Family Run

Friday evening was our first time running a race as a family.

It was a fairly low key 5k with no official timing, and although the race didn't start until 7pm the temperature was still in the mid 80's.

Brutal.

We arrived a tad bit early so we had a little time to kill.

Kendry never tires of throwing rocks into the river.

 The race took place on the greenbelt path along the Snake River;

it was just a simple down and back.

Although pushing Kendry in the BOB adds quite the challenge, I hadn't considered the benefits:
Not only did I get to converse with my kiddo the entire race (he seriously never.stops.talking) but I also got to nab Kendry's water bottle a few times when I got parched.

Finishers were invited to enjoy a hot dog after the race.

Both Justin and I would prefer that Kendry grow to enjoy sprinting more than distance running,

but either way I think he is destined to be a runner...

or the next Matt Hasselbeck.

And yes...

An Ode to Mason Jars

If you were to open the glasses cabinet in our kitchen, this is what you would find:

A total smorgasbord of mugs, glasses, and sippy cups.

{This just in: Did you know that 'smorgasbord' is spelled without an 'h'? I've been saying it 'shh-morgasbord' all my life. Sheesh.}

Anyway, as I was saying, the cabinet is overloaded with mugs, glasses and sippy cups, very few of which match. This is a fact that doesn't bother me much (or Justin at all) until I go to set the table for a dinner party and remember that four matching glasses are all I can scrounge up - after that I have to resort to a different style of glass or a different size.

I know, I know, this probably isn't as big a deal to you as it is to Jody the Perfectionist.

I can't help it; I was born this way.

Each time I run into this 'setting a beautiful table with mismatched glasses' dilemma I tell myself I need to just go pick out a matching twenty pack of glasses at Walmart. Problem solved, right? Except the last time I was at Walmart and remembered to browse the glasses aisle I could not for the life of me find a single style I liked.

Then on my birthday weekend I stumbed across these at a yard sale for just twenty-five cents each:

How cute is that tiny mason jar mug?!

Here is a better size comparison for you:

{I just love using eggs for my size comparison photos.}

Kendry uses both of the small mugs and loves them, referring to them as his 'big boy cups'. Usually a proponent for the two-hands approach when teaching toddlers how to drink out of a normal cup, I am quite impressed with how well Kendry does holding the tiny handle with just one hand. He has had very few spills.

And the hubs, who tends to voice his yeah/nay opinions only after I buy something supercool for our home, likes the glasses too. His did point out, however, that these mugs do not stack very well.

Sure enough.

Oh well, stacking ability is overrated anyway.

It appears that completing my mason jar mug collection may take a little time though since these babies don't sell for very cheap on ebay right now. They are a bit of a trend, particularly for wedding receptions. And shipping the mugs properly costs even more.

So if you see any of these cute mugs at yard sales or thrift stores feel free to snatch them up for me and I will pay you back. I'm not particular about the size or brand (Ball, Kerr, Golden Harvest, etc.); in fact, I like the idea of having a little variety.
Just not the crazy variety I currently have going on in my cabinet.

But with yard sale season quickly coming to a close you are running out of time,

so hop to it, people!

Ten on Tuesday

{1}

Tonight we introduced Kendry to Star Wars: A New Hope.

As the opening script scrolled through space he let out a low "Wow."
After that it took hot tamales candy to keep him on the couch with us.

{2}

No one,

I repeat no one,

should have to tackle a poopie accident at McDonalds for two Sundays in a row.

I deserve a medal.

{3}

I swear, we really don't eat at McDonalds that often;

It was just convenient the last two weekends.

And hello?!

When did their hotcakes get so darn delicious?


{4}
McDonalds incidents aside, potty training is still going great.
Kendry has made it three consective days at daycare with no accidents (read: no bag of soiled clothes for mommy to wash each night).
Now excuse me while I go knock on wood.

{5}

Although we are pretty happy with our gardening efforts this year,

in our attempt to plant my beautiful sunflowers in a new location in the back yard this year we actually failed to plant them altogether.

Now August is here and I miss my beautiful sunflowers.

The arrival of fall just isn't the same without them.


{6}
And speaking of fall, Pinterest is seriously the coolest.
You can check out my fall pins here.
(If you want a Pinterest invite just let me know.)

{7}

My incredible older sis' Jaimee was a featured artist for the First Friday in Fairbanks last week.

Just look at her mad skills:

Jaim, we are so proud of you and wish we could have been there.

{8}

Our front door is now two different shades of orange, with at least five paint chips taped over that.
You could say we're having a little bit of difficulty deciding on the right shade.
Oh, and I was sick last weekend, so painting in the heat was completely out of the question.

{9}
Check back on Saturday for pics of our first 5k race as a family!

{10}

This Week's Blessing:
Installing an umbrella for some shade on the kiddo's sandbox - a total lifesaver now that our day after day 90+ degree weather has arrived.

Who Said Size Matters?

This summer we Justin tried his hand at a wee bit of gardening.

The green beans succumbed to the elements early on, which is just as well since they probably would have been suffocated by the crazy flowers taking over next to the sandbox.

Why we planted a block of bee-magnet flowers right next to our kiddo's sandbox is somewhat puzzling to me now. Perhaps we will rethink that strategy next year.

The carrots...

...hmmm...

...come to think of it, I can't tell you where the carrots are, or if they were even planted.

(Can you tell how involved I have been in this gardening process?)

I fear the carrots may have suffered the same fate as the green beans.

The broccoli has been a big success.

Not only is it dee-lish to eat so fresh, but the kiddo LOVES it!

I can't thank God enough for blessing us with a kiddo who loves his veggies.

The hops are doing great as well.

Yep, in true homebrewer fashion, Justin grew his very own hops this year.

We've got kabob plans for these beautiful green peppers.

The pumpkins might be questionable as they were planted fairly late.

See? Nothin.

I'm crossing my fingers that I'll end up with some beauties like I had last year:

{2010}

This week we decided to take a peek at how our potatoes were doing.
(the egg is obviously for scale purposes)

Something tells me these fellas may need a little more time in the soil.

"Awww Pudge, he's small potatoes."

{Quick, name that movie!}

Wordless Wednesday