Took a weekend away a little bit ago
enjoyed being away, sleeping in a tent, cooking over a fire
the kids loved playing in the dirt
hiking a few trails
and chasing trains

106 miles

I should have posted this three weeks ago...
Rob and I rode the CWC (Civil War Century)
I completed a century, 106 miles to be exact
on a bicycle
It was hard!
It was challenging!
It was rewarding!
It was HARD!
I had been training all summer for this day
This is a before picture, I wasn't so smily after the race

Parenthood

Being Mom is hard

I always thought I would do things differently when I grew up

I think we all did, right?

You never appreciate your parents until you are in the midst of parenthood yourself

I was walking into Costco this past week w/ Jo-Jo

A man collecting carts said, "you have a big helper w/ you"

I, with a little sarcasm said, "yes, a great help!"

He then said something to which I had no reply.

"The best help we've ever had is our children."

Hmmm, thanks for the humbling Costco man

I'll try to take a two year old's help with a little more gratitude, knowing she won't be two for long

First Day

Last Monday was the girls first day of school
they were SOOOOOO excited
I was not sure it was going to happen
a lot of the county including our house did not have power (Hurricane Irene)
power flicked on at 3 a.m. and school was open

(cute outfits from their Utah trip, compliments of Grandma)

Summers End

A few pics from our last days of summer...


flying kites

M at a nature center not far from home. It was our last field trip of the summer. Lots of fun looking through the museum, riding the tram around the grounds and seeing/being in nature

little one LOVES pockets

little stinkers waiting for the tram

Chopped

Samantha took the plunge
cutting her long beautiful hair and donating it
She told me, "mom, it's going to grow back" as I took the first cut
It does look cute and is easy to keep up
Now Madison is the Rapunzel in the family