Summerland, Mt. Rainier

My parents invited Erik and Destiny hiking this weekend (well more of a casual walk around Sunrise at Mt. Rainier) but Erik had to do some hard construction work so he was too tired.  I called my parents to tell them they couldn't go (they were at our house) and asked if I could go instead.

While they had a casual walk planned for Erik and Destiny, apparently that was not the case for me.  I guess they decided to try a new hike at Mt. Rainier to Summerland.  Round-trip it is 8.5 miles and there's a 1500 ft elevation gain.  I am not in shape since the baby and my legs were KILLING me.  It was pretty steep in some spots and was constantly going up at some point.  We were almost to the top (but didn't know it yet) and I saw a lady that had to be at least 85 on her way down with a bunch of other older folks that encouraged us to keep going right as it was getting hard to lift my legs another step.  I still have no idea how all those people made it up- I hope I'm in that great of shape when I'm old!

We started in a forest with a few random streams, then went over a log to cross a river, and ended up switch backing through a few meadows of wildflowers.  It was beautiful!  You could see the top of the mountain and the glaciers since we were pretty close to the top right below the snow line.  We actually passed some snow.  When we got to the top, it was even more beautiful.  My dad described it as hobbit land lol.  It was a huge meadow with a big stream going through.  There was a "bathroom" (composting shack) up there and a little covering you can sleep in if you camp up there.  There's poles to hang your food from to keep them from bears.  A marmot even ran right across my path.  We stopped to eat snacks on some boulders, making sure to rock-hop as to not step on the meadow.  The way down was easier, but our dusty feet hurt and it was really hard on my knees.  I couldn't even walk after getting out of the car.  I would definitely say it was worth it though!  I can't wait to go back when I've done some squats to build up my legs first :)

The bear pole

Buckley to Orting Half Marathon

Early this morning Andy headed off to Orting to get shuttled to Buckley for his half marathon.  The rest of us headed to my parents to sardine into my car to go to soccer (I wouldn't be able to assist Sawyer with Kellan there). Grandpa helped Sawyer play soccer.

First they were mailmen and had to dribble while delivering "mail" (cones) to the "houses" (flags)

Next, they had to be firemen and put out the "fires" (cones) by kicking the ball at them and knocking them over

Afterwards we piled into the car and headed to Orting to meet Andy at the finish of his half marathon.

Here is how it went according to Andy:

They all got in the shuttle and arrived in Buckley.  They then gave them all their swag bags.  The runners asked where the bag check was and they realized there wasn't one so a race volunteer just piled all the stuff in his van with their name on it.  The race was going fine until they had a water station at MILE 1!  Maybe its just me but I don't think you belong in a half marathon if you need a break at one mile.  They then had one at mile 3.  Then they had one at 11.  Seriously?  Andy was dying in the middle and just needed some water but had to wait forever!  Just about 4 miles Andy and about 20 runners around him hit a road block.  No joke.  The trail wasn't properly marked!  Fortunately a guy kind of new the area and led them through a field and a bridge and a hill to get back on the trail A MILE AND A HALF out of the way.  Anyways, Andy checked his app and after 13.1 miles (the half marathon) he was at 2:03:53.  His final distance was exactly 4.6 miles and his time then was around 2:18.  He wasn't very thrilled with the race organizers, but at least he is ahead of schedule now for his marathon training ;)  He did very well considering he was getting like 4 hours of sleep each night this week, pulled a hammy last week, and has a huge gash on the other thigh!

Sweaty man with his headband mark (he has an awesome Halo headband)

Free shoes and other news

Yesterday I got a phone call while I was at work.  South Sound Running opened a store in Puyallup yesterday and the raffle ticket I filled out at Meeker Days was chosen for a free pair of running shoes!!!  That is the store Andy bought his shoes at in Tacoma.

It is really cool.  You go in and take off your shoes and they look at your feet, then they bring out shoes that match your foot shape.  I have a harder time finding good shoes because my feet are wide (they aren't fat- the bones stick out lol).  They have big open stores with all the stuff on the walls so they have you jog down and back and they check out how they make you run.  They suggest which ones you look the best in gait-wise (I had good form in two different shoes) and then you pick which ones are most comfortable.  They said to pick the kind that feel most like your feet- nothing uncomfortable is sticking out.  The winner for me was New Balance 860 V3's in pink.  The shoes were $115 and we walked out paying only $13 at the store and that was all in Gu for Andy!  The next best part is that they have a 30 day return policy where they encourage you to put a bunch of miles on them.  If you have pain or they just feel weird, you can exchange them!

These are neon pink- I have a shirt the same color

Afterwards I had to go back to work to work on a big refresh for our store.  We all had to be there until 11:30 that night but we got free pizza at least and it was kind of fun.

Before

35 boxes of new stuff

The new walls

Other things that have been happening...

Kellan is good at standing now.  It's actually a process to try to get him to sit because he puts his legs stiff.  He just has to balance on our hands, otherwise it's all him. He doesn't try to walk yet.  He doesn't yet roll but he flips his body to the side and gives himself little pushes to try to get over, but he just can't quite get over his arm yet.

Our bushes we planted last year got a couple blueberries (I weeded right after I took this, don't freak)

A little bit of this in the afternoon

And a little bit of this in the morning

Soccer day

Yesterday we woke up early to go to Sawyer's soccer camp.  Normally me and Kellan stay home and sleep a little longer since the camp starts at 9:00 and is almost to Fife, and getting 2 kids ready takes a lot more effort.  He is definitely better than last year.  He dribbles the ball really well.  They had them say the shapes on a piece of paper and then go to the colored flag that matched each shape.  At the end he did well during "goal time" and went quickly.
Here's the video

Next we went to the Farmer's market to eat.  Sawyer wanted "that pink thing" (cotton candy) so we told him he could have it if he finished a corn dog.  He ate the whole thing really quick (well, I ate some of the crispies because it was the most delicious corn dog ever).  I had the usual Philly, and andy had an italian sausage stuffed hero which he still is talking about.

He likes crossing the street because you get to hold the flags

We met up with Jenna and she and I got on the train to the Sounder's game.  Sawyer was so sad he didn't get to go on the train that he wouldn't even say bye to us.  After we left he said "I wost my mom and auntie Jemma. I don't want them to go on the train"  Andy sent me that and I felt so bad!

We got there and had a lot of fun.  It was a tie, but 1-1 so at least we got to see them score!

The boys were dressed for soccer too.  Sawyer loves holding Kellan but they aren't too different in size that it is pretty funny.

We didn't do much the rest of the day.  Sawyer went out to play with his friends but he does that a couple times a day now.  We put Kel in his swing wich is funny because it is tilty and he always ends up like this by the end.

Conversations with a three-year-old

Although I hate driving so far out of my way to get the kids (my commute home should be no more than 10 minutes, but with daycare it takes 45 minutes to an hour), I always enjoy the ride from daycare to home.  It usually starts with Sawyer tattling on someone ("Ali hit LJ and made him cry") but also contains random conversations that only a three-year-old can provide.  Here is an example from yesterday.

Actually, before we got in the car Eli was stepping on the car seat and Sawyer yells at him "Don't kill my Kellan!  He's too little!"

"Mommy?"
"What?"
"Love you"
"You too"

"Mommy?"
"What?"
"Love you"
"You too"

"Mommy?"
"What?"
"Stinky butt"
"What? You're silly"

"Stinky butt stinky butt stinky head stinky head poopy head poopy head poopy head poopy head"

"Ok that's annoying"

He then proceeds to sing this version of itsy bitsy:

"Itsy wittle spider up a water spout.  Down came the rain and washed the spider out.  Down came the sun and down came the rain.  Itsy wittle spider up a water spout.  Down came the rain and washed the spider out"....and repeat and repeat and repeat and repeat

"Stinky tree stinky tree stinky tree"

"Mom?"
"What?"
"Those trees have butts"
"That's ridiculous"
"Noooooo, that's not a diculous.  That's a necklace.  You look pretty in a necklace. (He then proceeds to ramble on for 5 minutes where I hear the word necklace every now and then)

"Mommy?  Where are we going?"
"Home"
"Ohhhh.  Is daddy home?"
"I don't know."
"Oh.  He IIIIIS home."
"If you say so"

We then got into the neighborhood and I saw that Andy was, in fact, home.

Me: "You were right, he was home"
"I know"

Big boys

It's funny how there are random little things that remind you that your kids are growing up.  Lately, the neighborhood kids come to our door and ask, "Can Sawyer play?" and we let him go out and play with them.  They always walk him home when they are done so he is never left alone, but it makes him seem much more like a big kid than a toddler now. He also runs around saying the alphabet non-stop, which even though he could recognize all the letters for over a year now, makes him seem bigger too.

Little chunkaroo is getting bigger too.  He is a whole 3 months now.  He spins around in his little play gym, he pushes with his legs in his bouncy seat to where he almost pops out the top (his legs are super strong, he can stand but not balance on anything), he grabs toys to play with them, and he solidly holds up his head and shoulders all the way and looks around without having a bobbing head anymore.  He sometimes still gets up once to eat at night...I think he is just getting hungrier as he gets bigger even though he eats 5 oz. sometimes more.  He still isn't growing his hair any longer, just a little blonde fuzz. I haven't weighed him lately, but he is DENSE.  He isn't overly chunky compared to other babies, but I lift him and he is deceptively heavy.

Rainiers

Krissy wanted to go to the Rainiers game for her birthday so we bought some grass seats, which are only $7 and apparently the place to be when you have kids.  It started out kind of rough, Kellan threw up on his clothes (he's had a cough and it gags him sometimes to where he spits up- normally he doesn't spit up at all), and Sawyer didn't put the lid on the water bottle so I knocked it over, Kellan pooped which is always a pain when out in public, and Leslie's mom bought them tickets in the seats so they weren't by us.  Things did turn around though, Andy caught a shirt that Rhubarb (the reindeer mascot) threw, Leslie and Vanessa (her niece) came to play with Sawyer and they played catch and raced up and down the hill, and eventually Leslie's mom and Krissy joined us which was fun.  The night ended with a great firework show too!

outfit 2

We caught a shirt!

A third random boy showed up to race Sawyer and Vanessa