Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from our Ladybug Girls!!!

Super Bee

When we picked Hadley up from school on Friday she had a special friend with her.  His name is Super Bee and she got to bring him home because she had super "bee"havior at school.  We are so proud of her!  We got to keep Super Bee for the weekend and take pictures of all the things he did with us.  Then Hadley drew a few pictures of her with Super Bee, wrote a few sentences about his weekend and then we printed some pictures to add to her book.  She had to take Super Bee back to school this morning and was a little sad to see him go.
 The first thing Hadley and Super Bee did was go for a bike ride (Uncle Matt this was a picture before the ride, she did have a helmet on to ride).

 Then Super Bee came inside to meet stripey.

 Next up time for some Highlights magazine with Super Bee.

 Hadley let Jillian touch Super Bee at total of one time!

 More bike riding and a stop for a snack picnic.

 Super Bee got to play dress-up.

 Saturday morning Super Bee came with us on a trip to Lowes.

 On Sunday Super Bee went with us to the Pumpkin Patch to meet Hadley's class.  It was neat to see Hadley interact with all of the kids in her class.  I did learn she is a social butterfly!  She also seems to be very popular with the boys (shhhh don't tell her daddy).

 Both of the girls asked to go on the pony rides.  With their fear of animals we jumped at the chance to get them close to a live animal.  It did not go well.  Hadley rode but cried the whole time.  Jillian would not even get on the horse.

 Jillian did like the tractor train ride.

 We are so proud of Hadley's behavior and hope that Super Bee comes to visit again!

Half Marathon and more

I am happy to report that after 20 weeks of training I have completed my running goal.  This last weekend Audra and I ran the Prairie Fire Half Marathon in Wichita.  It was tough, emotional, wet, exhausting, exciting, and fun all at the same time.  My running journey started in January of last year.  I was trying to find some kind of exercise that I enjoyed and decided to give running a try.  At that point I knew I needed a goal to strive for.  Audra and I decided to run a 5k that March.  I started doing the Couch to 5K program.  I did the training off and on.  The 5K was fun but I had to walk during it and said I was done running when I finished that race.  Then about a week later I realized that I actually missed running.  That is when I started to become a little more serious about running.  The rest is history.  I have now run a 5K, 10K and Half Marathon.
I won't say the race on Sunday was easy because it wasn't easy.  It was hard and I had to dig deep to finish.  I was ready to throw in the towel at mile 10 but knew after all my hard work I was not quitting.  My goal for the day was to finish the 13.1 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes.  My official time was 2:29:58.  I still had 2 seconds to spare :)  I don't know if I will run another half marathon any time soon but I will continue running.  Here is the only picture that Audra and I took on race day.  We do have proof of running on the professional photographers website but I hope they are erased soon.  I am very glad I do not look in the mirror while running.

After the race we headed out to lunch and then headed back to Winfield.  Mike and the girls were at my Mom and Mark's waiting for me.  This is what they had made me.

Thanks to Audra for running with me.  I am so glad to have reached this goal with you.  Thanks to Mike for supporting me and my new love of running.  I am still waiting to run a race with you! 

Now on to the real reason people read the blog, my girls!  We have had a busy week.  The weather has been nice and we have been enjoying.  Jillian and I have spent a few mornings outside this week and she is loving the scooter.

One afternoon this week Hadley went over to play at Olivia's house.  When we went to pick her up the girls played outside for awhile.  Niki and I saw a flash into the future and I am not ready for it yet.

We are finally home for a weekend and plan on relaxing and enjoying it!

Weekly Update

How is that for a boring title?  I have decided my new goal is to blog once a week.  I am a schedule girl and I think I can work that into my schedule.  Many of you are laughing now because either you think schedules are funny or you know all about mine.  Anyways back to the blog...
Last Friday we headed to Kansas for the weekend. We stayed at my Dad and Stepmom's house.  They watched the girls on Saturday so Mike and I could head to Manhattan for the football game.  It was a great game.  I can say that now that the game is over and we won 36-35.  During the game I was not saying it was a great game and I about walked out with 5 minutes left.  I am so glad I didn't because the ending was wonderful.
We had a good time tailgating before the game.  Audra and Kane brought Lydia for this game and it was fun to spend some time with her.  She was such a good girl!

 Mike and me

 On Sunday my Aunt Ellen and Grandpa came over to Dad and Terry's for lunch.  We spent some time outside watching the girls play.  It was a beautiful day.

It was a fun weekend and the girls did not want to leave Kansas.  I enjoyed getting to visit with friends and family.