Sneak Peak

I went last weekend to our annual neighborhood ADULT Halloween Party. Brett was in New York, so I was free to get whatever costume that I wanted. Usually we dress up as couples. I chose batgirl to match Madison. Madison was so excited for us to match. The kids wanted to dress up and try on their costumes while I was getting ready as well. Madison wanted me to put make-up on her to match mine. She was so cute and loved every minute of the make-up!!!!!!
Captain Rex
Madison told me that I couldn't smile. She said that batgirl is very serious.
Could she be any sassier????? I love it!
Super girl Caitlin

Gull Meadows Farm

We met our great friends the Deforest family at Gull Meadow Farms one beautiful day after school. We decided to go during the week because the weekends are just to busy and crazy there. The kids love this place. They have an amazing PUMPKIN LANE full of fun things for the kids to do. It was so nice this year because the kids were old enough to kind of just go on their own with a buddy. It was also nice because it wasn't very crowded so Heather and I could easily see them. After pumpkin lane, we took the kids on a hayride out to the corn maze. Now this is a huge corn maze, I was a little afraid of getting lost or losing kids. We actually made it out... We had to cut through some forbidden paths a few times though :)

We made it through the corn maze!!!!!
Caitlin loved the obstacle course in Pumpkin Lane.
Blake took off in the corn maze and I only found him a few times. he loved it.
Zip Line was a huge hit. Here is Madison and Caitlin doing it at the same time.
Jumping Pillow... Of course it turned into wrestling with these two crazy kids.
Blake wasn't quite as happy as his picture on there from three years ago. He is so grown up now :(
Go Caitlin and Aspen!!!!
Blake Alan Deforest and Blake Allan Eliuk - it is so cute that they even have the same middle names!
My sweet girls - I love Madison's smile!!!!
Caitlin, Madison and Aspen.
Coming out of the tunnel slide.
Jumping Pillow.
Peek-a-boo
Buddies!!!!

Of course cider and donuts are a must.
We had so much fun. It was a gorgeous night. I love it when the kids behave and have fun!!!!!!!

Third Time is the Charm!

We picked up our packets at the expo the night before the race. We were able to add our signatures to the board!
Walking out of our hotel the morning before the run!!!!! Erica made these shirts for us. Long story short, AOP means Ass on Pavement!
The AOP girls at the start of the race.

Wow, the Grand Rapids half Marathon was a blast! I achieved a lot this time around. I earned my fastest time, ran the longest that I have ever run solo, and am the sorest EVER from a run. Today was my first day hitting the gym since the run. My hip flexors and knee were killing me until this morning!

Erica, Nichole and I headed up to GR on Saturday afternoon. We checked into the hotel, ate dinner, shopped, and watched a movie in bed. It was so low key. I am usually very anxious the night before a run. I didn't even take any sleep aid this time. The girls were making enough fun of me with my chlorine water. I have been trying ASEA - an oxygenated supplement that tastes just like pool water. I actually think that it works.

We got room service breakfast at 6am and headed out the door at 7am. This run was much more crowded. They had pacers with signs of celebrities who have run races and what their times were. We joined the P. Diddy group. He would finish a half marathon in 2 hours and 7 minutes. I wanted to be under that time, but my friends thought that he was a good fit.

We were off. The three of us stayed together for the first 5 miles. At mile five, I was feeling GREAT. I told them that I was taking off. They wished me luck and I never looked back. It was a great feeling to be running at my own pace. I had never done this before!!!!! I caught up to the P. Diddy pacers and passed them. Mile 11-13 was hard. There were times that I HATED it. I was playing mind games the whole time. I was looking ahead at runners. I would find one and then try my hardest to catch and pass them. Then I would pick another runner and do the same thing over and over. Right near the end I kept reminding myself that I could do anything for 10 minutes - RIGHT!!!!!! My hips and thighs were burning as I gave my last push to cross the finish line... It was DONE :) I was relieved.

We are talking about doing the Chicago full next fall. I am going to join a running group for the winter and do the Borgess half again in April.

My Little Buddy!

Caitlin and I are having the best afternoons together. She is just the sweetest little thing. We have lunch, shop, have friends over and just enjoy every minute together. I really hate thinking about this girl growing up!!!!!! She has a music class Monday afternoon and a dance class Tuesday morning. She is the best company EVER :)
Caitlin is loving her new school. It is a perfect fit for our family. It is so naturey! It is in a little log cabin building even. Her class went to Gull Meadow Farms for their first field trip. It was very chilly that day (and a few sprinkles), but we had a great time. There are only a few pics because I forgot my memory card for my new camera at home.

Butterflies AGAIN

My third HALF marathon is this Sunday in Grand Rapids. I actually am the best prepared this time around. I have been doing long runs of 8-10 miles every weekend with some great friends since the spring. I am feeling great!!!!!! Yes, I always have the sore joints now and then. BUT, I am really feeling ready to run.

I think that I am still pumped from being in Chicago last weekend and seeing all the marathon excitement, I am thinking about running the Chicago full next fall. I need to see how this half goes first. I am going to run at my own pace this time. The previous ones I ran with friends and held back a little. I want to run this one faster and give it my all!!!!

I am enjoying my rest time (wednesday - saturday). I am drinking my hydration water, taking motrin, eating carbs, and nursing three bad blisters.

I am going up to GR Saturday afternoon with my two running buds and we are shopping, eating and staying the night up there. Thank goodness that my Mother-in-Law was willing to come back to watch the kids again this weekend because Brett is off to Vegas.

It is also my 36th birthday on Sunday. Running 13.1 miles is a great birthday present RIGHT??????? I would have never thought that I would be doing this at 36 a few years ago! I love it and enjoy hearing my kids tell their friends about their mom being a "good" runner. I think they are talking me up a bit - but it is so sweet.

Hopefully, I will have a great post early next week.

We LOVE the Warner's!

My kids just adore their cousins. I love to see their faces when I say that we are going to the Warner's HOUSE!!!!!! My kids are very used to the 2 hour car ride. I just put in a movie and off we go. Brett was working the weekend and the kids and I took off Saturday morning right after soccer games.

My dad was also doing better and home from the hospital, so I wanted to get up there and visit. The kids have not seen him in awhile. It was a quick trip - just one night, but so much fun!!!!

The pictures below show just how much they all love each other. A fall trip to Long's Apple Orchard is a must.

These two play great together. Caitlin is always interested in dancing!!!!



Drake
Madison
Blake
Oma and Opa came with us. It was great to see them out and about!!!!


Pokemon is a HUGE hit in our house right now.
Oma was showing Madison how Opa's new bed works.

Soccer BOY

Blake and Soccer, I have so many funny stories about this subject. Blake is just so cute and honest. This is his first year playing AYSO soccer. He practices every Tuesday night and has a game on Saturday mornings at 9am. He is a very social boy. That may be the ONLY gene that he got from me, otherwise, he is a clone of his dad.

I want to expose the kids to everything and tend to sign them up for all sorts of activities. Blake likes soccer, but for the social part more than playing I think. The first game, the referee came over to the side lines and asked who was with red #10. Of course, that was Blake. He told me that he had the funniest story...... Many boys were all over the ball in front of the goal. Blake went walking over to the ref, put his hand on his chin and very politely said, "HMMMM, should I get involved with all that action"? As soon as he said it, the ball broke free and very matter of factly said back to the ref, "see that is why I didn't even try". The ref was laughing so hard about the story. He thought Blake was so cute!!!!! It is so funny because Blake says the funniest things very seriously. I don't know how he can say it without laughing. I love Blake's honesty.

I struggle with my competitiveness. I try really hard not to push the kids too hard, but I do want Blake to try to be a little more aggressive. I was nicely talking to him about not giving up and attacking the ball. He looked right at me and said, "Mom, you know that I am patient"... he expects the ball to come to him!!!!!!!! What could I say to that????

I just want him to have fun and learn a little about the game. He volunteers to sit out so that his friends could play more. He also came running over to his coach and told him that he needed to sit out because his BREATHING BONE hurt. He was holding his side!!!! Where does he come up with this stuff.

He is just so cute in his little uniform though.

Cub Scout

Blake has been interested in joining cub scouts for quite some time now, I just couldn't fit it into our schedule. We signed up with a great friend so that we could do some carpooling. We are already in the thick of popcorn sales and Blake also got to be in the Mattawan Homecoming Parade. He loved walking in the parade and trowing out candy. It was so funny to watch him come down the street!