As Promised...

pictures I eluded to a couple of posts back.  A few weekends ago I had the opportunity to spend the day learning new (to me) outdoor skills.  Like shooting a bow and arrow.  Firing off a pistol.  Shooting a shotgun.  Trapshooting.  Fly fishing.

Have you ever done any of these things?  Neither had I until a few weekends ago.  And what FUN I had learning something new and challenging.

By the way I had bruises from the kickback and a sore arm the next day from all my hard work!  I hit a bullseye and a jug of water 50yrds. out.  So proud.

Success with the bow and arrow.

During the month of June the kids and I ran in a local race.  The first ever for them and I was excited for their experience.  We picked up our packets together and made sure everything was ready to go for the morning.  Here is Ella Jane decorating her race shirt because when I ran my marathon I remember bystanders cheering on a few girls ahead of me by name (they had their name on their shirts) and I thought, mmm....I could sure use a shout out right now too.

Sooooo, I had Ella Jane put her name on her shirt.  That way everyone would know who she was and cheer her on.  Well, turns out her number covered most of her shirt but it's the effort that counts.

We ran our races, the kids and I.  Did I mention it was pouring down rain?  Yep, started raining as we pulled up to the starting line.  Kids ran in the early downpour (and mostly had fun doing it...it was a mile) and my race was postponed 45min. becuase of the incoming storm.

Long story short, we all; my mom and stepdad included because they ran the kids race with Matthew and Ella Jane got d.r.e.n.c.h.e.d.  And if we were in Seattle we'd be chilled to the bone.  But the nice thing about midwestern thunderstorms is that it's usually pretty humid and the rain is warm and refreshing.  So, as soaking wet as I was I wasn't too miserable.  (but the kids were because even after their race was over they had to wait until mine started which means they got really wet too.) 

Highlight?  Ella Jane got her very determined little runner self pictured in the paper.  Very cute if I do say so myself.

And last but certainly not least, Matthew.  I mentioned sometime back that he was in a summer camp and that one of his classes was about rocketry.  Here he is with his very own rocket that actually got shot up into the air.  He was so excited.  "Mom, take pictures!!!"

I couldn't say no to that.  I love the one of him running to get his rocket after it landed.

And that my friends is what happened to us a few weeks back.  So much more to share about our current week and 4th of July.  All in time I suppose.