Ragnar

When some of my friends from church asked me if I wanted to do this crazy race called the Ragnar Relay I was really tempted to say no.  Afterall I usually exercise in climate controlled spaces for set amounts of time. Most of the time I am mostly in charge of the workout.  I have done some running, but never had I trained for anything.  Maybe there was an inner runner inside of me? Maybe I would find the passion that other people have that drives them to run 26+ miles and smile about it?  Maybe I would feel left out if I didn't (like I did when I couldn't do the sprint triathalon with them all last summer because I was just a few weeks postpartum?  Well, I didn't find my inner runner, and 26 miles still seems insane.  But this race was a really, really great time!

Our amazing team.  Our name was Mellow Yellow.  Janetta, on the far left was our brave team captain.

Me waiting for my last handoff.

Van 1 getting ready to roll.  If I ever do this again, which I very well might--I will only be van 1.  The running times are better, the distances are shorter...I felt sorry for van 2.  This is our great crew freezing and getting rained on at the starting line.  

Delicious crabcake sandwich at the Train Wreck bar and grill.  Amazing.

I lost one flip flop in the van after my midnight run (actually finished about 1:30 am).  I walked into the school without it.  (And for those who know me, this is a feat because I never go barefoot!)  In the morning I ended up paying Maren $20 cash money to find it for me I was too tired and frustrated to find it myself.

One of the best perks of this adventure was spending time with MaryAnne, my favorite companion from my mission.  She then drove back to UT with me.  It would have been a long 3 days without her excellent companionship.

Van 1 looking Great as we waited for Van 2 to finish.  We had just finished a delicious greek meal.  The taste of being finished was VERY sweet!

Sarahisms

Last weekend I tried to cut Libby's nails.  She gets really freaked out about her pinkie toenails and was throwing a fit. Sarah came in and let me cut hers.  She kept saying, "See Libby, I am not worried."  She is sometimes a good example for her sister.
But, sometimes she is a menace for Ben.  She threw him into the pool this week.  She pushed him off the couch a couple of times.  I guess she is just feeling out what she can do as a big sister.

Playing in the pool with friend Caitlin.  Sarah spent a ton of time in the water.  

Princess Sarah at the Beach Cafe.  She is perched on top of a rock doing a curtsy.  

This week she adopted a new blankie, one that my friend Heidi made for Libby's birth (I think).  It is a beautiful quilt and I am glad it is the new blankie.

Benisms

He really is starting to say things.  They almost all sound like MMMEEEEHHH.  But I swear I have heard him say "I love you."  (Derek heard this too, it was clear as day).  "Fish", "Bottle," "More"...and a few other things.  Mostly he hits the first consonant.  Anyway, I am looking forward to hearing him talk more than seeing him walk (but they are both exciting).
He can definitely point to the things he wants.  He most often wants whatever anyone is eating, his blankie, me, Derek, or down.

He loves wearing sunglasses (for about 4 seconds)

Playing out by the pool.  He loves to reach in and splash around .  He did NOT like it when Sarah threw him into the pool.  Luckily I was nearby.  

Ben in the Sandbox at Anthony's Beach Cafe where we had dinner with some friends the other night.  Unfortunately he didn't find it as fun as I had thought and he crawled out when my back was turned.  You never like to hear the words "Is anyone missing a baby?"  "Yes, yes I am."

Playing dress up with his sisters.  The Beautiful Bonnet was more like a Beautiful Collar.

As for the walking, I have seen him take a few steps this week.  He mostly does it when he thinks no one is watching.  When I want him to walk he won't.  Typical.

Libbyisms

Libby told me this week that I am "the goodest mom ever."  So sweet.  Now if only I was the "goodest" at teaching grammar :)

Last night she was up WAY past bedtime (for the 2nd night in a row.)  She was helping me clean the kitchen (after I had put her back to bed 3 times and realized the loud party next door was not going to let her sleep).  She was adorable. While she was wiping down the toaster oven she told me that she could work a lot faster if she had the "Happy Working Song" on (from Enchanted).  So, together we cleaned and listened to the Happy Working Song.  Why is she in the best spirits of the day at 10:30 pm?

Enjoying some pool time this week.  We had such amazing weather!

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Summer is HERE!

Thanks to our friends the Weeks for throwing an awesome splash party.  Libby and Sarah were in heaven.  Ben, not so much.  Poor little guy did not love getting wet or being in the sun.  I think it is because he is massively teething.  

Happy 4th of JULY!!

We went to the Edmonds Parade (which was as usual pretty lame with not enough music or dancing in my opinion--there were only 2 dance teams and they didn't even dance...boo).  Then we had the our best buds over for a delicious BBQ and some fireworks.

Sarah waving her flag!

Our great seats for the parade.  Thanks to the folks behind us for letting us crash their space!  We got there pretty late in the game and still ended up with great seats.

One group in the parade (a landscaping company) was handing out flowers.  The stem on the flower gradually got shorter all day until it was a stump that I put in water when we got home.  

Ben kept trying to crawl into the road while we were prepping the fireworks.  

The perfect place to watch our firework display!

This is how Ben felt about the fireworks (and the other loud noises in the parade).  Lots of crying for Ben this year.  The fact that he is majorly teething had lots to do with his sensitivity I think.

The next day I was exhausted.  But, it was a fun day with DELICIOUS food and great friends!

Chinese Princesses

I only did a little shopping in New York.  But I did pick up these adorable dresses and fans for the girls.  

Hello NEW FRIEND

Since 2005 Derek has been driving a 1994 Ford Ranger.  It was on the way out.  We really needed 2 vehicles that could fit the children.  Derek needed a vehicle that you didn't have to encourage with body rocking to get up to freeway speeds.  I felt like he even deserved AC :)  Anyway, he got rear ended in the Ranger and that was the impetus for the purchase.  This is a F-150 Super Crew Platinum.  I just got to drive it for a few days while he was at wrestling camp.  It is big!  I felt like a super stud woman.  I also LOVE the SYNC system.  I didn't even have to plug my phone in and it would start playing whatever I had been listening too.  I had hands free bluetooth for phone talking.  Now I am a teeny bit jealous of his truck.  We got a great deal on a great truck, so I am pretty happy with the purchase.

Goodbye Old Friend

Somehow on the fourth of July we lost Sarah's little blankie.  I have looked everywhere.  We told her to leave it in the car when we walked to the parade.  I think it must have fallen out.  The crazy reality is--that while it has been her constant companion for almost 4 years, she seems to be fine without it.  She has gone to bed with not even a whimper for 2 nights without her little square blankie, (or little pink blankie as it used to be called.)  I am, on the other hand, devastated. I feel like the signals that she is growing up, that she is becoming a big girl who doesn't need her blankie.  I also feel like I failed her by letting it get lost.  I am still holding out hope that it will turn up.

Libbyisms

Libby and Sarah both had strep this week.  I don't understand where this is coming from.  Bleh.  But anyway, I had to take them with me to teach my circuit class.  Libby said, "Are we going to your circus class?"  They watched a movie in the trainer office for most of the class.  Then a trainer had a meeting in there so I had to let them out.  Then it did become quite a circus.  Yikes.  It's been a long week.

Ben's First STEPS!

Well, he took some.  And now he won't again.  But he does spend a bit of time balancing in a standing position every day.  So, I am sure he will be walking pretty soon.  I was thinking how happy I'll be when the tops of his feet and his knees will be cleaner.  But then the bottom of his feet will be dirty...and he will be all bruised.  So no rush Benny boo.