Half Marathon and Sleepover a Success!

Friday after work we packed up the kids and headed over to Jeremy and Jenn's for the big sleepover!  Vivian and Henry packed their halloween Pj's and we got some for Avery so she could share in the halloween spirit.  We grilled out while the kids played.  We helped get the kids in the Pj's and left about 8p.m.  This was Vivian's 2nd sleepover and Henry's 1st sleepover - with a non relative.  All three kids plus Jenn slept in Avery's bed.  They all finally feel asleep about 11 p.m. Jenn eventually moved into her room with Avery so they had more room.  Viv and Henry were up bright and early at 7a.m. Jenn said Avery had lots of fun and we will have to do it again!

A few miles away Dan and I came home to a VERY quiet house on Friday night.  I'm not sure what time I feel asleep since I was worrying about Henry.  We woke up at 5 a.m. and we were out the door at 5:30 a.m.  The KC Marathon was downtown and it was a chilly 44 degrees Saturday morning.  We both finished our 13.1 miles and I can now cross that one of my bucket list.  This was Dan's 2nd half marathon so guess he gets to cross it off twice! I finished in 2 hours 25 mins and 19 sec.  Dan was close behind with 2 hours 27 mins 36 sec. Saturday was a pretty long day since we were all pretty tired and very sore.  Naptime at our house included everyone! 

Sunday we woke up and headed to the Pumpkin Patch.  Dan and I weren't sure we were going to go but once we got up and moving our bodies felt better so off we went.  We tried a new Pumpkin Patch this year outside of Lawrence about 20 mins away.  It's family owned, small, but it was fun and very affordable.  Most places we pay $10/person just to get in and this place didn't charge to get in at all.  So we saved $30 off the bat (henry gets in free).  We rode the tracker out to the field so the kids could pick out pumpkins.  We haven't done that the last couple of years cause the kids were small and it was chaotic enough just to be at the pumpkin patch.  The kids went through the Maze of hay bails - Vivian was quick to lead the way :-)  We came over with several pumpkins of all sizes - good times for all!

Henry is just become our little talker!  The other day he was walking through the garage, around toys, and he said "Whoa Mom that was tricky."  We were getting ready to leave the other day and he wanted to get a toy or something to bring in the car and he said "Mom don't go quite yet."  He also repeats everything Vivian says and everything Vivian TELLS him to say. 

Tuesday night we are heading to Monkey Business. Make a Wish Foundation is throwing a party there for Avery. Should be a good time!  Always nice to get everyone together, see all the kiddos and provide some support for Jeremy and Jenn.  Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Camping...partially successful

So we headed to Clinton Lake outside of Lawrence, KS on Friday afternoon.  Henry didn't nap on Friday so it was a crap shoot on how the evening would go.  We got to the campsite about 5pm.  It's much different than camping in Colorado!  In Colorado there is no one around you for miles.  Well camping at a campsite in Kansas means there are people all around you.  Lot's of RV's and motor homes.  We got our tent up and Dan and I both agreed we thought the tent was bigger. Keep in mind last time we used the tent it was before kids.  The kids thought it was pretty neat and liked hanging out in it.  At about 7 p.m. Henry said he was tired and went to lay down in the tent.  He didn't fall asleep but hung out in the tent for awhile.  The kids overall did great and thought sleeping in the tent was pretty cool.  The weather was great - a little windy.  Dan has a few areas of opportunity when it comes to camping with the kids - which he recognized.  I don't think Sophie slept at all in the tent.  She just sat inside starring out the door of the tent.  Dan and I didn't sleep well either.  I had the kids on the air mattress with me and Dan was in a sleeping bag on the floor of the tent.  I don't think we will be heading camping again anytime soon, but it was fun to do for a night.

Dan took Vivian to dance tonight and Henry went along.  After dance class the teacher gives the students a sucker.  Well every week Henry asks for a sucker.  So after class the teacher made a point of telling Dan that he as such great manners.  He always says Please after he asks for a sucker and Thank You.  He asked where the trashcan was and threw the wrapper away and then said Thank You again.  At least they are polite to other people.  We work very hard on Please and Thank You at our house and it only gets used about 50% of the time.

Henry has found a new saying lately.  When he asks me to push him on the swing and I do he says "You a nice mommy"  or when he asks me to pick him up and I do he says "You a nice mommy"  So sweet and so nice to hear instead of the attitude I get from Vivian. :-)

This Friday the kiddos are spending the night at Jeremy and Jenn's for a sleepover with Avery.  Dan and I are running our half marathon on Saturday morning.  Could be interesting for both of us.  I know Vivian will do fine at the sleepover but I'm sure I won't sleep all night worrying about how Henry is doing. 

Sunday we are heading to the Pumpkin Patch.  So busy weekend with lots going on!!

Pony Rides and Halloween Party

The other morning the kids were upstairs in Vivian's room playing while I was making breakfast. When I called them down to eat they come down with very decorative hair bows in their hair - picture below.

Saturday morning we got up and headed to Weston, MO for the 32nd Annual Apple Festival.  The parade started at 10 a.m.  It's a small parade and the main street, where the parade is at, is only about 5 blocks long.  We went to it last year but it was very cold so we didn't stay long.  Plus Henry wasn't 2 yet and it was hard to keep him still for too long.  It was packed again this year and it's not easy to push a stroller around so we just let the kids walk.  This year was much easier! Vivian also got her giant pickle just like last year, which she ate at 10 a.m before the parade!  Last year I felt like we missed out on alot of the key things they offer at the Apple Festival so I looked online and found out they have pony rides.  So after the parade we made it our mission to find the pony rides.  We discovered a whole section in a park area that is catered to kids.  Both kids had their first pony ride! They were both smiles the whole time!!  After that we waited in line for food and by then it was almost 1 p.m.  We headed home for naps. 

Our neighbors had their annual Halloween party on Saturday night.  About 4 p.m. we headed over to their house.  There were about 14 kids and they played and played, decorated pumpkins and all got along very well.  The oldest was 12 and the youngest was Henry and another boy who was 2.  We got home about 9 p.m. and got the kids to bed around 9:30 p.m.  Make sure you check out the picture of Vivian doing her pull up on the play set in the neighbors backyard. She is so dang strong...might have a future gymnast on our hands. Crazy!!

Vivian has gone 5 days in a row without having an accident in her bed!!  She wakes me up every night to go to the bathroom, but heck, she's not going in the bed and if we get have one kid fully out of diapers/pull ups we'll take it!!  Henry is showing some interest in the potty and really likes the bedtime pull ups as opposed to the nighttime diapers. 

Sunday morning we got up and I got my long run in....8.3 miles.  Dan did his long run later in the day....7 miles.  Our half marathon is in 2 more weeks!! Still not sure what we were thinking on that one!  Vivian went to the grocery store with me and Henry went to Cabela's with Dan.  The kids played outside most of the day and again we had beautiful weather. 

This week we have a Carnival at the LUMC - where the kids go to school.  It's Thursday night - they have pizza, bake sale and games for the kids to play and win prizes.  Henry will be even more excited about it this year since it's actually his school too!  We are hoping to take the kids camping next weekend on Friday - our first camping trip.  We are only going about 30 mins outside of KC so in case we need to pack up camp and come home we will be able to do that.  Should be interesting!