We're Hooked!

Five weeks ago, Dave was convinced by his co-workers that it would be a good idea to run an 8K. Now, we had not exercised in a LONG time. When we started this venture, we couldn't make it a whole mile. We were huffing and puffing, lungs burning. But...we persevered. It's very hilly here, so we trained hard (okay well a few times a week). Yesterday, the sun was shining and spring was in the air....Today for the race it was 50 degrees and literally pouring rain. I thought my pants were going to fall down as I was running. There were 17,500 participants in this Crazy Legs race in Madison, WI. So, wet and cold, we ran the 5 miles and had a great time. We ended the race running onto the field of the Badger Stadium which was pretty cool. I had to blow my entrance though by running straight into a camera guy and knocking him over and tripping a couple people behind me. Lovely...why do those things always happen to me???

Dave finished in 44 min. and I did it in 46, so both of us are pretty proud of our times. We didn't race together, though, which would have been more fun. Next time.

Monkeys Monkeys Everywhere!

This was a park at an awesome FREE zoo at the state capital of Madison here in WI. We live about 45 min. from it. Madison is smaller than Milwaukee and a major college town.
Michael climbed up all by himself (I tried not to help him getting down.)

Isn't this funny?

Bella's Birthday Bash

Bella and her friends got identical pjs (they were $1) and strutted their stuff.
They played hide-n-seek, made chocolate lollipops, scrapbooked, and had a rousing game of Mafia.

I REALLY can't believe my baby is 10!!!!!

Activities this Week

Bella made it to double digits! I can't believe my little girl is 10!!!!

Some things about Bella:

1) She loves her friends.

2) She is a great sister - loves to play games and is patient

3) Loves to play pretend - house, school, animals, etc.

4) Is into Webkinz, Littlest Pet Shop, collecting all the state quarters (slowly fading out the Pokemon!)

5) Gives extremely sweet testimonies which gives her quite a reputation in the ward

6) Consistantly has straight A's and is the only one in her class receiving harder math

7) Picks up the piano so quickly, it's a shame her mother doesn't teach her more consistantly

8) Is very determined to learn whatever sports her friends are playing, which right now is kickball

9)Loves to go on bikerides with her family

10) Tickles her mom to death with her serious questions and makes her mom treasure their one-on-one time together

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BELLA!

We got her a kitten for her birthday. She was so cute about it. She said she felt "warm, bright yellow inside." I think she is a little pyschic sometimes because she relates to feelings with color or emptiness.

Jane is into giving kisses which we are glad to take!

Dave is now the Scout Master, so it is so fun to see him and Tommy dressed up together.

Tommy gets is Tenderfoot!

Time to Chop it Off

Bella Before
Bella Before

Bella After!
Rachel After!

Rachel Before!

Happy Easter

I don't know why I always put these photos in the wrong order, but here is part of our Easter Feast. Tommy just wanted to dive right in.
Jane doing Pat-a-Cake. It's the only song she knows all the actions to, although she loves all action songs.

Bella and Rachel trying to catch some rays. They said they were sun batheing. (Poor children don't remember what it was like...)

It was just too cold to get a smile from Jane!

Michael had SO much fun this Easter. He just loved the whole experience.

As did Tommy....

Jane really took off once she understood what was expected of her. She liked to lick all the treats and then spit them out. Except the Pixie Sticks, those were her favorite!

Ta Da! My brothers had one of these when they were kids...such fun!

The girls had come in to wake us up at 6am....we told them to go back to bed. I think they needed some more sleep...

Tommy thought he wouldn't like Peeps....he thought WRONG!

Decorating Easter Eggs!

The kiddos were so creative this year. I love watching them do their own thing. They come up with things I would never dream of doing.

Thanks for the Inspiration!

So I was inspired by you all who have planted gardens recently. Here it is still too cold to plant, but we readied the soil.
This is what it looked like before....

This is after.

We've started the seedlings inside our house for right now, so that in 4-6 weeks, after the last frost (whatever that means) we can plant them. I have such a black thumb, I worried for the outcome. At the store, I bought about 15 packs of seeds and told the lady behind me that I was just learning to garden. She looked at all the seeds and said, "boy, you're ambitious!" Really, I'm just hoping that the more I plant, the better my odds of at least ONE thing coming up green.

Our friends just adopted a dog, or as I like to call her, Bear. Have you ever seen a St. Bernard in person? They are huge! She tried to attack Tommy when he picked Jane up---those protection instincts must be pretty strong. (I still have no desire to have another dog much to my kids' disappointment)

What...I'm NOT the greatest mother?

Today I took Michael to the doctor because he has a massive ear infection...ooze and everything. On the way home, I stopped at McDonalds and got him a Happy Meal. So, as we are pulling out, I say, "Aren't I the best mother in the whole world?"
"No," Michael says calmly.
"What? You don't think I'm the bestest mother ever?" I question.
"No," he says again.
I'm a little peeved! Shouldn't 5-year olds think their moms are the bomb? I started thinking of all the women he knows that are better moms than me.
"Well, who's the best mom then, Michael?"
"Mary," he says matter-of-factly.
I can't think he would be talking about THE Mary...
"Mary who?" I ask.
"Mary, who's the mother of Jesus. She was the best in the whole world!"
Well....who am I to argue with THAT!