Is it Christmas yet?

Sunday Mornings

They rise early......ready to conquer the world.

(but watch out for Tilly...she's going for the kill shot)

Tears are inevitable... ...but they rebound quickly.

Ask Nick about his boots sometime....they are wickedly awesome!

BQ!

Six weeks after a disappointing Chicago Marathon, I reached my goal of a Boston Marathon qualifying time. I was so happy I almost cried. Although windy and seasonably warm, battling a cold and uti, I felt fabulous through mile 20 (and hit the wall, as most people usually do, and struggled through the last 6.2). I'm proud to say this is my fastest marathon of all four I've completed...as a 34 year old mother of three, I have to give myself a little credit for that feat. :) I had a tremendous amount of help for the first 10 miles from Jason's best man and roommate in college, Mike Sumler (who ran the half), and lots of encouragement through the remaining 16 miles from coworker, Austin Bunn (he really kept me from literally wanting to walk) The ultimate cheerleader, neighbor Amy Thornburg, drove from point to point to gimme lots and lots of cowbell! What outstanding and supportive people I have in my life. Jason and the kids were there waiting at the finish line (along with sis, Katie, and Jason's cousins). Since Boston filled up in less than a day for 2011(which is VERY unusual), I will have to wait until 2012 to compete.

1st place overall woman's marathon

3:32 (8:06 pace)

At the finish line

Wordless Wednesday

Halloween 2010

Call animal control! Dog attacking princess!

Do you blame her?

We LOVE our neighborhood. It's friendly, it's festive, and on Halloween...it's PACKED with kids. I couldn't think of a better place to call home, nor a more perfect place to raise our children. We are truly blessed. Now...what to do with all this candy???

Boo at the Kansas City Zoo

It is estimated that about 20,000 other Kansas City area people had the same idea Jason and I did...taking our kids to the Boo at the Zoo this past weekend. That's a lot of people! The hit? The Scarecrow Express train. Oh...and seeing Nakita the polar bear beat on a big plastic drum. :)

Wordless Wednesday

Ghosted!

We were "ghosted" last week. If you've ever been "ghosted" you know what it means. A package of Halloween goodies arrives anonymously on your porch with a note that reads something like this:
Thursday, Jonathan and I gathered our three gift bags full of goodies just as the sun set and early evening settled in. He was already in his jammies and super excited to play "ghost". We walked up the street hand-in-hand and looked for houses that did not already have the phantom note posted in their window or door indicating they too, had already been haunted. I love my little guys giddy laugh when he's truly excited about something. He would run to the doors, knock or ring the bell and run around to the side of the house to join me. I'm really surprised he didn't wet his pants. Sincerely. We had a nice conversation on our walk back to our house about random acts of kindness. That is the lesson I hope he remembers on a fall night in October of 2010................rather than his first experience of "ding, dong ditch" & "ring and run" with his own mom.

Family Movie Night

After a wonderful Parent's Night Out hosted by our young adult group Friday night (Jason and I were able to get out of the house-childless-to visit with my grandfather together at St. Luke's....then we had a quick bite to eat), we decided a nice Family Movie night was in order for Saturday night. I fondly remember "junk food night" growing up. My mom would let us get anything and everything we loved to eat, yet were seldom allowed to eat, and we would binge! Jason and I let them pick their favorite candy (in celebration of no cavities this week at the dentist), we popped a huge bowl of popcorn, and dare I say, allowed them to have their very own (mini)can of pop. Scandalous!

Dern Dog

I love the newest member of our family. I really do. However, we are quickly learning to leave NOTHING of value (sentimental or otherwise) within reach of her puppy teeth. I feel like I'm back to baby proofing my home....again.

Kate's dolls have taken a big hit. I randomly find little feet, (sometimes just a set of toes), little hands and disfigured bodies of dolls. Morbid. Just plain morbid.

The worst? My 3 week old $135 Brooks running shoes. WHY? WHY OH WHY NOT THE $15 pair of Target shoes? WHY? WHY?