Kona

We are having a great time getting ready for the race on Saturday. This morning we rented a kayak and enjoyed the beauty of the island. The athletes continue to train and we can't wait for it. There is a tiny spot where 1800 racers will begin the swim at the sound of the cannon. They say it will get brutally physical as they scrap for a space in the water. It will be highly entertaining. There are about a hundred professional racers that will begin 15 minutes ahead of the rest...lucky them. These pics are taken with Marshall's cell phone. The digital camera will have to wait till we get home. My wonderful sister in law and mother in law are taking great care of my kids. I talked to Tyler today and after school he went to his piano lesson then Red Robin for dinner and on to Krispy Kreme to see how the donuts are made. Of course he ate one or two while he was there. After that Alexis (MIL) took Ty and Hannah to the bookstore where one of his favorite authors, Brandon Mull, was doing a book signing. Ty thinks he is in heaven, but misses us.

I got a little hula lesson on the street from this cute Hawaiian lady.

Here we are shopping at some fancy shops by where our friends are staying.

Iron Man

2.4 mile swim in the Pacific Ocean

112 bike ride

26.2 run

Are you serious? Yes they are!

I am currently in Kona, Hawaii for the Iron Man World Championships. It is amazing to see these super athletes train here. This morning I went out walking as Marshall is in class all morning at the iron man sports medicine conference. I sat at the start point of the competition as the swimmers continued to train. They jumped in the water and I sat amazed at their perfect form. On Saturday we will volunteer at one of the medical tents from 4-10 p.m. The competitors will be crossing the finish line during that time. I am Marshall's "runner". I guess that means I do what he tells me, this just makes it official and I get a t-shirt to wear. We are also planning on going out into the madness that morning to see the beginning of the race.

These athletes are so intense it is scary, or maybe I am just jealous.

For now I am enjoying the sun and my husband.

www.ironman.com - check it out

My Soccer Stud

I can't say how happy I am that Tyler loves soccer. Going to his games is one of my favorite things about the fall. This year he has a great team and coach. Some of his best buddies are on the team and that makes it so much better. Today he scored two goals and had two assists. They won the game 6-2. More than the goals, I am just proud that he is so aggressive and level headed on the field.
In action...

Tyler after the game ready to cheer with the team.


Tyler enjoying the park after the game.

The girls all love to play at the park during his games. They don't watch the game, they bring snacks and play. Here is Sara on the monkey bars.

Summer's gone, fall's here.

I haven't been the last two years to our local apple orchard with my girls, so this was the year. I took Samantha along to Emily's field trip. Last week was an "off" week for me and once I tripped with Sam in my arms I should have just gone home then. Unfortunately I stayed and it was not fun. I chased Sam around and tried to keep her from fighting with the other kids. They all wanted to push the same stroller. It wasn't horrible, but I now have massive bruises on my knees from the fall. I was holding Samantha so I couldn't use my arms to catch myself, it was all knees. What a klutz. The next day my tooth broke and I had to go in for a crown. Having five children didn't prepare me for the pain that came from the prep for this crown. The dentist was not as great with the numbing as I would have liked. She got into one of my jaw muscles and a week later I still can't open my mouth very well. Why would anyone want to be a dentist???? I have to go in next week for the crown and I am already having nightmares. Pray for me.
We did get some cute pictures of the orchard. The pumpkin patch field trip is right around the corner. That is my favorite.

The tour guide, Nolly, the apple lady.

Happy Birthday Sister!

Heather has truley sacrified so much for this beautiful country that we live in. I thought it appropriate that I share this great picture with my reading audience.

Heather has been with me through the fun times (filling our pockets with brown sugar and hiding in the woods to stuff our faces), and the bad times (getting caught burning the sap on the trees in the backyard. That was not a fun punishment was it!? Stephen promised not to tell. We'll get him back good someday. ;) Actually I think we tortured him enough. I can think of a million good and bad things that we have shared and I love thinking back on them.

I am thankful that we are still able to help each other grow up and become better people. I hope you enjoy your birthday even if your husband is out protecting the candidates instead of cooking and cleaning for you. Have fun with your second workout of the day tonight!

Gig Harbor

Gig Harbor is one of my favorite places. It is my #2 place to live in WA right behind University Place. I love the views of the water and the country feel. A couple of weeks ago we went to a bbq at Marshall's co-workers house and it was fabulous. They live on a farm/ranch. They have sheep, dogs, cats, and a big garden that I am so jealous of.

We came straight from church, so we were starving and dressed up a bit too much. When we got there they had baskets all ready for the girls to go and pick veggies out of the garden. I ate several of the yummy tomatoes right off the vine. So good! She also had a tea set for the girls to play in the playhouse. It was a dream for my kids.
Tyler not afraid to get dirty. Poor guy had to be out in nature in a tie!

Samantha climbing the ladder to the loft.

Tyler, Emily and Hannah on the loft. There was a bucket set up on a pully so they can water the flowers that are out the window up there. Tyler stood and played with that for over 30 minutes! He loved it.

Walking toward the garden.

Samantha with her delicious tomatoes.

Trying to get in the fence and play with the sheep. Not a good idea.

This is the garden house that they just built. The loft is inside. There is a little sitting/sun room too. Perfect place to read or hide for some peace.

As we sat and ate dinner out on the lawn we saw deer come by and eat the apples on the ground that had fallen off the tree. To be one with nature, you know I love it. My poor daughter, Sara, had an allergy attack though. Apparently the playhouse is also the cat house. Sara's eyes were all puffed up by the end of the 2nd hour so we had to hurry her home to a good washing and then to sleep it off. We can't wait to go back.

We did the Puyallup.

Arriving at the fair with our crew. All ready for some fun, food and more food.

One of the lame rides they thought they needed to go on. I would have saved my tickets for some more thrilling rides, but it was up to them.

Samantha upset because she wanted to be on that lame ride that cost too much.

The juggling/comedy husband and wife team. We see them every year and the kids find it entertaining. The clown did repremand Alexis and I for talking during his show. He said that it was driving him crazy and he didn't need any help in that dept. Nice.

Nice foot massagers for a quarter. The kids had just arrived at the fair. It gave them an extra hot to their step, I guess.

These monkeys and baboons were amazing. I wish I could train kids the way he can train this baboon.

Very cute.

Emily and her friend Sydney. My friend, Christie, met us with her 5 kids. It was so good to see her and her sweet family!

Nothing is better than these two girls in the heat eating snow cones. Banana and rootbeer were their choices. They switched flavors halfway through. That is what sisters are for.

You can't go to the fair without making a massive button with your picture on it. Here is a picture of the kids while sitting on a monster lazy chair ready for their close-up.

As we were leaving the fair to go home Tyler found several more tickets in his pockets. We decided to leave the rest of our group and ride one last ride. We jogged through the park to find the "kamakazie" ride, rode that until I was ill, then jogged back to the car. I had a side ache since I had just finished the strawberry shortcake that was so delicious. I went to the fair, just for that shortcake made with their famous scones. Okay, and to carry on the tradition. Until next year...

One more

Here is my third daughter, fourth child, heading off to pre-school today. She was just tortured this last week seeing her three older siblings head off to school without her. Emily wanted to be with them on the bus or bike so badly. Today was the day and you can see by her huge smile how she is feeling about it. I will be picking her up, and the other kids, in a couple hours to go to the Puyallup Fair. That is my favorite thing to do with the kids in September. More pics to come of the fun rides and yummy treats. I will eat a scone for ya!

End of Summer

We enjoyed the summer, but all good things must come to an end. The girls woke up bright and early this morning. No need for the alarm I had set! Hannah and Sara were so excited to get to school and see their friends and new teachers. Emily did not want to feel left out in the excitement so last night she made her lunch along side her siblings and a few weeks ago got her back pack all filled with school supplies. She starts preschool next week.

Check out Hannah's shirt and pants, she could hardly wait to wear this new outfit. Sara was just as excited to wear and outfit that Hannah had in kindergarten. I saved a box of clothes that fit Sara great now. She loves to have anything of Hannah's. She reminds me of myself with my sister's clothes.



Enjoy your first day! Emily, Samantha and I are ready to have some fun of our own!

Point Defiance

My parents are here visiting and they can't go more than a day without enjoying some garden time. As a child they would take us to the Pt. Defiance rose garden often.


We couldn't round up Emily for this picture. She has a VERY difficult time sitting still for longer than 2 seconds.

My girls, minus Samantha. She was home napping so she would be happy tonight.

Enjoying the beautiful flowers. We all chose our favorites.

I took Tyler's ball away since he was throwing it around and almost hitting people in the garden. He wasn't too happy in this picture, but he cheered up quickly. He got the ball back too.

Scattegories

SCATTEGORIES
RULES:Erase my answers, enter yours, and post it on YOUR blog.
Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following.
They have to be real places, names, things, nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person before you had the same 1st initial.
You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question. Kinda fun to see what people come up with.
WHAT IS YOUR NAME? Erika
4 LETTER WORD: easy
TV SHOW: Entertainment Tonight
BOY NAME: Erik
GIRL NAME: Erin
OCCUPATION: Elementary school teacher
A COLOR: ???
SOMETHING YOU WEAR: earings
BEVERAGE: eggnogg
FOOD: elephant ears
SOMETHING FOUND IN A BATHROOM: ear plugs?
A PLACE: Erie, PA
REASON FOR BEING LATE: Emmitt Smith called
SOMETHING YOU SHOUT: EEK!

Sad news

I heard the weather man say that this weekend was the last of summer. The last of summer? It is only the middle of August. I deserve more. I NEED more! The sun must come back. I am not ready for fall weather. Maybe if I lived in AZ or TX or basically anywhere but the Northwest I would be ready for some cooler weather. I think I could count the hot days this summer on two hands or less. Today I spent the day at Tyler's soccer tournament (he won both games and scored) and it was 90 degrees. Now I have been told that next Wednesday's high will be 58 and wet! This global climate change is getting me all fired up and ready to stop using aerosol hairspray and start biking my five kids around the town. I just want global warming, not climate change.

After the 4 hours at the tournament we were ready for some water. I took the kids to Chambers Creek and they had a blast floating down the water. It was going pretty slow, but they managed to cool off and have a couple races. Here are some photos of my kiddos.

La Wis Wis

I had to take this picture of Sam sleeping in the corner with her bum up in the air. She had a hard time falling asleep, but then slept in a while.

We just spent the weekend up at La Wis Wis campsite near Mt. Rainier. It was a little chilly for swimming, but that didn't stop the kids (and dads) from getting in the water.

This is a spot called the Blue Hole. The water is gorgeous, but VERY cold. It is literally melted snow and their bodies went into shock as they jumped in. These are my two kids that braved the cold waters. Tyler jumped off this spot about 10 times over the two days we were there. Emily jumped off this shorter spot several times too. It doesn't look tough, but if you felt the water, you would be cheering for them as we did.

One of Tyler's cowabunga jumps.

Emily is such a tough girl!

We were camping with three other families. Here are a few of the kiddos. We had 15 all together! They had a blast. This is the river that runs through camp.

Emily and buddy taking a hike through the camp. She is so stylin' even surrounded by dirt.

Another fun activity at the site were these natural water slides. Tyler brought a friend along so he wouldn't be the oldest with no other boys even near his age. They both went down a few slides even through the shivering cold.

One of the slides. Emily slid down a few times too!

Our hike back down the hillside was easier for them, harder for me. Emily had been wearing these cowboy boots and her feet were blistered so I carried her back to camp. Marshall carried Sam down the hill. Am I tough or what!? We will have to go again before school starts up again. I am even considering taking the kids without Marshall since his schedule will be crazy.