School Daze...I mean days...2012

I used to wonder why I would always hear mothers exclaim in exasperation, "I can't WAIT for school to start." Then I became a mother.

Now I get it.

I'm always happy when summer comes around and more than thankful for a reprieve from "structure" and schedules. I usually carry this on through June and even most of the way through July. Then August hits and I am DYING to say "goodbye freedom" and "hello order".

This year was no exception.

 I must say, however, that having TWO kids in full time school made the commencement of this year even more exciting. (squeal)

I'd like to say we went all out. You know, school shopped until we dropped, made a fancy shmancy dinner to welcome in the school year, gorged our pantry with lots of sack lunch goodies, and even woke up early on the first day to create a culinary masterpiece of wholesome breakfast goodness to get the brain going.

But...we didn't.

Instead we dug through buckets of hand-me-down clothes and found some pants that were in "first day of school shape" (otherwise known as hole-less and stain-less), ordered a few shirts from Target.com (which haven't arrived yet)and pulled dinner together at the last minute with very little thought.  But...we DID go to Burger King for $.50 ice cream cones to "celebrate" the end of summer, I DID get up and make oatmeal for breakfast and I DID put a little extra something in their otherwise boring lunches....a string cheese.  Yeah...I'm the BEST mom. 

Don't be too jealous, though. I made up for my greatness rather quickly. 

Gabe spent most of the morning in tears because I INSISTED on doing a bit of painful "doctoring" that just "couldn't be put off a moment longer".  Yeah.....poor kid.  I should have waited.  Sigh....

I may not make "mom of the year" but the kids got out the door to school on time, with excitement in their eyes and smiles on their faces.  Yeay for school!

"Aw MOM...we're gonna be late."

Gabe- 4th Grade

Cael 1st Grade

 It kills me to know that I could have had three in school this year.  However, we decide to keep Isaac at home until next year (bummer). He didn't turn 5 until early August and my "mommy feelings" tell me he's just not ready yet.  Even bigger sigh...... For now he will stay at home and help me entertain Kian.

There are HUGE benefits in that.

Happy School days everyone.  Enjoy it while it lasts.
 

Omak Warrior Stampede 2012

Going for a "tough girl" look...came out with a "there's something in my eye" look instead.

I went...I conquered...I found my "inner warrior". 

Today I competed in the 2nd Annual Omak Warrior Stampede here in our very own adjacent town of Omak, WA.

 Now, while these types of "warrior" races are popping up all over the country, THIS race has something NO OTHER VENUE does. "Suicide Hill" followed by a swim across the Okanogan River, then directly into the stadium for the last 2 obstacles.  It was seriously intense.
 

Photo of Suicide Hill taken from the stadium by Rob

I decided months ago that I wanted to do this race.  Why not, right?  It's only a 3+ mile run and a few obstacles. "It doesn't matter that I really haven't been running a lot lately.  I can do it."

I tried to recruit to no avail.  Instead, I got a lot of "maybe next year" 's and "try it out for me and let me know" 's.  "Alright then....I'll do it alone." 

As the summer wore on I only went running a few times.  I was so busy teaching aerobics at the church 3 times a week and having fun with my new ZUMBA fitness game that I just didn't make the time.  "That's okay", I thought.  "I'll do it anyway" (yep...get that from my dad, remember?).

So I FINALLY signed up for it on Monday of this week and went for a 5 mile run on Tuesday (complete with several high knees, hills, and butt kick exercises) in a final lame attempt to "train" for this thing.  Hah.....  First of all, the run just about killed me....and second....NOTHING could have prepared me for these obstacles. 

There were ten of them, each put together by one of the race sponsers.

"Barbarian Barracade":  4 chest high barriers interspersed with low lying barbed wire.  Over the barrier, under the wire.

Apple bins:  4 waist high, water filled apple bins loaded onto a flat bed trailer.  Climb up onto the trailer, climb in and out of the bins (get soaking wet), slide down a long slide to get off trailer, and biff it at the end....just like everyone else.  

"Knee High Hades":  Tire Runs, climb over a heaping tower of tires, and more tire runs.  Whew!

"Hay Fever":  A series of hay bales to climb over including a 3 story pyramid.  Exhausting...and itchy.  I tried pulling some quirky ninja moves and was complimented on my "grace" by one of the volunteers.  Ha ha ha!

picture taken by Rob just as I passed the first water station just passed "Hay Fever"

"Junker Jump":  Climbing up and over, and up and over, 6 cars with VERY little room for recovery.  UGH!  But I had a bit of fun with this one.  There was a photographer in the 5th car filming the contestants.  I got right up next to the windshield and made, what I hope turned out to be, an authentic warrior scowl (as in super ugly) complete with "battle cry".  I seriously hope I get to see that footage later. 

"Warrior Wall":  After ascending a long, steep hill we were immediately required to climb up and over a ladder type wooded wall.  Holy Cow!  It took me a while to catch my breath after this one.  This was the FIRST time in the race I just about tossed my cookies.

"Black Out":  Nearing the home stretch we had to drop down into a 15 yard (or so) underground tunnel.  The top was sealed off with wood boards (which I was grateful for...I thought it was going to be completely constructed of dirt) and the ends were tarped off, making it very dark in there.  I was crawling at a moderate pace but heard someone coming up behind me.  I thought they were gaining on me and I couldn't let that happen.  So I sped up. 

"Suicide Hill":  By far the funnest part of the course.  A 225 foot, 66% grade,  soft dirt (thank you horses) Hill.  I was exhausted by this point and worried that my legs were going to buckle at any given moment, but I didn't care. I ran down that sucker, hoopen' and hollerin' the whole way.  It was exhilarating.  

(Because of camera malfunctions, Rob didn't actually get ME coming down the hill but shot a few people coming down after me ,once he lost sight of me in the river)


Then on to the most grueling part of the race (for me).

"River Run":  The Okanogan River.  The current was very swift, and it get's deep so fast that you can't touch the bottom.  I didn't even try at first.  I plunged in and took off.  There was a split second, after less than a dozen strokes, that I reminded myself of how horrible of a swimmer I am and wondered if I would make it.  "What if I can't do it?"  I remember thinking.  But I wasn't about to just give up.  I closed my eyes and focused on swinging one arm after another.  I tried to get in a few kicks here and there but my legs were just SO tired and weighed down by my shoes.  The current was so fast it would cause my legs to criss-cross anyway.  When I could finally touch on the other side, I tried to stand up and wade through it but the current was still too fast.  It knocked me over several times but I just kept going.  I was SURE the 4-5 people who were right behind me, before the hill, were going to catch up but when I looked back, I realized they were still in the river.  I wanted to shout for joy but was too busy trying to stop my head from spinning and swallowing down the bile that was crawling up my throat.  Yeah...that was the SECOND time during the race I almost vomited.

At this point I was so beat.  The river bank on the other side was almost more than I could bare.  I wasn't sure I had anything left.  I struggled with myself for a second, because I NEVER allow myself to stop and walk during a run, but eventually gave in.  For just a few seconds, I allowed myself to walk up the hill...take a few steps on flat ground....and then, once my head cleared....I started jogging again.  VERY, VERY SLOWLY.

As I headed toward the stadium...and the last two obstacles ("Muddy Mayhem" and "Warrior Roast")...I made a decision.  I was either going to give it my all...or die trying (which didn't seem like such a foreign concept at the time).  I just couldn't give up.

I heard my children cheering just before I rounded the gate into the stadium and it gave me the energy boost I needed to keep going.  I picked up my pace and finished the race with all the energy I had left.  I even found enough energy to add in my "Family Circus signature move" (In your honor DAD!)....The Cartwheel!  See for yourself...



I thought I was pretty close to the front of the pack but really had no idea how I'd done.  As I crossed the finish line, the volunteer told me that I was the FIRST GIRL to finish.

NOW THAT FELT AWESOME!!!!

Turns out there were only 3 men head of me too.
  
I couldn't believe it.  I mean, WOW!  4th in my heat....never would have guessed it.

It's always amazing to me what you can do when you put your mind to it.

When I would feel myself slowing down, or mentally getting tired, I would repeat to myself things like, "You're okay."  "You can do it."  "Just keep going."  "One foot in front of the other."  Once I even yelled to myself (in my head, of course) "YOU ARE A WARRIOR!"  Me, myself, and I had a good outward chuckle about that one.   I'm sure anyone near thought I was delusional or suffering from heat stroke.  Ha ha ha!!!

In the end...I'm so glad I did it.  What an experience!

Post Race with the kiddos

Next year, I think maybe I'll even train for it.

Can't wait to see the final results posted tonight.
 

Time to get serious!?!

For the first time in my life, I have been carrying a bit of extra weight long term (okay, so there what that time after first getting married....).  I don't know whether the three miscarriages in the last year or my nightly indulgence of sweet sugary somethings is more to blame but it's become quite the problem.  The kids are even starting to notice.

The other day I was loading the kids up in the car.  As I strapped Kian in his seat I was taken aback by just how cute his big chubby cheeks were.  I said to him, "Oh Kian....why can't 'chubby' look so cute on everyone."  Gabe, walking up behind me says, "Chubby does look good on everyone."  To which I replied, while grabbing the rolls of fat that have found their home around my middle, "Well, it's not cute on me."  Gabe thinks about this for a second, shrugs his shoulders and says, "But it's not UGLY on you either."  Sweet unobservant boy.

I laughed....hard.  I could have kissed the boy (come to think of it I probably should have).

and... 


Yesterday, as I'm putting Isaac and Cael to bed, Isaac looks at me and says, "Why is your tummy getting bigger?" *OUCH* "Is there a baby in there?"  *Sigh*  "No," I replied, "There is not."  He just looked at me, as though he didn't believe me.  Poor confused kid.  The only time my kids have ever seen me "round" is when there IS a baby in there.


I think it may be time to get serious about eating more healthy and loosing this excess poundage. 

Not that it stops me from doing things (I finally signed up for the Omak Warrior Stampede which will be this Saturday) but it will make me feel more comfortable in my own skin (literally) and that's pretty important to me.

We'll see how it goes.  (I sound TERRIBLY motivated, don't I...he he he).

We call him Mr. "Mini Rob"...

Isaac REALLY is a "Mini Rob".  

Check out these two.

(photo cropped from my desktop birthday calendar for 2012)

From birth he looked so much like Roberto we just KNEW they were destined to be a lot alike.  And they are.

Today we celebrate his 5th birthday with a few of my most favorite photos (and one super CUTE video) of my Isaac (aka Little Lincoln).

Sweet Baby Boy #3

Isaac and Grandma H. sharing a tender moment (Love this pic!)

Isaac means "he who laughs"

"I wanna help unpack"

Always smiling

7 staples to the head and I'm STILL smiling

This boy LOVES him some bugs

Typical Isaac face

again...very typical

This naughty boy got into mommy's "feminine things"

and made a mess of flour and sugar

Makes one ADORABLE pirate

and a killer monkey face, too!

He's a completely loyal "boyfriend"

and loves to monkey around

Isaac is an energetic, rambunctious, very curious, even more independent, and extremely lovable boy.  He has kept me on my toes, and knees (in prayer) from the get go.  Our home wouldn't be complete without his dimpled smile and love for all things "little".  

I can't believe he is FIVE!

Love you Little Lincoln.  :)

I leave you with this incredibly adorable video taken on his first birthday (the quality stinks but still worth watching).  It brings a smile to my face EVERY TIME (and we've already watched it 20+ times between yesterday and today).

(actual birthday post to come later.  Be sure to come back and check out his super simple and super cool Batman birthday cake.  I'll even post a tutorial). 

Trampoline Netting Repair (aka I may have been a fisherman)

Perhaps I was a fisherman in a past life....

for today I did the most AMAZING job of netting repair in the whole entire world.

Okay....maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration (pardon me while I toot my own horn).

Here's what happened.

Just weeks after purchasing our trampoline last year, someone found a loose thread on the netting and pulled...and pulled....and pulled until there was a sizeable snag reaching 2/3 the way around the diameter of the netting. 

SO NOT COOL! 

 I was not happy (to say the least) but, after threatening them with expulsion from the trampoline for eternity if they ever did it again, I let the matter go.  Enough said.  Or so I thought.

A few days ago someone got the brilliant idea of sticking their little fingers in the snag and pulling until the hole grew bigger, and bigger, and bigger (hello pretty garden).   

Blood!  Fire!

WHOSE ARE THESE CHILDREN ANYWAY? 

After cooling down (ha ha) I figured I had two choices.  I could either let the problem go and watch it get worse until the whole net was destroyed and had to be replaced ($200+) or I could come up with a plan to fix it.

After brainstorming, I came up with this....

 (Fishing line...20lbs.  Cost me less than $3.00 at Walmart)

and I went to work.

Result: EXCELLENT (toot, toot)
Cost:  < $3.00
Effort:  Minimal

If I can do it...anyone can.

Here are my suggestions on HOW:

#1  Pull out a sizable amount of fishing line (about 1 1/2 times the length of the hole) and than double that length again.  Fold line in half (as if you were using a double thread for swing/stitching) and slip on a quilting or other large eyed needle (I didn't use one myself....wish I had). 

#2  Weave the line through a few squares (about a 1/4 inch from the start of the hole) and tie a good knot.

#3  Starting right next to the knot weave a few vertical stitches and continue on until you reach the actual hole(to secure it).  Once you reach the hole, start widening the height of the stitch (I skipped the first set of squares right on the edge of the rip and started on the second row (for added stability).  Pull the line through and take it vertically to the edge (or one row in) on the other side of the hole and pull tight.  Skip a few squares horizontally (I did every other) and do it again.  Do this for a couple of stitches until you get the hang of it.  (you may have to pull the net closed as you work to tighten it at first).

#4 Once you get the hang of it, try doing several loops up and down before pulling tight.  It saves a LOT of time.

  #5 The completed line WILL unravel unless you keep it tight at all times.  Unless you are an octopus with 8 arms, this will require some finagling.  Pull the line tight (seen below).  (Now here comes the weird part)  Clamp the line in your front teeth to hold it tight.  Yep, that's what I said.  In your teeth.  (Just don't tell my mother...or my orthodontist...he he).

This way both hands will be free to work on the next set of stitching without undoing what you have just done.

#6  Work your way to the other end of the hole.  Back stitch the line a few times and tie it off with another good knot.  You are done.

The finished repair should look something like this.

 

BEAUTIFUL, yes?

I'm gonna make a pre-emptive strike on these two babies before they meet the same fate as the last one. 

Happy Stitching Y'all!