Okay, enough is enough. It's been way too long. I'm sure by now most of you have stopped checking my blog. Those that were on the edge of their seats, anxious for more word from us, have long since returned to their normal daily activities and long since forgotten our blog existence. We are still here! Once I was behind on the blog, I didn't want to skip ahead to current, I wanted to catch you all up with what has gone on since my departure... but alas, the thought alone is daunting and I have succumbed to areview of the past few months. Bear with me.

Let's rewind to September. Remember this post? Where Joseph got all those curly locks cut? Well, a couple days later, as if like Sampson his hair was his strength, Joseph ended up in the hospital for severe croup. It was a little scary and definitely sad to see him scared, unable to breath and miserable. Luckily, after a couple days in the hospital, he was released. He is now doing great!

Of course, we swam a little more too. The water started to cool down, but we were still swimming through September. The last swim of the season? October 11th. Wow, definitely couldn't do that in Washington! By that time the weather was still warm enough to swim, (by Washington standards, so 70's/low 80's) but it cooled off at night, so the pool wasn't warm like in the summer. Chilly pool!

 Soccer Season was well underway. The boys were having a lot of fun. Ella was enjoying running around on the sidelines and conning people out of snacks. (can I have one of those? bat, bat, bat her eyelashes... where did she learn this?) Joseph just wanted to be on the field with the big boys. In fact we would often have to drag him off the field kicking and screaming. His favorite word? BALL.

 

 Devin & I went to the fair with some friends.

It was a lot of fun... although, sorry SC, you have nothing on the Puyallup Fair! Not even close.

  

This is a picture from Preschool at my house. We were taking a nature walk. Ella is in a co-op preschool with 2 of her friends, Nora and Giana. Joseph gets to tag-a-long when it's our week. Ella looks forward to preschool and asks almost every day "Is it preschool day today?"

  

She is also LOVING her tap/ballet class.

 

 In October Grandma & Grandpa Shumate came to visit! What a great way for Grandma Stella to celebrate her birthday, right?!

It was the first year the kids did REAL trick-or-treating (where you go door to door) It was so much fun walking through the neighborhood with co many kids around, feeling safe and part of the neighborhood. They seriously raked in huge amounts of candy! They were elated.

Halloween - Vampire, Indiana Jones, Tooth Fairy & tooth.

Then, we hoped in the car and headed to Charleston. We loved all the historic architecture and fun things to see. We spent some time on the beach too.

 And Anson found himself a spot to rest

 Of course in November was more soccer

 Anson lost 3 teeth... within a week.

 We spent more time at the zoo. It's such a fun zoo, so many things to see & do! The kids favorite activity has to be the rock wall

 and feeding the Lorikeets

Then Thanksgiving rolled around. We had 2 of our friends over (Chelsie & Whitney, they're sisters) We had a nice day. Devin played football in the morning. I cooked a LOT of food and the BEST turkey any of us had EVER eaten. (sorry Mom & Stella!) In fact, my mouth waters any time I think about it!

Oh, and it was 75 degrees Thanksgiving Day. Weird! Isn't it supposed to be cold? Or raining?

 Once we were in to December we enjoyed the fall leaves

 And Flag Football season

Anson had his Christmas Concert at school & the boys had their piano recital

1st Grade Christmas Concert

Piano Recital 12/2010 - (I don't know why it won't upload correctly...sorry!)

  We also had some friends over to build gingerbread houses. 

It was so much fun!

Of course there was so much that we have been doing over the last few months, but I don't think I can create a post that inclusive. It would be way too long.

Sorry for my absence...

Not that you want to hear them... but here are my excuses. This past month has been a whirl-wind. Has it for you too? First, Joseph had to visit the hospital for severe croup, we've had sickos left & right (including a 4 day bout with the stomach flu for J & me) Primary, soccer, soccer & more soccer, ballet, preschool, Halloween, trick or treating, ward party, more sickos, Grandparents visiting, trip to Charleston and TONS more! We've been busy. We're now finished with soccer (as of today) and the boys had their first flag football practice last night. I think I'll rest when I grow up... maybe. I will post pictures soon.

Official USMC Mud Run The Leatherneck Video

Just in case the previous post wasn't enough... here you can almost experience it yourself! And look closely at the beginning of the video. That's me, still relatively clean!
Hoo-rah!

MUD Run 2010

This was my first race since moving here to South Carolina. Running has been a little spotty. Trying to find a groove with the different schedules of everyone is tough. Several groups of people form church were running in the Mud Run, but all the teams filled up and I didn't know anyone at the time of registration (July) that could run with me (it's a 4 person team) So it was looking like I would have to wait until next year. Well, unfortunately my friend ended up getting an injury this summer and wasn't sure she'd be ready by race day, so I stepped in to take her place. What are friends for?!

Let me just preface the pictures with, this race was dirty!!

Here we are waiting for our last teammate. 

Aren't we so clean looking? Oh, just you wait!

So off we ran into the morning... not knowing exactly what was waiting for us on the trails. I think if some knew, they would have turned back. 

Every year the Greater Columbia Marine Foundation hosts the largest Mud Run in North America. The race attracts thousands of people from all over the Southeast and beyond. The USMC Ultimate Challenge Mud Run is over 4.5 miles, and has 32 obstacles that have to be crossed by each team requiring team work and a lot of determination. The 4.5-mile course is an all-terrain race conducted on dirt roads, improved and unimproved trails through the training area. These trails include mud holes, walls, trenches and other obstacles that require swimming, crawling, climbing and jumping. Some people come to compete, but many come just to complete!

We were here just to complete. A team of rookie racers (I was the only one who had ever run in a race before... some, whom will remain nameless, had never run before... before they started training for this event)

 Our team post race

Mike (already sprayed down w/firehose,) James, Travis & Me

Look at the difference! Yuck!

A lot of people just trashed their shoes. This trailer was one of the places people were tossing them into. It was overflowing. The huge dumpster behind that was also filling up... also clothing items too. In the very back (behind that huge crowd of people) are the showers.

On site they had showers...they were crazy! You line up, the water started & you had 2 min to try & improve the mud situation before the water shuts off & your herded out. So you don't exactly get that clean... more just rinsed enough to not feel like a hardening statue (after multiple rounds.) Next year I might just run in a swimsuit. It might make it easier, no muddy clothes to try & rinse off. And yes, amazingly my clothes and I eventually came clean. (5 showers on site, one VERY long one at home!)

 

Over 14,000 people participated in this event. It was CRAZY, dirty, oh so dirty... and fun. I am gearing up for next year. I already have my team lined up. And YES... Devin is doing it with me next time!

Do YOU remember?

Do you remember the 21st night of September?
Love was changing the mind of pretenders
While chasing the clouds away

Our hearts were ringing
In the key that our souls were singing.
As we danced in the night,
Remember - how the stars stole the night away, yeah yeah yeah.

Hey hey hey,
Ba de ya - say do you remember
Ba de ya - dancing in September
Ba de ya - never was a cloudy day......


I'll spare you the rest of the song, now that I am SURE all musically inclined, lovers of the old school music now have that song ringing in their ears. It's okay... I know you can't help it... you want to get up and dance. Let's all dance together now...  Hey hey hey, Ba de ya - say do you remember, Ba de ya - dancing in September, Ba de ya - never was a cloudy day......

Now do you remember this cute little BOY? 

The one with the golden curls?

 Just LOOK at that!

 

 Well... one morning I woke up. In the mood to get things done. I saw my fair, golden locks boy and decided it was the day.

So I soaked his head

 Combed it out

 And clipped away. Clip, clip, clip...

And this was the result. Yes, I took this just as I finished. 

I think we both had the same look on our faces. 

What have I done?!

 Then, of course it was photo shoot time!

 

 

  He's chasing me here. He LOVES to play this game

 

 Crazy do, dude!

  I can hardly believe my baby is growing so fast!

 After coming in from his photo shoot he walked over and sat next to his sister. She immediately put her arm around him. It was so adorable. These two sure love each other! It just melts my heart.

This is really bittersweet for me. My baby is growing up. I will always miss those baby curls, but he really does look adorable with his new do. He just looks like a little boy.

Bye, bye little baby... hello little boy.