Pictures Are In!

The finish!!

The start!!

My number!!

Somone let me borrow their little digital camera for the marathon, and it was great! There were 7 of us who started, and 1 person peeled off at 5 miles (she hadn't trained with us for the 13.1 miles and just wanted to do the beginning). The top picture that shows the blue lane is the finish and as I took the picture all the people started to cheer, it was really fun. It was really hot, but we finished around 11:00, so it was only 80 by then!! I loved the residents who lived along the route and sat outside to cheer us on, or who had hoses running as we walked through the spray to cool off. The Seafair Marathon had a record number of people this year, over 5,000! We hope to make this a yearly event, and maybe do another before the end of this year. We have had a great 8 weeks of laughing, chatting and hanging out, which is a huge part of the reason I did it to begin with. These mom's are awesome!!

Alive and Well

Yippee!! The marathon is over, it was successful, I had no injuries while walking, and walking over 520 was AMAZING. It was very warm, even at 7am this morning. We had a huge BBQ and pool party afterwards for all the moms and families and it was great to just lay in the pool. What a great way to begin this 33rd year!! Pictures coming soon!!

Race Day!

Okay ladies and gentlemen, I am preparing for my 1/2 marathon, I have the proper attire, I am drinking my protein shake, I have my number...and I have GREAT weather!! I'm off, wish me luck!! I hope you are enjoying this beautiful morning, at 4:57am!!

My Girl

Isabelle turns 11 today, at 4:04 pm. She has told me that I am NOT allowed to tell the story of her birth (as I do each year). Okay, I'll just think about it in my head, all to myself...I picked 4 pictures of Isabelle that capture her spirit. The one of her reading, right before soccer practice is pretty typical. Morrie will listen to rock music before a game to pump himself up, while Isabelle likes to read a good book to keep herself calm.

Then there is the girl and her dog, going for a swim in the lake. She will walk the dog out, and then let the dog swim back to shore. So cute! I can't tell you how excited she was to get a dog earlier this year. Now, while some of the excitement is replaced with dread as she has to pick up dog poop and wake up whenever the dog does, I think she still gets pretty happy when there is a dog wagging her buns off as Isabelle walks in the door. Who doesn't enjoy unconditional love??

Isabelle was unwrapping her gifts this morning, and this girl tried and tried to open gifts earlier this week. I stood firm and told her NO, not until you wake up on Saturday!! It was like Christmas this morning as she unwrapped 11 gifts for her 11th birthday. She last gift, the "big kahuna" if you will, was a handmade pioneer dress that a woman in Texas made for us. I couldn't have planned it better myself, she was over the moon!! It looks awesome on her, and she immediately put it on and went outside to her cabin.

If you don't know this about Isabelle, she happened to be born about 150 years too late. She really loves the pioneer life and has visited quite a few living pioneer museums, from Washington, to Oregon, to Montana. She even planned a 3 day event at her Grandma's over Christmas break where they would live as pioneers using references from 2 book she has about prairie life. She has read countless books about girls growing up during the 1700's-1900's and really enjoys the herb gardens, the chores, you name it! Oddly, she doesn't watch "Little House on The Prairie", I have yet to figure that one out. So here's to my girl, before she reaches her teen years and I can hold on to her a bit longer, Happy Birthday Isabelle!!!

Well, I didn't make pizza last night (too tired), Julie wasn't at practice to chat with, and I had a right to be nervous about the kitchen remodel meeting (they came in over budget!). Shoot, I don't know what to do now.

I thought in the meantime (while I figure out what to do), I could tell you about our Family Meeting (sans Daddy) the other day. Sometimes we have Family Meetings just to let the girls in on upcoming events and talk about some issues we are having. So, for your amusement, here was our meeting agenda:

6/19 Family Meeting

I. Welcome

II. This Weekend's Events: Friday is "No Plan Day" until 4pm, Maria has a birthday party to go to and Mom has to work, Isabelle will have "Dad and Me" evening (update: they ended up going to the lake with the dog and showing her how to swim!)

Saturday: Isabelle's last soccer game, possibly fridge shopping in the morning, trying to invite poeple over for dinner (update: nobody came, and we took the camera down to my parents to show them picture of the soccer game).

Sunday: Mom has to work, Dad is going to clean out shed

III. Next Week's Events:
I might have a work meeting on Tuesday. Pajama day is scheduled for Tuesday, but if that happens, we will move it to Monday. Our Big Birthday Shopping day with Emma and Isabelle will be on Wednesday and that evening is the big birthday party for 3 of us with the Jones side of the family. Friday we will be cleaning the house in preparation for Izzy's party on Saturday.

IV. Isabelle, we need to know what kind of party favors you would like at your party and what kind of cake you would like, please get back to me. (update: she wants cute Composition books and pens for her friends and a white cake with lemon filling).

V. Today: We will be cleaning our bedrooms, wrapping birthday gifts, going to the orthodontist, walking the dog, going to soccer practice, and when we return home some friends will be here to borrow the kayak.

VI. Kitchen News: We will be going through stuff and moving things around over the next few weeks in preparation for the remodel. (update: we will be going through the furniture looking for spare change in order to remodel the kitchen).

VII. Good For You Awards:
Both Girls: Good job cleaning the dining room the other day, it looks outstanding!
Isabelle: Good job waking up twice this week in the middle of the night to walk the dog (while Mommy cleaned up dog sickness)
Maria: Good work researching various weather patterns acorss the world (she did this on her own, and now tracks something like 9 places around the world on her desktop).

VIII. New chore list is coming soon, keep your eyes peeled.

IX. Kid Announcements, or issues you would like to bring up:

Isabelle: "I have completed 1/5 of my summer reading program, I am taking it easy this year" (mind you it only started 3 days prior to our meeting).

Maria: "My store, Knick-Knacks, will be open today thru the weekend. I would also like to see more action with flushing the toilets upstairs and downstairs".

Ummm...that was HILARIOUS!! She is referring to some people forgetting to flush, she had already made a sign for one bathroom that said "Don't be in such a rush, please flush". That concluded our meeting and I think Morrie was a little put out that we didn't wait for him, but really it's there to let the kids know what is going on, I feel like he has a good handle on what is going on around here already. Watch, he's now going to comment that he has no clue what happens around here!!

10 and 10

Ten Not So Great Things About Today:

1. It's 1:00 and I'm still not dressed, although on the calendar the kids and I had written down that today WAS pajama day. They however are already dressed and I'm feeling a bit out of it.

2. The dog stinks - literally.

3. Just when I think I'm done wrapping gifts, someone tells me there are more arriving in the mail today that need to be wrapped. It's like Christmas around here.

4. I can't seem to get the desk area cleaned at ALL, what is my problem???

5. I'm not sure how I am going to feed the kids dinner tonight, the schedule is too crammed...and I'm a single parent this evening...

6. My foot really hurts and I can't wait for this marathon to be over!!

7. I need someone to come in and make my bed every morning, it's not possible for Morrie or I to get this task done...ever.

8. I still don't understand much of anything about my camera...sigh...

9. I'm a little nervous about my meeting with the kitchen remodelers tonight...we're going over their final proposal on cost, schedule, etc.

10. It's flippin June 24th and it's 63 degrees right now, what is wrong with our planet??

10 Things That are GREAT About Today

1. I did get a lot of wrapping done already today and that is AWESOME.
2. My kitchen is CLEAN and there is no laundry in the washer, dryer or on the couch!
3. This marathon is ALMOST over!! This week is resting mostly, so that too is AWESOME.
4. I get to go shopping with my girls tomorrow and out to lunch.
5. The kids had a picnic lunch outside with the dog, and they looked so CUTE!
6. When I asked what things they wanted to do this summer, they only came up with "Go swimming with the dog in the lake". EASY!! I love low expectations!
7. I don't have to work today! Who doesn't love that???
8. ...ummm...this is harder than I thought....oh I know! I hope to see Julie today who was gone camping last week.
9. I am making pizza later...probably around 9pm, but I will make it anyway and eat it!!!
10. Shoot, I totally thought that last one was 10, I guess I need another one...We have lots of swimming plans for this weekend, and it's going to be HOT!!! YAY!!!

Soccer Days of Summer

These are from last weeks game, and since tomorrow's game will be here before I know it, I figured I better get these up. The team Isabelle played was very arm driven. You can see in the lower photo how the Amazon Girl has her arm locked with Isabelle's. I have 3 pictures of this with different girls, and I am guessing it's one of those things that is being taught. Hmmm...let's play, but let's not play dirty.

I had so much fun taking pictures and coming home to see how they all turned out. The weather was fantastic, and not too hot. Isabelle does not like it when it is remotely warm outside for soccer. Tomorrow is their last outdoor game for this spring league. They have 2 tournaments this summer and then we start the "real" game schedule in September. By "real" I mean, they keep records of game play and championships are held in February and March. It's what this spring league is training for.

On a side note, yesterday was day 6 of summer break and I was already tired of people talking to me. Is that bad? The girls and I are having a "No Plan Day" today...well, until 4:00. We are not going anywhere, there are no plans that must be done. We already had a too full week of doctor appointments, work meetings for me, Brownie thing for Maria, soccer practices...Maria and I had to look at the calendar and figure out where we had space to breathe. Today is one of those days, and next week we are having a pajama day. Yippee! That's means I get to play with pictures on the computer and maybe throw in some scrapbooking if I feel lucky.

Giddy-up

Maria got to go horse back riding for the very FIRST time the other day.
Her Brownie troop spent some of the money they earned selling cookies and saddled up. Maria was so very excited to go, she could hardly stand it! She was given a pony (as were all the first time riders) and they were led on a 45 minute trail ride. I walked along and I couldn't believe how confident Maria was. She had just been given a horse, and she guided him all alone!!! It was pretty amazing. She loved her "Little Guy" (his name) so much, that she wanted to bring him home. I could see how this would help our mowing situation, but I can only handle so many animals pooping in our yard at one time. So at last, Maria accomplished one of her dreams, and I think it was everything she had hoped it would be and more. Can you guess who is begging to go again? The last picture is Maria with her good friend Hilary right after they got fitted with riding helmets. It was an awesome day!

Birthdayz!

Well, try this one on for size, Father's Day times 3 (3 dads present) and 4 birthdays' in ONE party!! It looked pretty much like Christmas.

We celebrated at Morrie's parents since it was his side of the family that we were celebrating. Father's Day happened to BE his brother's birthday as well. Lot's of fun was had, and many thanks were given. We even got to play with our 7 month old nephew, Benjamin (or Baby Jammy).

Isabelle was so tired by the end of the night, she let me rock her in a rocking chair, how sweet!! And I thought those days were over. I received a fabulous Nintendo DS of my very own, in PINK! Maria could hardly contain herself as I opened it.

A good time was had by all, and we will continue to celebrate at numerous parties and family functions as the month continues. Morrie got 'Taledega Nights' for Fatehr's Day as it is a HYSTERICAL movie that I recommend to all who have a good sense of humor (and who have had a drink or two).

The Thirty-Third Year

Well, if anyone had told me that in my 32nd year I would get a dog, train for a half marathon, hang out with Julie a lot, work in Kirkland, and pay over $4 a gallon for gas, I would have not believed it!

I wonder what great things await me in the next year? I suppose a new kitchen, the actual half marathon event, completing my vacation scrapbook for Yellowstone (fingers crossed!), NO more new pets!, and maybe seeing both my brothers (although that has been happening a lot lately!).

I started my birthday at 2:32am. Isabelle was asking for help because the dog had thrown up in her crate. What a way to start the day. Fantastic! I did get to pick out new silverware with my Mom and eat my favorite Thai food, so the day is picking up! I might even get a 5 mile walk in this evening. Okay, I'm off to walk the dog now (which does not count as any actual marathon training). Wish me luck, my 2 summer side-kicks are coming along and they don't always enjoy walking!

Field Day

So this was last week, and school is already out, but I had to get it in somehow! At school the kids divide into 14 teams, all named after different universities. Maria is on the Gonzaga Bulldog team and Isabelle is an Indiana Hoosier. They then play 7 different games against eachother and have a blast. They dress the part and make up team cheers that they yell all day!

What is cool about these teams is that they stay on the same team year after year. Then when they hit 7th grade, the 2 7th graders get to lead their team of younger kids (the 8th graders have graduated by then). So we were thinking, and after next June, the Indiana Hoosiers will be under Isabelle's leadership. She and her friend Kyle will be in charge of the team cheer, rallying their team spirit and leading the kids to victory! How exciting is that? I can't believe I now have a 6th grader and a 3rd grader. How does this stuff happen?

Gymnastics!

Maria has taken gymnastics all year and really loves it. Mommy has been photographing it for one hour and is really having a hard time with the lighting. We hope to someday remedy that. In the meantime, enjoy Maria's finesse on the beam (the closest apparatus to the viewing area).

Maria loves her highschool age instructors, and I have to say, they do a really nice job encouraging the girls. Every time they do something that is in the slightest way better than the last time, the instructor says "Yes, that's it! Good job!".

Maria's favorite thing to do is vault, and bars is a close second. Unfortunately, the bars are really really far from where I sit, and they didn't vault on this particular day. She doesn't love beam, even though we actually made her a very cool beam for at home. It's very professional if I say so myself, padded and covered in faux suede. Is it ever used? Hmmm...not really. That kind of happens when you pour your sweat into a hand crafted item for your children.

Eyeball

Well, I have taken over 400 pictures in 3 days. How did that happen? The world of digital photography has lured me in, and now I can't get out!! Now, I was taking pictures of several events, like Field Day, 2 soccer practices, gymnastics class...so you can see where I might have had to take lots of pictures to get a few good images? Well, in addition to that, Morrie has downloaded them for me, and who knows how many posts I will get in EACH DAY as I share all of these with you!!

Isabelle wanted me to take a picture of her eyes, so this is what we have. Such a cutie, and now (Friday afternoon), she is officially a cute 6th grader!! You should have seen how embarassed she was when I hugged her after mass and let out a gleeful noise on her behalf. It was awesome. Morrie and I took her out for lunch today (Maria was off at a friends hosue) and then Isabelle decided she wanted to go back to work with Dad...so she did! Morrie is a little insulted that nobody ever comes to say hello to him at his new desk location, but today the stream of visitors has not let up since Isabelle got there! I think she may be providing some entertainment and distraction on a Friday afternoon!

For some back story on the title today, when Kiana was just learning to talk, "Isabelle" was a really big word to say. We've had kids say "ih-bell" and Maria sounded out "Izzy" to "dee" when she was a wee one. However, Kiana has been the only one to come up with "Eyeball". It has provided us quite a few laughs and giggles over the years, and you can bet that we are saving it for some fun embarassing moments for them as they get older. You go Eyeball! On the retailiation side of things, Kiana's parents used to call her "Kiana-Bug" as a toddler, and you can still hear at soccer games any one of 4 parents yelling "Go Bug!". Shoot, it's STILL funny!

Still My Birthday Month

In case you were wondering, yes, you still have 5 shopping days left, but again, I am a fan of the "Birthday Month", so give yourself time to think of deeply meaningful gifts if you need it.

I got my camera, I got my camera, I got my camera!!!!!!! I have been trying to photograph everything in sight for 2 days, but now I really need to figure out the options on the camera. I am going to be calling in favors from all my peeps who I know who use the digital powers. Look out!

Well, school is almost over, just field day and one last mass to go to and we are outta there!! It's a good thing too, they have sickness going around there like you wouldn't believe. We need to get those kids away from each other. Fifths disease and strep are practically an epidemic there.

I am headed to bed, I know, it's only 6:30, but I messed up my ankle and I need to get off it. I'm too embarrassed to use crutches, so I hobble around during the day and of course, by evening it is really sore and not happy. Hmmm...this needs to heal itself soon because I have a 9 mile walk on Saturday and I have skipped my 5 mile walks this week. Any suggestions would be appreciated...specifically motherly advice, massage therapist words of wisdom, or personal trainer orders. Thanks in advance! (Don't mention ice or ibuprofin, I'm already there!)

Welcome Home!

I would just like to take a moment and welcome my brother back to the United States after being gone for over 12 years!!!! He left his job, sold a lot, packed up, moved and finally arrived on the east coast this morning!! Welcome home, just in time for the Fourth of July, Labor Day and voting in November!! (oh and he arrived in a heat wave back east, sorry!). We're all so darn giddy with excitement to have you in the same hemisphere, to be 3 hours different instead of 17 hours, to have the same seasons and cost less than $1000 to come see you!

Oh Baby!

This is what Dad just sent over email, what an AWESOME picture! Isabelle had some fantastic plays this weekend and moved between the midfield line and forward. Luckily we had no rain for the event (don't ask how we lucked out on that one!). I can't even tell you what a pleasure it is to watch. My dad's email to her was so cute, it said "Please call me when we can't make a game and tell me how it went. Your picture even made the ultimate stage, our fridge!". Sounds like I'm not the only one who is enjoying this girl play! My mom was impressed with my soccer knowledge during the game, but honestly, I couldn't even tell you what a sweeper is yet. Julie and Morrie still have work to do! Although it ISN"T important, Isabelle won her game 5-0. Our poor goalies were bored out of their minds. I would look down and they would be stretching, sitting, or fixing their socks.
They finally got thier warm ups (jacket and pants with their number and team logo) at the game, and you will be seeing a picture of those very soon. I was waiting until they got them to take another pic of Isabelle and Kiana, and in fact, as they walked away from us, heads tilted towrds eachother as they made plans for the evening after the game wearing their new jackets, Morrie and I locked the image in our brains. I could be mushy and say "in our hearts" but I won't go there. I might even say it was a tear jerker moment for Julie and I!! No camera in sight, Dad had left already...oh well. Remember, the camera is on the way...

The Family Computer

I have 3 people makeing noise around me so I don't know how many sentances I can write with one continuous thought. Isabelle is doing dishes right now (please let her remember each part of the job so I don't have to get all over her about it), Maria is talking on the phone with her Emma telling her all about her weekend, and Morrie is watching various parts of movies on TBS and CBC...oh and the comedy channel. Now Maria is telling me about gymnastics as she has given the phone to Isabelle (please don't let her drop the phone down the sink). Isabelle just asked me to check my email because Grandpa J. sent something, but I was just there and I didn't see anything. Can I have a plastic bubble in which I can be on the computer with nobody talking to me? Now Maria is reading over my shoulder.
My camera is on it's way, I think. Really, you will all be sick of my photos on the blog when I get it and then of course figure out how to use it. Maria had her last indoor game yesterday and made a goal, which was very exciting. I love seeing them run around like crazed jumping beans trying to get a chance to kick the ball. Maria played against her own teammates since the other team didn't show, which made them laugh a lot at eachother. I can't wait to see them in the fall!

TGIF

I'm pooped and it's Friday night! I just want to climb into bed. I think I'm going to do just that. Sigh...Goodnight.

June 4th is a big day!

So, I won't even go into my day yesterday. Not the torrential downpour that my child had to practice in for an hour and a half, not the dog getting carsick (AGAIN), not the power going out for 4 hours right as Morrie and I were going to eat dinner... I am not going to get into that, because today is all about my main man Morrie.

A massive 15 years ago today we kissed for the very first time! Ahhhhhh, how sweet. But he tells me that we're not old, why, it's two entire MORE years before we have been together for more than half our lives. Hmmm...not sure if I feel better about that one yet.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. He makes sweet comments on my blog, he misses the girls being toddlers as much as I do, he mows a fantastic lawn, he fixes all my computer woes, he tells me I look great regardless of my actual weight, he lets the cats sleep with us (not something that was allowed when we were first married!), he brings home the bacon!!, he's cute, he takes me to the museum, he gives me all the decorating decisions and doesn't care when I paint stuff all over the walls, he eats a lot of gluten free/dairy free meals for the sake of his family, he builds stuff like a playhouse for the kids, he drives (as in all the way to Montana and back!) so I can look out the window, he's cute, he takes me on lunch dates while the kids are in school, he puts up with my scrapbook mess and oohs and ahhs over my pages when I ask him to, he supports my crazy ideas like walking 13 miles, he makes me laugh, he likes my favorite Thai food, he gets me stuff when I am already in bed and don't feel like getting up, he cleans the gutters and hangs Christmas lights really high up, he lets me hang garland instead of having a tree that the cats knock everything off of anyway, he says "Okay honey" when I say "We're going to remodel the kitchen!", he's cute, he supports my dreams like visiting France or living in a log cabin so that I don't give up on someday accomplishing those things, and most of all, he loves me! Give it up for my main squeeze, YAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY MORRIE!

Random Notes

The most exciting news of the week is that my new fancy camera is supposed to be here tomorrow!!! We're talking digital SLR here, and I can't WAIT to get back to snapping photos of our family. The kids are going to wonder why there is a big hole of no pictures...old camera broke...what can I say? That's why there are hardly any pics on this blog! The ones you see are either from friends or Morrie using his work camera. Sigh...

Just so you all know, Maria had me type up a document for her yesterday (which she later signed). She has vowed not to ever kill an animal...great, don't tell her that animals have to die in order to have spaghetti. I don't need an 8 year old vegetarian on my hands. I have enough menu trouble as it is. To top it off, I forced one 10 year old to eat salad lastnight (gasp!) and by forced I mean I said "Eat your salad before you eat your pizza". I'm soo mean.

I planted some new plants and turns out the place I bought them from is not so good. The plants practically died while I waited 2 days to get them in the ground. They were so dry, it's a wonder they even looked perky when I bought them. We'll see how they do, at least the week of rain that is coming will be good for them. I have to get out to Flower World where they really take care of their plants and get some good ones. Good thing I saved some room in my beds for better flowers...now if only we could finish weeding the beds so we could plant something...sigh... I have to mention here that my husband is the best weeder ever and has been spending hours out there taking care of our yard. Love you honey!!

Can you say "Only 9 more days of school!!!!" with me??? By the time May rolls around I am so DONE with school and waking up and driving, blah blah blah. I can't wait for summer. Now, last year I got nothing done because summer seemed way busier than I thought it would be. This year I am preparing myself for business and hope that I don't get overwhelmed like a dear caught in the headlights, just standing there wondering what it is I should be doing. By the time mid July hits, I am ready for them to be back in school. We'll see how this year goes.

It's STILL my birthday month and I am enjoying every minute of it. I am happily ignoring the fact that bewteen family and Maria's little friends that we have 8 OTHER birthdays and 3 father's to celebrate as well. I told the girls that I am taking them out to my favorite Thai restaurant for lunch on the said holiday and I got "I don't LIKE Thai food!". Well, great, then this should be really fun for Mommy on her special day. Maybe they can just SIT there and WATCH me eat my favorite Thai food.

Okay, I have to go plan someone else's birthday, those little invites aren't going to get themselves in the mail, and we have umpteen cards and gifts to purchase. Good thing I am going to Costco. Buying in bulk means everyone gets the same thing, right?

GOOOOAAAAAAAAL!!!

WHAT AN EXCITING WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!! Maria kicked in her goal so hard that it moved the entire goal (they are portable PUGG goals)! I literally ran with Maria as soon as she finished her cheer for the other team and got in the car to get to Isabelle's game. Isabelle was playing center midfielder and I was so excited for her to have several shots on goal. As a defender she usually doesn't have that chance, so I didn't even care if the goalie caught the ball, I was cheering anyway. But then, Isabelle made a goal! She kicked it high over the goalie's head and it was THRILLING! Then, this girl of mine did something she has never done before...she made another goal! It was too cool. Now, typiaclly the forwards make the goals, well, because they are there! For this game we had the assistant coach only and he shuffled things around a bit and 2 other girls who aren't normally in position to do so, also made goals. It was so fun. The best part, was watching the other girls give Isabelle high fives as they ran back. I think it did wonders for her self confidence and made her feel like she does in fact belong in select soccer.

We also saw the Jr. High play that night (A Little Princess) and the girls always think that is the most exciting thing ever to see the older kids taking on these great characters. Isabelle will have the chance next year to try out for a part in the play, do make-up, or be a part of stage crew. I think she watched the play in a different light this year as she had that in mind. I really hope that if she wants to try out for a part that she doesn't let her shyness hold her back. Now when Maria hits 6th grade, she will be asking for the lead I am sure...

I want to give a shout out to my sister, because my family hardly ever reads my blog (one un-named brother never even accepted the invite to view it!) and not only did she read it, but she commented on it...and we all know how much I love comments...(cough cough). So, thank you sister! I also want to give a shout out to those peeps who see me all the time, and read the blog everyday anyway!!! Thanks Mama Julia (that's hoo-liah)! Hey Lawrence, Terrie, Melissa, and well... maybe there's a 4th person out there, I'm not sure!

It's Monday, and it's my birthday month, so it's gonna be a great DAY!!!!!!!!!!