Bloomsday 2013

We (our family and Grandma Suanne) headed over to Spokane this weekend to visit with Bryon's family and to run/walk in Bloomsday.  When we got there on Friday night we found out that poor little Ayla had been sick with the stomach flu...uh-oh...we know what that's like since we had it last weekend.  It seemed she was on the mend...which was good because her 3rd birthday party was Saturday morning.  When we woke up in the morning, we found out that the whole family started vomiting overnight...all four of them.  Bryon and Sara had to cancel the party.  They didn't get to run in Bloomsday and pretty much spent the weekend resting and recovering from the stomach flu.  We felt bad but decided to still run Bloomsday.  

So, Brad and I took off early in the morning to run the race.  Then, Grandma Suanne tackled managing the double stroller, one 4-year-old, one 11-month-old, and a bus shuttle to the starting line...she was awesome.  She let Brad and I run while she pushed the kids in the stroller.  Brad and I ran the course and then started running the course a second time till we caught up with Suanne and the kids.  We found them around mile 2.5 and then walked the rest with  them. Our kids did great!!  They were super easy and pleasant for the entire course.  Anderson even got out for the last 1/2 mile and ran through the finish line.  He immediately asked where his medal was...ha!

The race was good...very well run for the number of people.  No complaints except for how crowded the course was!  I PR'd...however, I haven't run Bloomsday since 2004 so it wasn't a big surprise.  It's a 12K race with more than 50,000 runners.  My official time was 1:07:08 putting me at a 8:59 minute per mile pace.  Not great...but with so many participants the course was super, super crowded.  My Garmin had me running almost a quarter mile more than the official race distance because of all of the bobbing and weaving I had to do.  For the first two miles you really couldn't run with a full stride.  However, it was fun and great to be part of such a big race!  Next year we'll do it again with Suanne, Bryon, Sara, and all the kids and hopefully no stomach bug!

Brad and I at the start...Brad ran it in 58 minutes.

Brad taking a turn pushing the stroller.

We did it!!  Thanks Grandma Suanne...she also took about 5 minutes off of her time from last year.  And that was even after she had to wait for Brad and I to catch up!  Speedy walker!!

Hero's Half Marathon

Anderson and I both ran in races this past weekend in Everett, WA.  I ran the Hero's Half Marathon and Anderson ran the Kids Fun Run (1 mile) at the Hero's Half - his first race!

Both of my sisters ran a half marathon too.  Jen was across the country burning rubber up on the roads in the Divas Half Marathon in North Myrtle Beach with a PR of 1:47:37.  She placed 87th of 3,660 participants!  Go girl!!  Alyson ran the Hero's Half Marathon with me and scored a PR!  She took off over 20 minutes of her last half marathon finish.  So proud of them both!

My race was really hard.  Both kids were up late taking turns getting sick.  So I was changing bed sheets and giving baths till about 3am.  In addition, I was dealing with some frequent bathroom visits myself.  Needless to say...I had very little sleep, knots in my stomach, and zero fuel in the tank.  So...of course, I decided to run 13.1 miles.  Who wouldn't?!?!  I was on pace for the first 6 miles but really started slowing down and then hit a wall about mile 10.  The race became more of a "I just want to finish" instead of "this is gonna be an awesome PR" type of race.  I did finish but about 15 minutes after my goal.  But I didn't quit...that's what we told Anderson was important about running in races.

Before race day, Anderson was kept asking if we thought he was going to win the race.  We really tried to focus on the idea that what we cared about was the effort he put in and crossing the finish line no matter how fast or slow he ran.  Aaaaaaaaaand, he was AWESOME!  He ran the entire 1 mile race and never asked to walk or quit.  He was so impressive.  He kept a pretty consistent pace the entire time which was unlike many of the other kiddos that sprinted off for the first few yards.  It's hard for kids (and adults) not to get excited.  By the middle of the race, Anderson was still running and passing kids that were years older than him.  He loved every moment...especially the medal that he got after he crossed the finish line.  We are so proud of him!!

At the starting line for Anderson's race.

So happy to have Grandma Suanne, Auntie Aly, Daddy, Adeline and Kayla there to cheer him on!

Second half of the race...still all smiles!

Running toward the finish line!  Go Anderson!

Anderson enjoying some post race refreshments.

All three runners posing together!  Thanks for coming to support Anderson!

Maui 2013

We love our family vacations to Hawaii!  This year we returned to Maui to stay at Honua Kai.  We discovered this great resort on our first trip to Hawaii in 2011.  It is in North Kaanapali and we have really loved staying here on both trips to Maui.  All units are condos ranging from studio to 3 bedrooms and it is a bit more pocket friendly than many of the other resorts in Kaanapali.  Here's a recap of our first 5 days!  Enjoy!

Day 1 - After we hit the grocery store and checked-in we headed to the beach right out in front of Honua Kai.  Anderson dove right into building sand castles.  Adeline was all smiles when she saw the ocean.  

Day 2 - Honokowai Beach Park to play and explore the  coral reef.  This park is part of the reason we love staying at Honua Kai.  We walk there most days.  It has a playground and really safe areas for the kiddos to be in the water.  Bad Ass Coffee Co is great as well as the Honokowai Farmers Market across the street.  

Day 2 - Spent the afternoon in the pools at Honua Kai.  Adeline was in heaven.  She is definitely going to be the swimmer in the family! 

Day 3 - Hike at Nakalele Blowhole then spent the rest of the day at Napili Beach.  Super great option on a windy day!  

Day 3 - Anderson and I sat and watched the blowholes for several minutes.  It was ok...never really blew up in the air like we saw in pictures.  Oh well...it was really beautiful and part of the island we hadn't explored before.  

Day 4 - Walk on the Kaanapali Beach Walk to a arts and craft fair.  In the afternoon/evening we headed into Lahaina to show Anderson "the most amazing tree ever - the banyon tree.   Walk on Front Street and got dinner at Lahaina Pizza Co.

Day 4 - Brad and Anderson on Kaanapali Beach

Day 5 - Adeline - exploring the grounds at Honua Kai.  We had a ground floor unit this time.  It was great for the kids.  Anderson went on regular hunts for lizards, Brad and I could leave right from our backdoor to run each morning, and Adeline crawled around in the grass.  We would definitely rent this unit again!  

Day 5 - Went to Whaler's Village then Kaanapali Beach.  Whaler's Village was nice.   We got our parking validated for 3 hours by purchasing something at one of the stores.  I got Anderson a new Pirates Match Up and Puzzle game.  We've played it at least 20 times since I got it!

King Andreson

This is a funny video of Anderson from this summer...just found it and thought I would share it.  Enjoy!

Adeline is sooooooo big!

Who doesn't love this game?!?!  So fun to see her really starting to understand language and develop these skills.  I'm definitely in love!!  Enjoy!! 

Science Experiments

Anderson is such a fun kid!  I know I'm a little biased but I really do think he's pretty fun.  I just said to Brad last night after a great Easter weekend..."He is such a good boy.  It is such a blessing to see the fruits of our labor."  Anderson loves soccer, Curious George, friends, hiking, wrestling, Grandmas and Grandpas, baseball, books, cousins, parks, hot tubs, play-dates, ice cream, and, recently added to this never ending list, science experiments.  It's not a huge surprise given the dorks that he has for parents!  Here are a couple going on now in our house...

The classic tree bud experiment.

Some sort of lava/bubble thing with oil and vinegar.

Just because she's so stinkin cute!!

Bath Time

  Adeline is pulling herself up and starting to cruise so I thought it was time to let the two little rugrats take a bath together.  So much fun! Lovin the laughs!!