A Half-Marathon Weekend

On Saturday, September 27th, I completed my 3rd half marathon - the Happy Girls Run held in Spokane.  First and foremost, this was an awesome race.  I felt like I was in great shape, the course was difficult but beautiful, and it was amazing to run with so many women.  Secondly, this race kinda kicked my butt.  It was a tough course, with nearly the entire first half on rocky trails.  I had hoped to PR with a sub 1:51:00, but that just didn't happen.  I also came away with a foot injury.

All smiles before the race:

Looking a wee bit exhausted at the finish:

My race groupies:

The weather seriously challenged my packing strategy for our weekend.  As you can see, Kendry had to wear Daddy's coat in order to stay warm.  Fortunately, it was great running weather.

All along we had planned to spend the entire race weekend in Spokane, a short two hour drive from home. Justin's sister lives there and we intended to crash at their place. However, four days before the race our niece came down with fever that eventually developed into hand, mouth and foot. Yeesh!  For those who aren't aware, the twins came down with hand, mouth and foot - one baby right after the other - in August.  It was quite possibly our most brutal parenting week ever.  Needless to say, we were more than willing to make alternate arrangements for the race weekend in order to avoid hand, mouth and foot.  We ended up booking a hotel room for the weekend.  With a five year old and two babies still sleeping in cribs, it was quite an adventure, but we made it work.

Off we go!

With my race completed on Saturday morning, we strolled down to Riverfront Park in the afternoon.

 

In hindsight, walking probably wasn't the best choice for my injured foot, but its not like we were going to stay cooped up in the hotel room.

Before heading home on Sunday we hit up Trader Joe's and Manito Park. 

All that playground time paved the way for this on the drive home:

It was a fun weekend away.  While I didn't PR, I did finish under two hours with an official time of 1:59:37.1.  Out of 591 women, I placed 43rd.  

The babies did not get hand, mouth and foot.  Yeah, baby!  

And I came away with a cool new tee.

This race could be a fun yearly tradition.  Any volunteers to join me?

Happy running! 

(particularly if its hand, mouth and foot that you're running from)

Ten on Tuesday

{1}

Happy Fall, ya'll!

{2}

Looks like I'm not the only one excited that fall has arrived.

He assured me there were enough leaves for a jumping pile.

I counted thirty-three.

But this mama capitalized his proud moment (and the overcast day) and suggested he play in the leaves for the camera.

I even caught a real smile or two.

{3}

Today was a bit of a wildlife day.

Kendry found a slug.

The twins made a beeline across the road to introduce themselves to the neighbor's pitbulls.

I redirected by giving them their first up-close-and-personal with a horse a few houses down.

Kendry and I discovered a recently deceased snake on our road.

I met a black widow on our front stoop.

{4}

As a mother of boys, there are times you must dial down your fear of spiders.

This was not one of those times.

On a positive note, I created my own dance move in the front yard today. I call it "spider killer". 

Except I didn't actually kill the spider. I maimed her a bit with my broom before flinging her into front yard. 

She's coming back for me, I know it.

{5}

I miss Alaska and its tiny spiders.

{6}

Fun at the fair:

{7}

Gotta hurry and finish up this post cuz I have a date with these fellas tonight:

{8}

Jack the Seahawk
(kinda long but pretty cute)

{9}

The only non-Seahawk jersey we allow in this home:

{10}

This Week's Blessing:

Family.

God has blessed us beyond measure. May we never take it for granted.

Ten on Tuesday

{1}

Never take a properly working refrigerator for granted.

Ever.

{2}

Never take for granted a husband with a surprising knack for appliance repair.

He's a keeper.

{3}

Photographic proof that he is a keeper:

{4}

Less than two weeks until my half marathon, which means this is the toughest week yet.

{5}

This noisy little popper finally popped its last...

...and mommy and daddy slept a little more peacefully that night.


{Justin took a photo of this as proof that these rough and tumble noisemakers do, in fact, eventually break.}

{6}

Speaking of rough and tumble, we sure are getting a kick out of the personality emerging from this fella'.  If I ever catch his 'head down, charge like a bull' crawl on video it is sure to go viral.

{7}

This kiddo has been walking a few weeks now - although I call it wiggling, not walking.

{8}

For those who aren't aware, after a lot of back and forth over the last six months, Justin and I finally decided to wait a year before starting Kendry in kindergarten.  I love knowing I have a little more time at home with my little man.

{9}

Is anyone else as excited as we are that its football season again?

All together now (except for Cohen):  TOUCHDOWN!

What's a brother photo without a little biting?

{10}

This Week's Blessing:

A fun weekend with Justin's family.

Its always a fun time when these six are together.

Hiking Dworshak

Labor Day Weekend

Not wanting to be fuddy-duddies by staying home the entire three-day weekend, we took a day trip, strapping on our hiking gear and heading up to Dworshak Dam, a short 45 minute drive into Idaho.

This is for you trivia buffs (here's lookin' at you, Steph):
At a height of 717 feet, Dworshak is the third tallest dam in the U.S., and is the tallest straight-axis concrete dam in the Western Hemisphere.

All together now: "Oooooooh...aaaahhhh."

The state park had a nice grassy area and playground that all three boys enjoyed.  On a side note, if Cohen doesn't tumble headfirst off playground equipment by the age of two I will be shocked.

We only hiked about 1.5 miles in/around the reservoir as it proved to have a lot more ups and downs than we anticipated, some of which proved a little tough for Kendry.  I'll admit I'm part to blame as I let him wear generic Walmart tennis shoes with zero tread - not exactly what you would call trail shoes. Lesson learned.

I don't know much about reservoirs but since there were boats all over I thought we would come across as least one flat, beach-like area where the babies could sit and play. Not so. Instead it was all stair-stepped rock. Kendry got to do lots of rock-throwing, but the babes remained confined to their packs.

After a short break on this jetty of rock we headed back to the park area for lunch - or rather our 'Ladybug Picnic'. We had spotted countless ladybugs all over the wood picnic table when we arrived at the park, but didn't think much of it other than Justin commenting, "There must be a nest nearby."

Huh.

"Do ladybugs nest?" I thought.  (You're wondering the same thing now, aren't you?)

After hiking back to the park area, I played a little game of peek-a-boo with Jack by hiding behind a large tree. After noticing how red the bark appeared I took a closer look.

Yikes!

Kendry loved it. I found it kinda creepy.  Ladybugs are cute and whimsical in small numbers, but throw a couple thousand at me and suddenly I'm smack in the middle of a Hitchcock movie.

{My subsequent research indicates that they, in fact, do not really nest but infest.}


In all it was a fun outing, particularly since I finally caught some genuine smiles from this five year old.

Its a Boys' Life

How we have fun on a weekday morning:

Step 1:

Get yourself wet. I mean really wet.

A garden hose is essential. 

A water table works great too.

Step 2:

While still dripping wet, insert yourself into the nearest dirt pile.

Maybe bury yourself a bit.

Help yourself to a bite or two.

Mommy is always telling me how much she loves diapers embedded with gritty sand.

Just remember to keep the hose handy; that dirt can really dry out your mouth.

Step 3:

Smile innocently.

Bonus Options:

20 bonus points to each boy accomplishing this messy feat before 10:00 a.m. PST.

50 bonus points if said feat is accomplished within 24 hours of your last bath.

Can you see why I need this sign?

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Kendry's shoes after this particular morning adventure:

Its a good thing I'm not a clean freak, right?