Cougar Run

Bridger participated in his first Cougar Run.  It was a fundraiser to raise money for his school.  He came home after an assembly and was so excited.  He said he needed to train for it, wear running shoes, eat healthy, and wear soft clothes. 

We helped him practice and collect money.  A few days before the race he decided he no longer wanted to go to school.  He was so nervous- to the point he thought he was going to throw-up.  After a few days of this, he finally said that he was scared about the Cougar Run.  He had been sick, he had a horrible cut up knee that bled every time he moved, and he had been practicing.  He was tired and in pain.  He was worried that he wouldn't be able to do it....that his knee would bleed....that he would get a side ache.  I tried to reassure him that he didn't need to finish that he could just walk if he needed to etc.  He was so sweet when he said, "How will my school get money if I don't do it?"  He was taking all the responsibility on himself.  Poor guy.  I explained the concept of fundraiser and he felt much better that the school was not depending on him.

He did the Cougar run and had a great time.  He was the fastest runner out there and he didn't stop once.  I yelled a few times that he could slow down or walk and he said NO WAY!  I was so proud that he pushed through his fear.

 Of course, he had the best cheerleader out there!! and the cutest!

 They marked on their back every time he went around.  At the end one of his friends said she had run 3 laps.  Bridger ran 12!!  Bridger was on the fast side of things and she was definitely on the slow side.   About a week later Bridger came home with an award for being the fastest kid in Kindergarten.  Yeah Bridger!

....and he earned money for his school.

Enjoying the Sunshine

We had the shortest Summer of all time!  It was cold and rainy all through Spring and it appears winter has arrived already.  We have all been moping around feeling tired with the sudden onset of gray days.  Last Sunday we had some sunshine and ran to our favorite spot- the duck pond.  Derek enjoys it as much as the kids- a rare occurrence.  Needless to say we go there a lot.

Ever since Bridger was a toddler we have had a hard time keeping him from eating the ducks food.  He used to pick up the pieces we would throw on the ground.  Maybe it was his competitive nature; he had to get it before the ducks did.  Now that he is older he just sits down and eats the whole thing.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

I'm a little late posting this.  It's been a busy week.

Bridger and mom both survived the first day of school.  Not only did we survive, we were both so excited we couldn't sleep. 

In the past, Bridger has had a hard time leaving my side.  It was hard to leave him with babysitters, grandma, preschool, nursery.  Kindergarten has been a breeze.  I am so excited I have done cartwheels to my car every day! 

Two of the easiest things I have ever done with Bridger:  Potty training and kindergarten. 

I am a little sad that he is growing up so fast.  I worry about all that he is going to face.  I want to be there to help him solve all his problems, kiss his owies etc.....but I am so excited that it was so easy that I'm going to go do another cartwheel!

So proud of you Bridger!

This is the girl who has a MAJOR crush on Bridger.  He has a few others.  Seems so young for that!

A Ray of Sunshine

Our Latest Adventure

I told you I was going to start adding the bad.  This week it is replacing the starter in our car.  And replacing the lock on our mailbox which, by the way, is not included in the tons of money we pay in taxes....$60 bucks for a broken lock!  I could do it for $15.

Luckily the dealership gave us a free loaner car to drive while they fix our car so it is only a minor inconvenience.  But still-one more thing.

The Doman Curse

Derek describes this year as the "Year from Hell" - I would probably have to agree.  Although I have experienced far worse, this year is hard in the fact that it is one thing after another.  Like chronic pain or sickness (both of which I am having) it just gets to you after awhile.

I was working on our family yearbook.  The pictures that I had didn't seem to reflect the year we are having.  We have had many good times and I am so happy to see that.  I also wonder why we/I fail to document the hard times.  Is it because we want everyone to think we have a perfect life?  Is it because we are embarrassed that bad things happen to us or that people will judge us?  Or is it just because we are more likely to grab a camera when our child takes their first step than when something bad happens.  Somehow "quick! grab the camera! Lilly is throwing up"  doesn't have the same appeal.

I have decided that I am going to try and record the good, the bad and the ugly in our life as well.  I don't want to dwell on it but it is part of our life.

I think about all that I have learned from reading about the struggles the pioneers had.  I have been inspired so many times in my life because they took the time to write about the loss, the pain, the trials, the hopelessness.  I am thankful for their stories.  Maybe one day we will look back on this year with fondness (although, I seriously doubt it)

back injury. 
Knee injury on both Derek and I
9 ear infections
Pink eye twice for both kids. 
The flu for mom and dad. 
More colds than I can count. 
Sinus infections. 
Mom with pneumonia. 
Dental surgery for Bridger. 
Dad getting hit by a car while riding his bike.
Front tooth fixed two times
Broken down and replaced: Dryer, dishwasher, microwave, fridge, garage door, mailbox, car, sewing machine.  Along with each of these an entire story and a ton of money and inconvience.  Hundreds of dollars of food every time our fridge broke.

All in the past seven months.  And that is just what I can remember.


I am happy to see through it all that we have happy pictures.   I am happy that Derek has a job.  I am happy that we still have savings (which is a miracle).  Happy that there are only a few months left in 2010.  2011 is going to have to be better.

Movie Night

Bridger always wants to watch a movie when his friends come to play.  I think that defeats the purpose of having kids over to play.  So I promised before the summer was over we would have a movie night.  I had planned on really making it big, but time is running out and I have many things planned for the last few weeks of summer.
Derek is on a High Adventure trip with the scouts, I had an amazing friend come take my kids for a few hours today....the stars had aligned.  I decided tonight was the perfect night.  So at 4:00 I started calling friends (will have to return the cute invites I had planned on using)  I got home from my time away at 5:00.  By 6:00 we had 8 kids at our door ready for a party.
I just had enough time to feed my kids and make a few signs.  Bridger was so disappointed that we weren't having tickets so I made a few of those too.

Bridger greeted them at the door and gave them their ticket to get into the movie and a ticket for popcorn and candy.  He was dead serious about this job-if they didn't have a ticket they didn't get ANYTHING!  We had to make a few exceptions.

We had a short intermission so they could play Red light/Green light.

Lilly and Isaak cleaned popcorn out of the pool.

It was a fun night.  Everyone had a great time.

There was an "exclusive after-party" for Mom only....

I hope popcorn and gobstoppers are the worst things I will ever have to clean up after a party my kids have!