Run!

Here is the picture that they took at the finish line at the 10K. Look how many people are behind me! It really doesn't matter that some of them are probably 1/2 or full marathoners, they are still BEHIND me! I am IN FRONT of them, so I will take that as being faster than them, Ha Ha. Ah, the wonderful ways our minds can decieve us....

Running the Gap, 10K

I ran my 10K today, and I feel great! I felt great while running, and I feel great now. My time was 1 hour, 6 minutes and 12 seconds. I was amazed to find out that my time was only 10 minutes short of placing! I'm sure I would have run faster if I had known that would happen; but I really though placing was such a long shot, that I just ran comfortably. I did step up my pace at the end. My goal was to finish in less that 1 hour 15 minutes, so I did pretty good, for me!

And I totally thought I would have to stop and walk for a bit here and there, like I usually do when I run 5 miles outside of a race.

Something happens, however, when you are in a race. You are motivated like nothing else, and you find a little extra in yourself. I didn't walk at all! I ran the whole time, pacing myself so I wouldn't get too tired. 6.2 miles in a race is nothin!

And what a gread reward at the finish line, to see my daughters, husband and mom cheering me on. That makes me want to cry!

My goal next year is to do the 1/2 marathon. Judging by how I did today and how I feel right now, I don't think that is such a stretch. I can't wait!

This is a great race, well organized with lots of free stuff at the end for kids to do. I got a meal for free, and all the drinks I could want. The Running the Gap marathon will be in it's 11th year next year, and they know how to put on a great race.

Come with me next time!

Back To School!

Last week marked the beginning of another school year, and our girls were so excited! Ava is again doing preschool with kids and parents in our neighborhood. She absolutely loves it; she asks everyday if she has preschool.

What a cutie! When I gave her the backpack to put on, she kissed it she was so happy!

Michaela this year is in middle school. How did that happen? I'm just not that old yet! She didn't want me to walk in with her, and would only let me take a picture if I stood next to the car so no one would see me taking the picture. Michaela is such a good girl, and she is really looking forward to middle school.

Payden is in fourth grade this year, and she let me come in to take pictures! She has the same teacher Michaela had for fourth grade; we really like her.

This picture is a tradition; the circle of bricks outside their elementary school. This year there was only one of them, however! Payden is my only kid here for now.

They both wore their "first day of school" clothes, outfits they really felt good in and were excited about.

I love back to school time, the routines and normalcy of it all. I also like to have more time to devote to my younger kids. And darn it all if my house is easier to clean and stays that way longer! I also like to go to breakfast with friends, and lunches with Jason. But I do miss my kiddos, and can't wait for them to come home and tell me all about their days.

Here's to another great year of learning!

A lesson in static electricity

Why moms need large bladders.

We all do it.

Put off going to the bathroom until the last possible minute because we have "just one more thing" to do.

Sometimes, when you are a mom, the bathroom is just not high on your list of "to dos".

We get home from watching UP, (which was great) and I notice I have to go.

But first, I have to get the baby down for bed, because she is exhausted and so am I, after struggeling through the movie with her. (She was tired, wanted down but floor was too gross, wouldn't go to sleep, and crawled all over me while my poor arms attempted to not give out.)

I can't use my bathroom right now, hubby stunk it up, so head to the other one upstairs, but daughter number 3 needs to go.

I don't want to go all the way down stairs, so I go ahead and throw a load of laundry in while I wait.

Then said daughter needs her song sung to her, and a kiss goodnight too.

Then child number one has a headache, and needs me to get her some tylenol.

You can't put off a good blogging idea, so here I sit really having to go by now.

So I am cutting this short, I think one of our 3 bathrooms is available for a small window of time.

Potty Humor

Me: Run in and go potty for quiet time! You get to go potty on the blue water!

Ava: Huh?

Me: I cleaned the potty with blue cleaner. Yellow and blue make green, so when you pee on the blue water it will make it green.

Ava: Okay!

A few minutes later....

Ava: What do yellow and blue and brown make?

Marshmallow roasting, outdoor sleeping, good bye summer!

Saturday night, we lit a fire and roasted marshmallows and made smores one last time before school starts. A fantastic way to bring in the new school year.

Such concentration to get that marshmallow on!

Of course, there were starbursts to roast as well!

Jason likes his smores!

You know its good when they wear it on their faces.

Then Jason had the idea to sleep on the tramp with the girls. I stayed inside with the baby. Good thing, because I don't think I would have fit!

They all stayed out there all night! I was totally prepared to have one or a few come in because they were scared, cold, or it rained. But nope! Even our tiny Ava slept all night under the stars. She must have felt secure nestled in between her dad and older sisters.

This is how I found them in the morning, under very threatening grey skies. It started to rain about 30 minutes later, so they came inside. They got lucky, it started out just a sprinkle, but then just kept on coming all day long. Someone must have known my girlies and hubby were sleeping outside; the rain waited for them! You can hardly even see Ava's head; she is almost totally under the covers.

School, here we come!