The Hiawatha Trail

You start in Montana and then you

make your way into Idaho. Isn't it beautiful? Jeremy and I are going back next Spring, it was so amazing we can't wait to do it again. So this is the trip in pictures. All 15 miles of it.

Jeremy getting all the gear out for everyone.

Helmets are required and bike lights are strongly recommended.

Making our way to the trailhead.

The Hiawatha route ran from Chicago to Seattle.

Warren and Breanne came with us.

Jeremy and me at the first tunnel opening. This is the longest tunnel on the trail measuring in at approximately 1.66 miles. It is long, dark, wet, and cold- BUT so much fun!!

The "other" side.

These tunnels were dug by hand in 1909!

A little waterfall along the way.

One of the many bridges you make your way across.

Taking a picture break.

On this trail you go through 10 tunnels and 7 high tressel bridges.

And if you look down this is what you'll see. You can barely see the river in the middle of the screen in the picture below.

"Isn't this the best?"



The view from one bridge to the other.

This is what it looks like in one of the lighter tunnels.

We had so much fun! Who's coming next year??

If you still need more convincing go here!

Is that BO or Salsa?

I spent multiple hours today canning salsa with Jessica. We still aren't sure if its going to turn out, it smelled a little funky. We'll see if fermenting for a few months on the shelf helps it out.

Just a Reminder

I'm hosting my Scentsy Open House

TONIGHT

from 6-9 pm

Stop by for a visit,

even if you aren't in purchase

mode you'll enjoy some great company!

The Indian Summer Half Marathon

Finally, a good 9 days after the fact I'm posting about the half marathon.

I went to bed around 10:30 Friday night not feeling nervous at all. Then I woke up at 6:44, exactly one minute before the alarm and got myself dressed and ready to go. I don't think I was even nervous until Amy and Jessica pulled up and I started thinking to myself "What am I doing?" Luckily both of them owned up to similar feelings.

We arrived safely at Columbia Point and checked and got our T-shirts and numbers. With the coveted race T-shirt in hand we considered climbing back in the car and calling it good.

You wouldn't believe how many familiar faces we saw- which was good until EVERY SINGLE PERSON told us they were there to do the 5k. Jessica and I kept looking at each other and wondering if we were really as stupid as we felt entering this race after a mere 4 weeks of preparation. Oh well.

We lined up at the starting gate and awaited our fate. The starting alarm went off and we began our 13.1 mile journey. We were doing great, so well in fact that at the turn-around point for the 5 k race I asked Jess if she wanted to finish early... BUT we kept going.

We ran past Howard Amon, through Leslie Groves, past WSU-TC, and waved to Calaway's house across the river and then FINALLY we came to our turn-around point only to have to pass all those point in reverse. The big pick up for us was seeing how many people were actually behind us. We thought maybe 2 or 3, but there were at least 15. We were the front runners in the slow category!!

We were awesome, only stopping to walk between mile 7.5 and 8.0 because neither of us are coordinated enough to drink and run at the same time. Then we stopped again between mile 10.0 and 11.0 , but after that it was all running. The last mile seemed so long, but as soon as the finish was in view, Jess and I sprinted to the finish line where our families were eagerly waiting for us.

It was a great feeling to finally be finished running and Jeremy, Kaden and Brynnlee even had a "prize" for me. A bag chuck full of foot lotion, foot soaks, massage lotion, bubble bath, a new shower pouf, and a new watch (which I was totally needing).

So after a few waters and Gatorades we headed home where I grabbed a quick shower before we spent the afternoon looking for desks. Kaden and I even spared a few minutes to play Guitar Hero at Best Buy... and then we went to Mid-Columbia Gymnastics where Tia and Howie were celebrating their birthdays. What a long day!

Jeremy asked me after catching my breath if finishing made me want to do a Marathon and I said "No. Doing this makes me NOT want to do a Marathon."

However just like childbirth, the memory is already fading after 9 days and I'm softening to the idea- but only slightly.

Fondant Fairy

I'm teaching a class tonight at Enrichment. Are any of you coming?

I have been working my fingers to the bone getting everything ready for tonight amongst the 100's of other tasks that are currently consuming my life- BUT it should be fun.

The two cakes I'm demonstrating on tonight are baked and frosted, and I'm trying keep myself from smashing my face directly into them. They smell so good. Everytime I pass by its a struggle to calm my nerves. Sugar, apparently, is addictive.

No Time, But Check This Out

I have no time to blog, but when I'm finished I'll let you know why. In the meantime, check these two links out. This is what happens when girls from Albuquerque go on a roadtrip. Be glad this wasn't you Lins... the Seattle trip sounded like it was hard enough on you. Happy reading!!

http://llegue.blogspot.com/2007/09/carte-blanche-for-rest-of-year.html

http://mistylynnwhat.blogspot.com/2007/09/good-bad-and-flamin-of-our-convention.html

Whirlwind

I'm back! After a week without a computer you would not believe how many new posts I had waiting for me .... 128 to be exact. And who knew PB was such a hot topic? Thanks Marilyn for defending my honor. The 1/2 was great and I'll post about it later, but today I have more important things occupying my time. Such as

A BIRTHDAY GIRL!

Two years ago, I can't believe it! Brynnlee was born on a Saturday night. Let me rewind to the Sunday morning prior.

I was getting Kaden ready for church. We were sitting at the top of the stairs in our brand spankin new house. We were chatting about what all mommas and 23 month olds chat about... I can't remember. But I asked Kaden "When is your sister coming?"

"On Friday." was his very quick and confident reply.

"Oh really? That would be nice. Acutally that wouldn't be good at all." Then I proceeded to list off all the reason's: number one being I would miss her baby shower scheduled for Saturday, and two being that she would be 3 weeks early. I totally had my priorities straight.

Thursday I have an appt with Dr. T. He balks at my 5 lb weight gain in one week and tells me I need to come to the hospital to be monitored tomorrow since he's on call. Since I am naive, and assume this is the same monitoring that I did with Kaden 3 times a week for the last 4 weeks of his pregnancy I call my SIL Andrea to watch Kaden head to the hospital. I'll just be a few hours I tell her.

8 HOURS later and still strapped to the monitors in the triage room I call Andrea and tell her I dont' know what is going on. Meanwhile, Jeremy has called like 5 times asking me what I am doing and what he needs to do. I tell him all I know, which would be, nothing.

Finally, Dr. T comes in and tells me the news. I have severe pre-eclampsia, and they would normally send me home and put me on bedrest BUT blah blah blah .... they keep talking about my diagnosis and I don't pay attention until they say:

"you have such a high risk of seizures that we are just going to admit you and enduce you tomorrow."

"WHAT??"

So, I call Jeremy and ask him to take off work tomorrow, call Andrea to keep Kaden, and pack my bag and bring it to the hospital. Meanwhile, I call Paula and ask her to cancel tomorrow's shower.

Jeremy was supposed to do the Columbia River Swim the next day, which I told him he could still do but he waited in that hospital room all night and day with me, except for the few hours where he snuck across the street to Sausage Fest to grab some lunch. JEALOUS!

Finally, this adorable little girl graced our presence at 6:15 pm on Sept. 17th and even though she looked exactly like Kaden we would soon find out they aren't much alike in temperment. This fiesty little girl keeps us on our toes but brings so much laughter and excitement into our home that we wouldn't trade her for anything! We love your Brynners!!

Who's Calling John Stossel?

OK.

Is this even Legal??

What is wrong with the world (or the school system) when this happens? This is an email Jeremy got on his blackberry from his friend the other night. We were shocked because they live just down the road in West Richland.


"Kim just told me that she got a note from the elementary school telling her that we are not allowed to send peanut butter sandwiches anymore because some kids have peanut allergies. Can you believe that? Tell those other d*** kids to quit stealing other kids peanut butter sandwiches and they won't have any problems!"

We were laughing so hard.

Can schools actually regulate what your child is "allowed" to bring in their lunch? I say it a lot, but I'll say it again- SERIOUSLY!?!

Mark Your Calendars, If You Wish

I'm hosting a Scentsy Open House on Sept. 25th

Feel free to drop by between 6-9 pm to smell, chat and

check out the new warmers.... they are adorable.

4 Eyes

I got glasses today.

Rather than feeling adorable like this....

I'm leaning more this way...

Seriously, give me a break!

Why couldn't have the braces and glasses phase emerged I was still in Jr. High rather a mother of two???

Official, Again

I finally signed up for the race!

Possibly Risque and For Sure Random

I read a post of Randi's a while back and it got me thinking-

I have also seen some random signs in my day.

Like for instanc, this little GEM Jeremy discovered on Canal not so long ago:

Do you know what this means, and are you familiar with it?

Crazy Eights

So, between Friday and Saturday I canned 80 quarts of peaches. Canning is such a daunting process but it is so much more fun when you have help. This was my first attempt at canning peaches- I hope those internet directions work. And you're laughing because you think I'm kidding?


Saturday morning I arose early (5:30 to be exact) so Jess and I could get our 8 mile run in before I had to teach piano lessons and finish my canning project. Seriously, who gets up early on a Saturday to run... that would be the same sucker who vows never to teach piano on Saturday mornings and keeps doing it!!

I blanched, peeled, pitted, sliced, sugared, lemon juiced, watered, and sealed all the live long day. I was dead tired, but I put in the last jars to be processed at 4pm and Jeremy took over so I could catch a short nap before we went out. I was so tired, but we haven't been out in a while so I wasn't about to pass up the opportunity.

We went to dinner where I 8 (I'm such a geek) too much, but seriously is there such a thing as too much Snow Shrimp? I don't think so. Then we finally went to see Harry Potter... I know we probably are the last people in the country to see it! It was good and makes me excited to get back to finishing #7... J.K. you should have quit at 8 to stick with my theme.

PS... this is post 200!! Amazing that you all have stuck around so long.