Spring...Fall Training

For those of you who may not know, some time over the last two years I became a runner. Weird, I know. My favorite running quote used to be, "Who runs for fun?" But then I did a triathlon. An Olympic triathlon at that. Trained for the 1000 yard swim, trained for the 35 K bike, did not really train for the 11 K run. Why? Because I didn't like running. It was just a necessary part of the tri.

Well, some where in the middle of that run I thought to myself, "You know, a half-marathon [13.1 miles] isn't much longer than this 7 mile run, I should do one of those next." Really? Not much longer? Try twice as long! Math never was my strong subject.

And so began my running addiction. I mean, hobby. It lead me through a couple of 5 Ks, a 10 K, and finally a half-marathon in Eugene, OR on April 28th, 2007. Does that date look familiar? One year to the day before Etta was born. Labor was a bit harder.

Nearing the end of my pregnancy I had all sorts of big plans to get back to running. Was going to be back to my full training routine at the end of two months. All you veteren moms reading this can stop laughing now. I did get into a bit of a routine between biking and running at the beginning of August. Then school started. No more daddy to watch the baby while I went running. I know - jogging stroller. Well, our petite peanut was just too darn small to fit right. Had to wait until the beginning of October for it to really work.

But I am now pleased to say that I am back in a fairly good routine. The weather has been perfect and a mid morning run fits right in with that mid morning nap. The pictures below show what wonderful weather I am running in and how beautiful Lewiston can be. Now I just wait for winter to make us adjust again.






My new goal? The Missoula marathon next July. Anyone want to join me?

Johnny Jump Up

Oh how I wish that I could get the video onto my blog. Etta jumping in the Jump Up is just about the cutest thing that I've personally ever seen. Her face lights up and her legs start a-goin'. You can say "bounce, bounce, bounce" and she just goes crazy. Both legs go up and down at once and her toes kick out to the corners...

Tummy Sleeping

Etta has never been one to be a tummy sleeper. She has been rolling from tummy to back from about six weeks - I think mainly because she just doesn't like to be on her tummy all that much. But this morning when I went in to check on her...



(She is on her tummy - and squished the short way at the end of her crib...)

Random acts of cuteness

To round off the week I will add some cute shots of Etta that we got last weekend. Enjoy!

My new monkey that Montana Grandma gave me. Mom is thinking we may name her Yotango.



I adore my Auntie Christine. Someday I want to sing and play just like her!



Halloween costume preview. Do you think that it makes me look a little like Jabba the Hut?



Enjoying time with Caleb

The Helicopter Ride

Men are hard to shop for. (Well, all the men that I know are hard to shop for.) So when I saw an article about a new helicopter business in Clarkston I knew exactly what I was going to get my dad for his birthday. (It just happened to work out so well that I got rides for Bob and Matt also.) For my dad's 60th birthday last year his gift was finding out about baby Etta. Cheap, I know. But pretty special I think.

Here are some shots of the ride.

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Post-ride glow

The Pumpkin Patch

On Saturday we went to an Autumn Festival at The Red Barn Farm just North of Colton, WA. It was 3/4 of the way through a LONG day, was fairly brisk and windy. We got a couple of cute shots though...

Gramps