Firecracker 5k and Kids Race

I mentioned in an earlier post that I tried to start running. I just wanted to be stronger. I started in May with the best running coach I ever had~~Jon.

At first, all I could run was a 1/2 mile, walk a quarter mile, and then run another 1/2 mile. By June, it was run 1 mile, walk, run another mile. In the middle of June, I could run 2 miles without stopping, but it always KILLED me at the end. For over 2 weeks, I couldn't run past that dang 2 miles...how was I ever going to get to the 3.1 miles needed to run the 5k on July 4th? Jon had kept telling me I was just running too fast, I needed to slow down. Then last Friday, 8 days before the race...I finally took his advice. I slowed down~~ran 2 miles, walked for 2 minutes and ran the other mile. I couldn't believe it! I timed myself on Monday and did the same thing: It took me 36 min and 20 seconds. Ok, I thought, I am going to do this.
July 4th, Jon was such an angel and woke up at 5 am and basically got everything ready for me and the kids to get up. We woke up the kids at 6 am, and off we went to Rolla. It was POURING rain and the boys kept saying, "Are you still going to run??" Yes....I was feeling so nervous when I saw the other runners...all lean and fit. I just really didn't want to come in last. Well, I didn't. I came in 43rd out of 69 runners. I came in 6th out of 11 in my age group (30-39), and I only walked for 30 seconds and came in with a time of 33:51!!! I was so proud of myself!
After the adult race came the kids 1 mile race. Justin was not feeling that great that morning but Nathan signed up and did GREAT! He came in 12th out of 28 racers and came in second in his age group (9-10) to win a silver medal!
My family has been so supportive....thank you guys!

Here is me waiting for the race to start in the pouring rain. It did stop when the race started :)

At the start:

We're off!

Owen staying hydrated for me:

Coming toward the finish line:

Time for Nathan's race: There they go:Coming around the bend (that's Jon running with him):Winning his silver medal!

Justin was proud of him too:

The 2 runners wearing our race shirts:

Saint Louis!

We always plan a trip to Saint Louis at least once every summer. We really love the city. It is the city where Jon asked me to marry him~~right while we visiting the St. Louis Zoo! We just relaxed the first day~playing mini golf in a huge mall. The second day we went to Six Flags and this was the first time I let the older boys ride a roller coaster! They had a blast! The last day, we went to the St. Louis Zoo. We had a lot of fun!

Hot Fun in the Summer Sun

We are a lot more busy this summer than most. The kids have activities going on that they normally don't. The boys have had the Camp Invention and they will be going to it again next month. Then Justin has his pre-college Robotics Camp in July. He won this scholarship through his science project. Nathan has Tae Kwon Do and drums lessons (I will do a post about that soon). Justin has baseball and tennis. Add in there all the little trips we have planned, the water activities, etc...it is a rare day when nothing is planned! We haven't even attended one summer reading program, which is a staple in this house every summer, because of the business! But baseball ends this week ( I will post pics soon) so that is one less thing. Here are just some pics of us having fun:

Since May, I decided I was going to try my hand at running. I haven't run since High School and was on the track team for a while. About 3-4 times a week, we head to this little training spot on Fort Leonard Wood. Jon and I usually run and the boys ride their bikes. No, I haven't lost any weight doing this either. I have actually GAINED 3 pounds. Jon thinks it's muscle mass I am gaining...I think it is nachos. Jon usually gets done before me and plays baseball with the boys:

Having fun:The older boys and I went to the movies to watch the movie "UP" (great movie by the way) and Jon took Owen to the spray park:My summer hair. I wanted 2 inches off and red highlights and ended up getting 4 inches off and purple highlights.

Happy Father's Day

My three boys have the best father that anyone could ever ask for. He is very patient and kind and loves his children to the fullest. He makes every practice, game, or activity he can in their lives. He cooks all of their favorite meals including pancakes on Saturday mornings. He helps with homework. He reads books, plays games and listens to them. The boys love their "papa" very much. Happy Father's Day!

My Ninjas!

I am a little late in posting this but my 2 ninjas, Nathan and Jon, earned a black stripe in their Tae Kwon Do class! They will be testing for their next color in belt (orange I think) next month! Watch out for these two in a dark alley!

Fair Time!

It's that time of year again...time for all the summer fairs. We went to the Route 66 Summerfest last weekend and this weekend, we went to the Pulaski Regional Fair. The weather so far this summer has been absolutely perfect: high in the 80's and down to the 60's at night so it is nice and mild and we have been outdoors a lot this summer. Well, here are some highlights of this past outing:

Owen is old enough to ride the rides by himself now~~yay~

Well, until one of his brothers steals the prime seat!

"Ok...can we go on some better rides now??"

"A little better...but COME ON!!"

"Finally!"

Such a big boy now *tear*"Look out Owen!"

"Look how scared we are!"

Getting tired...time to go home.

They Had a Blast!

To say the boys had a great time at Camp Invention would be an understatement. Everyday, they would talk about what they did for about 30 minutes! They both loved all the modules and of course, getting soaking wet all of the time :). They loved it so much that Jon and I are considering sending them next month. We'll see....

Here is one day when it was "worst hair day". Owen had to join in so he wouldn't feel left out:

Here is Justin with his counselor Brennan:Here is Nathan with his counselor Andrew:

Here is what they invented with old electronics they brought in. They had to invent a machine that could crack an egg:

Nathan used a VCR and recycled products for his:

Justin used an alarm clock and recycled products (his was HUGE):

Camp Invention!

Today the boys start a 5 day science camp called Camp Invention. They are so excited and a couple of their friends are going also. It is from 8:45am until 3:30pm. They are divided in groups by age. Justin is in the yellow group and Nathan is in the red. Here is just some of the things they will be doing.

Viking Treasure Trek: The Quest Begins™
Children spend the week treasure hunting as they follow the footsteps of ancient travelers in the Viking Treasure Trek: The Quest Begins module. Children hear a mythical story of how the travelers, known for their outstanding seamanship, mysteriously hid vast amounts of gold, and it’s up to them to find the buried bounty! With the aid of compasses, children work together in teams to decipher clues that will help put the gold within their grasp. Children must build sturdy boats that are able to survive the fury of the Atlantic Ocean to successfully navigate their way through the Norweigan Islands toward the buried treasure! Will the lost gold be uncovered?

Comic Book Science: FlyJack and Jill™
In the Comic Book Science: FlyJack and Jill module, children discover that a major comic book publisher’s sales are slumping, and it’s up to them to save the company by developing a new superhero comic book series that features superheroes with science-based super powers! Throughout the week, children perform experiments that explore scientific superhero powers such as the five senses, the ability to change or “morph,” flight, speed, strength, and reaction time. Children then incorporate their findings into their own comic books by giving their superheroes similar scientific super powers! It’s an allout superhero extravaganza when children bring their power-packed characters to life and craft them into real models!

Land Sled X-Treme™
The Land Sled X-Treme module is an exciting fusion of racing and engineering. Children work in teams to complete daily challenges such as designing shields to keep from getting wet in the H2O Throw game. By winning challenges, children earn points to use to buy materials such as duct tape, boxes, and skateboards that they transform into one-of-a-kind land sleds! At the end of the week, teams participate in the highly anticipated X-treme obstacle course to discover whose land sleds can cross the finish line victoriously. They swerve around cones and dodge water balloons to win the title of X-treme Land Sled Racer.

I Can Invent: Fantasy Inventions & Complicated Machines II™
The I Can Invent: Fantasy Inventions & Complicated Machines II module illustrates the joys (and frustrations) that real inventors face during the process of creating totally new inventions. Creative problem solving is fostered as children imagine and assemble the unthinkable! Younger children create fantasy inventions using pieces and parts of broken appliances and other recyclable materials. They further explore the process of invention as they market their inventions and apply for (and even receive) mock patents. Older children work in teams to build complicated, multi-step machines that solve a challenge. A participant favorite, children of all ages find this module incredibly challenging and exciting!

Recess Remix™
Twist it, turn it, shake it, and reverse it! This summer, children mix up and fast forward traditional playground games to concoct unique recreational experiences that will have them rolling on the floor laughing! In the Recess Remix module, children are challenged to use nontraditional equipment (such as water balloons) to play classic games. Each day features fresh ideas that will have children mentally and physically engaged and completely entertained. The laughter is contagious as children use fun ways to enhance their level of cooperation and coordination in these innovative, team-building exercises. Children's minds are put to the test as they combine physical activity and creativity to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary!

On Friday, the parents are invited to the "inventors showcase" where we get to see all of the cool projects they did. I will take pics so you can see :)