alphabet

I know they are hard to see, but hopefull you can make out a few of these beautifully scripted letters. I did a little informal assessment of BJ's letter identification and writing this weekend, and look what a beautiful document I now have to enjoy forever:)

And by the way, apparently that is me, mommy, with the eyes and smile in the top left hand "0" letter. He thought that was so funny to draw my face inside the letter. Quite tickled with himself actually!

remember this cutie pie?

It's hard to imagine our big four year old used to be this size!

BJ's soccer last week (he's in gold)

One for the other team!

One for us! Notice BJ has two team members he can pass to, and his coach is on the sidelines telling him, "BJ, there are Tristan and Dante, pass it to one of your teammates," and BJ strategically kicks the ball IN TO HIMSELF for a breakaway!!! His motto, "whatever it takes!" Just kidding!

Beatrix Potter

As the boys are tucked under their many covers tonight, they are listening to this wonderful collection of Beatrix Potter books on tape that we checked out from the public library a couple of weeks ago. BJ just LOVES them so much, esp. the Tale of Peter Rabbit. I thought I might tell my family about this tonight, just b/c it these stories always take me back to childhood when we read these same stories. They are so good! BJ likes to be tucked in, covers up to his ears, snuggled next to his monkey, black puppy, and Pooh bear, and THEN he's ready for me to push "play". Sadly, we have to turn them back in tomorrow. We'll probably check them out again on Friday though. We've done that twice now. Ha ha.

Also, Aunt Bess, wanted to let you know that BJ has become the master of the memory game (candy style) that you gave CJ so many years ago. He beat me tonight, fair and square, by one pair. He wants to play every day, and man those candies look good:)

Halloween Puppets

12 mile run today!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so delighted to share two new records with you. First of all, today I ran 12 miles, without stopping, for the first time in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!

I attribute this success to one of Rick's Charlene Blassingame Del Ray Woods cookies and a small bagel. I usually do not eat before I run, since I go so early in the morning. But with the temps below 32 again this morning, you better believe I waited until 9AM for rec center to open up. I had time to eat before running today, so I thought I'd do a little science experiment to see how the carbs before running might affect the run. It was fantastic!

With the quantitative research class I'm taking, I should be able to identify what the independent variable and the dependent variable are in this treatment program!!! But I can't tell you!!! I always get those two variables mixed up.

Man did I feel good leaving the gym!

And so, that brings my weekly run mileage to a new personal record as well: 42 miles

S- rest
M- 7 miles
T- 5.5 miles
W- 7 miles
Th- 4.25 (not bad considering I had a 7:30 meeting that morning!)
F- 6.25 miles
S- 12 miles

Now of course I'm sitting in the red chair with my legs propped up on the footstool and drinking some hot cinnamon tea in the Flavia mug that mimo gave me a while ago. I love this mug.

who is that big kid on the field?

I know it's a bit small, but CJ is wearing all black. He passes to his buddy Caleb, who in turn passes it back to CJ and into the goal. It was a great play!

The other video you'll notice all these sweet kids who love to play with Rick after the games. Tonight they played for about 15 minutes after the game was over. So funny.