Racing and weekend visitors!

Our weekend was JAMMED...so easier in bullet points..

• My superstar friend Caroline visited us on Saturday and I am convinced we have scared her from ever having children.... might be the numerous times Jackson took his clothes off, the 9 kids that were present for our "prerace dinner" and the choas that created, or Jackson climbing into bed with her at 3 am.

 

• Aly dressed up for our dinner and then read Princess Pigeralla...I am pretty sure she was in heaven with friends to entertain.

• It was awesome to catch up and connect again since I had not seen her since the Poconos race last fall.  I missed camp this year, we were in Aruba,..so I was excited to hang out for a little while and she was GREAT about meeting our crew and seeing Jackson in action.

• Sunday we were both up and out the door early since we were heading to different races.  I headed up to run a local half marathon.  The weather was WARM...for May..not that I am complaining that much but I wished I wore shorts.  The course was different..downhill for the first 5 miles and then back and another loop that was a bunch of rollers...and now I know I need to work on hills!  I eekkked out a PR so that was nice and it is good to know where I am this spring.  Post race fun with friends!

• Upon my arrival home...the crew was ready to hit Seseme Place..this was really not my idea of recovery but I am trying to work on the balance piece.  The weather was beautiful and the kids were so EXCITED to go.  It was opening weekend and not too crowded but we had a good time..I hobbled around for the better part of the afternoon and went on the least amount of rides as possible.
• Finally, I called it quits about 45 min before the park closed....I am pretty sure Ryan would have stayed until they kicked us out..but I was done done done.

 

• 

A tale of two friends.....

Meet Jacksons best friend...Mr. Mike.  He lives across the street from us and he owns a large orange tractor.  He is 85, Jackson is almost 3, and this relationship warms my heart.

Jackson and Mr. Mike worked some long hours together this week on that orange tractor.  They were seeding, planting, and picking up brush.  As soon as that orange tractor starts...Jackson is out the door in Mr. Mike's lap.  Mr. Mike....he can't hear a word Jackson says but they speak the universal tractor language.

In the morning, Jackson grabs Mr. Mikes paper and delivers it to his house...and they might share a cookie or two in the process ;)  They share a love of the outdoors and more importantly tractors.  

When the work is done for the day...Mr. Mike drives Jackson home on his tractor.

Weekend Fun

This weekend our neighborhood had some raging kids parties and rented this bounce house!  Genius idea!  Our kids went to bed so easily and it may be enough reason to purchase on of these puppies.  It allowed for a little adult socialization until Jackson started to take on the neighborhood WWF style...in the bounce house.

 

 

 

Our lovely clan also thought it was 90...when it was barely 50,,,but that did not stop them from tearing up the hood in summer dresses and bare feet

 

 

We got a little planting done...Brianna style..she was delivering plants all around the house while on the new scooter..and she thought her plan was awesome.

 

 

BIKES!

While the midwest seems to be getting hammered with winter weather, we have been able to escape it for the time being.  Which means...we are out on our BIKES!

 

We got bikes for Christmas and we have managed to ride them most of the spring but this week was by far the best.  We live ina two cul-de-sacs neighborhood so the kids believe it is their own. 

 

Speaking of bikes...I was able to get out for two LONG rides this week, which was awesome.  While it rained for a while this am...it did clear up and I was happy to be plugging along outside in the 70 degree weather rather than the trainer!

 

Weekend Fun and a little Race!

We had a great weekend!  The weather was perfect and we think that Spring is Officially here.

We spend the weekend putting away winter - skis, plows, shovels, etc and getting out the summer stuff.  We made some new decorative stones for the garden, blew lots of bubbles, and of course got on the mower.

This morning, I was able to run a great little race in the town next two us.  The 5 and Dime.  Basically you can decide mid run if you are going for 5 or 10 miles.  I had a longer run on my schedule anyways and I decided this would be fun to see where I was at.  I warmed up with a couple of miles and then we were off.  It was 50s and sunny and warm!  The course was great it was flat and windy.   We wound through town and then past the start for the second loop.  I felt great the entire run which was nice!

There were tons of local friends there so it was great to catch up with them before the race.  A great way to end the weekend.

Spring is here

tractor driving and quad riding family....we are loving the early spring weather!

 

Aruba!!!

We love this country...for many reasons but it is just a great place to visit and the weather is fantastic.  In the 6 or so trips that we have made here it has rained one day...and that is it.  We had a great trip in which we did a whole lot of swimming...I think the kids swam 4 to 5 hours per day...and it won't be long before I might just get a chance to read a book by the pool.

We snorkeled and searched for shells and really just relaxed.  It was awesome to have dinner as a family and eat outside every night!  The kids loved the beaches and made friends quickly so they had playmates all week.