Hartford (Half) Marathon 10-8-2010

October 8th finally came, and I didn't die. I even finished the race, all 13.1 miles of it. My friend, Crystal Adams, ran it with me, and I couldn't have done it any other way. It was so great to have someone to talk to and support/be supported by. Those last two miles were the longest 2 miles of my life, and I'm glad I didn't have to run them alone.

Another miracle of the day: Shayne was able to get all 4 boys to downtown Hartford in time to participate in the kid races at 9:30am. That might be more amazing than 13.1 miles. I'm so proud of my boys, and excited that they all want to be runners too!



Asher




Miles




Dallin




Jason







Dallin was the first to give me a victory hug




Crystal and I, really tired






The arch that we got to run through just before the finish

Pumkins from the Adzima's 10-7-2010

Gwena and Bob invite all of the primary children to pick pumpkins at their patch every year. This year, the pumpkin party was the same day as the Harford Marathon, so we went the day before to pick our pumkins.

Our New Pets 9-30-2010

Jason has been asking for a Parakeet for some time, and has actually been saving his money for one. But, when a pair came up on freecylce, I couldn't resist picking them up and surprising him when he got home from school. I wish I could've captured his excitement, but all I've got is the backs of everyone staring at the birds, ceaselessly. Notice the dog? She is particularly attracted to them, but not in a good way.

Cute Stuff 9-13-2010

I took a day off from housekeeping and made a handbag for Marin. She will try to pick up anything with handles (and I mean anything) and try to carry it around. Needless to say, she LOVES it. Oh, she is SUCH a girl!




I just think Asher is adorable, and I have a hard time not posting every picture I ever take of him.



This butterfly was NOT shy, and posed for quite a few photographs for me, on Asher's insistence (or course.)

Canoeing 9-11-2010

We acquired a holey canoe on freecycle this last Spring, and with the help of Jay van den Berg (well, almost entirely by Jay), Shayne fixed it up. We had a wonderful time with it on Kennerson Reservoir, except we've realized a problem. We actually need two canoes. Most of our time was spent ferrying our children around to a couple of different islands, which was not unlike that logic puzzle with the lettuce, the sheep, and the wolf. . . .




Below is one of the "islands" we dropped our boys off on. No, not the one with the trees, but just the rocks. Yes, we're such good parents, I know.

Crazy Kids and Critters August 2010

Kids do the weirdest things. Asher always wants me to take pictures of him when his face is messy, and Jason wants me to take pictures of him making weird faces and climbing things. I threw their lastest critter picture in here as well.

New London Submarine Museum 8-27-2010

I had been planning to take the kids to the sub museum all summer long, but we didn't manage to go until the Friday before school started. Liam, Dallin's friend, came with us, as well as Megan and Topher Huff. It was a small place, but the kids really enjoyed it. Going on the USS Nautilus was exciting, but it's a good thing Megan came with us, because I chickened out at the last second. Claustrophobia can be inconvenient!








Jason was VERY excited about the swans

Misquamicut, RI 8-19-2010

It was a busy summer, so this is the only time we went to the ocean. We went with our friends, Katherine and Nathan Paulhus. Everyone had a great time, especially Marin. She couldn't wait to get in the water, so she would run out to the waves. Then, when the water would hit her feet, she would turn around and run back up the beach. I wish we could've gone more!