Sunday, October 23, 2011

Pumpkin Patch

 We have this huge lawn and garden store behind our backyard and I can't believe it has taken me 2 1/2 years to get over there! It is fantastic and if we owned our home I am sure I would be there all the time, dreaming of all the beautiful things to plant and design. Last year I found out they had a free pumpkin patch, but we never made it out there. So, my goal was to try to take advantage of it this year. After a run, breakfast, haircuts, room cleaning, etc... we finally headed out there this morning.
 It was a perfect, free, family activity. Even though it felt more like early summer than a crisp Autumn day we enjoyed getting fresh air and of course pictures of the kids to show off.


 How sweet is that? Oh man, they are growing up so quickly!

What a great backdrop! Wish he could stay still....

Running the race!

 After a couple months of training race day was finally here! I am sure a few of you reading this have done much more than a 10K, but for some of us girls running anything was a huge feat! I am so blessed by this group of friends (plus two not in this picture). The Lord has brought us all together, just when we needed to help spur one another on in life in Christ, motherhood, parenting, marriage and so much more.

The morning of the race it was freezing! I was glad to get the second leg though, minus suffering through the frosty morning. I'm glad to say I ran 6.5 miles with an average of 9.5 min miles (this is my educated guess no actual data), which, for me, is really good. Anyway, I loved it and the process and am looking forward to our (hopefully) next race sometime in 2012. I did run this morning after I took a week off, but my 4 miles felt like 6. That night we had a celebration feast and these are all our beautiful kids between our 7 families. Can you believe it? So much fun and so much more to come!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Who's counting?

 Now that M buddy is past the year mark, I always have to pause and think when people ask how old he is. I could say "one", but we all know a 1 year old who is almost 2 is so different than a just turned 1 year old. Not that it matters, really.
So, here he is just 13 months, discovering the world around him, trying to rake leaves. I'm not sure why he is crying, but that lip is so dang cute!

 Now, if you are wondering why they are outside in their pj's and why the girls hair looks the way it does, let's just say daddy was on duty. I've been doing a lot of running lately to get ready for the KC Marathon Relay that is coming up this next weekend. A few of us decided to do it about 2 months ago and we've all been cramming to get ready. So, this last Sunday morning, we decided to do a 6 mile run. I've been embracing the journey, working hard on not counting how long it takes to run each mile or

 how far down the scale might go, but that is all easier said than done, sometimes.
Spencer got an awesome find at a garage sale, an old Nikon (as old as me). You know the kind where you had to buy film and pay to develop what could be all out of focus pictures? It came with several very unique lenses. They only work on the manual setting with his digital camera, but they work. So fun!
Payge has been so interested in taking pictures, so he let her play around a bit taking pictures of her pony and the others. She actually did a decent job.
How fun this 4 year old age is! I'm doing a Kindergarten homeschool curriculum with both girls this year and everyday I hear, "what's next mommy?' It is hard to keep up with them! I know they are a little young, but I needed to satisfy their desire for school with something. The joys of motherhood, yes, it really is a joy.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Tea party, apple picking, and the most amazing Ice cream ever!


 We went to Iowa last weekend so Spencer could do some tree work for a few family friends. While we were there Grammy had to take the opportunity to have a tea party with the girls and their cousin Natalie. What a hoot! They loved it, of course. Getting to dress up and eat a ridiculous amount of sweets before lunch- what 3 or 4 year old wouldn't!
 Papau took them for a ride around the yard.



 We went apple picking with all the Hansons and Grammy. Even Myles enjoyed sampling our picks! He is walking like a pro now. I think I've been a bad mom and not yet gotten a video of him walking. We may have one Spencer's phone, but I need to work on that. I love those first few days though while they hold their hands up in the air to help them balance.
 My sister in law and I squeezed in a 5 mile run, to help me get ready for the KC Marathon relay. She also had me take her Kettlebell boot camp class the next day; it was killer, but a lot of fun. I made sure to get another scoop of Whitey's Ice Cream to reward myself. Though, I made the mistake of trying 'Graham Central Station'. There are no words. It is a good thing there is nothing like that close by home! I would have to start training for a full marathon.
Another busy weekend, but full of fun!