It actually is addicting... kind of

So last Saturday I did a 10K. I did it mostly because when I did the See Jane Run 5K, I didn't feel challenged, really. I enjoyed the run and it was my first race so it was nice to go simple, I guess but I felt like it was a little anticlimactic. So then in September, I did the See Jane Tri with my good friend, Sherry. I liked that a lot. It was a lot more challenging and a lot more nerve racking going into something with so many changes and different courses. And I will plan to do that again come the fall. So, I decided to try out a 10K to see if

1. I could do it
   
2. If I liked it and
   
3. If it would encourage me to do more.
   

And I did all 3! I did do it and for me, I was really happy with my time. I'm guessing I averaged around a middle-of-the-road time. Not fast, not slow. I finished in 58 minutes. I actually really enjoyed the race, which I didn't really know if I would because up to the day of the race, I'd never run 6.2 miles before. I would always get bored and just go home. Partly, I think, because I run alone. I don't have anyone near me that wants/enjoys running so I go it alone. Or sometimes I push my boys in the double stroller but after an hour, they are getting pretty bored in there. But they really do hang in there pretty well! And lastly, I'm totally encouraged to do it again--or even bigger! I think I'd actually like to set my goal on a half marathon. Just to say I've done it and know I can do it. I don't think I'd ever run a marathon. It doesn't interest me in the least. But, there was a time when running down the street didn't interest me at all either-- so I guess we'll see. Partly, I just don't have the time to run super long runs. Something about 4 kids and busy schedules and the general dislike I have of anything before 7am happening to my body. But maybe as more kids enter into school and I have a little more time to myself. I know, I'm sure I'm disillusioned about the amount of time I'm going to have sitting around with NOTHING to do :)
Anyway, here's a couple pics to celebrate my finish:

Crossing the finish line


Abigail was cute and was very proud of me!


The two runners-- My sister in law and me!

My little organizer

Yes, I am posting AGAIN. I feel terrible that for the entire month of January, we only posted once. This blog really does act like our journal. We print out our blog and it has served as a wonderful memory book, complete with pictures and neatly typed print :) So, I need to get in gear and blog our life away! So, I'll be attempting some back track blogs and play catch up! Bear with me...

Ben LOVES toys. I mean, really loves them. He could play with his toys, alone or with friends, forever. He just comes up with the best games and best storylines. And he also LOVES keeping things organized. He does not like when something is put away incorrectly. He often spends time organizing his toys into cool little ways. I should take more pictures of all the ways he organizes his stuff. But here's one way he did it other other day:



The hardest part of Ben's creative energy is keeping the little guy in the background from ruining it all faster than Ben can put it together!

Two down, two to go

So it's been really fun having the girls riding their bikes. They LOVE it. They always want to go for a family bike ride, and thanks to beautiful California weather, it's been possible many evenings after Joel's come home from work. It's staying light a little later and we put on some jackets, and we're off!

Also, riding their bikes has really, interestingly enough, united our street of kids. The girls are always out front riding around, Ben is always with them on his scooter and Gabe WILL NOT be left inside so we're all out there for a good 2 hours a day (again, when our weather is cooperating). And when we're out, it brings out so many other kids on the street. So there's often 8-10 kids out there playing, riding bikes, riding scooters, kicking balls, etc.

In preparation for my 10K, I would put the boys in the double stroller and Joel would ride along side the girls on their bikes, following me. One Saturday, we ran into our neighborhood Fire Department truck. The guys were super nice about letting the kids get in. They turned the engine on, ran the siren, and let us take some pictures. Thank goodness for a husband who loves to carry around our camera!

Here are the girls enjoying their moment in the truck-


Gabe was quick to slide right in and take his turn!


Ben, however, wasn't quite up for it. So he took a picture with Mom right next to the truck. He did get in at one point but wasn't up for the photo op.


And here's the lot of us--

Another one goes...

Collette has had a loose tooth for awhile now. She's just handled it so differently than Abigail handles her loose teeth. Collette has wiggled it religiously since she noticed it. Then, when she bit into something and it really became loose and rather annoying to her when she needed to bite down on food, she decided to take matters into her own hands. I was driving in the car one evening and I parked the car for just a few minutes. As soon as I parked, she walked up to me, handed me her tooth and said, "Here, Mom, can you hold this till we get home?" Like it was NO BIG DEAL!

I quickly asked her how it came out and was very excited for her. She responded with, "I just bit down on the seat belt till it came out." WHAT? Yup, she figured out a way to get it out herself and didn't think too much about it!

So, here's our next toothless girl:







We're now awaiting Abigail's other front tooth to fall out. It's getting dangerously loose-- but I can guarantee she won't be getting it out all by herself!