Dusk

I grew up in the quintessential American neighborhood where we immediately headed outside to join our neighborhood friends, often running and playing tag and other outdoor games until dusk when we trooped home after the very recognizable beckoning from our parents shouting our names one by one. Often filthy, bruised, scabbed kneed and bitten by a host of bugs; we would collapse with exhaustion yet still be exhilarated from the activities of the day. I get very nostalgic about those days and am thrilled, that even at the ages of 2, 3 and 4, my kids are already experiencing these same memory making moments. It's not uncommon for our kids to spend hours in the evening outside as the cul-de-sac fills with ramps, bikes, scooters and skateboards, but tonight brought back a lot of memories. I sat on the porch as dusk settled in, the street light flickered on, a warm 75 degree breeze blowing through the trees, the dogs barking in the distance, the birds chirping from above and the sound of bullfrogs from the creek....and I watched 9 of our neighborhood kids (ages 2-11) playing hide and go seek. Even little Kate, with her pudgy little hands and dirt and snot streaked face, participated in covering her eyes and running as fast as her little bowed legs and diapered bottom would carry her. I took joy and delight in watching Nick run with his little fast feet and his arms awkwardly straight at his sides as he ran swiftly alongside the big kids. Watching the kids circle up in the grass and sing childhood chants (while Kate was attempting some very uncoordinated somersaults) and tossing a ball... I love to see that my kids, and the kids in our neighborhood, are outside and being active together. I hope that these memories will be as special to them one day as mine are to me.

Where have we been?

OUTSIDE!

A LOT.

So if it seems we have fallen off the face of the blogging earth, it's because spring is here (although some days it feels like summer already) and we spend almost every waking moment enjoying riding bikes and scooters, swinging, playing in the sand, hide and seek, exploring in the backyard, (little Kate even picked up a dead baby snake yesterday...that was delightful) grilling out, yard work and more.

Our driveway has never looked more beautiful from the chalk art that has yet to be washed away by the rain. I love this time of year.

I also can tell that this will most definitely be the summer of sunscreen and bandaids (and mommy kisses).

Little Swimmers

Easter 2010

I'm so grateful for such an AMAZING Easter weekend in which to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ and in which to be with family! What a blessing it was to be graced by glorious weather this year. The kids were SOOOOO excited about Easter and the trip to Gaga and Grandpa's house and the prospect of the Easter Bunny's visit.

We had a practice run in downtown Clinton on Saturday at the Chamber of Commerce Easter Egg Hunt followed by a picnic lunch in Gaga and Grandpa's backyard, followed by a trip to the Community Center for some swimming, followed by egg dying, followed by Pizza Glen (a MUST when going "home" to Clinton), followed by ice cream cones...all in ONE DAY!

Easter Mass was actually quite pleasant...Jason and I celebrated our first Mass where all three kids cooperated (no need to embarrassingly flee the sanctuary with a squirmy, loud child(ren)). Kate was a little under the weather Easter morning, but after a long nap, she perked right up for the Sunday afternoon celebration of dinner, family and another egg hunt. What great childhood memories in which I hope we are imprinting upon their minds...I know my heart will always be in Warsaw, Missouri on Easter where my childhood memories lie. And I know my Aunt Lydia, who played a pivitol role in helping create those perfect memories, was smiling down from above.

Easter 1987-Warsaw Missouri (Back row: Katie 13, Danny 14, Great Grandma White (Cuckoo). Front row: Emily 11, Tommy 10, Rebecca 9)

Flashback Friday-Easter!

2009

2008

2007

2006

Rock the Parkway

The 1st Annual Rock the Parkway was last weekend...and it rained, and rained, and rained. Two of my training partners and I committed to the race regardless of the conditions and although the radar (and the weatherman) claimed the rain wouldn't start till around 9:00 to 11:00am, dark clouds loomed overhead and sprinkles started to fall at 7:15 as we stood at the start line. Forty-five degrees and rainy and amazingly, over 3,700 people competed in either the 5K, 10K or half-marathon. Despite the conditions, it was a fast and fabulous course up and down Ward Parkway and included Loose Park.

When we finished, we had to choice but to strip down in the car (peeling off wet clothes in a car can be quite tricky) and put on dry clothes right away. It still took a couple of hours to completely thaw out.

Out of the 10 half-marathons I've run, this was my FAVORITE!!! I'll definitely be back for this one.

1:39:48 (7:36 per mile pace)

7th Age Group 30-35
28th out of 827 female participants
161 overall (1452 total participants)

You can click HERE to find photos. Bib #704

Eggtastic Artists

Jonathan has been relentlessly BEGGING me all week to color Easter eggs so late last night I hard boiled some eggs so that we could color them later today. (I woke up to find three had been eaten...wonder who that was?) I decided since it was almost 70 degrees at 9am we would go out on the deck and enjoy the beautiful morning.

Jonathan (who is in his undies on the deck in April) cracked one open to taste after we were done...he literally almost threw up (reminds me of someone and their similar aversion to eggs). Nick has been carrying his around and saying, "it's precious!" Kate? I caught her trying to taste the colored water and now her hands are stained oompa loompa orange.