Pints To Pasta 10K Race

Kristin was leaving to work at and then run in the Pints to Pasta 10K race that Adidas sponsors in Portland. She is giving little man a hug before she hits the road! (Ruby was still in bed.)

Good Bye Nanny Rach!

On Sept. 10th Rachael flew to Austria for a 3 month missions/discipleship/service trip. We were all so excited for her to be able to take this kind of an adventure --especially since she has never been outside the USA. Rachael was the twins' nanny for over 3 years and was such a huge part of their lives. All of us considered her to be a GIFT FROM GOD and were so grateful that she answered the ad Kristin placed for a nanny!

Rachael took these pics the last week she was with the kids.

We LOVE you and will miss you, Nanny Rach!

Rise and Shine

He did it again!

Another gloriously gorgeous sunrise!

Thank you God.

I admit, I'm addicted to taking pictures of God's free artwork.

(6:45 AM sunrise over Seattle from my deck)

1st. Day Of Preschool

It is really hard for me to think that my twinners are old enough to begin preschool! (But I KNOW they are very ready.) They will be attending 3 full days a week and Grandma Carrie will take care of them the other 2 days. Here they are at home before taking off. Love that Mexican dress and cute plaid shirt. Thank you Nanny Rach for french-braiding Ru's hair. I guess they are checking each other to make sure everything is in place. I LOVE how they are connected at the hip (look how close they are standing to each other!) So far Kristin just sent me this one picture from inside the classroom. I'm sure there was a lot going on for her to be snapping photos! They are attending Cornerstone Christian School in Vancouver. Lunch is provided and they have a rest/nap period in the afternoon. (I see Ruby is wearing the silver and turquoise bracelet I got her in Puerto Vallarta when she was just an infant. )

I was a preschool teacher many years ago at the Gingerbread House in Riverside, CA. I loved that job and learned so much about working with children from the lady who owned it. It kind of makes me wish I could be Ruby and Carson's teacher! Maybe someday I can be the "guest granny/teacher" ......

Hiking

Sept. 6th was Nanny Rach's official last day of being the twins' nanny. She wanted to give them a very special day, so they went on a hike and ended with a picnic. Rachael said the kids were so good and never complained once about the long walk -- she thought they walked about 2 miles, up and down small inclines. The only time she had to carry Ruby was when she fell and skinned her knee. When they got back home Ruby was so exhausted and true to form, she has meltdowns when she needs a nap. Ruby will even say "I NEED A NAP!" Rachael had washed Ruby's "softie" before they left and it was in the dryer downstairs. Ruby thinks she needs softie to be able to sleep, so Rachael ran downstairs to get it, and before she could get back upstairs with softie,

Ruby was down-for-the count!

OUCH!

When you are 3, there are lots of "firsts". This was his first bee or yellow jacket sting. That tasty Popsicle in the back yard at G.ma and G.pa's was too much of a lure. Casey said he has never heard such a scream from Carson, and of course as soon as Carson cried, Ruby chimed in too. The baking soda seemed to soothe him a bit. No stinger was found, so they are thinking yellow jacket. As Casey said "Well, at least we know he isn't allergic to stings!"

(I love you little buddy!)

Old Favorite Photo

AH, my sweet babies! This photo was taken when the twins were 1 year old by the professional photographer. It has been a favorite of mine for quite a while and is on my computer desktop so each time I open my computer I see their smiling faces staring back at me. Casey's grandpa made this wagon for him as a little boy. Grandpa Ray repainted it for the twins.

Kristin and Casey recently had the twins photographed for their 3rd birthday and I'm eagerly awaiting new professional pictures of them. But for now . . . here is my fav! ENJOY

Gardening With Grandma and Grandpa

The twins are over with Grandma Carrie and Grandpa Ray this weekend. Here they are helping in the garden. They are holding carrots that just pulled out. (Carrie told me Ruby started to eat hers, tops and all!)

Below they are helping Grandpa look for moles! HOW fun is THAT?????

Thank you G.ma and G.pa for taking such great care of R&C while Casey is at a Beaver football game and Kristin is away at a bachelorette adventure!

He Is In My Heart!

Tonight Kristin and Casey took the kids for a ride in their new Burley Bike Trailer after dinner. Kristin said to Carson "We need to hurry because God is going to be putting the sun away!" To that Carson replied "How can God do that mommy? He is in my heart!"

Yes, Buddy. Jesus Loves you and lives in your heart!

AND He can make the sun set and rise!

Hood-To-Coast Results

Kristin just learned that their Team Adivas came in second in the corporate women's category! Way to go ladies!

This picture is her team at the finish line. (Kristin 2nd from left, standing)

This is her van team members at the finish line. I believe Kristin ran the last leg of the 200 miles, hence the #40 still on her shirt and running shoes on her feet!

Kristin's team captain just sent out their individual results. Here are Kristin's....

Leg 1..... 50:18 6.75 miles (7:45 minute/mile pace)

Leg 2..... 42:00 5.23 miles (8 minute/mile pace)

Leg 3..... 37.50 5.35 miles (7 minute/mile pace)

Burley Bike Trailer

After having SOOOO much fun with the Burley Bike Trailer on vacation, they had to buy one!

(I love that they have on their helmets and seat belts)

Lawn Boy

Anyone need a good lawn-boy?

Hood-To-Coast - 30th Anniversary

Kristin ran in her 4th Hood-to-Coast race this weekend. The 15,000 runners (1250 teams) start on top of Mt. Hood on Friday morning and end at the Oregon Coast on Saturday. She was part of an all women's team from Adidas, called

"The Adivas". There are 12 per team, with 6 members per van. (Kristin is 3rd from right in photo). This is the longest relay race in the world, covering 200 miles. Teams from 50 states and 35 countries compete. Each team member runs about 3 legs that are around 5-10 miles each. Kristin ran about 20 miles all total and said she did her best times ever.

As they ran through Portland Friday evening, Casey took the twins down to see their mommy and cheer her on. Carson asked "mommy, when can I run this race?"

The last two photos were taken at the finish line. (Kristin is #40) Her team did very well. (notice their official team name on the jerseys that Adidas made for them)

Backyard Cool Down

Even Snowy and Sonny wanted to cool down! (if you click on the picture below you will see that Snowy's tongue is out, just like the kids!)

This was Carson doing the Hokey-Pokey (and putting his back-side in!)

Franklin Elementary School Playground

Today Kristin and I took the kids to the local elementary school to ride bikes and play. Carson insisted on riding his PlasmaCar all the way there, and he did! Ruby is just beginning to ride her little princess bike and is doing very well. Ruby didn't want to take off her princess helmet on the playground!

That pink ball to Carson's right is Ruby with the helmet on, doing the swing "all by myself!"

This little monkey is so strong!

And he is ALL-BOY!

I was being rather nostalgic today as the kids played at this school yard. This is the school I would stroll the babies by each time I took them for a walk when they were wee ones. I remember looking over at the children playing on the play equipment and thinking how big they were and that it would be a long time before my little ones would be big enough to play on that equipment. That times has come. I remember when we brought the kids up to the soccer field at this school when they were just beginning to walk, and how they would fall down often on the grass, but get back up and try again. (see Aug 10, 2009 on my blog and scroll down to where they are playing on the local school grounds). Wow, time sure flies when your grandchildren are growing up!

Big Kids Beds

Yesterday was the first step in getting big kids beds. Casey took the front side off the cribs. Both kids were so excited to have something different. They both stayed put in the beds and didn't get out. I snuck in while they were sleeping and took these pictures. The flash didn't wake them up!

At 6:15 AM I peeked in at Ruby and she was sitting up in the bed, so I clicked a picture. It was dark in her room and I didn't realize her eyes were shut. She was awake, but still didn't get out of the bed by herself. Carson enjoyed a book in bed in the morning.

Sand Puppy!

When Kristin was in Jr. Lifeguards they called kids that got wet and rolled in the sand "sand puppies". Today Ruby did her version of that. She was having such fun in the wet sand and it felt so good to rub it all over her legs and arms. Ahhh, to be a kid again!