bikini bread

A friend of ours gave us a loaf of chocolate chip zuccini bread a month ago, which both boys ate up in one night and since then BJ has called it "Bikini Bread." Every weekend since (three times) BJ, CJ and I have made banana bread. Last weekend we tried pumpkin bread. BJ calls all of them "Bikini Bread."

In this picture you see BJ eating some of the "bikini" bread out front while waiting for our wonderful babysitter to arrive. She is a junior at the university, secondary ed major with biology specialization. The boys just LOVE her and we are so fortunate b/c she is willing to take them both to CJ's soccer games on Monday nights when Rick and I are in class. I happened to work with her all summer, which was a stroke of pure luck for our family.

I came home from school one night to find lego ships all over our bathroom. The boys were SO proud of their creations and apparently had done experiments with our babysitter to find out which ones sink/float best...

BJ's soccer game

Last week was SUCH a busy week. Unfortunately I have class on Monday nights, so I missed CJ's game that night. I'll have to take some pics this week at his game for everyone. CJ scored 7 goals at his Wednesday night game and BJ finished his Thursday game with at least 8 goals (a few for our team, and few for the other team too!). They are loving soccer and so are we.

BJ's first soccer practice

Fun pictures from their first practice. The little girl sitting on the red ball and the little girl with the yellow shirt are both in BJ's class at school. The coaches are the parents of the little girl in the red shirt. And the boy standing beside CJ is also in first grade and brother to the girl in red shirt. In other words, CJ and Finn played together all summer at BJ's school and now they have fun at BJ's games b/c they can play together on the sidelines. It is a fun little team!

new pr

Saturday 8.25 miles
Sunday rest
Monday 7.0 miles
Tuesday 5.5 miles
Wednesday 5.25 miles
Thursday 5.5 miles
Friday 7.5 miles

Total for week: 39 miles

four soccer goals, two for us and two for them....

BJ had his second soccer game tonight and he was in good form tonight. His first game, last week, was a good intro for him...get on the field...get a feel for the movement, the crowd, etc.

Tonight BJ scored 4 times and he looked like was a superhero running around out there! He was SO excited, as were Rick and I!!!

The first goal was scored by dribbling from one end of the field to the other, kicking it just right of the goal post, quickly pickeing up the ball, placing it infront of the goal, and kicking it in!!!! The crowd was all cheering for him and he was thrilled! Rick yelled out "whatever it takes BJ!!" and the families thought that was so funny and of course all agreed:)

Another goal was scored on a beautiful break away, in our opponent's goal, and BJ was so proud! He came running back to mid field, amidst the cheers of the crowd. I think he was a little shy with the attention on him.

At midfield, he flashed me the hand signal, "I love you" and then yelled out, "I LOVE YOU MOMMY!" You an imagine the pride and joy swelling inside of me at this point.

Another goal, similarly scored on a break away into our opponent's goal. BJ comes running back to midfield, amidst more cheering from the crowd, and this time he decides to wave to everyone!

There was a fourth goal in there too, in OUR goal.

It was a HUGE game for little BJ and we knew it was coming.

Of course I didn't have my camera with me.

heart glow

Since school has started this semester, Rick has been walking to school, leaving just a little earlier than the boys and I need to, so we were delighted yesterday when he said he would be joining us on our morning drop off routine. We grew quite accustomed last winter to the whole family starting each day together as a part of our morning "get everyone out the door and to school" routine and we've missed Rick thus far for the 08-09 school year.

We took CJ to his school promptly at 8:20, which is a real challenge for us every day, me trying to squeeze in running time at the gym before I wake the boys up.

We always say something like "be good to your friends today" or "listen to your teacher today" or "do something nice for a friend today" or "tell us something you learned at school when we get home tonight..." followed by "we love you..." when we drop them off.

Then we went to BJ's school. As I was getting BJ out of the car, Rick said to him something along the lines of "BJ, make today your greatest day ever!"

To which BJ replied, "I can't daddy" or "It can't be daddy."

And Rick and I looked at each other a little frightened...and Rick asked why not?

BJ said, "I've already had my best day daddy."

We both looked at each other, and I'm sure he was thinking what I was thinking, how could a 4 year old know that his best days are over and all further days will be less than the best? A pretty profound statement from a 4 year old.

Rick said, "What do you mean BJ?"

He grinned his BJ grin and said, "Daddy, my best days are when mommy comes to read to my class!" Then he smiled at me, and happily jumped out of the car to start 'Fun Friday' at his school that we love so much!

Oh did my heart warm right up and practically melt as I stood in the middle of the street looking at my precious little boy.

I had no idea how much it meant to him that I've come to read to his class the last two Mondays in a row. I was actually considering skipping this week with my schedule at my own school, but not any more! You can bet I'll be there promptly at 2:15 on Monday with some good books in hand and a smile to read with his class!!!!

You never know what the little things do in someone else's life. Rick and I really make an effort to let people know how much we appreciate you guys and the boys' teachers, but sometimes you'll never know the impact the littlest things can have in someone else's day:)

Have a great weekend!

Spa Day

BJ's class spent the morning Friday at the county fair, which seems like MORE than enough to exhaust me as a teacher, but then they went back to school and had a Spa Day in the afternoon!! We love this school!

I was DELIGHTED, and my heart laughed, when BJ ran up to me as I entered his classroom and fanned out is fingers to show me his new manicured look. The teachers of course were looking to see if I would be upset, b/c he's a boy, but I LOVED it!!!! He does too:)

New personal best

Ran 35 miles this past week (over seven days) and I'm really proud of this personal record.

Saturday - 10 miles
Sunday - rest
Monday - 6 miles
Tuesday - 5 miles
Wednesday - 5 miles
Thursday - 7 miles
Friday - 2 miles (Rick out of town, had to impose on the day care to take BJ early)

Able to buy the next size smaller jeans today, which I got at 40% off at Old Navy!!!

This morning when I went running at 7:00 AM, it was a crisp 42 degrees outside. It felt great! I enjoy being on the streets of this college town, running before it seems the rest of the town has left their houses. Makes me feel like I'm starting my day in a productive way. Maybe it means I'm crazy:)

50 and feeling feeling fantastic...

The boys and I are enjoying a few inside games this early afternoon, hoping to go play some tennis this afternoon.

Beautiful fall temps are flirting with us this week and the sun is a-shining! You know we love it. Yesterday Rick had the car in McCall, so the boys and I walked home from their schools. BJ is showing you a couple of the pears we picked up off the ground at a neighbor's house. They have a beautiful pear tree, full of pears and some HUGE, GIGANTIC sunflowers. The sunflowers must be over 8 feet tall. They are taller than me.

As of yesterday, I have now lost 50 pounds. I thought that was a whole CJ, but he surprised me when standing on the scale, as he has somehow gained about 5 pounds this summer...again, that summer growth thing in kids! Maybe it's the vitamin D.

In the last 7 days I have run 34 miles and can't remember when in my adult life I've felt this strong.

Thank you to all our visitors and those who hosted us this summer for providing me with such healthy choices and accomodating my new eating lifestyle, including bringing my own foods out to restraunts.

Thank you to Aunt Nell, who planted the seed in my mind last xmas to entertain the idea of actually going to the gym before school, rather than after.

Special thank you to my precious husband who puts up with my noise in the morning when I'm leaving for the gym at 5:40AM. He listens to my recaps of the food I've eaten or the miles I've run. He doens't laugh when I try on the "skinny" clothes from my closet, hoping to fit into. And of course, keeps the sweet compliments coming my way!