2.3 Miles!!

Randomly I had this goal about 2 months ago that I'd like to run around our neighborhood loop which is 2.3 miles. "Run" as in jog without walking. I tried and just about died. I came home and thought I was in the middle of an asthma attack...

Needless to say, I didn't try again for awhile.

But randomly on Tuesday I decided I'd go for it again. Within the week I was able to jog the whole freaking 2.3 miles.

 

2.3 miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On my 5th attempt!!!!

Factors that I attribute this success to:

1.Heavenly Father

2. Night time and fear of being killed or eaten by wild dogs & things hiding in bushes

3. Music

4. Cool Weather

5. No wind

6. Good shoes and stealing Joe's running socks

 

I'm going to see if I can keep it up. Who knows, maybe I can lose 50 pounds.

That would be swell.

Understatement.

I blame Joe. Really, my motto in life is "I only run if a cop is chasing me."

And now here we are.

I have no desire to do marathons.

This is strictly because of some crazy whim.

First Steps & Yogurt "Special" Time

 

About 2 weeks ago Eli took his first steps!!! He can get in a good 2-3 steps, then decides to crawl or sit. I love holding his hand and walking. I can't believe he's so big. I know it's cliche, but time really does fly by. He's such a love bug. Every night now he gives kisses to his sisters at bedtime. He loves to laugh and make us laugh. He's such a joy!

 

 

Maria and Eli have "special" time. It's whenever she has yogurt. She loves to share and feed him. She loves to hold him and be close. Eli gets super excited for this special time with his sister. He screeches, holds his fists really tight and can barely contain his happiness!!

Sock Hop

Randomly, Maria has started playing with these little boys during recess at school. There are only 4 other girls in her class & she is best friends with the hispanic girl. I think it's going to be a good year. These little ones seem very nice! 

M came up to Maria and asked her for hugs. Then they did the costume contest together.

 

We ate lots of sugar, drank sugar, sipped sugar and got sugar caked on faces, hands and clothes.

Sugaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrr!

 

 

Christina won the bubble gum blowing contest!!!!!!!!!! For third grade!!

 

My parents are life savers!! Thanks for coming and helping and having fun with us!!!!

Overated and Completely Mumbled.....

Oh Sun Valley Garage Sale... why did you turn into this. Reno is full of hoarders.

Even with all the traffic and throngs of people we were still able to find a few steals. The girls got some beautiful jewlery & Eli got a few new toys.

 

Maria loves her new clip ons!

Meesh at 11 Months

*Loves it when we blow zuberts (sp?) on him.

* Enjoys opening anything he can and exploring... quickly.

* Super Happy.

*Highly enjoys bathtime and splashing and moving around in the water.

*Wakes up 2 times a night. 1:00AM and 5:00AM... or around those times.

*Loves his new Dump Truck Yaya and Papa got him.

*Loves airplanes in the sky.

*Loves food. Especially Port of Subs. And blueberries... I say FUN you say DIAPERS!

It literally dyes his butt.

*Loves to dance/boogie.

*Enjoys walks in the strollers or going to stores.

Sometimes I forget he's there he's so mellow and easy.

Our sweet lil' SWEETHEART!!!!

1st Day of Kindergarten

My lovebug Maria started Kindergarten today.

My sweet lil' babe who has always been with me is now leaving me for the afternoons.

You'd think I'd be used to it by now, seeing as she was in preschool 2 years....

However, I feel wound up and just wanting her to be in my arms.

Really? Shouldn't I be in 2nd grade?

I have to review each letter for how many days??

Show me fierce Kindergartner.

None of those lame boys will mess with me!

I. Am. A. Tiger.

I'm glad Maria had at least one little friend she knew in the class. Sweet Amber.

Daddy came for the festivities too!

And off she goes!! There are a LOT of little boys in the class, so I really hope it goes OK.

It was a good day for scrabble....

Joe and I play scrabble often.... he usually for some odd reason beats me a lot. It's not that I don't have a good vocabulary, but a lot of the time he will add an "s" to one of my words and get 50 points extra or I'll just have bad luck in drawing.

Sure Sofia. Keep telling yourself that.

It's hard to admit that your husband might be smarter than yourself.

However, after a losing streak of like 15.... FINALLY!!!

Sweet Success!!!

I love our Backyard.....

I was driving the other day and saw a house we had put a bid on and it was for sale again. I remember how small the yard was. I'm so happy we ended up with the house we did.

We have an array of flowers that attract humingbirds.... it's magical. The funny thing is the hummingbird is really friendly and a few times we have been close enough to almost touch it.

It's beautiful.

We were able to eat a meal wasp free! It was grand... however the flys were terrifying.

Here's our little friend. He's amazing.

Free Day At The Museum

Today was "Lil' Burners" at the Art Museum. It was great. It was simple. We made art cars....

Did a harmonograph art project....

And did hula hooping and burn sticks.... The grand finale was a LED light show by controlled burners. It was basically like being in a club, but for children. Eli really liked it.

There were lots of dreads, cheetah print and fur.....

FUN RENO TIMES!!!!!

Randomness...

Maria: "Let's not call McDonald's McDonald's.... let's call it McHell."

Yes Child. Let's.

Christina was the first child in her class to get a reward ticket. She helped the teacher out with an errand and went above and beyond the task. I think I like her teacher now.

Maria was tested/assessed for her Kindergarten class. It was probably one of the greatest moments of my life. The teacher quizzed her on letters and sounds... then she placed sight words in front of her. The teacher asked if she knew any and Maria nodded her head.

Maria waited.

The teacher said, "If you see any you know just point to them and tell me."

Maria said, "Do I have to point to all of them?"

The teacher said, "No sweetie, just the ones you know."
Maria said, "So I have to point to all of them?"

She read all of them. And the list after that. At least 50 sight words.

The teacher was impressed. She said Maria will have to have one on one time with her because she is the top reader. She will be a peer tutor.

We're going to be talking a lot because we don't want Maria's time wasted or for her to be bored.

She just finished 6 chapters in her Narnia book.

The teacher said the bottom line is by the end of Kindergarten they want children to be at a level 4 for reading. Maria is around level 22. (Beginning 3rd grade)

Boo ya.

Also there are 11 stages of writing and Maria is on stage 11. She can write complete sentences and knows punctuation/capitalization.

Where do we need to direct credit?
Heavenly Father. He has blessed her and also I know for a fact she reads so well because she reads her scriptures every night. She's almost in 2nd Nephi!!

And not to forget Math. She did wonderful. She knew when to subtract and add when the teacher asked word questions.

Mumble Me Mall Rat Mondays

We had a special plan for FHE tonight. It was to surprise Christina who has been wanting to pierce her ears for a loooooooong time. We told her when she turns 8, and seeing as it's only a month away... we went ahead! It turned into such a FUN FUN evening. Reno malls have such a charm to them!

Nina chose sapphire earings... Unfortunately, there was only 1 lady working and it took a while. However, the girls found plenty of things to look at and try on. They were quite excited about it!

Joe was a little out of his element. But he did really good.

Maria struck this pose at least 50 times.

Is she excited? I don't know. I can't tell.

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm......

But then the lady started the prep work and Nina got really nervous. She saw the guns and her eyes were super wide. But the little trooper didn't even cry!!!! Not one single tear!!! She is such a brave little girl!!!

And voila..... she was beaming all night. She can't wait to show her best friend Lily.

Thanks Daddy for always bankrolling the party!!! Best Daddy EVER!!!

What else can we do at the mall?? Eat Craptastic foooooood!!!! Yummmmmmmy!!!!

Even Eli dined on fine Asian cuisine. $6.... times 1000 for the ER visit!!

No food poisoning yet.... We'll cross our fingers.

Gumballs!!! See's Candy tasters!!!

Rides!!!! Eli was in 7th heaven!! He squealed with delight on all the rides. Hopefully we won't catch swine flu. Is it still an epidemic?

It's like Miami!!!! Kind of....

.....

This face says it all when it comes to dear Meadowood Mall.

Such a fun time though!!! It's always the best when we're all together!!