God Bless America

This past Monday was Memorial day and I wanted the girls to know a little bit about what that meant. Ben still works on that day so our household seems normal for that weekend. Except everyone around us is having the BBQ's, camping, lots of family fun. We do too, but I have a soft spot for veterans. Maybe just a little extra patriotic. So the girls and I went to the Veterans Cemetery to place some flowers that we had cut that morning and say a prayer for all the men and women who serve and their families. I think the girls understood a little bit. The understood that people have died. That the big boats (the ships in the shipyard) carry lots of people who protect and defend the United States of America. (Rowyn loves Geography) And that we live in a country that we can pray to our God when we want to and have our own opinions. I think they understood....

Running

I have such good friends and family! I ran my 20 mile training run this last Saturday with my friends Maria and Melia. Maria's husband Jon had planted some water and other fuel at 2 pit stops on our course. Ben and the girls came and found us while running and filled our water bottles and cheered us on. It always helps me run better when I see them.

Melia, me, and Maria around mile 15ish. We ran all along the water through Manchester up to Alaska. We accidentally went the wrong way at mile 11 and didn't realize it until mile 12. So we had to turn around (to reach our preplanned aid stations). It turned out good though because we just took 2 miles off at the end. Nothing worse than being close to home and then having to add a loop in just to hit the mileage.

We haven't had popcorn in forever. We didn't have an air popper and I had been wanting one for a while. I kept telling myself when I get one then we could have some instead of buying the microwave kind. Why I had never bought one before...I don't know. The girls thought it was the neatest thing. Yummmm popcorn.

Working in the garden

Some times it is just easier to to make their beds out there with me so I can get more done! And they like it.

On our way back from the ocean a couple weeks ago we stopped at Billy's in Aberdeen for lunch. I just think it is adorable how the girls love on Ben. There is nothing like their Daddy!

Two peas in a pod!

Rowyn thought it was funny that Ben had the smaller mug.

Dance Classes

Both Rowyn and Reese are in dance class. Rowyn is taking ballet and tap and Reese is in ballet. Rowyn likes it, but she seems to enjoy gymnastics more. Reese is the best one in her class. (according to the instructor they both are...naturally :) )

Their recital is coming up in June. Reese is a balloon, and a very cute one at that. Rowyn is a bear and a hound dog. Needless to say her costume is brown and gold and when we got it she had to try it on and she cried and told her instructor she didn't like it. I think she is warming up to it though. They are doing a tap dance to Elvis Presley's "My Teddy Bear". That is why she is holding a teddy bear.

Poor Ben

So about a month or so ago Ben's tooth was bugging him. Well, only he really knows how long it had been because he has such a high pain tolerance that by the time he mentions that this is "kinda hurting a little bit" it has been hurting for a long time.

He went to the dentist and the dentist decided to not only pull that top wisdom tooth, but the one on the bottom too! This was a time when work was very slow and he had just got a very big roofing job and it was supposed to start that day. Well Ben being Ben, thought he would just go to work after he got two wisdom teeth pulled. Needless to say he stayed home that day. But he did get on that roof the next day!

The girls took good care of him!

Mothers Day

For Mothers Day this year I think it was the best one yet. Unfortunately we didn't take any pictures. I was relishing each moment and honestly that is all I was doing. It started with breakfast in bed. While Ben was down stairs cooking, Reese came up and read a book to me. "Snuggle Puppy". If anyone know that book it is written in a song. Well, I have never heard the song so we have our own tune to it and she sang it to me...so sweet. Rowyn brought a card that her and Reese had made. Rowyn had wrote every ones names on it, Rowyn, Reese, Mom, and Ben. (It's funny whenever she writes our names I am M-O-M and Ben is B-E-N, not D-A-D). She also brought up egg whites with salsa, toast and orange slices to my bed. Ben followed behind with a cup of coffee. It was awesome.

Ben did some major weeding in our garden for me and did all house work for the day. We went and saw his mom, went to church, then dinner and off to see my mom. It was a good day.

History

Ok, so there are some other things on my mind that have happened and I just haven't blogged them. So you may see some up and coming blogs, that really, happened a while ago. So here goes.....

A day at the ocean

Things have been so crazy lately Ben came home the other day and said, "Let's go do something this weekend, let's get away." So we did. We have never done that. It was a beautiful Saturday. Ben has been great about taking the girls so I can get my run in. (As my training gets closer to the race, the runs get longer...so I am running for 3 and 4 hours at a time...plus I'm not much good for the rest of the day.) I ran down by the water. It was sunny and gorgeous. We ran along side a submarine that was coming into the shipyard. That was cool. A ferry also came by. It looked so close. The mountains, the water...beautiful. I got done with my 14 miles faster than I had planned and headed home. Ben and the girls were out looking at a potential job. So I took my shower and got some clothes together. They got home and we headed to the ocean!! It's only and hour and a half away, but we hardly ever go. We are going to change that. We needed no stress. So Ben asked where we were going and I said, oh, guess we should decide!

The girls were so excited. They loved the waves chasing them.We were collecting sand dollars and Ben opened one up to show them the doves inside. Reese liked that.

The waves got a little big a few times.

Rowyn put sand in her pocket to bring some home (as though there wouldn't be enough in everything else.)

Reese had to get some rolling in.

Definitely have to go more often.

A couple weeks ago the weather had a few good days. So we washed the car, just us Cheeri-O girls. Reese got the tires and Rowyn did the low parts. They even got in the back and wiped it down (kept me from having to crawl in!!). They are such great helpers.

Then they decided they needed to wash their bikes too. Rowyn pulled up the old tricycle, it is lower and easier for her to reach than her big girl bike. Reese pulled over her Harley bike...so her. It is funny because she is so strong willed and self sufficient, but so tender.

We heard so motorcycles going by today and she asked "That Daddy?". "No", I said, "Daddy doesn't have the Harley anymore, he sold it. But we can save up our money and get him one he really wants." She looks at me, "Momma, I will shaiw my bike wid Daddy. But it is too small. It just fow kids." As she is nodding with a wrinkled nose. "Momma, I will give all my money to Daddy." Rowyn says. Such sweet girls I have!

Thank God for the little children

Sometimes kids put things into perspective. Why must our adult minds make things so difficult. My kids do that for me. Things like "Rowyn what do you want to be when you grow up?" "Taylor Swift!", she responds with an all face smile. "Perfect, you could totally sing and play guitar." "Reese, what do you want to be when you grow up?" Reese says, "Jesus." All I could do is grin and think....of course. Thank you God for our children.