Kids dig my mom

Mom came to my class yesterday and gave the kids a very simple "card making" lesson. It was so fun! She brought all kinds of fun stamps and paper, and did a great little organized lesson. She even brought little gifts for each of them. By the time she left, the kids really felt like were card- making experts, and that mom was their new best friend.

I'm pretty sure none of them have had such a fun teacher as my mom. They were so excited to have her there, and so sad after she left. I was really proud to be the daughter of such a neat, fun person.

Right after crossing the finish line...

....a really nice photographer took this pic of Andy n me. (Which explains why Andy's face looks a little grey and mine looks a little purple). It was literally seconds after we crossed the finish line. Whew!

FUN!

What a great weekend! Here are some highlights from our "week of thanks"!:

-cutting and packing venison meat with Heath and Grant

-pheasant hunting with my dad on Thanksgiving morning

-Thanksgiving omelets at Uncle Jim's....and gigantic cinnamon rolls

-WAY too competitive monopoloy and texas hold em

-seeing Gramma Stella, who looks fabulous

-holding my new nephew, Sawyer

-pie at Gramma Pearl's. She made 9 pies!

My mom prepared a delish Thanksgiving meal and, as usual, made it look effortless. We sat around our dining room table, just my parents, gramma, and Heath and Grant, and I was so thankful to have all of them. What a loving family we have been blessed with.

And finally-the grand finale of the really fun weekend-we ran the SEATTLE HALF MARATHON THIS MORNING! It was so fun! Andy and I both chalk this run up to our favorite run of all time. We started and ended at the space needle. The weather was perfect. A nice, cool drizzle. We ran through skyscrapers, through parks, on a major interstate, through a tunnel, along the bay, with about 13,000 other runners. We felt strong and fast. Both of us really enjoyed it ....almost as much as we enjoyed our huge plate of Thanksgiving leftovers when we got home.

A vick-ed good time

To celebrate Andy's big 2-8, we took Friday off of school, loaded on the Victoria Clipper, and tooted on up to Victoria! It was a 3 day weekend full of walks, runs, coffee, houseboats, IMAX, wine, and our sweet hotel in downtown. It was so neat to just escape for the weekend and kick around in Canada. We kinda want to go back next weekend.

Andy's favorite part was the "leaf covered sidewalks and our hotel high up in the heart of the city, and the cosmopolitan feel of the place". My favorite part was eating out a ton and smoochin on Andy. I was also reminded that Andy is an extremely fast walker, and my big boots are no match for his speed. Don't worry. I still wore them.

Happy Birthday, Andy!

how soon hath time

How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, Stolen on his wing my eight and twentieth year! My hasting days fly on with full career, But my late spring no bud or blossom shew’th. Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth, That I to manhood am arrived so near, And inward ripeness doth much less appear, That some more timely-happy spirits endu’th. Yet, be it less or more, or soon or slow, It shall be still in strictest measure even To that same lot, however mean or high, Toward which Time leads me, and the will of Heaven; All is: if I have grace to use it so, As ever in my great Task-Master’s eye.

John Milton, 1631

Octoberfest!

So, a few weekends ago, Andy and I spent the weekend in Leavenworth to run a half marathon with our friends Emily and Domonic from Pullman, and our new buddy, Katy, from Auburn (who happens to be Domonic's mom!). We also went to participate in all the fun festivities that make up Leavenworth's famous: OCTOBERFEST!

We had a great race! It was a really pretty race that winded through lots of trees and farms. Andy and I broke our tradition of running together, and split up to see just how fast our little legs could go if we ran the whole 13.1 miles as fast as we could. It turned out: Andy is a speedy stud, and I am....completely satisfied with my effort:) We decided that running together is way more fun. I love to talk, and Andy loves to listen (or at least he's really good at looking like it).

Afterwards, we all went to a really fun German restaurant, sang along with the cute old man that played the accordian for us while we ate, and, of course, drank some insanely delish beer.

Diggin the rain today

It really poured today. Andy and I went to church and listened to an incredible sermon. It was so fun and really inspiring. I love our church!

Afterwards, Andy and I walked down to the Tacoma Art Museum and checked out a "Day of the Dead" festival. It was really neat to check out all of the items and decorations that people would put together to honor their family members! I really liked the cool alters that pay tribute to the life and interests of their loved ones. I thought about mom and dad, and my brother and sisters, and what kind of things would be on their alters. (whoa-not in a morbid way. I just think it would be neat to honor the cool things about them). That would be SO fun to put together all the "stuff" that makes you you!

We walked back a few blocks to our car and were completely drenched (not a good look for me). Tons of leaves were stuck to the road and there was water everywhere. I love it like that. Great sermon, spooky art, and a lot of rain. We are really thankful for our lives and our loved ones today.