This and That...

Well... we haven't moved ...yet.

But enough about that!

We have been keeping busy with all kinds of fun. Now that the weather is finally starting to warm up, we have been spending every minute that we can outside -family walks/bike rides, fishing, running, yard saleing (of course!) - it has been awesome!

A couple weekends ago I up and entered a run that was in Hermiston called The Butte Challenge. You could either do the 5k or the 10k and the money raised went to the Hermiston Cross Country team. Mark and the boys came with me. There was a huge park, a bouncy house, and free food so they were sold. 

I went up and got my number.

Lucky number 69.

Mark tried to keep the jokes to a minimum as he pinned it on me.

Then it was time for directions and the race to begin.

I was pretty nervous for some reason but also confident because the plan was for me to run a mile or so, walk a mile and then finish running the last little bit. 

I asked Mark to take my picture as I crossed the finish line and I estimated that it would take me anywhere from 35 to 40 minutes to finish. I have never claimed to be fast and my only goal was to finish. 

However, my run did not exactly go as planned. 

It started out great. The weather was just right, a little cool but nice and sunny - perfect for a run (or a walk).  My pace was really good and everyone was in a great mood. When a 65 year old man went to pass me, I even had enough pep to increase my pace a wee bit and not let him get ahead. Ha, aren't I the runner extraordinaire? 

Pretty soon though, I noticed that I was starting to get a little tired and the race was starting to seem a little long. That's about when I passed the one mile mark. I started to look around for some other runners who might be ready to take a break and walk but no one around me was taking my hints. So I decided to run just a few more blocks. 

We began to run through a residential neighborhood and there were people outside cheering us on. I couldn't stop running with people watching! So of course, I kept running thinking "just until I get around the next corner and they can't see me anymore".

Me and my imaginary audience. Very motivating stuff!

Before I knew it, I had passed mile 2 and I thought for sure that death couldn't be that far because I knew at any time my lungs were going to give out on me as well as my legs. But then it happened. 

I got passed. By 3 people who were heavier set and all able to have enough breath to still be talking it up.

And still, no one was walking. What was wrong with these people! 

Then, I made up my mind. I was not walking until I saw someone else do it first. 

I refused to be the only wimp who gave up and couldn't run the race. 

I ended up running the whole darn thing and even finished in under 30 minutes! Not too bad for this totally out-of-shape lady!

Mark didn't even get to take my picture because I was soooo fast - Ha! He was waiting until 30 minutes had gone by because he didn't think I could do it any faster than that either.

It was totally awesome and I can't wait to do another race! I will plan on running a mile or so and then walking and then running the last little bit again. It was a great game plan!

Oh! Me and my grandma-bingo-blood also won one of the give away prizes. When you entered the race, your name and number were also entered into the prize drawings. I won 50 dollars worth of salon beauty products. 

House update: To make a long story short, I 'm just going to tell you that after two failed attempts at painting the outside, Mark and I made the wisest decision ever. We paid someone else to paint the outside of the house. Let me just say it was the best $940.00 dollars we have ever spent. 

We also paid to have the professional painter caulk all the nail heads and seams that we hadn't caulked yet. Which turned out to be about 90 percent of them. 

Again, some of the best money we have ever spent.

There were an awful lot of nail heads and while we could have probably done it ourselves, we decided that we would like to move in before Christmas.

I don't have any pictures of how it looks painted but I will get some up soon!

(soon being a relative term)

Owen has started wiffle ball and he is thrilled! He has told everyone that he knows that he is the best player on the team and he's a little worried about some of those "other" kids. 

We've had a few talks about egos in our house lately.

While attending some of Owen's practices, Caleb has put on a new hat that Mark and I think fits him surprisingly well. He has designated himself as the assistant coach. Caleb goes out and helps all the little kids find the next base to run to. He is so encouraging and sweet - I love watching him. 

Plus, he then comes back and tells us "those little kids never listen to what is being said to them!".

Amen, son. Amen. 

"Once the next kid hits the ball, I want you to run to that base right over there."

"Do you get what I'm trying to tell you?"

In between all his bossing around, Caleb has been enjoying swimming. He has practice twice a week and had his first non-competitive meet this last week. 

He did great and earned himself 4 ribbons. 1 first place, 2 seconds and a fourth (he lost track of the finish line on that one!). 

I love watching the boys in their different activities! It amazes me every day how fast they are growing up, but I do love seeing them become the little people God has meant them to be!