Dirty Girl Mud Run

Our teammates from left to right: Cami Hewett, Lynette Bulseco, Shauna Clayton, me, Julie Garret, Krystle Butler, Tiffany Theobald, Kendra Nelson and Amber Cowley.

A bunch of gals from church and I have been getting interested in unusual group races, i.e. the Color Run, the Firefly Run, and as pictured, Mud Runs.  The course was a regular 5k, but with 10 obstacles thrown in ranging from easy to fairly challenging (i.e. climbing walls, rope climbs, mud pits, hurdles, spider webs, etc).

Being a complete novice to mud runs of any sort, I admit that I might have been a bit idealistic going into it.  I was sure that jumping into and running around in the mud would be akin to jumping into a huge bowl of chocolate pudding.  What I didn't take into account were the BILLIONS of tiny, gritty bits that chafe your arms and legs while you're running.  Also, the mud doesn't taste as good when it gets in your mouth.

 But other than that, it was pure and absolute fun.  The girls I went with were fantastic.  I haven't felt that pumped up and generally young in years.  (And I will admit that when you're actually in the vat of mud, you do want to swim around and squish your fingers in it for a bit.)

Here we are all fresh and clean before the race started.  Our shirts said "Buns on the Run" in the front (our team name) and the back read "Does this mud make my butt look fast?"

What? you're wondering, "Is she wearing her underwear on the outside of her pants?"  Oh, yes.  Yes I am.

See? (What can I say, it was Amber's idea and I succumb easily to temptation.  Plus, I was luckily wearing pink that day.  Plus, I'm wasn't the only one with creative costuming that day).

Here we are waiting for our 9:45am wave to begin.  They were pumping us up with loud music and general trash talking.  I got so worked up in the holding pen---I couldn't stop jumping and dancing.

Here we are after crawling through the mud a few times.

Notice anything unsettling here?  I would definitely suggest that if you ever do a mud run and for some reason decide to wear your underwear on the outside of your pants, don't.  They were sagging by the end of the race.  In fact, if I had to do it again, I would have worn MUCH tighter clothing.  The mud drags every part of your clothing down.  I had to keep hitching my pants (and my drawers) up every five seconds.  I look like a drunk girl at a party who has no idea she's losing her underwear (which come to think of it, I didn't.).

We finished strong in the last leg of the race (right before the final mud pit).  I'll admit there may or may not have been a few attempts at throwing other team members facedown into the mud at that time).

Afterwards, we felt sassy...

We felt silly...

And we felt pretty strong.

Getting cleaned up and in the car afterwards was a bit of a harrowing experience (complete with makeshift showers with water jugs using towels for privacy).  But all in all, it was a pretty great experience.  It was too much money, but then again---sometimes I guess a little youth and joy and craziness is worth a few extra bucks.  I probably need to remember that more often. 

A Day at the Beach

Usually Teacher Prep days are on Fridays, but we recently had one in the middle of the week (the day after Stevie's birthday).  We took advantage of the opportunity to spend the morning at the beach.  

My boys are so brave in the water---uncomfortably so, in fact.  They love the waves so much, and I had to constantly remind them to come back closer to the shore.

 

There was a huge pier to the right of us, and the current kept gently encouraging the kids closer and closer to the 'No Swimming' sign.  They kept having to run through the waves back to our center meeting place.  

 

We're so lucky to live right by the water.  I really need to take the kids to the beach more often next summer--they love it so much and I really have no excuse no to.

After awhile, they moved away from the water to begin their famous beach day project---'Digging An Enormous Hole and Watching It Fill With Water."  It got kind of elaborate later on, with some sort of trough running from the waves to the hole.

Grace had a lovely time by snuggled by friends on the sand and just looking sassy in general.

I was having fun with friends myself.

Jake was also in heaven because two of his little friends were there to run around with.  Look at all these little towheads.

The little ones were working on a hole of their own to play in.

But eventually that dissolved into happily throwing mud on each other.

It looks like he's having a manically good time here, but he's actually yelling at me because I wouldn't stop taking his picture.

I braved his wrath--it was worth it just to capture his sandy little toes.

Steven's Mario Party

WOOOOOAAAAHHHH, was this a crazy cakes party.  Eight little boys descended on our house like a whirlwind, and I'm still recuperating.

The invitation (using Adobe Photoshop Elements):

Some decorations:

Chain-Chomp Hanging Lanterns

Homemade birthday banner.

The activities:

Easy Power-up Star craft -- wooden stars with yellow paint and sharpies.

Boos Beanbag Toss -- the kids got a gold coin (rollo) for every bag they made into the mouth.

Goomba Stomp!

Bought some plastic gold coins and put them inside the balloons before blowing them up.  The boys had to stomp the goombas in order to get the gold coins.

We also did a Yoshi Egg hunt, where I painted green polka-dots on left-over plastic Easter eggs, filled them with candy and hid them around the house.  Forgot to get any pictures, but the boys loved it. 

Food was pepperoni pizza rolls (at Stevie's request) and a brownie cake (because Steven has decided he loathes birthday cake.  Fine by me, kid!)

And yes, those are the exact same Happy Birthday candies I put on David's 'cake'.  Meh, it worked.

 Next, Stevie opened presents and got some fantastic goodies from all his friends.

With the time left over, we set the boys up on the Wii to play.  We had two set up (we'd borrowed my dad's), so everyone could play at one time.  We had one little boy have a conniption fit (I think I gave him one too many rollos), but other than that it worked out fine.

Glad I don't have to do this again until March!  But Stevie's definitely worth it.

XTREME CLOSE-UP!!!  (He's really into these).

Labor Day Fun

Once again, a holiday has crept up on us and Steven and I are left staring at each other saying, "Er, do you think we should do something tomorrow?"

Luckily, this year we weren't the only ones.  We were able to salvage our poorly laid Labor Day plans by going swimming with our buddies the Greenfields.  I realized that since I really hadn't posted any pictures of my kiddos in the pool this summer that now was as good a time as ever.

David revolting against picture-taking.

Stevie perfecting his dive.  We're working on it.

Elle getting some air.

Deep-end swim!

Stevie right before take-off.

David about to jump off the diving board.

Jakie showing off his awesome swimming gear.

...and chillin' in the kid pool with said swim gear.

Gracie hanging out with Daddy and Jed.

Afterwards we went back to the house to grill hot dogs and gab.  Jed and Kallie brought over a watermelon and of course, BLUEBELL!  We had a grand ole time, and we thanked our friends for turning what could have been a very lame, haphazard day into a super one instead.

Stevie is 8

Steven Jr. is 8!

Outrageously handsome.  Also, he's recently decided he hates cake (hence cookie cake).

How is it possible?  How can 8 years have truly passed by since THIS little baby 

So sweet!

became this hulking dude?

He's recently decided he loves both the Houston Texans and the UT Longhorns.

 The eldest of three hulking dudes?

Who, incidentally, love to be silly.

I am continually blown away by my little man.  He's grown so much this year, both physically, mentally and emotionally.  He asks the most astounding questions, most of which he figures out the answers to himself.  He is usually calm, a thinker, a solver of problems.  He's the smartest kid in his class.  

He's also a video game whiz.  You may think you're good at video games, but hey, guess what?  Stevie could smoke you in ten seconds.  

He's started playing piano this year, and he's woefully ahead of where the teacher would no doubt like him to be.  He aces his songs right away and then proceeds to teach them to his little brother David.  

He started scouts 2 weeks ago, and takes it very seriously.  I've encountered him reading his Wolf manual time and again, and he'll always explain to me little details he's learned from his reading.  He has his first pack meeting tonight, and he was worried that he wouldn't have his uniform (but Mom went ahead and took care of that while he was at school).

Attempting the scout salute!

Stevie likes to know what's on the schedule.  He likes to know the rules, and he wants everyone to follow them.  He doesn't care for disorder, and he's very serious about doing thing the right way.  He's a very conscientious kid.

He's also a fantastic brother.  I know it can get tiring to always be nice to a little brother who's constantly scrambling for his attention, but he generally does well and is kind (though he sometimes likes to tease a bit too much).  He LOVES his little sister Grace, and can always be counted on to hold her, take care of her and put a big grin on her face.

I adore this child.  He is so self-sufficient that sometimes I worry he doesn't need me.  But he always assuages my fears by smothering me in huge hugs and reassuringly saying, "Mom, I love you."  I can't believe what a wonderful little boy he's turning in to.

STEVEN'S BIRTHDAY INTERVIEW - AGE 8

1. Who is your best friend?  Bodin

2.  What is your favorite thing to do?  Play Wii and my 3DS

3. What is your favorite color?  Gold

4.  What is your favorite food?  Pizza

5.  What do you like to do with your family?  Chat

6.  What is your favorite toy?  Pokemon Cards

7. What do you want to be when you grow up?  Someone like Dad

8.  What makes you happy?  Playing outside

9. What makes you sad?  Rain

10. What is your favorite show to watch?  The Garfield Show

11.  What is your favorite book?  The Black Lagoon books

12.  What do you love to learn about?  Math and Science

13.  What was the best part of your birthday?  EVERYTHING!

14. Where do you like to go?  Chicago

15.  Who was your teacher last year? Mrs. Rushlow last year, Mrs. Smith this year

16.  What is your favorite treat?  Ice Cream

17.  What do you think about before you fall asleep?  What I did that day

18.  What was your favorite birthday present?  New Super Mario Bros 2 for my 3DS

19.  If you could meet someone famous who would it be?  I don't know, I guess George Washington?

20.  What is your nickname?  Stevie (Ste-Ste, Stevie-pie, Little Jingle Bell)

I love this kid.  Happy Birthday, Little Stevie.