A Day in Baltimore

Last week, Asher had an appointment in Baltimore. Joel took the day off so we could play tourists for the day!

We spent the day exploring the inner harbor of Baltimore. 

 We toured 3 historic ships, a submarine, and a lighthouse during our afternoon. Asher's favorite was this one, the U.S. Constellation where we got to see them fire the cannon.

 The kids loved climbing the bunks in the last floating survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack. I don't think I could sleep on those things!

 Show me your shark face! Joel had a hard time navigating inside the submarine. It gave us a new appreciation for our Navy sub friends!

 Climbing to the bridge of a Coast Guard ship that use to serve as a "lighthouse" light ship to guide boats into the harbor.

 Enjoying crab cakes (well I enjoyed them...everyone else turned up their noses).

It was a happy day!

Summer Points

Summer is here! That means enjoying the sunshine,

getting dirty, 

 trips to the playground,

exploring, 

and many many pool days.

However, I think I am like most moms who are thankful that we are done forcing homework and drilling spelling words for the year, but are already wishing for September! I felt so lost the 1st week of summer, and overwhelmed with the number of times the doors slammed as kids came in and out tracking dirt with them, the constant need for something to do, the fights that never stop, and the disruption on a normal routine. Have I ever told you I am a little OCD...just a little. 

Somehow I muddied through the 1st week and in the process begin developing our "summer points" system.  The kids earn points for reading, writing, mathwork, outdoor exercise, learning to cook certain items, playing board games together, learning life skills, and challenging themselves. Every so many points, they earn prizes culminating in the big goal...a trip to Busch Gardens! It has been 2 days since we have started the system and it has been the most amazing 2 days! 

 The kids have spent an hour drawing, another 30 minutes playing candy land together (happily!). Asher has already done a full load of laundry without any prompting (yes that means to washer, to dryer, folding and putting away). They are making their own lunches and planning scavenger hunts. They are constantly checking their list of ways to earn points and then they are off.

Even Jesse has been enjoying independent play time and cut his own food!

Can this really last all summer?!?!

Race Season

Race season continues with everyone but me. I really don't like being in this position. Even after I thought I had dealt with the feelings, I find they resurface every time the starting bell rings and I watch the crowds that include my kids, husband, and friends go by me. I have learned many thing in the process, but still wonder why God has to break me to get me to listen. I have loved cheering for all those dear to me. I have learned that the races aren't always about how fast you finish or the PR, but also about the friendships and joy of running. I am humbled by the lessons and can't wait to put them into practice! Although I survived a couple spinning classes this week, one step on the treadmill proved too much pain to bear so I will still be on the sidelines cheering for awhile. Asher has his eyes set on a few races this summer!

 Anna ready her her 1st 5K!

 Asher at the finish line for his 2nd 5K. He finished in 28:45 this time after a brief fall along the way. Still smiling the whole way!

Anna at the finish line. Her time was 31:53. She is not as enthusiastic about it as Asher but I believe she enjoyed the race and would like to continue on in this adventure. Only time will tell.

 My dear running buddies from Ohio Susy and Catrina finishing the Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon hand in hand. Yes, this photo still brings tears to my eyes. We all moved from Ohio last summer after running together 2 to 3 times a week for a year, including many coffee dates and marathon training long runs. It is amazing how well you get to know one another when you get hours on uninterrupted conversation on the trail. We made a commitment to each other to run a race together every year. Susy and I strong armed Catrina into flying to DC from Montana for this race and then my ankle happened.  And then poor Catrina...coming from 50 degree Montana to 92 degree heat wave for a race that became all about friendship. Catrina (as well as many other runners) suffered dehydration during the race, doesn't remember the last mile, passed out as she crossed the finish line, and had to be carried to the med tent. It wasn't a PR, it wasn't even that pretty, but it was a time together none of us will forget! Hopefully next time I will be finishing next to them.

The course was beautiful and finished in a winery where we got to enjoy wine tasting from 19 different wineries among the grapevines.  

I had to dress like a runner to fit in :). 

I think the flip flops gave me away.

Joel ran too!!  He says he stopped sweating at mile 9 and swears to me that he will never run another half marathon ever! For some reason, he always blames me for this things?

Catrina's farewell coffee date with Susy and I. Starbucks is a must with this crowd :). What a wonderful time of conversation and blessings. I can't wait till the next time! 

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!