Backyard Bonfire

It was a picture perfect spring evening last night. There was a slight breeze and the temperature was mild as the sun was setting.  We were sitting outside lamenting with our neighbors about how it would be the perfect evening to have a bonfire.  

About a month ago, our neighbors friend/daycare provider bought the house across the street and her backyard has a fire pit.  We decided to pack up the kids, ingredients for s'mores, wood, matches, and blankets and surprise our new neighbor by inviting ourselves over for a bonfire.  Of course if Pat and Val didn't know Joan so well we would never have done it!  I think Joan (a recent widow) was grateful for the company and distraction as last night was her first night in her new house alone.    

We got to enjoy a fun part of camping without having to sleep in a tent. The kids had a blast roasting marshmallows and sitting by the fire.  What a fun way to spend the evening!

Thank you Joan for letting us invade your backyard last night and disrupt your quiet evening!

Morgan - the poser (not sure where this comes from)

working on some marshmallows

Landon relaxing by the fire eating his s'more

Mauryn eating some marshmallows

Lance enjoying his s'more

Three words that make me cringe

Bathing suit season.

Why does it have to be so hard to find a bathing suit that fits my almost 35 year old post 3 babies body??

A new bathing suit is a necessity with our vacation coming up next week. I am sure there will be plenty of time spent at the swimming pool and visiting the beach. Shorts and a t-shirt don't really cut it as swimming apparel. 

My last suit has been confiscated by my family (mainly my husband) since it was 6 years old and well it wasn't in very good shape. Yep, I hadn't purchased a bathing suit (except a maternity suit) since June 2002.  Before that I had purchased a bathing suit since our honeymoon in December 1996.  Can you tell how much I dread the process!

Thank you Lands End for having free shipping so I can do this from the convenience of my own home (we know how much fun it is to try things on with kids in the dressing room) and to Sears for taking the returns - you will know me well by the time this process is over.  

DInnertime Offenses

The Offense: Poor table manners, goofing off during dinner, laying on the bench, looking out the window, pretty much doing anything but eating

The Offender: The boy

The Consequence: Retrieve booster seat from the garage and buckle the boy in it for the remainder of the meal and all meals today. For the boy, this is pure torture to sit buckled in for his meals.

The Reaction: "I know how to unbuckle this seat."  

      " I am going to take this seat apart and throw it away"

The Supportive Husband and Daughter: Thank you Lance and Morgan for helping with the situation at dinner last night. It sure made things easier with the two of you were laughing at the boy and not doing a very good job of hiding it.  Next time, leave the room! It is hard for me to not laugh with you and I needed to have the serious mom face.

The Verdict: Transitioning out of nap with this guy is not pretty.  The boy is stubborn and has a bit of a temper. When he melts, although it isn't a shining moment for him, the things spewing from his mouth are quite humorous (and it is so hard not to laugh).  We are trying to be patient, teach him how to handle his emotions more appropriately, and get him to bed earlier (which is hard now that it stays light outside so late).  My saving grace is that he gets over his meltdowns fairly quickly and returns to his sweet and loving little self.  

Wordless Wednesday: I'm such a big girl

Journey

I started a journey four months ago with mostly selfish intentions - to lose some weight and complete an endurance event before my 35th birthday. Sure it was for a good cause, I would raise money for cancer research, and maybe make some new friends. 

Over the past four months, I knew that I would be challenged physically and I knew I would probably learn some lessons along the way but what I didn't expect was the emotional impact of this journey. 

A few weeks ago at one of our training runs, one of the office staff members came to speak to us. In her hands was a large gift bag that contained a large garbage bag filled with empty pill bottles from her sons chemotherapy.  Her son at age 9 started filling his body with chemicals to kill the cancer.  He is now 12 years old and in remission due to the advances in cancer research. Seeing all those empty pill bottles and knowing that they went into a little boys body touched my heart, especially as a mother, to the very core.

This past weekend, three of my teammates completed their marathons in Boise. In 95 degree heat.  With smiles on their faces. I am so proud of them!  For the last 50 yards of each of their runs, our team stood on the grass cheering, clapping, ringing cow bells, and blowing whistles to show our support and encourage them on to the finish line.  Each time, my eyes filled with tears. To see them complete their events that they had trained so hard for was awesome. Knowing that my event was two short weeks away, they gave me inspiration and hope.

I have taken more from this journey than I ever imagined. I was hoping that physically my body would change after all the training but I didn't even comprehend how emotionally I would be changed forever.  I didn't realize how bonded I would feel with the people I have trained with over the past four months.  I didn't understand how good it would feel to be part of a team.  I didn't realize how important the support and encouragement of others would be.  I didn't realize that this is truly about the journey and not the destination - until now.

After 12 hours

in the kitchen my marathon day of baking is over!  I made 16 dozen cookies, 4 pans of bars, and 2 types of mixes (chex and an almond bark) to sell at my bake sale tomorrow. It is our neighborhood yard sale weekend so as a last hurrah to my fundraising efforts I decided to have a bake sale.

I truly enjoy the baking and the kids were a big help with getting ingredients ready, mixing, and watching all the goodies bake. Landon was an especially big helper when it came to tasting!! After lunch he wanted a cookie, I said he would have to wait. He turns, looks at me and says "Mom, you can't sell these to people unless we have tried them to see if they are good."  Of course he earned himself a cookie for being so witty - and it helps he is fairly cute too!

As I was getting all my baked goods ready to take next door to set up, I was grumbling about how late I was going to be up cleaning from baking all day.  I had tackled a good portion of the cleaning throughout the day but there were still pans to wash, countertops to be wiped down, and a stovetop that needed to be scrubbed.  

When I returned from the neighbors I came home to a clean kitchen.  What a great surprise! This was such a gift, especially if you know my husband because doing dishes is not his thing.  Thank you Lance!

Wordless Wednesday: Chalk Anyone?