Memorial Weekend

Our Memorial weekend has definitely been memorable! We spent two days at my brother's home near West Branch. A lot of family came to enjoy fun in the sun while eating, playing, and relaxing. We ended our long weekend at home in Royal Oak enjoying the annual Memorial Day parade with our neighbors. I know it's not technically summer yet, but it sure does feel like it!!! I thought about signing the kids up for swim lessons this summer, but I think at this rate they might be ready to TEACH the lessons!!! They are turning into fish!!! We sure are excited about our summer plans...trips to Lake Michigan + travels to the Upper Peninsula = FUN! FUN! FUN!!!

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Picture Perfect Week

Here are a few pictures from the last week. The weather has just been MARVELOUS!

Some of our friends came over for a backyard barbecue Sunday. All the kids had fun playing in the sprinklers as well as the kiddie pool. It is always fun to watch them play.

Hot dogs, chips, and watermelon! Mmmmm...can we have more?!?!

Russell and Sloane were outside everyday from the time they got home from daycare until it was time for bed! We had the sprinklers and pool continuously in use.

They enjoyed bedtime snacks outside on the front porch.

After receiving the "save the date" card for our annual family reunion, the kids decided they better get practicing at the bean bag toss game in order to become the next CHAMPIONS!!!

I think they are ready?!?!

We are ready to head north tomorrow for a long weekend of fun with my family!

Are you ready for some SOCCER?!?!

The spring soccer season began on Wednesday. This was Sloane's first time playing and she loved every minute! Russell has been playing indoor soccer all year so he was excited to finally be outdoors. Sloane plays at 6:00 and Russell follows at 7:00. Sloane was shy for about 2 minutes and then never looked back. However, she did look up to shout "clap Mom!" Russell was an awesome sideline coach yelling, "Concentrate on the ball Sloanie!" and "Good job! I knew you could do it!" By the time he played, he was tired and ready to be heading home instead of onto the soccer field. Typically at 7:00 both kids are in the bathtub and getting settled in for a good night sleep. This spring schedule will take some getting used to.

Mother's Day

We had a beautiful Mother's Day at my grandparents' house in Middleville. It was so nice to see family and spend time relaxing, catching up, and eating delicious food! Aron's mom joined us as well so we were lucky and thankful to have both of our moms with us. The kids of course loved all the extra attention being paid to them by all of the adults. Motherhood is simply the best gift! This year both Russell and Sloane's daycare class sang adorable songs to all of the mothers and then presented us with gifts. I began to cry watching the precious little bodies singing "I love Mommy, I love Mommy, yes I do, yes I do..." Can't they stay this size forever?!?! Please!!!

After attempting to build a gun out of bristle blocks that kept breaking, my grandpa (a.k.a. Great Papa) built Russell his own "hunting" gun. Russell was thrilled to say the very least!

Cousin Katie spoiled the kids with lots of special time playing, painting, and cooking! She is the BEST cousin in the world!!!

Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Tom brought birthday presents for Sloane. The lucky girl received toys to stock her kitchen set at home. She's been playing with all of it daily ever since!

Both of the kids were wiped out after a weekend full of fun and adventure. They ended our Mother's Day celebration curled up together on my Grandparents' living room floor! Awww...can't they always be this sweet?

It's Over!

What a weekend!!! I have lots to say, but we just got home and I am EXHAUSTED!!! Overall, the Riverbank Run was so much more than I could have ever imagined! It was one of the best experiences I've had! I finished at 2:17:49 which I am pleased with. I wanted to be under 2:20 with a pace under 9 minute miles. I DID IT!!! What is even more rewarding is that I did in 39 degrees (29 with the wind chill) and wind gusts reaching 26 miles per hour along with a spitting rain! Here are a few pictures to tell my story...

My wonderful, supporting husband! We stayed downtown GR so I could walk right out to the starting line. We were on the 12th floor and could watch all the excitement from our window.

Liza and I getting ready to head out to the starting line. We were so pumped and ready to fight the wind, rain, and cold!
6 miles done and I was hot... so I quickly passed off my jacket to my dad!
15.5 miles later. We are finished!!!

Here we are with two members of our cheering squad, Lisa and Julie. I love you guys!

My cheering squad at the half-way point! My parents and kids were troopers while toughing out the cold weather in order to cheer me on! Thanks Mom and Dad!!!

5 Days Til Race Day!!!

Well, the end is near! I completed my final "long" run last night. I attempted it early Saturday morning, but after 5 miles into the run I got caught in a thunder storm. Thankfully I was with Leigh so we decided to hang out in a stranger's open garage and then sprinted to her parents' home where we caught a ride home. I was completely drenched! My shoes are still drying out. We were able to get the run done last night (in the rain, but no lightening) and I feel as ready as I can be for the 25K. I don't know if I will ever do another, but overall the training experience has been wonderful! I think back to those cold, dark, and snowy winter nights and think, "WOW! I did it!" So...Grand Rapids, here I come!!!

Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves.

It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go.

It helps us to find out what we are made of.

This is what we do.

This is what it's all about.

~Patti Sue Plumer, U.S. Olympian

Fun Friday and Super Saturday!

Our temperature got above 80 degrees on Friday so I bolted out of work with my students and headed straight to daycare to pick up the kids early. We headed home to fill up the pool for some water fun in the sun!

Russell was "fighting fires" with the garden hose!

Sloane had a ball with her new watering can.

Saturday started with thunderstorms and lots of rain so the kids were trapped inside until after lunch. I had to keep them busy in order to keep them out of trouble. We had fun pulling out art supplies, puzzles, and games.

Russell was a very serious artist at work!

Sloane started out clean, but by her 3rd portrait she had painted knees and hands along with lots of paint on the floor.

Sloane also enjoyed putting together her sequencing puzzles set. She refused to clean them up until Daddy got home to see her hard work.