ran the 10K with Josie (who kept bragging about "her race" too) and did reach a personal record, finishing in just under 50 minutes! I know he was a little disappointed because he had a different goal, but I know from experience how a stroller slows you down. He did amazing!

Jesse is 5!

Jesse has been counting down the days till April 28th since Josie's birthday in January.  He understood his birthday was the next in our family and he was dutiful about crossing the days off his calendar.  He had so much anticipation but the I think the day lived up to all he imagined! The dimples were shining all day.

 Since it was Jesse's off year for a party, he got to invite 1 friend for an outing. This is his best friend Matthew - they are 2 peas in a pod! We went to a place called Rebounders...wall to wall trampolines.

 They never stopped running and jumping...they literally got to bounce off walls!

 We thought Josie wouldn't enjoy it but she was the only one who didn't even take water breaks!

 Jesse is Skylanders obsessed so of course he asked for a Skylanders cake. I was so excited to top the "portal of power" cake with the figure "Ninjini" that took me days, lots of phone calls and trips to game stores to find. She is the newest figure to come out. Jesse has been asking for her for months.

 Oh, those dimples!

He was so happy with all his gifts, more Skylanders, monster trucks, and hotwheel cars and tracks. The house has still not recovered from the toy explosion from sugared up kids.

So then he wakes up on Monday and thinks he is going to Kindergarten that day! I guess it is my fault for always saying "when you are 5 Jesse". He now tells us is a big boy and doesn't need help with things like flossing, or opening food packages, or putting his clothes on the right way...but he is still backwards 50% of the time. I hope that never changes :). Welcome to 5 my Hawaiian baby!

Playing Hooky

A site to behold: Cherry blossoms in peak bloom in Washington D.C. Apparently the window to behold said site is small...a few days to a week long. And don't people travel from all over during this window to see the same site we want to see?  All the better to play hooky from work and school and spend a day being a tourist in D.C.! Not sure how I convinced Joel to do this (I will say he had an approved day of leave, he didn't really play hooky-but the kids did!). The kids thought it was awesome. Now Jesse points out all the cherry blossoms in our neighborhood as we drive through and Anna was in love at first site because the blossoms were PINK! A shout out to my parents and sister..."Pink, PINK? What's wrong with pink?!"...yes this song was in my head ALL day!

Well, I am not sure the pictures do the beauty of the blossoms justice, but we did out best! Amanda, I think you would have been in heaven. The day ended with a stop at "Georgetown Cupcakes", an amazingly delicious cupcake shop that has a show on TLC called "DC Cupcakes"...so good that we will be taking any visitors there to show it off!

Spring Break

Even though the kids spring break and anticipation of Easter brought more snow and rain, we still eagerly packed up our minivan (snow gear included) to head to my parents house in WV for a week. We have all been looking forward to a break from the everyday routine. My parents had some fun outings planned for us but first we had to hit the Easter Egg hunt out our church.

 6,000 eggs spread across a field.  Um, Anna and Asher are in that madhouse somewhere. I guess the cute pictures become obsolete once they reach a certain age.

 These 2 had time to pose!

Josie was happy with one egg, and sat down to get the candy out.

 Laser tag was the longest 7 minutes! It was Joel and I vs. these 3. I would be shooting away and all of a sudden be dead, turn around and see Anna giggling.  They were fierce competition!

 And the unanimous favorite day was the one where Grammie and Poppy took them to drive go carts!

 Fun at a Children's Museum

Poppy took the boys fishing and Jesse caught his first fish! No, it was not from the pond in the background. My dad would have a heart attack if we fished in his pond!

 Grandma Thorson began a tradition with the kids a few years ago of making "peep dioramas" of the Easter story so we try to do it every year. Jesse did the last supper...too cute that he put M&Ms on the oreo table for "Jesus and his friends".

We intended on being back home for Easter but alas, Jesse started throwing up non stop so we extended our stay another dat. Anna was beside herself with worry..."what about our magic jelly beans", "we don't have our Easter baskets", and "how will the Easter bunny find us!". It was comical.  Never fear my dear, it all worked out! Mommy always has a store of magic jelly beans :).

 Planting

And lollipops grew again! Joel almost gotten eaten by a giant raccoon during the "growing" process but the look on their faces in the morning makes it worth it.

We hope all our loved ones and friends out there had a wonderful and blessed Easter. In Asher's words "I can't wait till tomorrow. Jesus will rise!". A true blessing indeed.

Snow Day!

We have been waiting all winter for a day like this! A day where school is cancelled, Joel doesn't have to go into work, the world shuts down, and we get to play in the snow, go sledding, make cookies, drink hot chocolate, and enjoy a day of nothing!

 The kids were out in the snow by 10am and were in and out  most of the day.

 Josie loved it! She got in on all the action and became a fierce competitor in the snow ball fight.  She showed no mercy.

 Our first real snow man in years! Seriously since before we moved to Hawaii. Asher was so excited.

 See...no mercy even for the camera woman.

Were you wondering where Anna was in these pictures? Sitting on the couch with a 102 degree fever.  She has been sick for the past 2 days and was so bummed to not be playing in the snow. Maybe tomorrow.  She has been able to enjoy all the chocolate chip cookies though :).

What a blessing.  Happy Snow everyone!

Fun days

 Joel took Jesse and Asher on a "boys" date to an Auto Show in DC.  Even after the boys were fast asleep, Joel walked dreamily into our room and sad "I had the best time time with my boys". I guess it was a good date! The picture above is a "REAL, mom, a REAL one" hot wheels car.

 Jesse was over the moon about driving "Bumble Bee".

 The kids tagging along with me to the chiropractor.  This is a new adventure for me, and the jury is still out on results, but since I have to go 3 times a week I often have to drag my entourage.  They love joining me at this doctor's office though because the assistants let them play on all the equipment.

Not a girls date but we had a nice time waiting for the pediatrician for an hour! Ugh! They really made the best of it.  Anna was in heaven playing doctor the whole time, and Josie just likes being included. She has become a pistol since turning 2...I don't remember the terrible 2's hitting so fast!

A boys's adventure

Future posts will involve: adventures in potty training, girls date, swim meet tales, and hopefully me healed of back and hip pain after a million chiropractor visits.