runnin'

I kicked off April with a half marathon down south and we took the girls along for a little road trip.

Watching some rafters on the way.

We were super happy to visit the DeWinkles and meet baby Brynn! 

I had been looking forward to a spring marathon and my only worry was that it would be too hot (since I hadn't even hit the 50s for a long run yet!), instead it was cold.  And windy.  20 mile per hour steady wind, with some gusts added in.

So cold that everyone hid out in their car till about 3 minutes before the start.

 But with a fan club like this, it's not so bad:

And I ended up with 4th in my age group and 14th female overall.  Clearly I had the cold weather advantage!

We celebrated at Red Robin with the Gierharts and then hit the road for home.

 Nothing like running 13 miles and then driving for 6 hours!

We stopped here to take a picture of this sign for Jack, our resident Idaho history expert.

Jemma says

"you picked a good daddy for me!"

Amen sister.

loving these years...

Spring Break (pacific northwest style!)

Years ago when I had just two sweet babies, we would travel 8 (9?10?) long hours to stay at a beach house on the Washington coast.  And then we got busy and we forgot how much we love it and how worth it is to drive and ferry and drive again.  So this year we did it again.  We loaded up eight kids, two moms, a grandma, and a great aunt and trekked our way back to the coast.

Henry, enjoying a little McDs and seat back dvds (times have changed, my friends):

 The ferry!

One of our favorite parts, rain or shine.

 Although this time it was rain.

First thing to do??

 Hit the beach!

 Super thrilled to be old enough to hand wash dishes!

Climbing through the tunnel to get to the tide pools:

The boys, enthralled by the Waltons:

 Painting rocks, a tradition!

 Snuggling at the beach for ice cream.

We produce a lot of garbage!

basketball.

Jack scoring on a fast break:

Jack finished a fun basketball season--he had some good friends on his team and they ended up pretty darn good.  Jack was his usual hustlin' self and he had two games with a personal high of 18 points.  

But the best part?  He runs straight over at every half time with a big hug for his mama.  

hello April.

I had big plans yesterday to finish up all my March happenings before the month rolled on by.  However.  I came down with the flu.  Again.  I have officially had the stomach flu more times this winter (3!) than I have had in the previous 15 years total.  And it's not just me.  Our family has had the flu 15 times in the last 17 weeks.  We've rotated turns, each incidence separated by at least 5 days and less than 10, and no one person having it more than once a month.  Let's just say it's getting old.  Fast.  But it's been a pretty spring--sunny and cold.  The kids have been outside constantly and we may be puking but but we're still trucking along.

Spring!!

It's a good day when you have to put on your shades to watch your 'toons.

caught my power ranger shooting hoops at the neighbor's

Happy Birthday Ava Blythe!

My baby turned 11.

Eleven!

 

And I remember perfectly the day she was born.  And the night we brought her home and gave her first bath, and ended up sleeping on the couch holding her.  And the day she first became a big sister, her true calling these days.  She is such a beautiful girl, sweet and sensitive, and at the same time, crazy responsible.

The joy she brings to everyone in this family is overwhelming.

Weekend in the Wallowas

We like to arrive just in time for naps.  We stop on the way through town for coffees and liquors and then head to the cabin and settle in:

One of Ava's favorite parts?  Hand washing dishes!

 Daddy's pancakes for breakfast.

 This a picture of Henry hitching a ride back home.  Sadly, there is no picture of me, toting Jemma in knee deep snow, uphill (both ways I'm sure!).

 Ed and Jack decide to go cross country.  Jack scampers down no problem.  

Ed, not so much:

As always, a beautiful, relaxing, fun time.

So much fun that Jack conks out before we are a 1/2 mile down the road: