Bike Rodeo 2013

This weekend was another annual church event—the bike rodeo. This time of year, the weather can be absolutely perfect, or it can be hot and humid. This year was the hot and humid year, and it doesn’t help that everyone is wearing boots and denim! Thankfully, the clouds covered the sun every once in a while and there was a slight breeze so we did get a little relief.

 The kids, however, did not mind a bit. This was Brooke’s first year doing the “real” competing on her tiny bike with training wheels. I’m not sure if getting pulled through the grass on the bike by the clowns (since she couldn’t get any traction) really qualifies, but she did go home with a few ribbons and my little city girl won first place in the sling shot competition—that’s my girl! ;)

Joe played, rode horses, panned for "gold" and raced in “For Little Bear” where the smaller kids spend their day. Even though Nathan isn’t it his class, he was able to play in there as well and loved it! It’s crazy to me that I don’t really have a baby anymore—I have 3 little independent kids!

It’s always a great time and so fun seeing everyone in their “cowboy” gear—even if it’s just a plaid shirt and jeans. We all bring yummy potluck dishes and a man in our church smokes his famous brisket for everyone. We’re so thankful for our hard working and dedicated clubs leaders who put so much time, effort and money into making this day run smoothly and tons of fun for the kids!

Today it was back to school, cleaning and grocery shopping. Hope you all had a great weekend and start to your week!

Walk-A-Thon 2011

Every year, our church host's a walk-a-thon for younger kids and bike rally for the older ones to raise money for their clubs program throughout the year, activities, camping trips, youth camp, missions trips, etc. They go out for a few weeks before to get sponsorship. It's a lot of hard work but it's a great way for the kids to help pay for some of the many expenses it takes to run the programs.

 Brookie did so good asking for sponsorship--I was SO proud of her! She is very shy, but she looked each person in the eye and explained what she was doing and who could resist? :)

The morning of her walk

I planned on Joey walking as well...Brookie did it when she was 2 I figured he could too :)

We filled them up with lots of carbs and protein (and chemicals, saturated fat and grease--but oh well, it was a special day!)

That belly on the left? That's why little brother was walking too ;)

We were blessed with a beautiful day! It was partly cloudy, didn't get much above the 90's and there was a beautiful breeze! 

Love their little shadows

Walking can be very distracting for little boys...so many trees, and rocks and grass!

Come to find out, a mile is a little long for a 1.5 year old to walk (without it taking hours). More than anything he was way too distracted! He walked half a mile and daddy rescued him while Brookie and I finished

So excited to be nearing the finish line! She did a great job!

Later, Nate and I took advantage of the beautiful trail and rode our bikes 6 miles. He was pulling the kids in the trailer on the back.

All that riding wore him out :)

I'm so proud of my little girl! She raised several hundred dollars for her walk-a-thon and was a real trooper!

Next year he'll be walking the whole mile too!

On the way home, the kids were rewarded with a special treat--a cream slush from sonic. Of course it was grape because purple is Brooklynne's favorite color!

When we came home, we ate lunch, took naps and then went swimming. It was such a fun day!

Night's Alone...

I hate them. Nate is at a boy's camping trip this weekend.

It's 105 degrees with about 100% humidity.

WHO, may I ask, goes CAMPING in TX in the middle of August?

My crazy husband.

Because he loves the boys that he works with in the club ministry. It's their last camp out before school begins. You better believe that those kids were super excited to go sleep in tents, play football, go swimming in the lake and eat food cooked over a fire. I'm pretty sure my man would rather be sleeping in his own bed tonight in the cool air conditioning, but he has chose to sacrifice a little (or A LOT in my eyes) to do something the boys love and to be someone they can look up to as a great example.

Oh, and he brought an air conditioning unit for the tent. Who thinks of that but someone who works in engineering?

So, I'm alone on my Friday night and Saturday, but very happy that Nate can do something like this for the boys! And I tend to take after my Mother in the whole my hubby-is-gone-let's-party mode. :) My sweet MIL took me out to lunch, shopping and Starbucks today. Jason's Deli salad bar--the best! The Children's Place had an extra 20% off clearance, plus I had a 20% off coupon on top of that, plus it's tax free weekend. I paid thrift-store prices for brand new, name brand clothes for Joe! YAY!

After that I picked the kids up, made a gourmet dinner of fish sticks and tomatoes with ranch dressing, ran a mile pushing the kids in the jogger (my second work out for the day--still working off that NY pizza!), baths, jammies, bed for the kiddos, and now I'm going to fold laundry while watching a girlie movie.

And very happy that while my husband ministers, I'm ministering to him by "letting" him go and taking care of my children and house while he's gone.

And since any very random post is better with a picture, here's one from when we were in the Chicago Airport Children's Museum on our 3.5 hour layover on the way home a few weeks ago. If you ever have a long layover, try to plan it there! The museum was perfect for the kids to let out lots of energy, and soon after they took a nice nap in the stroller. :) And it was FREE! :)

Missions Dress up Night

Wednesday night was missions dress up night in clubs. Our missions conference starts on Sunday, so they like to get the kids prepared as much as they can. We dressed her as an Italian girl and she won best dressed! :) We were all dying because she looked so cute the whole night. :)

Awards Night

Brooke has only been in clubs for 2 and a half months, but they had their awards ceremony last night and she was so cute. It actually made me feel so old, because I remember my own awards ceremonies from AWANA. I can't believe my own daughter is doing it now!

I couldn't really get a picture of them handing her anything, but here she is starting to walk off the stage (pink plka dot dress) after she got it. I was just glad she didn't start crying or anything. :)

When she came back to the pew, opening her prize :)
a PURSE! What better gift for a 2 year old girlie-girl than that?

So yeah, I was the typical Mom snapping pictures like crazy. I'm so proud of my little 2 year old who is growing up so quickly! I can't believe how time has flown!

Walk-A-Thon

Brookie completed her mile walk-a-thon to raise her money for clubs! She raised more than she needed! :) I was sick and didn't get to go with her so of course I was extremely disappointed, but Nate took her and said she did great! The picture makes it look like it was a hot desert out there, but the trail was paved and well shaded and Brooke kept saying it was, "pretty".


Afterwards Daddy took her out for a smoothie which she guzzled right up. He was so sweet and brought me home one too!

I just wanted to end with this picture of my two loves in the pool the other day. Around here there is not much to do besides swim, so we've been doing a lot of that! At least going to the pool a few times a week! Brookie is getting a nice Italian tan--thankfully she inherited the nice olive skin-tone--thanks Nonnie and Poppy! :)

(She looks like she wasn't having fun, she just didn't want to take time away from her duckies to take the picture :)

All Grown Up!

Before she went into clubs for the first time Wednesday night. She get's extra points for bringing her Bible and offering. :)

At our church, once the kids turn two, it's no more nursery for them! They get to go to Master Clubs on Wednesday nights and Sunday School on Sunday morning. Sunday night they sit with their parents in church. I admit I was a little nervous about sending Brookie to clubs with all the "big kids". The age group she's in is 2-3 year olds, but all the kids are 3, going on 4. In about 6 months she will have several little girls (all her buddies :) come in there with her. But, she LOVED it! She colored and made a craft and sang songs and started learning her memory verse. She came home saying, "I love Clubs!" and has been talking about it ever since. When I asked her about it she kept saying, "shhh, quiet, shhh quiet" cause they must have been telling her that the whole time!

She's also been singing songs all the time and very loud which she makes up. :) I can't believe that it was such a short time ago that I put her in the infant nursery, then toddlers and now she's a little club member!