Think of me on Saturday

Tomorrow is my big 30K trail race. It's 18.6 miles with an elevation gain of 3,070 ft. I hope it doesn't rain and that I don't have to walk too much. Besides not dying, one of my main goals is to find a potential running partner. I miss having someone to run with, especially on my long runs. Great past running partners include:

Bren Garrahan (my sister), Jenny Christiansen, Mary Butler, Betsy Petersen, and Amy Lee.

Until now, the most beautiful places I'd ever run were up in the Humboldt Redwoods and in Trinidad. I did a practice run a few weeks ago on part of tomorrow's course and it was just as awesome and beautiful as Humboldt, but with occasional views of San Francisco. Wish me luck.

Remodel

Here are two pictures from our first remodel project. Of course it looks different already because the pocket door frame is up and the ceiling in the office has sheet rock. Our new garage lights.

Harvest

This is the biggest carrot we've pulled from our garden so far. Carrots taste so much better from the backyard.

These three "rabbits" ate their carrots, along with huge amounts of Annie's Mac and Cheese.

Great Grandparents

Here are two pictures to prove we actually made it to Carolyn and Dallas's house two weeks ago. Grandpa entertained Lauryn while Taylor played Candyland with Grandma.

Her Point of View

When we got a new camera in August, we gave our old dying camera to Taylor. She took a lot of pictures of our move to our new house and unfortunately they all got lost when I tried to transfer them to the computer. It is really funny to see the world from her viewpoint (about 3 and a half feet from the ground). She loves to take pictures of her feet and her sister. Here are a select few that I just transferred successfully. You can click on the picture to make it bigger. Also, you'll notice that the pictures are a very poor quality. Good thing we got a new camera when we did. Kaia invited Taylor to have tea at a fancy place in Pleasanton with Kaia and her aunts.

The Squires stopped by for a surprise visit a while back. This is what Grandpa looks like to Taylor.

I think Peter took this one.

Lauryn is saying "cheese". It doesn't have quite the desired affect.

It's rare that I see a picture of myself. I'm usually the one behind the camera.

Busy Day

The day was well planned in my mind and amazingly it went pretty much as planned: Up, pack, into car, drive, visit friends, drive, visit Auntie Bren, drive, visit more friends, drive, arrive at Grandma and Grandpa Cole's house in Knights Landing, visit, drive, pick up Peter at Bart Station. The unplanned parts were the occasional stop-and-go traffic, the pouring rain, the wrong exit, and going out to dinner. We get to make the drive again on Sunday to pick up Taylor, who will be staying with Grandma and Grandpa until then.

It was great to see friends from my time in Woodland. They are all doing well and either have a new house or a new baby so it was very fun to catch up. It took Taylor about 2 seconds of shyness before she was back into her old friendships.

The Princesses: Abby, Annette, Taylor and Anjulee

Tutu Cute

On Thursday we went to a birthday party for a two-year old in our ward. Her mom and grandma made tutus for all the girls. Imagine 8 little girls bouncing around the room in these tutus while stuffing their faces with yummy sweets. They all became not-so-cute when the sugar melt-down hit; the party ended a little early.

Besides the chocolate cake and ice cream, Taylor's favorite thing about the party was getting to hold this 7-month old baby.

Bowling with 4 Year Olds

These pictures were taken at our last preschool field trip to the bowling alley. It has been a few weeks now that Taylor and Lauryn seem to be best friends. They enjoy playing together and miss each other when they're appart. I think it has to do with the fact that Taylor can boss her sister around and Lauryn is willing to obey.
Somehow Taylor scored a 97 with this bowling technique. Oh yeah, they had bumpers.

Dirt Bath

I stepped out the door this afternoon to find the chickens in the planter box along the house. They love to dig and snuggle in the dirt and I can't figure out why. They sit on top of each other and bury themselves in the soil. Peter says it's good for them to take dirt baths. I hope they didn't dig up any pretty flowers.

Why am I Laughing?

These incidents might not seem funny...or they shouldn't, but I can't help from laughing about them.

On Thursday I jogged over to the park with the girls in the stroller. On the way back Lauryn wanted to strap herself in. She loves buckles and is usually pretty good at snapping them together so I assumed she was adequately strapped in the stroller. I was in a zone, lost in thought, not listening to the whining of my children. The next thing I know I've run flat over Laruyn. It reminded me of all the times Taylor has dropped a toy (usually a baby doll) while I'm running and I jut run right over it. It took my brain a few seconds to register what had happened. Lauryn was a little shaken; she had a raspberry on her side, a tire mark on her shirt and was rubbing her head where it had probably hit the sidewalk. I didn't laugh at the time of course but now it just strikes me funny. I was on a very busy street and I wonder who witnessed this slapstick event.

Yesterday the girls were eating lunch outside. The chickens were roaming the yard and I was upstairs getting dressed for a run to Taylor's preschool. Taylor comes in with panic in her voice, "Mom, come quick! The chickens are on the table!" I got the chickens off the table and decided it was time to put them away and went to get some feed to lure them back into their coop. While I was in the tool shed I hear Lauryn scream. I look to see a chicken on the table right in Lauryn's face. Lauryn is clutching her sandwich and apple to her chest and yelling for help. Taylor came to her rescue but was a bit too late. I didn't realize it until the chickens were locked up again, but the hen had pecked Lauryn on the cheek and drew blood. The chicken must have been after the peanut butter that was all over Laruyn's face. No more free-roaming chickens while we're eating.