Dump run

Max and Daddy went to the dump yesterday. Max helped load the truck. The highlights if the day were a multi colored icee and trash, rounded out with a trip to Home Depot. Very male bonding-ish.

Cross Country Meet

Today was Pearl's first Cross Country Meet.  I knew it was going to be a CRAZY day, so I got a babysitter for the little ones so that I could volunteer to help make sure the 4th grade girls got to where they needed to be.  This is all the fourth graders.  In our tiny tiny school, we had the first place and the last place girls.  Go figure.  We're the outliers:)

The school where the meet was held is WAAAAY up on top of this crazy hill, and the girls had to run up about half of it on a dirt path as part of the course.  There were lots of loops and repeatings etc, so they had EVERYONE walk the whole course before running.  

Unfortunately for us, it didn't help us much.  I walked the course with the girls, then stood at the start until they had left and made their first loop... by the time the first loop was over, Pearl was at the very end with the teenage volunteers who lead the pack and bring up the rear so nobody would get lost.  When I saw her come around a second time (the wrong way...) I chased after her to tell her she was going the wrong way.  The little teenage girl was confused and embarassed, and I was really wishing I had my running shoes on at that point.  We made it back to our tent (which was thankfully right along the course) and I explained to the coach that Pearl and her friend Molly had gone the wrong way... and the coach offered to run it with them.  Bless her!!!  I didn't want Pearl to give in, but I didn't see a way around it, I couldn't send her by herself, sure she'd get lost again with no pack to follow!!!

This is her when she finally made it to the big finish, she was working so hard to go SOO slow... funny little girl!  She came in 58 out of 58 girls, but I don't think she was too upset about it.  I think she was upset that she ended up having to run further than anyone else did.  

 There were some tears at the end, I think she was just overwhelmed, and tired from the BIG hill (seriously, I would avoid running that hill!) but once we walked it out and made it back to the car she was happy and cheerful again, sure that she would do better next time.  I tell you, that girl knows how to perservere.  What a good example, really.  

You know that scripture about how church isn't for the righteous, it's for the sinners?  Well, Cross Country is apparently for Runners in Progress as well:)  As I told Pearl, the only way to go from here is up:)

Ragnar with the Crazies

Ragnar is here.  I leave on Thursday night.  I am SOOO EXCITED!!!!  I'm even more excited today than yesterday because today we had a dropout and MARA took their place!!!  Wahooo for me!!!!  She is such a champ, she will have absolutely no time to train (my last run is tomorrow, and that's iffy, I should probably be resting, but I'm a glutton for punishment... plus I ate a lot today...) and she's dropping everything and spending her time finding a sitter for her girls friday because she is the BEST SISTER EVER:)  And she really wants one of these cool pink skirts I designed for our team:

So, what this means for me is.... I'm switching one of my shorter runs for her long run... so now I get to run a total of 20.5 miles.  That's right.  2.7, 9.3, then 8.3.  That's fine, because I'm a rockstar.  And believe it or not, she'll still have to run something like 14 miles total.  Actually, I like 8 mile runs... I get into the rhythm of it and I like the feeling of being all alone for an hour and a half.  Weird.  If I had read this 6 months ago, I would have been sure I was reading the wrong blog.   

Ask me after this weekend if I really want to run a full marathon.  I'm saying if I can do 20 miles in 36 hours, I could totally do a full.  Just once.  To say I did it.  In case anyone will think that's cool:)

It's sure making that next half marathon I've signed up for look nice... only 13.1:)  

Preschool

Max officially started his school year today. This morning he wanted to make sure I would LEAVE HIM THERE and NOT STAY. Yeah. Not a lot of separation anxiety there:)

School Pictures 2012

So, in continuing with my tradition of NOT purchasing school pictures, I did portraits of the kiddos the other night instead.  Last year I was a little dissapointed... especially in the terrible smiles I got out of one little five year old boy... but not this year.  This year, I got so many good ones... I know there's a ton, but you wouldn't have been able to choose either!  I sent even more than this off to print!!!  So, for the record, Pearl is in 4th grade, Sam is in 1st grade, Max is starting his first year of preschool, and Miss Ruby is 10 1/2 months old.  Precious.  I kind of love my kids.  

Max is THREE!!!!

Mr Max recently had his third birthday.  His cousin, Maya just had a birthday too.  She got her very own photo shoot with an outfit and a field of flowers... 

Max got 3 minutes in the backyard with his grungy hand-me-down Thomas t-shirt that he wears at least once a week.  Sorry, kid, you're number 3 and you have a cute baby sister.  That's all I can say in my defense:)

 I don't think he minded... not then, and I'm sure he'll forgive me in the future.

 This kid... is STILL obsessed with trains!  We squeaked in one more birthday at the train museum before our passes expired.  The child has everything, so this year, we let him pick out his own present from the train museum... the silver train pictured here.  I'm not sure what the pull was, it was not something I would have picked out for him, but two weeks later he's still sleeping with it.  Most awesome birthday present I ever bought him:)

 He's still generally a happy boy, and more and more interested in what the big kids are doing... especially Sam.  It is safe to say that this one is Sam's shadow.

How I love having this little boy in the family!  I think he's a keeper.

First day of School!!! First day of School!!!

Can you believe it?  School started August 9th this year.  I know, summer was just getting started!  (at least it feels that way...)

Max was a little sad not to be going to school too, his will start up in a few weeks:)

 Pearl is in fourth grade this year, and is now attending the big school up the hill (sniff, sniff!)  Sammy is in first grade, and this is how I know the school knows him well... I was so worried about first grade because they do a lot of whole group instruction with the overhead projector, and he would totally not pay attention, but guess what?  His seat is front and center, right in front of the overhead and the teacher.  Hmm, maybe think his Kinder teacher talked to the first grade teacher?

 I was so busy this summer, and it is SO HOT, that I didn't get around to shopping for a first day of school outfit for Pearl.  Luckilly, I was halfway through a t-shirt dress I was making for her, and was able to finish it in time.  Dorky that I made her first day of school dress, or uber cool?  I can't decide... but she likes it.  She's worn it three times this week!  (don't worry, only once to school:)

 And Sam... this Hawaiian shirt was purchased for his kinder graduation (which I still haven't blogged about) and only worn one day.  Since it's the only non-superhero t-shirt shirt he owns, it became the first day of school shirt.  He didn't complain too much:)

On the first day, it was like 102 degrees, so I dropped them off and immediately took the babies for a 5 mile run.  Ahhhhh, it was SO NICE to just go RUN by MYSELF (and my double stroller:) without having to figure out what to do with all the kids!  Max and Ruby like the ride, the whole way back Ruby was waving and squealing at all the other runners, she got a lot of attention that way:)  Then, we went to wal mart, got some more things done... I love the routine school gives us!!:)  Good good good first day!