mom, look what I built!

Add caption

country music marathon

I ran/walked/jogged my way through 26.2 miles for about 5 hours and 45 minutes.  It wasn't pretty, but I did it.  I knew going in that I had some post-tib tendonitis (partly from old shoes and partly from over working my poor legs!).  I had trained pretty well ensuring that I didn't increase mileage too quickly and getting in a lot of long runs over the months before the race.  If I had it to do over (and I'm not saying I would do it over) I would train even more, specifically doing more cross-training, strength-training, stretching/yoga to improve my overall fitness.  I'd also replace my shoes about a month or month and a half before the race to get some training in with the new ones.  I also wish I had applied sunscreen!  What was I thinking?  The race went well overall, I drank and ate everything they gave me (GU, Gatorade, Water, Salt Packets, orange slices).  I never felt de-hydrated and never felt like I couldn't take another step (other than from pain in my tendon/calf).  I did have to stop many times to stretch my legs (particularly the right posterior tendon).  Even without the tendonitis, I don't think I would have sprinted over the finish line. :)  

My friend Julie and her husband Rich also raced and it was great to get to see them for the weekend.

Wade brought the boys and they all ran with me at about mile 25. 

Peter also ran the kids rock marathon.  He ran 25.2 miles during the Fall and Spring with us and at school (usually a mile at a time with mom or dad).  Then on Friday night, he ran in the race with 7,000 other school-age kids for one mile.  I was so proud to see him take off the finish line and run as fast as his little legs could carry him!  He really did great!

Pete and I after his run at the Kids rock marathon.

cub scout camp

Cub Scout Camp 2012 was at Bell's Bend Campground.  The boys had a blast!  We could have done without the NINE ticks I picked off the boys, but other than that it was perfect.  The weather was great, and festivities included fishing, hiking, bird-watching, "stick-gun wars" (invented by the boys of course), playing in the woods with friends, an old barn as a make-believe fort, tent sleeping, campfire stories, marshmallow roasting, skits, star-gazing, tinfoil dinners, and more.  Needless to say, our boys were in heaven the whole weekend!

Jack, Pete, Ben.

Bell's Bend, Nashville, Tennessee

Camp at Bell's Bend.

Ben in a wagon.

Ben bird watching.

easter 2012

Jack found one!

Pete

Ben sharing with friends.

Pretty handsome if I do say so myself. Left to right: Jack, Pete, Ben (who dressed himself, wearing an undershirt over his shirt :).

Hunting in our yard.

Pete, Ben, Jack

booger fingers

I must document some of the funny things my kids have done/said recently.  I taught Ben's primary class today and I wish I had taken notes on his hilarious commentary and attitude he displayed in class.  During the opening free-discussion time, each of the children can share whatever they would like to talk about.  When Ben's turn came around, he stood up, insisting that he needed to stand, stretch, and clear his throat in preparation for the amazing things he was going to say.  Then he proceeded to talk about Super Mario.  He told about how he beat the sand level and then, turning to Eli, matter-of-factly suggested, "Eli, you can say 'Wow'."

I've also been night-training the boys (and washing a lot of bedding in the process).  One night about midnight, I went into the boys room to wake them up for a potty attempt.  When I went to get Jack up it was too late.  His bed was wet so I just picked him up and started undressing him without even speaking to him.  I stood him beside his bed and without any words exchanged, he immediately said, "It's all Peter's fault!"  I busted out laughing and couldn't stop, which I think woke him up a bit, and then he gave me the pouty bottom lip and acted a bit offended by my laughter.  It didn't last long and he went back to sleep pretty easily after a change of clothes and bedding.  We all had a good laugh about it the next morning.

Recently, when Jack went to work with Wade on a Saturday, he was introduced to an acquaintance of Dad's.  When introducing himself, Jack said, "My name is Jack, there are two of me."

Jack and Ben have recently invented a new game.  I've seen them playing impromptu games for a few weeks, but today I caught them in a very serious attempt.  I overheard Jack say, "Let's play booger fingers," to which Ben replied, "Yeah, booger fingers."  Hearing this, I looked over at them and watched them each, very seriously, start to put every finger, one-by-one, into their nose.   At that point, I decided to intervene and told them, "No booger fingers! Go wash your hands right now."  From the impromptu games I've seen in the past few weeks, I know that the game continues by wiping their own booger fingers on each other and laughing. So much fun.

in which we have a mario and luigi birthday party

Complete with a pinata...

...a Bowser pinata.

Presents...

 

 

...Star Wars presents.

And cupcakes...

 

 

...Super Mario style!

FIVE!

 Jack and Ben are 5!  On their birthday last Friday, we had cake and ice cream as a family.  Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa V and mom and dad they got Lego ninjago spinjitzu sets along with an arena that they wanted.  They have been in heaven spinning their Lego guys around and using the different "weapons."

Ben on left and Jack on right.  They wasted no time after opening their Lego set!

Jack playing Legos.

Ben with his Legos.

The Mario and Luigi cakes.

Ben on left and Jack on right ready to blow out the candles!

pajama wrastlin'

While Wade and Pete were at Cub Scouts, the boys and I had some pre-bedtime pajama wrastlin'.  They pretty much wrestle, jump, roll, flip, and tackle each other all day long, but it's a special occasion when mommy gets involved.  I had to grab the camera and attempt to get them to hold still long enough for a photo.  It's quite difficult to get two almost-5-year-olds to jump at the same exact moment for a picture. 

 Two wrastly boys!

 Jack with his pillow "gloves" on.

 1, 2, 3, jump!

Make a funny face!

the christmas bush

Last year Wade and the boys discovered this bush during a hike at Percy Warner Park.  They planned to find it again on our Christmas Eve hike. It is just a random bush decorated with ornaments, but the kids seem to think it's pretty cool. 

december 2011

 Somehow, we didn't take very many photos from the holidays this year.  We did have a lovely Christmas and managed some holiday hikes as well!  Here are a few photos from the month of December.

We made gingerbread men and a house (which was not structurally sound so we weren't able to take any photos).

 Ben and Jack.  Jack brought his list to give to Santa.

Christmas Eve Hike at Percy Warner

 

 

 Jack and a rock.

 Pete and Ben.

Updated: I found some photos from Christmas morning!  It's always fun with these cute boys!

 Pete and Ben checking out what Santa left.

Jack (Buzz) and Ben (Woody) with their new jammies from The Foote Family!