Parade

I love parades.  We did not make the homecoming parade, but the morning after we made it to the Plainfield parade (I don't remember the official name of it).  We were toward the tail end and so did not get the masses of candy that were thrown out at the beginning, but the kids were happy with their spoils.

This was another bike ride we enjoyed!

We couldn't help but chuckle at this poorly-manned float.

Dance Party

I can't remember how it started, but we all had a great time!

Biking

We have a great trail system in our city!  Spencer and I have done some running on them, but what we were really enjoying during the beautiful weather of early fall was some biking.  We got a great bike trailer from Craigslist.  It was barely used and converts to a stroller -- one of those nice ones purchased for only two children that grow out of it before too long!

Our inaugural ride - the girls were so excited.

Lilia was such a trooper at the end of this ride!  I had gotten really ambitious and we rode to the park that is a full mile from our house.  There was definitely some weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth going on at the end, but Lilia made it.  I was incredibly impressed with her hard work.

A later time we drove to the park, but I loaded up the trailer and put the bikes on the bike rack so we could ride down the trail for a little bit.

I could put our car repairs in their own post (we have had enough of them to last us a while: starter, transfer case, rotors - all on the van - and an intake gasket on the malibu was leaking that could have caused the engine to explode!  we have been very blessed), but I'll just combine it with this one since it fits.

I needed to get the van in and Spencer's schedule was not very conducive to dropping it off during business hours.  And when it is the van that needs the repairs it is hard because we can't all fit in the car.  I could have asked a friend to help, but I decided to take all of the girls in the trailer!  It is 3.5 miles away and I knew there was no way Lilia could put that off - even with it being slightly downhill.  We drove to the car place and got all loaded up for the ride home.  It really went well.

For the pick-up we definitely could have gone after hours, but I thought we could make it into a fun treat with the boys.  After school we got on our bikes and all three girls squeezed into the trailer again and we headed off.  This time we stopped at the frozen custard place for a quick treat!  And even though Andy was really tired (he does not have a great bike) the kids really enjoyed it -- and so did I.

We have really been trying to bike wherever we can.  Before the weather got cold we were doing a really good job of it.  We actually bought a second trailer from craigslist (even cheaper than the first!) so that Spencer can pull Lilia on longer rides.  We are quite the site when all of us get going, but it is so much fun.  

We have ridden to the library (.8 miles) and from there to the store (.7 miles) in the pouring rain!  Wow, that was quite the experience.  Honestly, at one point I had a huge smile on my face because it was just utterly ridiculous and so unlike me - I check the weather regularly and I missed the high chance of rain.  The boys were pretty miserable.  The girls, at least, were sheltered (thank goodness for plastic shielding!).  Then we rode from the store back home again (1.1 miles) in continuing rain.  We have ridden over two miles out and enjoyed some fun cupcakes (I forgot to check the ending time of the festival we were heading to) and two miles back.

I don't know about the kids, but I am really looking forward to warmer weather so we can get out on our bikes again!

Random play

The kids were playing transformers tonight. One of their favorites. Benny was Starscream. I'm not sure who Andy was but he was shooting in his picture. And Lilia was a transformer booster chair. Yes, that's right. And Anne was just excited when the camera came out. And I can't get enough of her chunky little thighs right now!

The Color Run

Several months ago a classmate of Spencer's posted information on "The Color Run" that was coming to Tulsa.  It looked intriguing and I asked Spencer if he wanted to sign up with me.  He wasn't all that interested.  It's not really his thing to run and get splashed with colored powder every kilometer for five kilometers and be a complete mess.  It definitely wasn't something I was going to do on my own, so I asked a friend.  Being on a budget, it wasn't really time for her to do it, either.  Maybe about a month later Spencer heard from his youngest brother, Garrett, that the company he works for was organizing a 5k in Tulsa.  He happens to work for The Color Run.  What a coincidence, we thought.  We asked if Garrett would be able to hitch a ride (or flight) and come out for the time they were here so we could see him (it had been over a year since we visited family in Utah).

The long and the short of it is that Garrett was able to come and he got us two spots for the run!  Spencer was willing to do it with me, but a babysitter for the kids became the pressing issue.  We decided Spencer would stay with the kids and my friend Spring could run with me like we had originally planned.  It worked out really well.  Spencer and the kids got to the park after Spring and I had started running (with a lot of walking - there were 10,000 runners there!) and they got to participate in one of the big "color splashes" where everyone throws their packet of color into the air.  The kids each had their own packet and had a great time.  And I can't believe how fun it was to be a total mess of color.

It was really fun to see Garrett in the middle of everything busy with something he's really enjoying.  Thanks, again, Garrett, for a fantastic time!!

Pre-race.

Part of the mob.  And there were a lot behind us as well.

Waiting for the start.

At home and ready to go!

 The kids were given some packets by some passers-by and participated in one of the "color splashes."  We still have the packets that Garrett gave us and will have to find a time to use those.  I know the kids would love to do this again!!

The aftermath.

After the run.

The whole "color-splashed" family!

 Just a fun shot to see how the color fell in clumps.

I tried getting a picture after taking the braid out to see how the color was, but most of it just shook out because it was powder.

My first jumping shot of my life.

took us a few tries...

And this is after we tried brushing off as much of the color as possible before getting in the van.

 I love how zombie-like this face is!

Even Anne had a great time!

Another zombie!!

Benny did not want to have a lot of color on him and he was very happy with how things turned out. 

And on the drive home.  It really was a lot of fun and I'm so glad we were able to do that!

It was amazing to see so many people there who were just ready to have fun.  Pure, simple, unadulterated fun.  There were people rolling around at the color stations and just having the time of their lives.  It was great.  I know Garrett's having a great time with his job and we were so glad to be able to see him for a little bit.  I'm just really sorry we didn't get any pictures with him!  The kids really enjoyed having him around as well.  It was fun for everyone!  If they run it again in Tulsa before we move, we'd love to have you back, Garrett!