Race for the Cure 2009

Last year the boys and I met mom and the rest of the family in Spokane to walk in the Komen Race for the Cure in support of my cousin Anmrie, who was battling breast cancer. Sadly, we lost Anmrie in February. For some reason, it felt even more important for us to participate in this year's walk. Maybe it was because it has become all the more important to get the word out and do everything we can to help fight this disease. Maybe it was because I felt it was so important to show support to Mickey and the girls, remind them that we won't forget and that we want to do what we can to help. Its probably a little of both.

The weekend was exhausting but very fun. Theresa and Carter rode up with the boys and I and all of us plus mom crammed into one hotel room for the night. We didn't think it would be any big deal until we checked into the Ramada to find out that two beds meant two FULL size beds. Haha.....we were cozy (and its a good think we all like each other!) We spent Saturday shopping, chasing and laughing at the boys and visiting with some family. We wore poor prego Theresa out!

Sunday morning came early and we headed downtown Spokane to meet with the team. Anmrie's Army was the largest non corporation team in the race of 7,100 people. We also had the highest percentage of men on any team. Its an amazing site to see thousands of people in pink shirts, wigs, hats, scarves, anything you can think of, all lined up to show support to the woman and men that are fighting breast cancer and to honor the memory to those who have left us.

Austin ended up "running" the walk with Krista. She said that he was full speed ahead and then walking. Then full speed ahead again. Wy and I walked with Mom, Carter and Theresa. We enjoyed the little 3 mile walking tour of Spokane, had some laughs and I got a good workout in by carrying Wyatt on my back or Carter on my shoulders a majority of the trip. After the walk, we joined the family for lunch and a few more laughs (the money fairy was finally showering down on me and somehow I still walked out poorer than when I came in!) It was a good weekend and I look forward to doing it next year, only with the pink wigs and boas!!

A Day Trip to Seattle

******* I am a little picture crazy this blog!!!*******

Last weekend we decided we wanted to adventure somewhere new as a family. One of Matt and I's favorite places is Seattle so we decided to take the boys for their first visit. We hopped in the car early Saturday morning and headed north. We arrived before lunchtime and made our way to Pike's Place Market. I had made the mistake of telling the boys that they could each get a sand filled animal and so they paid very little attention to any of the 1st booths we passed as their full attention was on finding the sand animals. Once we found those, they slowed down and really took in the sights around them. We tasted jellys and jerkys, smelled flowers and fish. Wyatt didn't much care for the smell of the fish and wasn't about to go near the ugly Monk fish that Austin got his picture with. We stood with the crowd and watched the "flying fish" and were lucky enough to see them throw a really large one and a few small ones. We had lunch at the Market and then headed up to catch the monorail at West Lake. The boys thought that was pretty neat and were really excited to see the Space Needle. We decided to save the ride to the top for another trip (you'd think they could make it a little more affordable!!) and just enjoyed wandering around the base. Wyatt is obsessed with the Eiffel Tower right now so he was pretty impressed with it since it looks kind of like it. After that, we returned to the Market and took in our second magic trick of the day at the magic shop. I love the look on the boys faces as they witnessed the magic right before their very own eyes (as opposed to on tv). We headed down to the waterfront where we rode the carousel, visited the Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe to see the mummified people and shrunken heads, and had dinner at Ivar's. After 8 hours of walking around the Seattle hillsides we were rather exhausted so we decided to head home. Both boys happily listed their favorite parts of the trip and then promptly fell asleep as we hit I-5.

Wyatt's favorite part of the day- Seeing the Space Needle, eating donuts, riding the monorail

Austin's favorite part of the day- Seeing real mummified bodies (he is obsessed with Egypt) and just having a really good day with his family

Mom's favorite part of the day- eating the donuts!! showing the boys around one of my favorite places

Dad's favorite part of the day- Ivar's clam chowder, a sunny day spent with the family

My little helper

Yesterday Colleen and Malia were going to be coming over to visit and since Malia has started to crawl, I wanted to make extra sure the carpets didn't have any "extras" for her to put into here mouth. This was especially because the boys had popcorn thursday night and I seemed to find a piece everytime I turned around. It was like it was reproducing. Anyway, I digress.....

Midge really wanted to help me get ready for the visit. As I named a couple of things that I needed to get done before their arrival, he informed me that he wanted to do the vacuuming. Impressed by his eagerness to help, I got it out for him, interested to see if he could manuever it and how long it would be before he got bored. He actually handled it well and spent a lot more time on the task than I thought he would. After he finished, I tried to distract him in order to not hurt his feelings as I had to go over a few spots and in true Wyatt fashion, he didn't seem to notice.

After his hard work, he enjoyed some time playing with Malia, sharing his Star Wars toys with her, and showing off for Colleen.

p.s. Isn't Malia adorable!

A trip to the Tri-Cities

Last weekend we went to the Tri-Cities to spend the weekend with Mom, Brendan, Theresa, Carter and Papa and Gram. We all crowded into their house and enjoyed some time together shopping, eating pizza and Papa's cookies, and celebrating Mom's half birthday (more on that later!) and to celebrate that we are adding another little boy to the family. For the first time in a while, I got a few pictures of the boys with Papa and Gram that actually came out. Usually one of them, if not all of them, has their eyes shut or is already half way out of the picture by the time the camera actually decides to take it. (Oh the joys of digital cameras!!) Here are the best of what we got.....

Face Mask Friday

Tonight we decided to do face masks. Austin is convinced that if Nick Jonas does it, then he should to. He and Matt applied a cucumber face peel mask and I did an avacado mask that was a lovely shade of green. Wyatt refused to participate with us, even with the idea that Joe Jonas might do face masks. But he did hang out in the bathroom and giggle non-stop at the three of us. I enjoyed the look I caught him giving his brother as he watched Austin stare at himself in the mirror. I know its an odd friday night activity but we are kind of an odd family. Plus, being the only girl, its nice that the boys will do "girly" things with me!!

Cozy night with the Yoda blanket

When Austin has a week day off from school, we usually stay up late the night before knowing we can sleep in the next day. Often times we pick a video game to play or a movie that the three of us want to watch and are up way past when kids should be. Tonight, after hanging out with Jes and the kids, we decided to curl up in the living room and watch Spiderman 3 (sadly, my least favorite of the Spidey movies but I did let them choose). Wy of course had to have his Yoda and about 2 minutes after I took these pictures, his eyes were closed. Austin wasn't far behind. So here I sit in my living room, surrounded by sleeping boys and listening to a movie I dislike. All afternoon as they fought and were bouncing off the walls, I wanted peace. But now, surrounded by it, all I can think is that I am so disappointed that they fell asleep on our late night together. But there is always tomorrow night. Maybe they will be all rested up!

Something new

OK, so I have long thought about doing this and have consistently put it off (along with about a thousand other things!). After seeing my friend Jen's blog, it gave me the motivation to at least make the attempt. Now I am going to try it and not only see how I like but see how you all like it. I figure it may be a fun way to let family and friends have a little insight into our lives as I am not the best at writing emails, sending pictures or even making phone calls. I blame it on my mom (love you mom!) since those things aren't in her DNA either.

So it begins......the Life and Times of Midge and AT (and a little about Mom and Dad.)