My Johnny

Johnny hitting the road

Enjoying a lot of sugar

Birthday cake 2012

Thursday night we wrangled ourselves up after swim practice and headed to the Red Ox in celebration of Johnny’s 8th birthday. After we got home I began my night before birthday ritual of cake baking, sign making and paper door blocking. This year Johnny specifically requested a worm and dirt cake. My kids like gummy stuff, so it makes it pretty simple for me to make them happy with the decorating. I baked a vanilla bean cake with chocolate frosting, ground up oreos and of course used some gummy worms. I made the signs and finally put up the newsprint over his door for him to bust through in the morning. I have to leave space a the bottom just incase he isn’t the first one up and someone else has to crawl under. But SURE ENOUGH, that was not the case—Johnny was up at 5:15. Adam had bought Johnny his own tackle box and I think he was pretty excited about that. At about 8:00, David, Johnny and I loaded our bikes in the van and headed to Dundee for the path. We took a little bit of a nostalgic drive through our old neighborhood. When parked and prepped at the train depot. Once Johnny started riding I could tell he was ready to fly. I think he really enjoyed the freedom to just go and ride. I only had to remind him a handful of times to stay to the right. Unfortunately David was having some trouble with his bike (turns out that it was just the handlebars twisted around a full rotation messing with the breaks). He struggled for a while before we figured that out and I know that was so frustrating for him. We finally got it settled on our way back by stopping at the bike shop. Felt kind of dumb when I heard what the problem was—but they adjusted his seat a little higher too and sent us on our way. So fun to be out there with them, I hope that we do it again soon. We hit the candy store on our way out of town and the boys picked giant tubes of sugar and Johnny got a bubble tape. The bopping continued as we went to pick out a fish (Johnny’s present from Anna and David). We got a beta fish and his name is Stuart. I hope Stuart lasts because I think each of the kids has fed him at least once since yesterday. We had supper and ate cake then headed to Anna’s soccer game. A game that she scored TWO times in! We went for DQ to celebrate some more. It was a great day. At 3:00 am this morning I got a text from Israel wishing Johnny a happy birthday.

Happy Birthday to the tenderhearted boy who keeps us on our toes and continually surprises us with his witty insights and his wild imagination. 8 Years of Johnny!!! YES!!

Broody One and First Peony

On Sunday morning I was showing a friend the baby chicks. She looked in the nest box and saw a hen sitting on some eggs. She asked if it was trying to hatch the eggs and I replied that she was just laying. But sure enough one of our girls has gone broody. Adam and I went back and forth a little bit trying to decide if we could possibly handle more baby chicks. He eventually decided no and took the eggs away, but the determined little mamma was at it again last night. She might eventually get her way. I am feeling a little soft about it.

My first peony flower bloomed a couple of days ago—far and away my favorite. They just make me smile and remind me of the summer I went to Russia. My host family had put a bouquet in my room for my arrival there.

As of 53 minutes ago, school is officially out. HERE WE GO!!!!

I Really Like My Soda Mugs

David right before his run

My four Fireking Soda Mugs

I decided to take David with me to the Pingree Grove 5k this weekend. It was pretty warm on Saturday morning. We showed up and did a warm up together. He was going to hang out while I did the race and then he would do the kids race afterward. I saw my friend that I have been running a lot with lately and we were excited to race with our specific time goal in mind. We went out SO hard. My first mile was the same time as my mile TT a few weeks ago. I was a little bit dying after that. I kept thinking to myself, “why is this fun?!?” but then I remembered when I crossed the finish line with a new PR exactly why it is so fun. Marie (my speedy running friend) rocked it and took 2nd OA female. I am lucky to have her to run with! 

The kids race began soon after. David ran out in a blaze. I knew he would feel that mistake—just like I did a half hour earlier :) He came in strong though somewhere in the mid to upper 7’s. So GREAT!

On our way home we saw some sales and decided that we would make a trip back at some point that day. After Anna’s soccer game and a trip to the Dairy Queen with Grampa, we stopped at a giant pole barn garage sale. It didn’t take me long to spy these coffee mugs in the back. When I snagged them and brought them up to ask about about the price, the man asked me if I was sure I wanted those because there were many “way better” coffee mugs in the box. When he said 10 cents each, I had to ask him if he was sure about that?! When we got home we checked online and discovered that we had acquired four Fireking soda mugs in the coral color which is the hardest to find. Yay! There was an ebay auction that had them for over $40. All day long I felt like I had won a prize or something.

I Got in the Water

This morning is gorgeous. I was able to get into the lake for a VERY short swim, but it was worth it just to be out there. Still haven’t been swimming, so my pace is extremely slow—but I still really enjoy it. I was remembering back to when all I could do was breaststroke, and then when I swam like a crazy fool the couple of years. I miss it. Tomorrow though is my 5k that I have been looking forward to. I have been really watching what I eat, trying to slim down a little for this race. It is kind of hilarious. I also signed up for the Fox Trot next weekend which should be a really good time too. Strange not to go to Galena this year, first time in 5 years that I am not doing that race. Toying with doing Pigman though...

Kids started dryland practice for swim team this week and school is basically done. Today is a half day and next week is wrap up and field day. I am SO looking forward to this summer, but a little bit terrified of the first two weeks of acclimation. Kids fight constantly, then they start to figure out new rhythms and things get better.

The garden is planted! Adam and I just took a stroll and checked on it all and all is well. He is taking a tree down today getting ready to plant our new Autumn Blaze Maple. Oh, and I bought laundry detergent. In the interest of full disclosure I must post that my clothes were not getting as clean after my kids had been playing in dirt and grass. I will reserve the homemade soap for winter time.

Mother’s Day

I had a really nice Mother’s Day this year! Adam made me a swing in one of our big oak trees—a daydream of mine that has now been realized! Most of the day was spent in the dirt with Adam working on our garden. Tilling is tough work. We got the whole garden tilled though and planted Adam’s tomato plants that he had started from seed as well as the beets, cucumbers and beans. We couldn’t get it all done, but hopefully we will wrap it up this week. Here was what the kids left for me in the tub after they had been playing in the yard all day.

So So So Excited

I was at track practice last Wednesday and when we were all done and I got into my car, I looked at my phone and saw there were two voicemails: one from Lee and one from Mom. Oh Boy Oh Boy! My brother RARELY calls me, so this would be big news for sure! Sure enough! LEE AND CHELSY ARE ENGAGED!! I am so pumped—those two seem like such a good match. Chelsy came up with us to the Dells for Seth and Rachel’s wedding last Saturday. She had an initiation ride up there AND BACK with my Dad, Luke and Lee. We got to enjoy spending time with her and asking her fun questions like what she loves about Lee. Too fun for us all and she was a great sport through all of our questioning :) Lee had an extra hop in his step all day. 

Hudson and the Asparagus

So I was driving home last week and I saw two people walking down the road and then I realized those people were my two people. And look what my two people hauled in! Notice the nice wood pile behind Huds and the giant stalk.

10 for 10

We keep laughing about this one

First chick out

A couple hours after hatch

In their new home

We are giddy over here about our hatch. Can’t believe that all 10 eggs hatched healthy chicks. We of course will have to see how this week goes, but all seem to be doing just great. It’s fun to watch their transformation from when they first come out of their shell to fluffy little cutie pies within only one day! Adam finished up making all the prep for them in the coop last weekend and they are all out in their new home and doing well. (WAY better than having them on the porch) We have been going out there and sitting on a stool and watching them regularly. I find myself wanting to do it right when I get up in the morning and throughout the day—when I can’t find Adam, I know he is hanging out in the coop. We have become strange folk.

Yesterday was our second 5k distance workout with Girls on the Run. Parents were involved and the weather for the most part cooperated. It went really well! Near to my heart was Anna’s breakthrough. She ran almost the whole thing and kept going by her own drive and the encouragement of one of our coaches. I was super proud of her! It has been a fun week!