Whaling Days 2011

WHALING DAYS 2011

What a gorgeous day for a run! Just how I like it. So this is the first run this year that our whole family of 5 is running: Jeromy, me, Jade, Kent and Aurora- all participating! Also as an added bonus my mom was doing the one mile!!! Yay mom! But we still gotta talk about wearing those jeans... love ya mom! Hannah and Phillip from church also came!

Soooo, this run was a big deal I think. It was the first time Jade was running the 4 miles, and her first time running 4 miles ever! She was pretty excited about it and I was excited for her- she's admitted that she's starting to get the running bug- awesome!! Here's Jade and I- we are both running the 4 miles, everyone else in our group was doing the one mile...

My mom and I. I know she doesn't care for crowds too much, and she doesn't really care for the heat (tho I love it!) she came and did it- yay mom...

The kids: Kenton, Jade, Aurora about to sneeze, Hannah looking down and Phillip...

Grandma and the grand kids...

So here's our whole family with our numbers in place...

Me and Jeromeeeeee....

My mom took this picture of Jade and I just starting the 4 mile run, we are to the left of the picture... see us??

Jeromy got this one of me just finishing the last mile... my stride is looking longer... that's a good thing!

Jade and I. Jade finishing her very 1st 4 mile run!!! I was so proud of her. And she said she ran the whole way!!! That's my girl! I told her no matter how slow/fast she runs the goal is to keep running and she did it!!! She ran it in 50:30. I finished in 39:37. Tho we didn't place we are still winner- DUH!!

Look how happy she is! I asked her how she felt after and she said great!!!! W00-hoo!!!

I also so my good friend Regie there! That was so cool to see him there. I used to work with him before he retired. I went to school with his kids. He has been recovering from a shoulder injury and had not been running for a while. But he was there today. We ran about half the run together catching up!

But look who did place!!! Jeromy ran the one mile and won second place in his age division of 30-39. He ran the one mile in 7:27 not too shabby for an older guy!

We all also got the T-shirts! Jeromy says they are kinda girly cause the pinks/purples in it. Oh well, I'm wearing mine Monday to work.

So we came home for a bit to relax. But we also had an appt today at 4pm for our family pictures. Taken every summer ya know! This year we are all wearing shades of red and pink.

Katie Out!!

Pictures from Kent's Europe trip... and losing a toenail....

How's that for a title??? I know you all want to scroll straight to the lost toe nail pictures, but please look at Kent's Europe pictures first LOL!!!

Kent had taken over 800 pictures and several videos. I grabbed a few of the best ones. There are so many to choose from, I'll post some more later, I'm sure, as time allows.

The Eiffel tower (899 feet tall)...

A picture taken thru the cross beams- cooool....

Kent at the top...

And the view... amazing...

Kent leaning with the leaning tower of Pisa... is he cute or what??

So I've always heard with lots of running that there is the possibility of losing a toenail. Gross right? I was hoping that that would never happen to me, that I'm not a crazy runner, who runs 20 miles everyday. And I have pretty healthy feet and skin. Well, I guess I am one of those runners. Kinda cool that I am a "real runner" but not so cool losing a toenail ( you wanna see the picture huh!)

Well, some people- after researching it online- have toenails that turn black or blue as they are dying. Usually to bad fitting shoes or just the toes constantly hitting the front of the shoe while running which is my case. Might need to look into getting a half size larger shoe to keep the toes from hitting the shoe. Also some people get blisters under the toe nail. Sounds painful doesn't it!
OK-- THOSE ARE NOT MY FEET! Just wanted you to get a good visual. Got it??? LOL. I looked up all kinds of pictures of "lost toenails due to running" and I seriously grossed my self out. Ok, here's mine...Not too bad, I was really freaked out at first till I went on line and saw how really bad it can be. Can you even tell which one? It's the one closest to the big toe. It's so weird, it still looks like there's a nail there, but that is all skin just shaped like the toe nail that was above it. CRAZY!!!! So I'm happy to say that it did NOT turn black or blue, it was kind of a faded yellow, so I knew something was going on with it. Not blister underneath- thank goodness. And then last night I was trimming my nails and it just seemed kinda lose--- I know gross right? I just have to share this with you, my readers! But seriously I think I should win for prettiest lost toe nail don't you think?

It's so weird cause the skin underneath doesn't hurt it's kinda tough like the skin on the bottom of my toes I was so worried it was going to be mushy and "wet" or something and that it would hurt, but it doesn't hurt at all! The real test is tomorrow when I run 4 miles in the Whaling Days Run!!!!

More tomorrow!

KENT IS FINALLY HOME!!!

My baby is finally home after 20 days gallivanting in Europe! How cute is he???? His flight from Paris, France landed in Houston, Texas a half hour early, then they landed in Seatac about 10 minutes early also, about 4:45 this afternoon. I know 10 minutes may not seem that long, but I've been wanting him home for a few weeks now, so I was really happy about the 10 minutes early as apposed to a late flight or something! Kent is home! He has kind of a tan, too. He's darker than Jade, he has never been darker than Jade!

We had to celebrate, and since Kent was awake and hungry- my favorite of all time Japanese Steak house in Tukwilla it is!!! My kiddos...

This is what eel sushi looks like... and what it tastes like? You'll have to ask Jade or Kent cause I will never know!

As soon as we got home Kent crashed on the couch (and in the car the whole ride home). He is one tired boy. We looked at all his cool stuff and his over 800 pictures (I'm so proud!!). Soooo coooool! I'll have to blog later some of his pictures!

We are all kinda tired. So every one's getting a good night sleep tonight and then we're heading over to Grandma Cindy's tomorrow so she can see him, too!

KENT IS HOME!!!!

Tomorrow

I pick up my baby tomorrow!!! Can't wait to hug and kiss that boy!!!

To my parents:

Happy 30th Wedding Anniversary:

Mom & Dad!!!!

Wow 30 years!!!

Can't wait till we get to 30 years-

going to hit 4 years this fall!

Running late for work or I'd try to find an old picture of the 2 of you! I also need to keep with what Kent's been doing the last few days- I'm just more excited about the fact that we go to the airport THIS Wednesday to pick him up- I can hardly wait to see his face!!!

Summer Wedding

We went to Nicole and Vince's wedding yesterday, and it was just beautiful! And what great weather, too!

Nicole is a girl that goes to our church. Well, I say girl, but Jade says she's 24. She sings in our church, and is very active in the church.

The Wedding was held at a larger church, I don't know why except maybe our church was too small to hold all the people they invited! I took these with my own camera (duh) so they are kinda blurry... here's the wedding party... our Pastor Kevin did the ceremony, he seemed so happy, he said he had watched Nicole grow up since she was 8, and knows the parents real well that go to our church also... Kevin is up there with Vince waiting for Nicole to be escorted down the isle by her dad...

Here's Nicole and Vince after saying their "I do's" and the kiss and heading back down from the alter...

They had a beautiful reception with some great food! But I found the baby! Isaiah was a week and a day old when I got to hold him again! Still sooooo tiny...

Starting to wake up....

So cute!!!

Jade and Eli...

The wedding cake, another lady from church made it.... soooo pretty!

Then they had the anniversary dance, where all married couple go dance and the DJ says who ever has been married less than 10 minutes has to leave the stage- basically that's the married couple. Then he says if you've been married less than 1 year... and he keeps going, he then said less then 5 years and then Jeromy and I and some others left. The DJ went up in increments of 5 years till the last couple dancing was a couple that was one month shy of their 50 anniversary- amazing!

Some party people...

Jeromy and I...

Some girls from church with Jade on the far right...

Then there was the bouquet toss, Jade is just left of the bride... watch the video...

Here's the J's with their wives... J2, me, Maranda and J3!!! How cute are we??

So that's about it for this weekend.

We got Aurora today for the next week, and us girls are going shopping tomorrow! We all need a few things for summer!

The past week....

So first I was going to post the pictures my friend Robin sent me from the men's retreat last weekend (thanks Robin!!) Remember it was a Lavender farm!!

Here's all us ladies who did the cooking...

Some random pictures.... there's my Jeromy on the far left- so cute!!

Ok, switching gears, now onto where Kent's been the last 2 days...

Yesterday they had just taken an overnight train from Italy to France. So yesterday they got to: enjoy one of life's greatest pleasures and prepare to ride in a Venetian gondola.

While passing along the "Canale Grande" and narrow channels to see the famous Guggenheim Museum...

The "Fenice Theatre" ...

And Mozart's Venice Residence.

During a guided orientation the kids will explore the bustling alley, quaint bridges and narrow canals of Venice.

They will see the Basilica San Marco...

And the Bridge of Sighs...Then the kids will take part in an informative presentation about glass making on the island of Murano. They will learn about each step- from the composition to the polishing of the glass. They will be fascinated by the live demo of the production process.

Then the kids say goodbye to Venice and depart on the overnight train for the magical city of Paris.

Today Kent is going to meet their french teacher at the Fragonard Museum of Perfumes, the perfect place to get acquainted with the French culture.

They will enjoy a guided exploration of one of the most important art collections in the world, the famous Musee du Louvre. The kids will visit the principle parts of the museum- including a look at Leonardo's masterpiece, Mona Lisa.

Today the kids will also meet their home stay family and be welcomed into their new European home!

And lastly, switching gears again, I have some pictures of the Vacation Bible School (VBS) our church put on this week... the theme was Shipwrecked with Paul. They had this boat set up, and each child got their picture taken and it was used in one of the craft projects the kids were doing... Jade...

Jade and I were in charge of snacks. This day we were having the kids make boats out of cheese, pretzel sticks and pepperoni... pretty clever!

Jade and I...

One of the craft projects...

Singing time...

Our snack area... the kids were split up into 3 different age groups, so we had 3 rotations of snack time during each day...

Jade and I again on a different day...

And here's that sweet 3 day old baby I got to hold- Isaiah...

One day we had the kids spell their name with goldfish crackers and carrot sticks...

Our covered snack area! God is good- we did not see any rain this week!!!

So that is all the latest and greatest! Now I gotta go get ready for work. We also have a wedding to go to tomorrow!

And I'm so excited, you wanna know why???? The sun is finally out and looks to stay our for the next couple of days!!!