Mommy and Auntie's Half Marathon

At Christmas, Staci said hey... let's do a half marathon. I laughed at her.  At New Years in Colorado, she said it again and Auntie jumped on board. We didn't find a race because I was dragging my heels. I thought there was no way I could run 13.1 miles. After all, I've hated running my whole life.

Then about 12 weeks ago, Staci found a race. In Chandler. I took the bait. And I found a few amazing other ladies crazy enough to do it too. So 10 weeks ago I downloaded a program for beginner runners and started training. I kept logs. I gave up drinking (gasp). I asked for help. I cursed. I tried to eat smart. I got an early season tan. I joined runner blogs and pages. I smiled. I slept like a baby as the miles piled up. Eventually... I broke through and I started to want to go running everyday. I found a wonderful friend willing to wake up insanely early to ride her bike with me while I ran on Sunday mornings. She talked to me. She made me laugh. She carried my water. And she pushed me farther than I thought I could go. At some point a few weeks ago I reached the point where I knew I could do this and that I would finish. I started to dream about seeing my kids at the finish line and wonder if they'd remember this later in their own lives.

A shot of us at Mile 3 or so...

And another shot of us at Mile 4.5...

 And at the finish line... Lindsey...

 
 Auntie...

 Mommy and Miss Staci...

I didn't finish the way I wanted to, but I finished. And I learned. And crazy Staci stayed by my side like she always does. And now I want to take the lessons I learned and do it again... faster.

So thankful for my support crew: Vince (and the kids) for driving halfway across the state to join me, for sharing Staci with me and for holding my stuff, Avery (and the kids) for coaching me during training and always pumping me up, Susie (and the kids) for getting up insanely early on Sunday mornings to keep me company on my long runs and for showing up on race day to cheer me on, and most importantly, Miss Jill for getting up at the crack of dawn to come over and watch my kids and then for bringing them to the race to see me finish. It's truly amazing to have such great friends.

Nat's Birthday Party

With so many kids in her class at school, so many neighbor friends and so many of our family friends... we decided to keep the birthday party low key this year. Natalie invited seven girls from school and her two best friends outside school. It worked out to be a very manageable group of six (plus two little sisters).

The girls painted ceramic pots and then planted seeds that Natalie picked out (Zinnias) inside to take home with them. This was quite fun!

Left to Right: Eloise, Sofia, Noa, Ashlyn, Maddie, Nat, Brynlee and Camilla

While the pots were drying, the girls went on a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood that led them to the park to play for a while (until the pizza arrived). It was wonderful to see them reading each clue, thinking about it together and then take off running for the answer...

Clue #1: To start the game, look for a rainbow in a box... (sidewalk chalk box)

Clue #2: I have 8 sides and only 4 letters but I tell cars what to do... (stop sign)

Clue #3: To find your next clue and continue the trail, find the box that hold the mail... (mailbox)

Clue #4: I have only 2 legs but you can all sit, stand or lay on me... (park bench)

Clue #5: I am low at the bottom and high at the top, and when you are done with me, you use your feet to stop... (slide)

Scavenger Hunt was followed by pizza in the grass.

Giant cookie cake!

Each year we are trying to help Natalie learn to help others in her community who are less fortunate. This year, as a new reader who has been so immersed in the world of reading, she chose to donate new books (for kids any age) to help kids who don’t have many. So we told the parents/kids that in lieu of a traditional birthday present, please consider picking up a copy of your childs favorite book to donate to a child in need. The result is a stack of brand new books that we'll have Natalie take to a local shelter where they can be distributed or used by children who need them.

Nat turns SIX

It all began with Eloise yelling HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISTER from her crib and then asking for cake for Birthday breakfast. Sadly, we had regular breakfast... but with six balloons and a crown for the birthday girl.

Then she came home from school with a crown from her teacher. We did our homework, changed our clothes, picked up our sister and headed off to pre-soccer Birthday dinner at our regular Thursday dinner spot... 

 After soccer there was time for a few Birthday hugs...

Followed immediately by strawberry Birthday pie...

And then a few Birthday presents before bed...

It was a busy day, but if you ask Natalie, she'd probably tell you it was an awesome day!

Fun with bottle caps!

On a hot and sunny Saturday afternoon, the girls found something unlikely to entertain both of them for the better part of an hour... beer bottle caps.

After Eloise lost interest, Natalie laid on the cool floor by herself for a while and she eventually ended up with a smiley bottle cap girl...