Take...

Okay, I do know that I took 162 pictures this morning.  That is a lot of takes.  I was trying to get some good shots of my kids for fall. The pictures didn't turn out great and I will probably try and take some more soon.  Here is a sampling of what I got today.  Group shots are really hard.  I definitely prefer the single shots. 

Sam's Potions Party

Yesterday, Sam celebrated his 9th birthday with lots of family and friends at our house.  19 kids and 10 adults to be exact :)  He wanted a potions party with science experiments so I took the idea and ran with it.  We added a few Harry Potter details like a sorting hat and a Golden Snitch cake.  

 The kids started out  at the beverage station where they could make their own potion to drink.  We had lime soda, root beer, pop rocks, gummy worms and black ice cubes.

 At the kitchen counter, Scott led the kids through an experiment with milk and vinegar.  When the vinegar is added to the boiling milk it makes a piece of natural plastic. The kids got to decide what color they wanted and then took their hardened plastic home.

At this table, Grandma Peggy led the kids in an experiment making water into a solid with polymers.  Polymers are just like the substance in a baby diaper. 

 Kent helped these kiddos combine different chemicals to make blue wiggly worms in a test tube. 

 We used a homemade sorting hat to form four groups of kids.  The four groups moved between the experiments together.  We had the Ravenclappers, Grifyndoodles, Slytheronis and Hufflemuffins. 

 The kids had tons of fun blowing the touchable bubbles.  They seemed to really like to stick to Aunt Stacie's hair :)

Uncle Mick led this experiment with vinegar and baking soda.  The kids had fun with the bubbles and making a balloon inflate.

After a quick game of soccer, we handed out ponchos to all the kids and got started on our next experiment.

 We added Mentos to Diet Coke and it exploded high into the air.  Thank goodness for the ponchos.  Some of the kids got a bit wet.

 We tried this experiment a few more times but we weren't as successful as the first time around.

Time to cut into the Golden Snitch cake. Before assembling the cake, I filled the inside with jelly beans.  Some of the kids thought it was cool.  Others not so much:)

Thank you to all the adults who came and helped out.  They were mostly unaware that they would be leading experiments, taking pictures, handing out cake and ice-cream and getting bubbles stuck in their hair.

Happy Birthday to Sam!  We love you so much!

Fall

Paige was invited to a Halloween Party last night.  She is going as a fairy again this year.  She really wanted to purple hair.  How was I to say no.?!?!!?  Every good fairy must have purple hair.  She definitely is the cutest one around.  Here she is ready for the big event.  Our weather is beginning to change and we are really moving quickly into fall.  As much as I love this time of the year, I know what is coming. Soon. {{{{Snow}}}}. 

Marathon Pictures

Thank you so much to Victoria for taking pictures during and after the race. Scott and I both must admit (and you know this is so hard for Scott) that your Droid takes way better pictures than our IPhone. There I said it:)

 Food, water, anything...Now!!!

The family minus two. 

The kids waiting so patiently.....

Finished!!!! Yah!!! 

Yesterday we got an email from the race letting us know that we could view our official race photos.  There were a few decent ones of us together. Mine were horrible and I looked like I was dying.  Scott's only picture alone was of him texting.  I think that I might order that one.  What a great memory. 

Enjoy the day and the weekend! 

Jennifer

Denver Rock-n-Roll Marathon

Sunday morning, bright and early, Scott and I headed into the heart of Denver, along with thousands of other crazies, to run the Denver Marathon.  I have run big races before (i.e. Bolder Boulder) but this was amazing.  So many people, it felt a bit like a cattle drive. Moo.  We were the 11th group to start, 18 minutes after the first gun.  I was nervous to get started because I knew once our group started running, we were going to be out there for quite some time.  The first few miles were run through the streets of downtown Denver.  The spectators came out in full force. Of course, there were bands almost every mile,  lots of local cheerleaders, cow bells and even a handful of those irritating horns that were banned from the World Cup.  The streets were lined with excited fans.  The next few miles we wound through the southern neighborhoods of Denver.  Lots of big, old house to drool over and distract me from the need to use the rest room.  The aid stations were awesome but the lines for porta-potties were even more amazing.  I was feeling great but anxious as we approached the 12 mile marker.  This is where the half and full marathon runners divide and go their separate ways.  Gulp.  Scott was really great at encouraging me.  He starts telling me that this is where they separate the men from the boys and women from the girls.  I am not buying it.  I WANT TO BE A GIRL!!!!  THAT WAY!!!! I WANT TO GO WITH THE GIRLS!!!  I have run many half-marathons and I know it takes a lot of...well, endurace or something.  Well, I stayed on my path and headed out with the other crazy heads toward Washington Park.  Miles 15-20 were mostly in the park.  There were at least 4 bands in the park.  Just after the songs of one band faded away, you could start to hear the next one.  Very fun.  Again, there were tons of spectators.  This race was a real people watching experience.  We saw a running Elvis and a man dressed as a bumble bee.  There were also tons of matching outfits.  I am not talking about Team in Training shirts or advertising shirts.  I am talking about grown women and men dressed to match their running partner or partners.  People, this is not Cedar Point.  If you have ever been, you know exactly what I am talking about.  The matching orange and black compression socks are a bit much.  So, my legs were starting to get sore at this point and my feet were screaming at me but I kept going.  The 23rd mile was the hardest for me.  It was getting hot, I was tired and we went out and back on a bridge over an industrial area. Yuck! We saw the kids right before mile 25 and that gave me a boost.  The finish was another amazing experience.  Thousands of people lined the last 1/4 mile, giving high-fives and cheering.  I came across the finish in 4 hours and 40 minutes.  Man, was I happy to see the end.  Our friends, who are really like family, the Youngs, came up for the finish with their kids and two of ours.  They were all a sight for sore eyes.  Thank you so much to them for spending their day chasing us around Denver and meeting up at the finish. It really made the race even more fun!!!  And thanks to my awesome husband for running with me and encouraging me all along the way.  I only threatened to take him down twice and I only socked him in the arm once. He really is a trooper :) He facebooked updates and texted our location throughout the race.  He may have been the only texting marathoner and drew a ton of weird looks and comments from spectators.  He rocks!  I first started running after Paige was born so that Scott and I would have something to do together.  With four kids, it is hard for us to find the time to run together and more times than not we run alone or with friends.  So, now 5 years later we are running a marathon together!  Thanks to Scott's parents for hanging out with the kids for two days while we had some alone time.  We couldn't have done it without you!  And...thanks to my running partner and great friend, Kristin, for running with me, even when she wasn't training for her own race.  She took valuable time out of her days to run lots of miles and mountains with me. 
Okay, now I am beginning to sound like a recipient of an Oscar. 
Pictures to follow.  Scott was very good about snapping pics from his IPhone but they are still trapped there.  Hopefully we can figure out how to get them to my blog.  Another challenge for another day.  And now, I must go back to my full time job, who happens to be pulling on my pant leg right now.  It seems that even when I am not training for a run, I am always on the run. 

Have a great day! 
Jennifer

Workin' for the Weekend

We have had a great week.  Tuesday, I went with Paige's class to the pumpkin farm.  The weather was really crummy but we had a fun time anyway.  It was probably the first rainy, cold day this fall.  Our fall has been tremendous with warm and sunny days.  Scott's parents arrived on Wednesday night and will be staying with us for two weeks.  Thursday, Sam, Alice and Paige had their cross country awards ceremony and then in the evening Alice performed in the 2nd grade program at school.  The program this year was titled Africaan Musiek.  They sang songs from all around Africa and played some really cool drums.  Today, the kids are off of school for a Teacher Work Day.  Not sure what is in store for us....

2 days and counting until the big day.  Marathon day.  I am hoping to run a couple miles today just to stay stretched out.  Looking forward to a fun weekend with Scott and maybe a little pain :)  I hope you all have a great weekend!! 

Happy Friday.
Jennifer

Let the countdown begin

6 days to go until the marathon.  Today was our (me, Mason and the jogger) last long run before the big day.  We did 8 miles this morning and I felt pretty good.  Two more short runs this week sans Mason and jogger and I will be set, I hope.  I have to admit that this taper period is very bad for my psyche.  I begin to doubt whether or not I will be able to run 26.2 miles.  Scott assures me that this is just marathon jitters and that I will do fine.   Now all I need to think about is my race clothing and what to eat this week.  I had my last caffeinated beverage on Sunday and I was encouraged to lay off the donuts until after Sunday.  I have no idea what he is talking about.  I think the guy that gave me that advice was the same one who ate Little Debbie's during a century run.  So, here's Mason on our last big run together before the big 26.2.  It has been fun, Mason.  I love you but I am not going to run with you in the jogger for a longggggg time. You two are getting pretty heavy especially on previously mentioned "hills". 

Sock Hop

She's So Excited....

.....and she just can't hide it! 

 Remember these sweet little teeth.  Paige was such an awesome baby, we hardly knew she was getting teeth. Of course, the bottom two were the first to come and the first to go.

Paige lost her first tooth tonight.  It was the usual drill. We realized the tooth (and the one next to it) was loose about 6 months ago and she has been carefully wiggling it since then :)  Momma took matters into her own hands tonight.  Out came the tooth and Paige is soooo excited.  She is now vigorously wiggling the neighbor tooth in hopes it might fall out sooner than later.  Bring me the money!!!!  On the way to bed, she did mention that she hoped she didn't have the same tooth fairy as Sam and Alice because that tooth fairy forgets to come by, a lot. She needs a refresher course, or something.  Maybe she is over worked and tired.....Hmmmm.  Could be.  Anyhoo, the tooth is out, placed lovingly in the tooth pillow. 

I have no idea what you are talking about when you say she is most definitely my child.  We look nothing alike. Wink, wink... She certainly did not get that silliness from me.  No way.  Wink, wink....

Much love to you all!

Jennifer

Running Fam

Alternately titled...

First Race or...
Run Baby Run or....
Move That Booty!

Today Scott and the kids ran the first race of the Pike's Peak Road Runners Fall Series.  Scott ran the adult race and did awesome finishing 40th overall for the men.  The kids (yes, all of them) ran the kid's race.  Mason was so excited he could hardly contain himself.  The 0-3 year olds ran 25 yards.  He fell right at the start but got up and was off!  Amazing to think he started walking a year ago.  Now he is running races.  Sam and Alice ran the 6-8 year old race and Paige ran the 4-5 year old race.  They all did great.  The weather was awesome, again, and we enjoyed a picnic lunch at the park between races.  Such a great day to be together.  Today I took the pictures and had so much fun doing just that.