Seattle to Portland

A few years ago Jon and I rode the Seattle to Portland bike ride.  It is 204 miles and we do it in one day since the second day of the ride is now on sunday.  This year Elliott wanted to ride with Jon.  I am still nursing Ada and she is to little to leave for all the riding we have to do.  It has been a particularly wet spring and winter so there hasn't been as much training as there should be.  Jon bought Elliott a trail a bike so he could "keep up".  The problem is Jon is a fast strong rider.  He may not be Tour De France fast, but he keeps a steady 18-20 mile an hour pace.  So Elliott struggles because no matter what he cant peddle fast enough to contribute much and Jon stuggles because he is towing Elliott.  He still keeps his pace though!  I dont know what is going to happen when I get back on my bike.  I am pretty sure we wont be riding together :)  Anyhow, they are working it out and Elliott is pretty excited.  I think he will do well for about 50 miles or so.  I think we are going to have him go until he is tired and then have him jump back on close to the finish so he gets the thrill of crossing the finish line.  I will give you a full report in July.  Until then...here is the set up

Another sunday activity

So in our house wrestling is a big deal.  The kids all want Jon to put them to bed because he tickles and wrestles and gets them all worked up.  It drives me crazy when he does it at bed time because then they all come out of their rooms about 10 million times because they are too worked up!  However sometimes, on the weekends there is an improptu wrestling match that happens in the morning.  This one is lots of fun...

yup, all four kids are there...

As a side note, eventually my room will have something on the walls, and maybe some doors on the closet, and maybe an actual closet system for storing all the clothes.  Maybe, some day!

P.C.

Guess where we went today....

 Yup...we all went up.  Bethy and I both had the babies and let me tell you, 20 extra pounds is brutal on this thing!

 ....and then we all ran down!

 we dug in the sand...

 caught fish and hermit crabs...

 watched the coast guard helicopters...

 made sand cakes...

 and played in the water!

It was a good time.  Toward the end there were a few who were wet and cold and we made it back to the cars just in time for the rain to kick in.  Poor Ada's lips were purple and so were her cheeks!  She didnt complain at all though!  I think she was having as good a time as anyone.  She crashed on the way home.  We sure love beach trips with cousins. 
Oh, and for anyone who wanted to guess, this beach is Pacific City.

Radio Flyin'

The boys love Calvin and Hobbes.  They will stay up late in bed reading and laughing.  So of course now we have certain antics that take place that are somewhat familiar to avid readers of the cartoon.  For instance, today I sent the kids out to play.  No rain means outside time since we have had record breaking rain lately.  Instead of trying to describe it let me just show you what they were doing...

 Notice all the hay spots in this next picture...those were crashes :)

 I think this picture is my very favorite...it needs to be a big canvas on a wall somewhere.  So descriptive of these two!  Elliott the idea man, the one with his hand on the controls...Ezra looking over his shoulder sure something bad is going to happen but hanging on for dear life.  They stick together through thick and thin.

 A solo flight...He is a little concerned he is going to hit me or a hole.

 Sure enough...that grass hides those sneaky holes and ruts.  Good thing he had his helmet!

And of course Anna and Eli are observing from a safe spot on the porch.  However Anna informed me she could fly too.
All it takes is faith and trust....

 and a trampoline

 The cool kid is definately here!

Hope your day is a great as ours :)

Library of Congress

About 3 years ago I went to Washington D.C. for my brothers wedding.  Aside from the Smithsonian which was AMAZING we went to a number of other places.  We saw the Declaration of Independance and the Constitution.  But the place the moved me the most was the Library of Congress.  Beautiful architecture and of course it is massive!  And on the walls they had quotes everywhere, awe inspiring, timeless and so eloquent.  I found my little notebook that I had written some of them in and it was so cool to read them again.  I dont know who to attribute most of them to so sorry about that.  Here are a few of my very favorites.


In books lies the soul of the whole past time

Science organized is knowledge

Beauty is truth - truth beauty

There is but one temple in the universe and that is the body of man

Liberty is meaningless when the right to utter ones thoughts has ceased to exist - Fredrick Douglas

Ignorance is the curse of God, knowledge the wing where with we fly to heaven (I think this is my absolute favorite!)

There is no work of genius which has not been the delight of man

They are never alone that are accompanied with noble thoughts

The history of the world is the biographies of great men

Knowledge comes but wisdom lingers

The foundation of every state is the education of its youth

The chief glory of every people arises from its authors

Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man (this ties for favorite quote)

The history of liberty is a history of the limitation of governmental power, not the increase of it -Woodrow Wilson

So these are some of my favorites.. and just to make sure I leave you with a picture or two of our trip...

Inspiration

I loved conference this weekend. I think its because I was prepared for it. We (mostly I but the kids did help some) cleaned the house pretty darn thoroughly. We cleaned floors, blinds, windows, cabinets and dusted like crazy! We still have a ways to go to get it super clean but I love the fact that my baseboards and doors look white and shiny! Anyhow, I loved the talks that were so inspiring. Perhaps because of that when I got online this morning and found a link to The Piano Guys I was so moved. I love the cello and the beautiful, deep, rich sound it creates. I thought "I need to learn to play that"! Who knows if I will. It would involve finding a teacher and renting an instrument that we really dont have room to store. But I think about my kids and the example I want to set for them and I do want them to appreciate good music. I want them to love it and be moved and inspired by it. We spent about an hour or so just listening to all the music by The Piano Guys and feeling inspired. On one of their videos it had this quote by Beethoven "Dont only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets, for it and knowledge can raise men to the divine." Isnt that incredible! I love it. So will I really pick up the cello? I dont know yet. But I sure was inspired this morning and I hope it rubbed off on my kiddos.

Bethy's visit

This week was rough.  I was grouchy.  Not doing much because I am supposed to be taking it easy put my in a bad place.  Thankfully I have a husband who understands what being outside and exercising does for me.  He sent me out Tuesday and Thursday to run.  Things are looking up.  They always seem to work out.  Anyhow, last week when I was supposed to be really taking it easy my sister came down to stay with me for a few days.  It was beautiful weather.  Which is funny since it had snowed on Monday and by Thursday we had 50 degrees and sunshine.  We decided to take the kids to the beach.  It was pretty windy but we lasted for 3 or more hours.  It was great.  This post will have lots of pictures so consider yourself warned.

We love sunny days and visits from friends (or family)!