Race #7

Once in a Blue Moon was the name of my seventh race.  The race was to run for 1 hour or 3 hours or something like 12 hours.  I was fine taking on the 1 hour challenge especially since it is August in Las Vegas and I am not that crazy.  Rob came out to cheer me on and I ran some and walked some and gladly took my medal and let my man take me to dinner.

This race was not my favorite.  We get to run in the desert in the evening after a rainstorm so that was nice.  It was not bad but it was running the same mile plus track over and over by myself.  Bummer.  I really need a running buddy.

First day of school

The end of summer and the reving of the SUV engine and the churning of the gas pump.  School is on!  This year we will be taking Ridge to an all day kindergarten program at the local magnet high school that has an early childhood program.

 

This is our last child to send off into the whole of learning and knowlegde.  It might make some parents cry, it made this momma grateful for the almost 6 years that I got to have Ridge with me and not sent off to special ed or day care.  I willingly sent off my very inquisitive and curious boy to enjoy all that I knew he would love--all without a tear.

Emma was thrilled to return to Harris and the comfort of a loving environment of her special ed class and all the friends she has grown close to over the last 4 years.  She will be so sad when she has to go to middle school next year.

Archer, newly fitted with braces, was ready to start his eighth grade year though a little more summer would have been alright with him.

 

 

All day does have it's benefits!

This may be a problem

I may or may not have way too much yarn.  I may have found a happy coordination for some of it.  I love my Roy G Biv dishcloths!  Almost makes me want to do the dishes.  Almost.

History repeating

Way back in May Ridge and I went to the Natural History Museum with his preschool class, while we were there Ridge saw the advertisement for a new exhibit that would open later in the summer.  Dad took his lunch hour and met the children and I at the museum for a lovely look at all kinds of parasites and bugs and interesting things.  We had a great time learning together and saw some new things this time around.

 

 

Sunshine and Rain

Cool shoes

for school shoes.  Archer helped carry everybody's shoes.  Thanks, Grandma!

 

Gotta love the skeletoes!

New bike

Emma got a new bike.  We hope that she will have more confidence on this modified bike.  The boys sure think its cool.

Still

Still no freckles on the left cheek!

The beginning of the Ortho

Before

During

 

 After

He is a trooper.  We were able to convice Archer that the clear braces were the way to go and not risk losing the Invisalign trays.

FYI

You can float using a pair of jeans.

 

Burger King offered a bacon sundae and it was good.

 

So good so good so good

I really enjoy it when we can get away from the TV and interact together.  I really love it when the house is full of the children laughing together.  When these two things happen at the same time, it is absolute Heaven.  We had such a wonderful time spending time exploring together in Utah.  We did some fun things, met some great friends and laughed until we almost peed our pants cried.  There was some time spent watching movies at night but if it means the moms could chat, it is justified!

We went exploring in caves and did a little hiking too.

We discovered some bats sleeping in this cave.

We hiked to see what we could see across the canyon.

We made the children pose for a pictures and actually got most of them.

We stopped in town for some souvenirs.

 

We relied on new friends.

 

We explored the creek.

 

We rocked it like a boss 

 

We had a great time even though four moms were greatly out numbered.

 

I will spare all the gory details of the late night laughing sessions, gas passing, bra convo and all other topics that must be discussed when moms gather close.  I will leave it at, can't wait to do it again!  Thanks, Rachel.

 

 

Here we go again

Our friends from high school have a cabin in Swain's Creek Utah and invited a group of moms and kids to have a getaway while some of our boys were away at camp.  We headed into the woods under threat of rain and storms.  We were hopeful to see some weather and relax late into the night with laughing and eating.