Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Ashlyn's Race

   Last Saturday, was Ashlyn's final race for cross country this year.  This season was an amazing one and I can't get over how much she has grown as a runner.  I honestly could not be more proud of her.  Her practices were on Monday and Friday mornings.  Since I'm not working this year, I was able to run with her at every practice.  It was a great time that the two of us got to spend together.  We would talk as we ran laps.  I will really miss our practices.  She would get in at least two miles at each practice.  Her coach has them keep a running record of all of their laps.  They get ribbons for 5 miles, 10 miles, etc.  This year, Ashlyn earned her 26.2 sticker!  I am so proud of her.  This means that in just under two months, she ran 26.2 miles which is the equivalency  to a marathon.  Quite impressive for a 6 year old!
     All good things must come to an end, and the end of season was marked by a final race at her school.  This race was the biggest race of the season and consisted of 5 schools.  I knew the competition would be fierce with that many kids there.  Ashlyn and I kept discussing it and we both felt that she could still get first place.  She said she really wanted to get first, and I told her she was definitely capable.  The morning of the race was perfect weather.  When we got to her school is was packed with kids.  I started to have my doubts.  It's funny because I get so nervous for my own races and start to have a lot of self doubt before I run and it's always been detrimental to my performance.  I hate that I am even that way before Ashlyn runs . Anyways, I did not tell Ashlyn that I had my doubts, and  I kept on encouraging her and reminding her of all the tips we discussed. 
     Before we knew it, all the kindergarten and first graders were lining up and there were a ton of them.  They blew the whistle and they were off.  The race went around the school and we couldn't see them for the majority of the race.  We stood at the finish line and the whole time I was so nervous to see where she was.  Boys came across the finish line first just like in most races.  All of a sudden, I saw Ashlyn coming around the corner.  She was the first girl!!!!!  I could not believe it.  I am getting teary eyed again just typing this. The girl in second was right behind her.  I was yelling for her to finish strong.  She finished strong and managed to get first place out of the girls!!!  I could tell she ran her heart out because she was definitely more winded when she was done.  My brother was amazed because he was watching her along the course and when he saw her go by she had a side stitch and was approaching a hill.  He thought for sure she would start walking, but not our girl.  She kept on running.
      I love that Ashlyn has embraced running the way that she has.  It has done countless positive things for me in my life and it means so much to me to see my children taking on such a positive and healthy hobby.  Ashlyn had a really fun season and that's the most important part to me.  I wouldn't care if she came in last just as long as she had fun and stayed committed to finishing.  I am so utterly proud of her and how hard she has worked this year. 



Her sticker

Before the race.  She opted to not wear jeans this time. 

Her biggest fan

Ashlyn and Sofie before the race

More of her fans

Getting ready for the race to start

Waving like a real runner as she went by

She seriously has really great form for her age. 

The little girl behind her is the one that came in second.  Ashlyn did such a good job of keeping ahead of her. 
Here they come

So close!

You can see how close the girl behind her was.

Pushing her hardest


Pulling off the first place finish!

Our number one girl!

A random picture of Ashlyn Joey threw in

Halloween Fun

   As Halloween quickly approaches, we continue to have lots of fun getting ready.  On Friday night, we had another craft, movie,  and treat night.   The movie for the night was The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.  The kids started the night by making pumpkin patch pictures.  The girls really got into their pictures.  After that, we ate our usual home made pizza.  I have finally perfected my pizza crust and am quite pleased with how easy it is to make.  After pizza, we moved on to the treat for the night.  We made rice krispy pumpkins.  The kids had a blast helping me make the treats.  When they were done sculpting their pumpkins, they got to decorate them which they loved.  Their favorite part was definitely eating them! They finished the night by watching Charlie Brown.
    Saturday was a very busy day.  We had Ashyln's race in the morning and family pictures in the evening. When we got home, the kids were dying to carve pumpkins.  We had fun carving pumpkins while we listened to Halloween music.  The best part was seeing them all lit up.  We can't wait for Halloween on Friday night!  Lots of pictures to come!



Making pictures

Adding the stickers

She is so artistic

I love Ella's picture

Helping make the treats

They did a good job taking turns helping

Molding their pumpkins


Ashlyn was really good at making pumpkins

Dawson sneaking some tastes

The finished pumpkin

So cute!

Add caption

Joey carving

What fun!

Working on Dawson's pumpkin 

This is Dawson's. He insisted on a Transformer and was so happy with the way it turned out. 

The kitty was Gracie's pumpkin.

The owl is Ashlyn's pumpkin. 

Dawson's lit up.

Cute girl in front of the pumpkins. 

7 Months


   Our little angle baby is 7 months old now!  She is just growing like a weed.  She amazes me each and every day with all the new things she can do and she is learning.  She one moving little girl!  Since learning to pull herself up, that is now her favorite thing to do.  She does it all day every day.  She pulls up on literally anything she can.  The couch, the coffee table, a step stool, a box, etc.  She just really like the view of the world from higher up.  She continues to master crawling and has gotten really proficient at crawling on all fours.  She sure likes to move!  I am positive she will be walking very early.  She is already moving along the couch. 
       Solids with Graceyn have been very hit or miss.  She is quite picky which is odd because her brother and sister loved everything they tried.  They are now the pickiest kids in the world, so I'm hoping it means she won't be picky later on.  She loves puffs and mum mum crackers.  She was doing great on the purees I made her, but suddenly did not like them so well.  She still loves pureed sweet potatoes more than anything.  I feel bad giving her just sweet potatoes, but that's the only thing I can get her to eat consistently.  She won't even eat bananas even more.  I keep reading that food is just for fun before the age of one and she is getting all of her nutrients through milk, so I'm not too worried.  We keep on trying with her in hopes of her starting to eat more.  She does like table food so we may ultimately just have her eat small pieces of what we are having.  
      Graceyn is still a toothless princess.  At 6 month checkup her doctor said her teeth would be coming in soon.  She is drooling buckets and buckets of drool, and still no tooth.  She has been quite cranky today, and I keep checking, but still no tooth.  I'm sure it will be soon.
     Sleep is still so touch and go with Gracie.  She will do really, really well, and then regress back to doing horribly.  She had a rough week a week ago, but she was also mastering standing up and had a little virus.  She did better for a few days, and the last few nights have been rough.  Last night was great, with her only waking once.  That is a huge victory for me.  The night before she was up every two hours.  The frustrating part is that she was sleeping 10 hours straight, so I know she can do it.  I have literally tried every trick in the book as well as read every book on sleep.  I am officially throwing in the towel and accepting that it is what it is and she will eventually get better.  This stage is so, so short and I have survived 7 months with poor sleep, so I know I can keep doing it.  Every night when I put her down I cross my fingers she will have a great night.  Even through all my sleepless nights, I wouldn't trade her for the world.  
       Gracie continues to steal everyone's heart.  She is just such a smiley and sweet little thing.  She loves her brother and sister and loves "talking" to them.  She is a babbling queen and loves to babble.  We always refer to Dawson as "Bubba" to her.  The other morning it sounded like she said Bubba several times in a row.  Dawson was elated.  Every where we go, people stop me and comment on how cute she is.  They all still comment on how much hair she has.  Most 7 month olds don't have hair going down their back.  I love it!
     The only things Gracie does not like are going in her carseat, laying down for a nap, and getting dressed.  Other than that, she is a happy, sweet, loving girl.  We love her to pieces even though she still keeps her mommy up at night! 

Standing one handed


I can't believe she is already 7 months old

She loves the sign


What a doll!

I love that smile!

So happy!

Standing on her toy basket

Ashlyn had this same toy and absolutely loved it.  We got it out for Gracie and she really likes it too.  She has also perfected kneeling. 

What a big girl!


Always smiling


Standing on the table

Playing in Auntie's backyard drool and all.