The Color Run - check!

My old roommates formed a team to do The Color Run in Portland. I thought I read somewhere the Portland race had 15,000 runners. They had waves of 1,500 going every 15 minutes. Insane! I didn't get any pictures at the beginning of the race since I didn't carry my phone.

At the beginning of the summer I was gung-ho and did the couch-to-5K program again. I made it to 3.5 miles... and then stopped running. Lost motivation because I started training too early, I suppose. So every now and then I'd get gung-ho and run again but nothing real consistent. Leading up to the run I was going just once a week, maybe 1-1.5 miles at a time. My goal was still to run the entire thing without walking.

Well, I did it! Didn't walk a single step. Brittney mapped it as 3.7 miles so no wonder I struggled at the end without knowing why. She was a champ and stayed with me until the last .25 miles when she surged again. She was smart, and trained every day, though! I was pretty pleased with myself for finishing.

Thanks for the motivation Brittney!!

I love my family so much! I'm so grateful for Kelley supporting me in all my crazy endeavors. He had the fun of entertaining the girls for an hour from the start to finish since I had to wait for my wave of runners to start. There were just a few minor issues. I hope the girls come to enjoy exercising in many different forms like I do. (Yep, call me crazy!)

My {old} roommates Jessica and Brittney. This is our second 5K run together - the last was two years ago. I think they have aspirations to run a 10K next, and potentially a half/full marathon. Me? Not so much. I'm solid at a 5K these days. I don't love running so much. In high school I could barely run a mile and I honestly never thought I'd run much further than that so I'm pleased with my running abilities now.

{September 2012}

Quack! Quack! HONK!

Canby Community Park has ducks to feed. The girls love going down there. This time there was a couple feeding them already so they'd gathered quite the group [side note: there are many names for groups of ducks when on water, land, in air, etc.]. Anyway, it was actually a bit overwhelming! Kelley and I each took a girl and had to alternately feed them so they wouldn't be so pushy about wanting bread. The girls loved it, though!

I'm not a big bird fan. This goose kept pecking at my leg. Literally. Hated it.

We raced to get the girls in the car when we were out of bread because the ducks/geese were pushing in wanting more. Whew - made it!

{September 2012}

Nail Polish Incident of 2012

Seoul loves having her fingernails painted pink. One weekend Amy painted them but didn't have time to do a glitter coat. She even painted Sydney's nails very quickly. Lovely.

The next morning was Sunday - time to get ready for church. It's common for the girls to wake up and then Seoul gets in the crib to play with Sydney. When I walked into the bedroom I was assaulted by the fumes of nail polish. Uh-oh.

I turn on the lights and Seoul looks up like a deer in headlights. She holds up the finger nail polish immediately and says, "I just wanted some glitter!" Yes. Nail polish in the crib. Somehow they didn't get it anywhere but on their finger nails.... and Sydney's face!

Seoul told me she let Sydney hold the bottle and paint her own fingernails, which turned out to be all over her face. Just so you know, glitter nail polish does NOT come off easily. Poor Sydney cried and told me to stop because I was trying to scrub it off. 

Consequence: nail polish was taken off and the girls couldn't have any back on for a week. Oh, how can you really be mad at silly antics when they have such cute faces?! At least they learned their lesson (hopefully!) and Seoul hasn't touched the nail polish by herself since.

{September 2012}

Preschool!!

Seoul started preschool! It's a once-a-week "informal" preschool with two other moms and myself. Our baby is getting so big, although she certainly knows her mind! Before it began Seoul was adamant she did NOT want to go. She'd ask me, "Why do you want to send me away?" 

On the morning of the first day I found her hiding in the closet (and only because she couldn't fit her horse 'I Know Who I Am' in there with her so I saw the reigns leading inside). When I asked what she was doing she answered in a very sad voice, "I'm hiding so you don't make me go to preschool..." Awww - break my heart! I held her and we had a nice teaching moment, and I think she felt better.

This was the outfit I found her in first thing. Totally mismatched and the shirt was on backwards. She tried. Mean mom that I am, I made her change either her shirt OR her skirt so she'd look cute in pictures. She opted to put on pants with sparkles - whew!

Our cute big kid!

Sydney will never be left out!

These are the cute kids Seoul goes to school with - Isaac, Phillip, Seoul, and Grace. Their wonderful moms have really helped Seoul break out of her shell! This is such a great opportunity that I'm grateful to be a part of.

Afterward, Seoul was excited and proclaimed she LOVES preschool!

{September 2012}

Grandma-time

The girls love having Grandma come over. To clarify, they want her to play and not visit with me! I don't think to take pictures of them because we get to see her so frequently. Beautiful mom and beautiful girls! I'm a lucky one!

{September 2012}

Carousel

Salem has the cool carousel that I've mentioned before. We knew Seoul loved carousels. Now we know that Sydney does as well. She is our little want-to-be-included-always girl that sometimes doesn't get to just because she's still too little. Oh, she'll have her many turns.

Giddyap!

Look at that technique!

Loved the idea. Not loving the ride quite yet.

Silly fake smile.

Getting used to the ride... and realizing she likes it!

Sydney is such a big girl that she can sit by herself. It helps to have her big sis nearby.

We went on the carousel 4 times and that wasn't nearly enough riding for her!

Pretty horse... she's petting it as she rides.

We are such lucky parents! We love to spend time as a family and make our girls happy!

These sisters love to share all experiences!

So glad we could spend time as a family and have a good time. New experiences are so much fun. Sydney loved being included this time!

{September 2012}

Company Picnic

My employers, Allan & Mary Ann Clair / CLAIR Company, held a company picnic. They go all out, and they are always super fun! Yummy food, crafts and bouncy houses, live entertainment, massages, and even a horse-drawn carriage ride! It was very fun to see everyone. Since I work my few hours from home I don't see many co-workers anymore. Kelley used to work for CLAIR, so it's been even longer since he's seen everyone! The weather was perfect, and we had such a good time! I'm very lucky to work for such great people!

Allan plays the bongo drum - talented man!

Jim (2nd from left) sings in a barber shop quartet. They were very fun!

Seoul loves bouncy houses and slides. Sydney was disappointed she couldn't go through the obstacle course to go down the slide.

Yep, snow cones and cotton candy!

One of my best friends, Amy.

Allan and Mary Ann dancing - they are so happy together.

I love my family!

I left Seoul to go on the carriage ride with Kelley while I got a massage. She obviously wasn't very happy.

Waiting for her... 3rd...? carriage ride. This was her favorite part!

Sydney loves her popcorn!

Sydney was the hit of the party with her chocolate cupcake face - ha!

The following is a great series of pictures a co-worker took!

[September 2012]