Proof is in the Picasa collage

Thanks to my BFF (aka a Gurley Gurl...check her out) - I am going to try and figure out Picasa and photo collages for the blog. Here are the pictures from the race this weekend. I think I'd like to play with this more...I'll have to actually get Allena to find time for me and show me some tricks (yes, that was a jab to see if I can get her attention, love you!)

Gimme a "K"...or 5

I love to glance at my favorite blogs daily (and yes, maybe even multiple times a day if I'm not super interested in what I'm working on, but who doesn't right)...but I can't seem to keep up with my own. So, here's to trying to blog at least once a week. I need to keep you all posted on our happenings and this weekend was one that shouldn't disappoint.

Trace's school had their annual 5k/1k fun run this weekend. I was signed up to run it with my friend Amanda and I had Trace and Elizabeth signed up to run the 1k. Frizz backed out last minute, but Trace and I were pumped and ready to go...

Here were our (ok, my) goals:

1-Finish the 5k WITHOUT walking. I've done two other 5k's and had to walk a little in both. I wanted to finish this one running.

2-Have Trace finish his 1k WITHOUT walking. I really wouldn't have cared if he walked, but I was excited to see what his little body could do. At the risk of sounding like a crazy mom (which I know I am)...I'll be honest and tell you that I did take him out and we ran the course a week before just so he could see what it was like.

Here were our results:

1-I ran the WHOLE thing. I finished in 32 minutes flat - right over a 10 minute mile. I got 3rd in my female age bracket and got a medal which earned me major cool points with my kids. (Side note: I still have 2 years in this bracket until I bump up, I'm going to hold on tightly.)

2-Trace ran the WHOLE 1k. There were about 50 kids that took off in a full on sprint when they said "GO!". They didn't last that long at that pace, but when they came back around the corner, Trace was still up front. We learned that I am in fact a crazy mom, because I think I ended up running around the entire course telling him he could do it. I think he'll be mortified if I continue this type of behavior as he grows up. He never stopped and ended up coming in 4th. He was pooped, but enjoyed it. He's my little competitor which was evidenced by his very obvious disappointment that he didn't get any sort of medal. They gave medals to kiddos that ran in the 5k, so he says he wants to do that next year. I'll have to decide if 3.2 miles for a 7 year old is a good choice, but we'll wait to worry until next year.

Overall, a really fun morning. The thing is, I always get emotional at the finish line when I myself cross or I see others. I am really trying to lead a healthier more active lifestyle, and I am so proud of any person who CHOOSES to go and do something like this. There are always people there who are achieving a goal to finish one or beat their time or whatever it might be...either way, congratulations to all the Negley Navigator runners and here's to this 3rd place 30-34 year old female and my precious boy! Go us!

And, we do have proof that this event actually took place and that we participated. I am going to learn how to collage pictures and post them this week (which might actually prove harder than running the 3.2 miles).

"Momma, where's my elf???"

This is what Trace asks me today as he's walking around the house nearly crying searching everywhere for "his" Elf. Yes, his Elf on the Shelf that didn't get the message that it was time to come to our house and start watching him to report back to Santa. Isn't there some parent or elf code that we all should know about so my child doesn't cry and think he's been forgotten?

If you don't know what I am talking about, you must not have an Elf on the Shelf...I recommend you go to any Target and find one...or better yet, if you do have one, go to any Target, and try to explain to your child why there are boxes and boxes of them at a STORE.

Hmmm...well, I sure hope that Trace's Elf makes it to our house tomorrow...code for...JP get up and go hide that darn thing...AND make it cute, because Trace's cousin's elf was in the fridge and made her milk turn green...oh my...'tis the freakin' season!

The story of my life

I have laughed so hard I've cried watching this video. It is truly the story of my life with these two. Supposedly, Peggy has video of JP doing this exact type of thing to his brother and sister. A chip off the old block I guess. You've got to love Elizabeth's piercing attempt at getting him to stop...hope you enjoy (and can feel my pain) as much as we did...AND yes, she gets him good after I stopped filming (just in case you were wondering).

Not to be forgotten

Elizabeth Yvonne Jansen, my baby girl. She has been very patient as we (yes, mostly me) has focused all our attention on Trace and his big start. Well, today was her day and she started back at Mother's Morning Out. This year she is in the Turtles class and gets to eat lunch in the lunchroom which is fun. We went to her open house last week and breezed through drop off today. She was so ready to get back to school and was excited to tell me that she got to go to the playground, "Two times!"

So, here is to my other baby...and if you can't tell from the pictures, JP and I think we are going to have our hands full with this one!

...Enjoying open house in her new Turtles class...

 ...First day pose...

...In front of her cubbie with a little 3 1/2 year old attitude...

On today's menu...

Update on today's "big deal"...Trace loved buying his lunch at school. When I asked him what he got, here is the very enthusiastic response I got, "Momma, I picked homestyle chicken, corn kernels and two vegetables, celery and carrots, hmmm, oh, and chocolate milk!" I couldn't help but laugh, because who knew that you could make chicken nuggets and corn sound so fancy. I have been telling him what is on the lunch menu the next day and he is already looking forward to the cheese pizza tomorrow.

JP and I can remember our school lunch favorites, can you? JP liked pretty much all of it, but loved hamburger and chicken fried steak day. Mine on the other hand was the middle school burritos...mmm...sadly, I can actually still remember them just a bit.

The only other thing I don't want to forget years from now was Momsie (JP's mom) picked him up from school today. He really wanted to ride the bus, but we said we'd try the car line once. Well, the bus riders get to go first and Momsie was in line for almost 40 minutes. She said the first thing Trace said when he got in the car was, "I don't like riding, I want the bus. I had to wait forever!" He told me I made a bad choice with the car line, so I guess we're going to be full time bus riders.

"It was Awesome!"

Those were Trace's words when he got off the bus today. First day of kindergarten was an absolute success. I cried off and on for a while, but I don't think I was the only one. His favorite thing was riding the bus home. Tomorrow's "big deal" is buying his own lunch, so we'll see how that goes.

Here are pictures from his first day... I could just eat him up! I can't believe that God blessed me with this precious baby boy!

 Lookin' cool...

...a little sister support...

 ...that is one big school...Negley Elementary School...

...Mrs. Secrest's kinder"garden" classroom...

...he made home and was still smiling...momma's prayers were answered...