Saturday, June 14, 2008
Kate's Flower Party
Thursday, June 12, 2008
A Mountain of Spirit
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Preschool Puppet Show
Well, Preschool is done. I am a little sad. The teacher in me really enjoyed it and I know Katie loved it. She awakens every morning and asks me, "Do I have preschool today?" I taught the third to the last week of school. The girls made invitation for their Mom's. We practiced our letters again and learned how to write the word Mom. We made puppets and practiced our little show. I read them a few stories and we talked about how things have a beginning a middle and an end. Then we made yummy cupcakes for our guests and practiced counting. The show was awesome. I'm glad I had my sister there to record it for us.
Now all I have to do is finishes the girls alphabet books so I can give them to them for end of the year presents. Wish me luck. It has been a WAY too busy week.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Green River Marathon
Anyway he ran the Green river marathon which starts in Kent and ends on Seattle's beaches. It wasn't a really big production. No numbers, no people lining the course, no tape at the finish... but then again it was free. I laugh thinking back to the night before as we looked at the directions online and tried to even get the course figured out. They actually had to post people at certain points to keep the runners from getting lost (they didn't cover every spot though as Eric ran a good extra way).
We saw Dave and Eric off at the start and piled in the car to go to the 2 1/2 mile mark to see him crossing the river (the first of many crossings). We barely made it. They were running so fast. Then we were in the car again and off to find a place to buy poster boards and markers in an unknown land to make signs. We parked our cold little selves at one of those ambiguous direction places and pointed a good 75 people in the right direction. Then we saw Dave and Eric coming around the corner. We had lots of fun waving our signs and hooting and hollering. Next it was off to the rescue to find Advil and meet back up with our aching runners. That was at about mile 13. That's when Dave and Eric split up. He was on his own after that. We met again with him at mile 21 and from there Chase ran the last five miles with him to keep him company and keep his mind off of his aching body. We had a lot of fun being the Gatorade and Gu suppliers.
The kids are the best groupies ever. They never ever complained even though it was cold and we got rained on several times. Dave always looked like he was doing well the whole way. Not like me. I would have looked like the living dead after a short few miles I'm sure.
We celebrated with a yummy lunch at Red Robin and some ice cream later that night from Cold Stone. Now Dave can call himself a marathoner and I can say with no reservations that I will never follow in his footsteps :-)
That's what she said... now here's what Dave has to say. It's true, I mocked the marathoners as nuts that seemed to like pain. Then I met a guy in Egypt who does it because he loves to run. He runs beyond 26.2, even up to 100 miles. We had lots of conversations about the sport and I found myself wanting to run a marathon myself. To be honest, I had an idealized vision in my head of running long enough to find inner peace like Greg and become one with nature around me. Turns out I instead held a debate in my head for about 15 miles on the merits of finishing vs. the shame of calling Jen for a ride. I battled a cramping calf muscle for about half the run and my knees felt like they had gravel in them by the end but I finished. No need to tell the time because it wasn't fast, but if you want to look up the results I'll save you time. I'm pretty far down the list. http://www.greenrivermarathon.com/results/2008_results.html
I did learn a few things in running a marathon: it's great to run with a buddy (thanks Eric), 26.2 miles is an incredibly long way to run, and the fear of shame is a very powerful motivator.
Ode To Sister Dever
The topper was today. Sister Dever dropped off a very special handmade card that she had laminated into a place mat and the yummiest looking birthday cake! Katie was soooo excited!!! It was all I could do not to help her eat her cake it looked so yummy!
Here is what Katie loves about her Sunbeam teacher:
Making Dreams Come True
This is Epona and her five day old Filly. Debbie, one of the hygienists that Dave works with is their proud owner. We were her very lucky guests. How often do you get to surprise your horse loving daughter with a trip to a ranch to see a five day old filly?
The whole experience was amplified with extra excitement after finishing reading "Misty of Chincoteague" together for our first Mother / Daughter book club book. Emily has always loved horses. But after the book she is truly in love all over again. When we go canoeing to Ketron Island she even pretends we are going to Chincoteague!
The little filly was shy but curious enough to check out the kids. Especially Katie who was just her size. It was magical to be around such a tiny and innocent creature who in just a short while will grow to be so graceful and powerful. All I could do though was think about poor Epona having to deliver a baby with such proportions!
Thank you Debbie and Epona for sharing your little miracle with my starstruck daughters!
Math Relay Compitition
This last Friday he got on a bus, headed towards a local high school to compete against it seems like 50 other teams. Dave, Kate, Sara and I went to support and cheer for him. He did very well. His team didn't place in the top ten but the A team did. I really love that our district promotes such worthy activities.
Here is Chase in his event:
preparing to be tagged...
10 jumping jacks...
answering 10 division/multiplication math facts...(if they miss on they have to do a push up)
10 times jumping rope...
running hurdles...
tagging his next team mate...
Chase's Team!
A Years Supply
We had nothing other than our camping gear to start. But now we are the proud and prepared owners of 72 hour kits! That is a good start right. Well after even more urgent discussion about it from our Church leaders and the thought of my kids suffering from my procrastination and the good examples of friends I have begun the "harvesting" of a year supply.
Since most of the food I get from the cannery last for almost 30 years and I won't have to rotate it I feel much better about it. (who wants to rotate powdered milk?) We planned for 6 adults since after a child turns 12 he/she eats an adults helping. And who knows how old our children will be when we use it. Plus having extra to share with friends and neighbors can't be a bad thing right? So here is what the Provident Living food storage calculator says we need:
Grains: 2400 lbs
Flicker Quiz
1. What is your name?
Jennifer
2. What is your favorite food?
Chocolate in any form!
3. What school did you go to?
The University of Arizona
4. What is your favorite color?
Blue
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
Brad Pitt
6. what is your favorite drink?
Milk...thank you cows!
7. what is your dream vacation?
Being with Dave on a beautiful almost deserted island (food service people are the only others invited) with lagoons, waterfalls, sandy beaches, tropical fish, hikeable forests and ridges and no other tourists!
8. What do yo want to be when you grow up?
Happily married with good health enjoying the natural world somewhere reminiscing on a good life and counting our blessings about how well our kids are doing
9. What is your favorite dessert?
Brownies
10. What do you love most in life?
Being with my family and having a good time together
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Sara's Blessing Day
Amazing Grace
I was so nervous about the weather. I think I checked the forecast a million times a day. Fortunately the clouds only threatened us with a light sprinkle, so other than being cold all was well.
We boarded the Amazing Grace in Gig Harbour and sailed out to the greater Puget Sound right off the cliffs of Point Defiance.
The highlights of the trip were:
Hanging out with great company!
Getting to ride the waves on the Bow of the ship!
Steering the ship right or left as Captain Peter told us really cool things about sailing!
Climbing up the rigging!
Romantic panoramas from the crow's nest!
A rare sighting of a humpback whale!
For video from our local news station click HERE
Just getting to finally go sailing!