Blossom Day Good Race

The annual Blossom Day race was last Saturday. We almost didn't run it, see I had big plans for this race, but didn't quite put in the time for such plans to succeed. I'm ashamed to say I was of the thinking, "if you can't succeed, why try?" Just in time I was reminded that a race is much more than the finish time so we signed up.

Pre-race game face.

 

I love the confidance of these two, they are never afraid to claim their spot on the starting line and attack the race full on. It took me more than a mile to catch them.

Here's their finish. Austin said he was just getting really tired when he saw the finish then he found his kick. He came in around 24:30ish...about two minutes faster than his last race.

Here's Eve's finish....what a difference it makes to know your almost there. She's not as speedy as Austin, but I love her determination and desire to have fun anyway.

Bingham and Soni looking a little nervous at the start of the kids race. Soni had been saying all week how she didn't want to run. I convinced her to just wear her running shoes just in case. Within ten minutes of arriving she was asking if she could run. Running is HIGHLY contagious!

Where's Waldo Bingham? I have to look for him everytime, and everytime I find him I can't help but grin.

Soni was really moving along unless she saw us with the camera, then she'd stop and wave.  Phil had to use covert opperations to take pictures without being seen. 

Look at that focus!

Bingham's big finish...the kid was dead last, but you couldn't tell by the smile on his face!

Post race cool down.

They all ran races they can be proud of, and I was excited to take a minute off my time from last year, but even better than that it was a good race...a good reminder of the good times between the gun and tape.

Patient Sonya

So Soni turned 7...um a few weeks ago...and although we celebrated it really felt lost in the craziness that is spring time. Yesterday she brought home a Mother's Day gift for me from school. It was a huge packet full of some of her best school work done over the year, what a gift.

A little late, but here's a little Soni celebration!

Soni's teacher took this one around to show other teachers, she was so impressed by it....those tricky little Irishmen :-)

A few years ago I bought Soni a doll house, which she loved....for a while. More often than not she will create her own doll house out of boxes or other random objects and use it until it wears out, then make a new one. The details of her projects are amazing. Time is no factor, she will work on something until it is what she wants it to be. (This has been something her teacher has been very supportive in, thank goodness.)

Recently she was invited over for a friend's birthday, last minute. We didn't have time to get a gift so Soni went to work and made a book with step by step instructions, with pictures, on how to make a paper airplane. Then she made an airplane and attached it with string to the book.  What a sweet friend she is.

Sonya is our official map checker on all our hikes. I always worry she might wander off the steep side of the trail while trying to figure out where we are.

Did I mention how patient she is? Being child #3, she is often provided with the opportunity to wait her turn, which she does....even if this took a month....

Happy Birthday sweet Sunshine!

Not so fresh

I  love the work of spring and it's almost instant gratification. Everything is so willing to grow after a season of rest. It makes me feel like an expert gardener and when Bingham asks if we're farmers I smile and say yes.

The downside is that everything happens so fast that before you can even get your camera out blossoms are fading and the heat and hard work of summer set in.

With that in mind...here's another attempt at a  little catch up.

A few months ago we found some new hiking trails. Really just strolling trails, but scenic and perfect for those days when strolling and holding hands is what is needed. Separated from the pleasant peaceful trails were some other trails reserved for bikes. Marked with signs like this....

and this....

So of course we made plans to return on a day when we were looking for a little more than a stroll.

I love my sweet quiet Eve, but I also love to see her put her reservations aside and go for it!

Bingham and Sonya stayed busy on the speed bumps at the bottom. Not bad for a kid just off training wheels.

Sonya did great on these little hills. She took her time, had just enough speed and still managed to make it all look like an easy day at the park.

Austin did achieve a little "airborne at high speeds."

Eve achieved some carefully approached high speeds.

Her caution paid off...

although she wasn't airborne as much, she didn't eat as much dirt as Austin did either....especially after this jump....the look on his face says he's aalready tasting a little.

He redeemed himself by doing the teeter totter thing. 

They did this teeter totter thing too...I think it felt good to keep their feet on the ground for a bit.

It was a good day, and we will be back...maybe I can put my camera down for a minute, step out of mommy mode and try out my rusty wheels.