Down

What could be a bigger bummer than laying on the couch the day before Halloween feeling as if you're gonna blow any second?? "We're" home sick today. I know "we're" sick because there are totally fun festivities at school today that "we" just can't get to. I've never had a sick child for Halloween- what, oh what, will we do if we miss it?

And by the way, James and Giant Peach is a really freaky movie.

Bootcamp, Sleep Style

I would so much prefer teaching a good solid boot camp workout instead of what we're enduring over here. My child turned four last week. Four is so far away from the usual sort of boot camp that we're doing. Typically bleary-eyed moms and dads do this with babies and here we are years later...

Last night was our second night of hour after hour reassuring a small person with outrageous fears that all is well and that he needs to stay in his bed. I took night one, last night was daddy's turn. Daddy reported that he and the worry wort were awake from one am to four am. Ouch.

So you can imagine the amount of whining and frustration both the little one and mommy will have today. It's going to get better. It's going to get better. It's going to get better.

Right?!*
Launching rockets off the stairs in jammies. I think we'll skip swim lessons this morning and stay low- in jammies all morning long.

*Update: Night number three has been the worst so far. I may crash and burn big time today.

Gearing Up

A major rager fifth grade party last Saturday got us trying out the costume. And she said her boots looked like garbage bags....come on.

I Heart Fall

I get seriously bummed at the end of summer. It must be our location and the fear of dark, gray days. And then I remember just how perfect the fall is- short and sweet.

Last weekend a very smart family from school found a nearby pumpkin patch to host a carving party. From trick or treats in the hay loft of the barn to the jumpy jumps to the candle lit garden (doesn't it just look like the Secret Garden??), we enjoyed our afternoon immensely.

Fall, I love ya!

The Human Calculator

Have you heard of this guy, Scott Flansburg? He's noted as the Human Calculator for a reason. The math maniac can tell you what day it was on any given date in history. He can quickly tabulate any problem you give him. He is serious about teaching math and even more serious that math can be easy for everyone. When I'm done with this book...I'll be able to help my fifth grader with homework! ;)

Rainy Days

This is what it looks like on a rainy afternoon at our house.

A soon to be four year old insisting he can read chapter books. (Because Hank is really funny).

You don't actually need rain to find this girl curled on the couch reading but those Legos in the background will tell you that there have been hours of building while stuck inside.

The Force Will Definitely Be With Us

I have to admit, my children are junkies. It started over the summer and it hasn't died down one bit. All three of them are obsessed. In fact there will be a Leia, Luke and Darth out and about in full costume this Halloween. We will be celebrating our little guy's birthday tomorrow -can you even imagine their excitement when we go see this one night event? (You must click on the link and watch this clip!)

So Long

Do you know how long I've waited for this sticker? Almost four years ago we gave in to better judgement and bought a treadmill. Why? Because I was having a baby and I didn't want to look like it. So as soon as little bear made his way to our house, I plugged in the machine and started to go. Not long after, I excitedly ran into the kitchen to announce to the chef that I had just ran (more like slowly jogged) five whole miles. "Great job" said the handsome cook. "I know" I added, "and someday...I'm gonna train for a marathon!"

Well, training came and went. Injuries have come and gone and came again. But I did it. Cross that one right off the list because I DID IT. But you know what? I want to do it again. And again. And all these people in my life think I'm ignorant and nuts to keep injuring myself but the truth is- I love to run. I love to race. It's an awesome, awesome feeling. And hopefully one I won't have to wait months to feel again.

I have admitted already that I shouldn't have tried to run injured. It was stupid, it caused a lot more damage. But think about how many souls over those 26.2 miles I offered up that suffering for. So while I recover from a mysterious pelvic pain, I am going to try to focus on the good (really hard for my type). I'm going to remember I'm blessed to be able to do this. To reflect on how much I adored Portland. To know that I accomplished something big (why oh why can't that be enough?) and to of course realize that I am capable of so much more than I ever knew.

In A Crowd

Last week was our big kids first CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) cross country meet. They did their runner-wanna-be mommy proud. (I'm a wanna-be until I complete my first full marathon- it's self-inflicted this title, don't ask). So, clueless as I am, I was informed that Bill Gates was walking around this meet with his son. No helicopters, no security, no fanfare- just a dad cheering on his kid.

Wow, I thought, that's pretty cool but then again I wouldn't know Bill Gates in a crowd, let a lineup. So with people like me around I guess his cover is pretty safe.


Mine is on the right- just like her mom, she doesn't want anyone stealing her thunder in the end.