Memorial Day Fun

                      

    This weekend, we had a barbecue with our friends at the Golbek's house. Mark's dad had discovered a volleyball net in the garage at their house, so Mark and Scott set it up. We all had a great time playing, the kids tried to play, but they more just avoided getting hit and then threw the ball over the net.  Notice the clouds over the hills? They made the barbecue very interesting. We played through the rain, until all of a sudden, we just got a down-pour. At that point, we decided it was time for dessert in the garage.

Soon enough, it was nice again, and the kids wanted to play outside. It actually got so nice, that the kids decided to turn on the sprinklers. Maggie discovered Regan and Cade's t-ball set. I think she has a new favorite game! She also had a great time chasing the "big kids" around. Just to see the look on her face as she runs around with them is worth sitting in the rain any day!

   

Welcome to McDonald's, May I Take Your Order?

Last week, as a fundraiser for our school, one of the local McDonald's held a McTeacher's night. It's a great, quick and easy way for our school to raise money (without selling magazines or cookie dough). I was lucky enough to be the only teacher they allow to use the cash register, thanks to my many years as a cashier in my youth :). I have a new-found respect for those that call McDonald's their place of employment. We had a restaurant full of hungry and excited children and all of the employees were very friendly and helpful. Thanks to McDonald's who helped us raise almost $500.00 in just 3 hours!

Bloomsday 2008

Well, who would have thought that I would have not only started, but actually finish a 12K (that's 7.46 miles to the layman )? On Sunday, May 4th of 2008, I joined a group of friends to partake in the nationally recognized race in Spokane, WA. We walked among 43,640 others on this rather unusually warm day in May. We had many different forms of entertainment along the way that ranged from an old man playing the accordian to a pretty decent group of young rock n' rollers to a couple of people dressed as gorillas. We also saw some very...ahem...different styles of running/walking attire. Some walked the entire thing in flip flops, some in high heeled boots. How? Who knows...! There were clowns, teenagers in 70's get-up, and apparently there was a man earlier in the race that ran in a french maid's uniform. It takes all kinds.... There were some very inspiring people too...like the teenagers that pushed, yes, PUSHED their friend in a wheelchair the entire way, or the woman that appeared to have prepared herself to run this race but somehow broke a leg sometime before and did the entire thing (even Doomsday hill) on crutches.

I have to say that I was quite proud of myself (and of course the other ladies, too!). Some people may be discouraged to hear that they came in 31,536th place. But knowing that at least 12,000 people finished after me helps take the ouch out of that placement. I also had the best pace I've ever had per mile since high school. I wasn't sure I was even going to finish the race before they closed the route, but I did! It took me 2 hours and 19 minutes to complete Bloomsday. Next year, I am shooting for 2 hours or under. I'll let you know how that goes! :)

Happy ??th Birthday, Grandma!

On April 19th, we celebrated Grandma Lonni's birthday. She decided that for her birthday, she wanted Maggie to help decorate her birthday cake. Mind you, Maggie has never done this before, so of course, Mommy was a little apprehensive of giving Maggie a knife loaded with frosting. Note the look of surprise on grandma's face when Maggie starts to wave the loaded knife around.

Here, Grandma is showing Maggie how to do the sprinkles.

Here, Maggie is putting the candles on the cake and Grandma is giving Mommy a look of love after Mommy asked Maggie if she knew how to count "that high."

New Dad's Point of View....

Hey, I just thought that I would mention that I (Mark) am going to try and voice my point of view... I started a blog years ago, and never did anything with it. Now I will try and share some tidbits, or points of view of our home blog. (warning, may contain gratuitus nerdiness at times...)

the link is at the side of our page. enjoy

-Mark