He's LEGAL

Watch out, New Jersey.....my little brother (orange shirt, acting like a *ahem* typical guy) turned 21 today!

Who would have thought that you would grow up to be the tallest of the Eller clan?!?

Love you Tom--Happy Birthday, and don't do anything your big sis wouldn't do! *giggle*

UGH.

The whole 'coming-home-from-vacation' thing almost makes me never want to go on vacation again.

Almost.

Suitcases to be unloaded.....

Piles of laundry.....

Piles of junkmail.....(yuck)

Piles of bills.....(double yuck)

Over 100 emails, most of them junk, to sift through.....

187 new entries on my Google Reader (man, you people can post!)......

No food in the house......

Yardwork everywhere....

Messes everywhere.....

Ugh.

I'll hopefully see the light at the end of the tunnel by Wednesday or so.

I have lots of great pics and a few funnies to share of our week long trip, and I know my sweet sis-in-law Aimee is counting on me to post lots of pics so that she doesn't have to! Hee Hee! (Zinga! Love you Aim)

Trip highlights coming soon!

Off to the races

For the last three Mondays, our boys have been involved in one of the cutest things yet.

There are 'races' held in our town by a group called the Kennekuk Road Runners. They put on a program every summer called Kennekuk Kids for children of all ages to come out to the park and race. It's a great idea to promote physical fitness/activity. And the best part?

It's free.

This is great, because, as my friend Steph said, "If you're having a bad day, or you are rushed and just can't get there for some reason or another, you're not losing out on any money." It's nice to know that this is something we can look forward to each week, but if we have to miss it for some reason (like being gone on vacation next week) we aren't throwing money down the drain.

They hand out ribbons to each child who completes the race (that is, crosses the finish line by some method....that could include being dragged/carried by Mommy or Daddy *giggle*).

And.....

They give popsicles.

Now, literally, these races are for all ages. Ethan's actual category is called the 0 to 1-year-old tot trot. No kidding. It is a 25 yard 'race', in which parents basically beg their scared-to-death toddler to run from here to there without crying, throwing a temper tantrum (because they "just don't want to!"), or having an absolute meltdown of gigantic proportions.

In the three weeks we've been going, I've seen all of the above.


We've had our share of mishaps....this past week (week #3) Colin.....well, we aren't really sure if he tripped or (his version) if he was pushed, but either way, he went down and it wasn't pretty. Colin instantly got all "I don't want to do this anymore"-ish, and Shane and I had to hold his hand and do that 'dragging across the finish line thing' that I mentioned above.



He made it across.....though I'm quite certain he didn't beat his time from the previous week. :) But, other than that, he has done great! From week one to week two he shaved a whole 11 seconds off his time. That's pretty impressive for a four-year-old. Week two he ran 1/4 mile + 55 yards in 2 minutes and 45 seconds!



Cameron and Ethan have gotten progressively better each week as well. Ethan actually made it the whole 25 yards this week without shedding one single tear! Many of the children that age seem to be criers, though I am convinced it has nothing to do with the race itself.



These kids are like, two feet tall--imagine things from their perspective. Everything is all quiet and calm.....a whistle is blown.....and then suddenly everyone around them starts screaming at the top of their lungs.


I'd be scared to death, too.


Cameron is actually surprisingly fast. I didn't realize he had that sort of speed in him! When that whistle blows, he takes off....and is usually one of the first ones to get across the finish line.


I'm sure that has nothing to do with the popsicle that is waiting at the other end. *giggle*


So, here are some shots from over the last 3 weeks of the Merritt runners!

Week one....our first actual race night!

The all important 'warm-up' time....stretching!

Daddy and E right before the race....Ethan's not so sure about this!

Cameron at the finish line.

Apparently, the ribbon is not all that exciting....
....but the popsicle sure makes up for that!

My big boy Colin at the starting line.....running 1/4 mile, + 55 yards!

Halfway there! I know it is difficult to see (I took this pic from very far away) but Colin is right in front of the stop sign in the white shirt! Shane is 'the tallest of the children'--the bald guy right to the left of the tree! *giggle*

All done! A successful race....13th place out of 30 children, with a time of 2:56!
I was just soooooo proud of him!



Week two....

Ethan on take off!
And after, enjoying his popsicle with Daddy and his big bro!

E with Grandma MJ after his race, waiting on Cameron's turn!

Colin, at the starting line, giving me what looks to be the stinkeye....

Actually, he was winking at me and telling me he was ready to GO!

All done....high five to Daddy!!

Proudly displaying their ribbons....

Colin did fabulous on this run. He was 12th out of 37 children, with a time of 2:45!

Celebration afterwards, out to eat at Monical's Pizza!

Daddy and Cameron
Mommy and Colin

Daddy, Ethan, and Mommy

Week three....

More stretching!
E wanting his popsicle desperately.....

....but then discovering it might just be too cold for him!

Col 'cheesing' for the camera

Becoming more and more proud of that ribbon each week.....

....but it will just never be as good as a popsicle!

By the way....the road runners keep track every week of the results from the races and they take lots of pictures. By clicking on the Kennekuk link at the top of the post, it will take you to the page where the results and all the pictures are! The boys were in several pics from week one--#31-33, 43, 52, 53, 58, and 95 if you'd like to see them!

Races videos

Here are some videos to enjoy as well!

**By the way, I am sorry if any of the video quality is poor....I was trying to keep Colin next to me, hold Ethan, watch the races, help with popsicles, take pictures, keep track of Cameron, or all of the above while also trying to get everything on video! :-)**

Ethan, race #3 (It is difficult to see E and Daddy at first....Ethan is in red and Shane is in a white ball cap....as they get closer you will be able to pick them out!) No tears this time, only big smiles!

Colin, homestretch of race #2 (he is in blue tank and blue shorts)

Colin at the starting line, race #3

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Cameron's very first race. On this one, it takes about 45 seconds for the race to actually start....but it is worth the wait to watch! :-) It was so cute....he had no idea where to go, so he just ran straight to me. He figured out where the finish line was by week two though!

We love cards that talk!

Colin picked out Daddy's Father's Day card this year....all by himself.

He is so entralled with the cards with sound (he calls them the talking cards), and once he saw Shrek on the cover of one....it was all over! He just knew that this was the card for his Daddy (no matter how much Mommy tried to persuade him otherwise)!

Here is a short video of Colin and Cameron proudly presenting Daddy their hand-picked card (and boy, did Daddy know right away who picked it out!)

***By the way, after having that card in the house since Sunday....and the boys 'playing' it every chance they get....if I NEVER hear the song "Allstar" again....it will be too soon.***

Your three little 'stinkers'

Know who loves you, baby?

We do!!

Daddy and Colin

Father's Day dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant

(Colin actually snapped this photo!)

Daddy and Cameron

Daddy and Ethan

Happy Father's Day to the best husband and father a girl could ever dream of!

We love you, more than life itself!

Exhaustion, take two

I thought he was tired last time......

I'm starting to feel sleepy, I think...

Let me just grab my blankie, and get my thumb in my mouth.

Yes, yes....that's much better.

My eyes are feeling heavier by the minute...
Going.....going.....going.....

Gone

Daddy to the rescue

Sweet dreams, baby E!

Rainy days and Mondays ALWAYS get me down

But not today.

Today, it is SUNNY outside.

This is major.

(Stop humming that song now, and focus. *giggle*)

I am one of these people that can be greatly affected by the weather if I choose to allow myself to be. When it is bright and beautiful out, I feel sunny and happy inside. When it is gray and rainy.....a lot of times I feel down. I don't know why that is, but when I have mentioned it to other people, they understand exactly what I am talking about, so I am thinking that this is something that is fairly common to other people as well.

We have had so much rain in the past two weeks, it has almost been unbelievable. How much, exactly? I'll tell you. Over 16 inches, just in the month of June alone! Yes, we are only on day 16....so that averages out to an inch a day.

Unbelievable.

You know it has rained a lot when you are driving down the road and you see several large ducks swimming in a lake....not too unusual....except that the lake is in a corn field. *giggle*

No joke.

But today, the weather is....yes, I will go ahead and use the word glorious. It is sunny, not humid, and about 75 degrees. Just about perfect.

I am so thankful to see the sun today.

I am even more thankful for a Heavenly Father who knows exactly what He is doing when He sends 16 inches of rain in 16 days, or, chooses not to send any at all for an entire summer. He knew exactly what He was doing 6 months ago when He took our little one to heaven. He knows what is going on with our American economy. He sees our inflation problems, our mortgage crisis, our gas prices, and our food prices. He loves us, His children, and promises to take care of every need we have, no matter what circumstances are going on around us. It may not always be the way we think is best--but you know, to me, that is a GREAT thing. My attitude (and therefore, my thoughts and actions) can change based on the weather, for crying out loud. He NEVER changes. His ways are the absolute best ways for us.

That thought is even more glorious to me than the amazing weather today, and I just thought I would share.

Isaiah 55:8-9 "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways', saith the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.'"