The kids had an outdoor adventure of their own...

The kids had their own mini-adventure in Gaga and Grandpa's backyard while Jason and I were away for the Adventure Race. More like a carnival as my mom so aptly described it...or a "playground" as cousin Daniel excitedly labeled it before he made it out of his parents car when arriving. I think they had a BLAST! Thanks again, Mom, Dad and Aunt Katie, for everything!

Ozark Greenways Adventure Race '08

Tommy & I

Brandon Winders, Tommy and I crossing the finish line
Checking in as a team for the last time.

ELATED to be finished!

Since race info. (distances, order of events, etc.) were not released until race morning...here is what the 10 hours 35 minutes and approx 45 miles of torture included :

8 mile run

6 mile canoe

5.5 mile biking

orienteering (about 7 miles)

1.1 mile technical trail run

8.9 mile technical biking (followed by "fording" or crossing the waist deep river with our bikes...brother Tommy carried both his and mine. What a gentlemen!)

8 mile road bike

Although I admit I became Mrs. Negativity during the last stretch of biking (by far my least favorite thing probably as a result of not having been on a bike in over 3 years) I can honestly say I'd do it again...despite every muscle in my body screaming and the bruises, cuts, and scrapes all over my legs (a nice welcome to summer short season by the way). Thanks to my team members (Tommy, Brandon & Dave) for encouraging me along the way. Those KC police officers are amazingly positive and supportive people and it really turned out to be a good time. (For those that understand the feeling of accomplishment from surviving such torment)

I think we came in about 51st place out of 77 teams. Here are a few pictures. I'll add more later.

Oh, and I didn't see a single snake or a tick on me...but then I had enough pesticide on my body to ward off anything within a 5 mile radius!

Ozark Greenway Adventure Race

http://ozarkgreenways.org/mark_twain_race/index.html
So for the third time (first time since having three children), I was talked in to competing in the Ozark Greenways Adventure race by my brother, Tommy. I am the token female needed to complete the co-ed team of male KC Police Officers...and probably the weakest link as well. So Jason and I have a weekend without kids and this is how we will be spending it...camping in our van followed by an all-day event of running, biking, canoeing, orienteering (really just traipsing through the woods of southern missouri amid snakes, ticks, mosquitos and poison ivy). That sounds like fun, huh? (I'm making it sound like Jason will be participating...let me clarify. Jason will be hanging out in a lawn chair with a good book getting a tan....he's getting the better end of the deal)! Jason asked me how long it had been since I have even been on my bike...I had to think. Over THREE YEARS! That long?

I'm not that much of an outdoorsy girl.

Picture's of Cadence

When friends, Ryan and Nicole, were over last weekend, I had the chance to play a bit with the camera and photograph little Cadence. Here is one I took of the big girl who will be celebrating her 1st birthday next month. Isn't she the cutest little blond gal ever? I think Jonathan and Nick just may fight over her when she gets older.

Memorial Day Weekend-KC JiggleJam & KC Zoo

Although the weather was a bit unpredictable, we still managed to have a great Memorial Day weekend. We spent Saturday in Olathe celebrating birthdays for niece, Allie, and nephew, Austin. Saturday night we enjoyed bbq with friends Kevin and Katie Whaley along with little Jackson and Gracie. (The pic of Kate and Gracie at the bottom of this blog post shows just how much bigger a four month old is compared to a 6 week old...amazing). Katie Whaley, Nataliya (sis-in-law), and I took the little ones down to the KC JiggleJam at Crown Center on Sunday...and boy it was HOT! The boys absolutely loved playing in the fountains...this is something we will have to do again this summer. Sunday afternoon our friends Ryan and Nicole came over. Jason and Ryan went to see Indiana Jones while us ladies entertained the kids with more sprinkler time outside. And finally, Sunday we braved the rain and sprinkles and went to the KC Zoo with Tommy, Natalyia and little Daniel B.

Geesh...Four Month's Old!

Can't believe it, but she's going to be four months old Sunday...where has the time gone?

UPDATE: Kate had her 4 month well-baby check with Dr. Lively (our pediatrician). She weighed in at 13lbs 12oz...50th% for weight (we were just sure she was going to be 75th % or higher...we're just not used to normal chub on a baby since the boys were always 25th % or lower).

She was also in the 75th % for length and.....drum roll please.....90th% for head circumference! That's one big head!

The Great Outdoors

Just a few pictures of the boys enjoying this stretch of warmer weather outside this week (and more fun with Photoshop when I should be cleaning or putting laundry away) Jonathan is learning to hit a ball and Nick will not relinquish the mower for anything without a major meltdown. Too bad it doesn't really work.

Wild Kingdom

We did not sign up for wild kingdom when we moved here, but apparently, that's what we got. I purchased some bird seed for a feeder attached to our back deck...thinking, "wouldn't it be nice for the boys to see the birds up close?" I filled the feeder (with Jonathan's help) and placed the remaining bag of seed in the corner of the deck. The next morning, I wake to find the bag moved from the corner of the deck against the house to the middle of the deck and partially spilled out with little "chew holes" in it. My flower pots full of gernaiums on the deck were also dug into. I pick it up and carefully sweep up the remaining birdseed and put it back in the bag. The next morning, same thing...only this time I look up and see that the roof of the bird feeder is off and ALL of the birdseed in it is gone. Again, my flower pots have been dug into. I take the birdseed and put it in the garage...thinking "I am not inviting unknown critters to dine on my deck and destroy my flowers". The following night, Jason jumps out of bed around 2 a.m. hearing growling, screeching, and screaming noises and and looks out our bedroom window down to the deck...he says, "there are raccoons on our deck!" Snakes, possum, deer, rabbits and now raccoons can be added to the list of critters to frequent our backyard...
and no....I did not take this picture...but it's creepy, isn't it?

It's Official

After talking to the director again yesterday to confirm his enrollment, it's official that Jonathan will be attending Liberty Montessori Center http://www.libertymontessoricenter.com/ beginning mid-August. We were so fortunate that they had an available slot (we were on a waiting list for a while). Although we are really sad to be splitting the kids between Nicole, our current sitter and the school, we are excited about the opportunites the Montessori philosophy will provide for Jonathan. We know because of Nicole's efforts, Jonathan has a great foundation already. He's already excited about attending "school". He just wants to know if he'll be riding a school bus... Sorry buddy, not yet.

Pictures from this morning.

Jonathan was exploring the yard and the easement behind our house...it was a BEAUTIFUL morning, so I grabbed my camera and just snapped away (while watching out for snakes of course). Jonathan spent most of the day outside...clear till 9:00 pm (way past his bedtime) playing with neighbor, Allie. He played in the sprinklers...and then with pom pons, barbies, and picnicked with plastic food in the driveway while wearing hot pink heart shaped sunglasses. Made daddy so proud. ;) Nick is under the weather these past few days, so I think a visit to the Pediatrician tomorrow is in order (ear infection?) Thank goodness they have weekend availability. Kate's been a bit fussier too....and a little congested. That of course means mom and dad have not gotten the appropriate amount of sleep lately!