Can I get that in writing???

Trevian just told me that I am exactly the Mom she wanted. She said when she was a baby, she wanted a mom just like me. I asked her what type of Mom I am that she wanted so much. She said "You're pretty and you're cute and you are so nice and you are fun."

I want that in writing--just so I can remind myself (AND my kids) on the days that I am not their favorite..."remember, I'm the exact Mom you wanted!!!"

We are hippie chicks!

What better way to spend Mother's Day weekend than running. Cuz isn't that what I do all year long as a mother? Run around, getting everyone where they need to be, getting them what they need, cleaning up what they needed....you know the drill. Well this year, my friend Nicole and I signed up to run the Hippie Chick Half Marathon--a 13.1-mile race only for women the day before Mother's Day.

I must admit my training wasn't quite as good as last year when I prepared for my first half marathon, but I had a goal and figured it was something that wouldn't be too hard to reach...finish in under 2 hours. I finished my half-marathon last year in 1:57, and that race had a HUGE hill in the middle of it. So I figured this "flat" course would be a breeze. Well I made a very bad assumption though. This race was chip-timed so I figured I would not worry about being close to the front of the pack at the start of the race. What I didn't realize, until it was too late, was that they were using gun start time rather than a timing pad at the start of the race. Ugh. The clock was against me for hanging back. (My running partner Maria, who has been out of commission for 9 months now due to a broken femur assured me that had she been there she would have known that and NOT made that error. Yah, thanks for the reminder Maria that I am not a smart runner without you.) No worries though, I'd make it up I was sure.

The first half of the race went really well actually. The course is a loop that you repeat twice. My time was great the first half. In fact, my time was great the first 11 miles. Then I realized I really did need ONE MORE pack of Gu. Why or why did I leave that other pack of Gu in the car? (again, Maria's wisdom kicking me in the butt here for not being smart). I think my last mile was about twice as slow as all other miles of the race. Ugh. Oh, I was going to be so close to my goal mark.

Well, finally, finish line in sight...my trusty Garmin on my wrist telling me that I was finishing in 1:59...PERFECT. Oh, but no...the official clock showed 2 hours and 11 seconds. 11 seconds!!! NOOOOO!!!! My official time was 12 seconds slower than I wanted it to be. I tell you the Garmin said 1:59. The Garmin does not lie. The lack of timing pads at the start of the race lies!!!!

So, I made my goal, if only by my own watch. And you know what, I did pretty good. I came in 40th in my age division and 134th out of 640 women...not too shabby. At least, not until you ask a 6-year-old. When I got home from the race, Trevian looked at my finisher's necklace (yes--they gave out finisher's necklaces with a charm rather than medals). They had additional charms you could buy at the race. I bought 3 extras so my necklace had 4 charms on it. Trevian looked at the necklace and saw the 4 charms and said "Mom, did you get 4th place?" I said "no, I got 40th place!" She looked at me and said "oh Mom...that is BAAAADDDD!" Thanks Trev.

Nevertheless, I finished the race, I had a great time, and I loved seeing so many women--all ages, shapes, sizes--out there running the race and seeing that their health is important to them and that they love the rush of the run.

Welcome to Lacrosse!

Terry took up a new sport this year...he's trying his hand at Lacrosse! This is our first experience EVER with lacrosse and we knew nothing about the sport until he joined the league this year. The first thing we learned is that lacrosse is not a cheap sport:

Registration...$100
League dues...$25
New cleats...$30
Equipment rental...$85
Replacement elbow pads...$35
Seeing your son stop a goal with his kidney...PRICELESS

Terry doesn't think that is very funny, but he is definitely learning to take his licks. He wasn't actually PLAYING goalie when he blocked that goal. Or the time he stopped a goal with his elbow. He just sort of found himself in the wrong (or perhaps "right") place at the wrong (or perhaps "right) time.

So Terry is teaching us the rules as he goes...and as he learns them too. I have to admit that lacrosse is actually a little more entertaining to watch than soccer (if you ask me). The rules are simpler, there's more contact, fewer penalties, and a higher score. So it moves a bit faster. All in all it has been a pretty good experience. The fact that he can catch a ball with a basket on the end of a stick is pretty impressive actually.

Fishin' with Dad

So our family has a new found hobby--fishing! Doug has always wanted to take the kids fishing more often, but there never seems to be a good opportunity for a big old fishing trip. But we have found the solution.

Last week our good friends the Bagoyos told us about their fishing spot. Unbeknownst to us (and probably lots of other Beavertonians--if that is a word), there is a park just 10 minutes down the road with a small lake. Turns out the Parks and Rec department stocks that lake with rainbow trout every 2-3 weeks! Now granted, these aren't gigantic fish by any means, but the perfect quick fishing outing for Dad and the boys. (Squint closely and you can see the fish in front of Doug's hand in the above photo).

So Saturday morning they spent 3 hours fishing at the park and between the 5 boys there (Zach, Terry, and 3 of Zach's buddies) they caught 30 fish. Then, last night for home evening, we headed out again. Doug took Trevian along with them and I met them at the park as soon as I finished with work. It wasn't quite as busy of a fish evening, but we still brought home enough for Doug to fry up for dinner. And it was TASTY!!!

Who knew...just down the road in the middle of town we would find a great little fishin hole. I'm sure we'll become regulars there as the kids keep asking to go back. Gotta love the picture of Trev though--even when fishing, it's all about posing to look good for the photo op! :)

The Little Red Hen

Trevian had her debut theater performance this month in school. The kindergarten put on the musical "The Little Red Hen." Trevian was a chick. Of course you know the story of the little red hen...how nobody will help the hen make her bread, but everyone wants to help eat the bread. The kindergarten puts on this play every spring. So EVERY student in the school knows the songs and has played a special part in the play in their earlier years. (This pic is Trevian and her teacher.)

Trevian has practiced very hard to learn all of the songs. Last week for Family Home Evening, we spent time singing all the songs with her. She has asked me countless times which Little Red Hen song is my favorite. At the end of the performance, everyone yells "encore!" and they sing an extra song, followed by a rousing performance of the chicken dance (which they expect audience participation for). It was a very fun evening and a very fine performance!