The dress-up box :)

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

(I know it's not Friday, but I meant to post this on Friday....) :)

Harvest Party!

Every year, on Halloween, the Blanchard's have a harvest party in their barn. 

Everyone dresses up, brings food and candy to share... and has a great time! 

Their were lots of people this year. The barn was just big enough to squeeze everyone in.  :)

Micah was dressed up as Sherlock Holmes. 

Leah made such a cute Viking! (Isn't that an oxymoron??) 

Witch fingers for desert! Mmm... delicious. ;)

Bryanna was a cowgirl and Kara...

...looked as though she had just come from a masquerade ball. :)

I was a nun and Ashley was a "swing girl" from the 1920's. I ignored the fact that her skirt barely covered her knees (*shame on her!*) and... we were friends. ;)

Zech, the banana discussing the meaning of life with grandfather Joshua. 

Elisha and Dawson were both rock stars. :)

Carmen and Jodi... such pretty witches. (Another oxymoron... Hmmm...) 

Willow, The White Witch and her partner in crime Sadie, The Wicked Witch of the West. 

Mr. and Mrs. Phillips... aka.... Ebony and Ivory. :)

I said a blessing for my cowgirl friend who was on a hangover. ;)

She's short and skinny, but she's strong! 

Joelle made a feisty grandma. Funny, but feisty. :) 

Here I am helping my two elderly friends to enjoy the party. (They could cut a mean rug.) :)

Dawson the rock star. 

Chani made a great marathon finisher.... one would think she had actually done one before. ;)

Manny and Sarah right after the pie eating contest. 

Eli won the pie eating contest. :)

I love this picture of Thea and Joelle. :)

It was a fun night of food, friends, fellowship, funny costumes. :) 

I can't wait for next year!! 

:D

Ode To My Eight-Legged Friend

Once upon a time, there was a spider who lived a long, happy life. 

Here is his life story. 

Harold was a spider, he was my spider friend. 

He lived a long and happy life, all the way until the end. 

The first time I saw Harold, he was sitting in the corner...

Of my bathroom ceiling, he was quite the loner. 

I looked at him while in the shower, and we became good friends...

But, when I got out, I moved on with life, and I forgot about him. 

The next morning while fixing my hair, I felt some eyes upon me.

Looking up I spotted Harold, he had a smile, I could see.

I smiled back, but then stopped dead, a web I saw he'd spun.

Then looking him square in the face I thought, "I'll get this one". 

But, my name was called and once again, Harold was forgotten...

And all the while he was sitting there on his web of fluffy cotton. 

It wasn't long again before, I spotted my eight legged friend.

He was above the door this time, so I knew his life must end. 

Close to escape, I had to hurry, I didn't have much time.

I called my brother, he came a'runnin to smash Harold into slime. 

With one big swat he came tumbling down, and went to heaven knows where.

After searching in vain both high and low, he was discovered in D's hair. 

With a shake and a fling of his golden-brown locks, Harold was flung to floor.

There was no breath, there was no pulse... poor Harold was no more.

Harold was a real good friend, the best spider in our town.

We said some words and shed a tear before we flushed him down.

R.I.P. 

Harold "Itsy Bitsy" Spider

10/14/11~10/24/11

Frisbee Pro

Marathon... the full story.

This post is going to be a little different then most pervious posts. Instead of posting pictures and videos of the marathon I decided to put them all together into a video/slideshow. Hey, I had a lot of time on my hands, on Monday, while I was resting. :) 


The video starts with us pinning on our bibs and trying to figure out where to go, to get to our waves. (The race started in 3 waves. Walkers, runners, and experienced runners). But, really our day started long before that. At 4.15 to be exact. I barely had enough time to get out of bed, get dressed and braid my hair, before everyone arrived at our house, at 4.50, to load up. Eli, Luke, the rest of my family, and all 9 other runners carpooled up together. On the ride there, Katelyn, Bethany and I were bouncing off the walls, to say the least. When we got to Portland it was 6.15 and still dark out. We jumped out and Dad and Luke went to park the cars. That's where the pictures start. :) We hunted for our waves, and then prayed together before we split up. We wished each other good luck and were off! 

My time was 6.33. I was hoping to get 5.30, but my knees were really hurting me for the last 4 or 5 miles. Thank goodness I had my knee braces (and Brittney)! We walked/ran the end of the race. I'm going to do it again next year and try to blow my time out of the water. =) 

Here are a few more pictures....

Brittney and I one mile away!!

Almost there!

We all look so chipper for being so tired. 

We had a FANTASTIC cheering section!!!! Thank you all for being there. The support was amazing! :)

We were so excited to see that finish line!! :D

Bethany pointing the way for her mom. 

It was chilly, but friends showed up and braved the cold weather to cheer us on. 

What good friends! :)

All done. :)

The boys were such good sports. I mean, I'm sure they enjoyed it for the first couple of hours, but after sitting at the finish line for 5 hours I think they were ready to go eat. :)

So happy to be done!!

We ended our day by going out to eat at a BBQ restaurant. Mmm... great way to end the day. Food! ;) As soon as we left the parking lot, on our way home, I zonked out. I was so pooped out! I was finally warm, full, tired and comfortable. Ahh...

It's hard to believe that it was a whole year ago when we all put our hands on the table, and made our decision to run a marathon together. 

Now one year later, with friendships (and legs) grown stronger...

WE COMPLETED A MARATHON!! 

:D

Not your typical morning

This morning is weird. 
I feel like I got hit by a semi truck because I'm so sore. 
Joelle has a fever and has been downstairs since yesterday morning. 
Brock got a new drum-set and has been on it ALL morning. 
Dawson's poor back is giving him troubles so he's not his normal goofy self...and last but not least...
Mom's glasses broke. 


The only normal thing is that Dad is gone at work. 


I can't wait to not be sore anymore!! I have to start training again ASAP because Gabrielle and I are doing a half marathon up at Silver Falls on November 5th. 


Being sore makes you very, very tired. Taking a nap before noon makes the morning even weirder. ;)


*sigh*

MARATHON!!

I'm so glad that, with God's help, I was able to finish the marathon yesterday.

Mom, Chani, Bethany, Kelly, Katelyn, Suzanne, Jodi, Carmen and Brittney... you are all amazing!!

I'm so glad to have done it, say I did it, and be done. :)

More pictures and video coming soon!!