I'M BA-ACK!!!

(That title sounds a bit like what some horror movie character would say in a demented sing-song voice in a sequel performance. heehee)

So here is a quick recap of what's been going on since I last posted many months ago:
I'm pregnant--30 weeks today.
It's a GIRL!!
Eli and Brandt played basketball in the winter and all three boys just finished up track season.
Track was ALOT of work this year--we had 100 kids register. But thanks to excellent support, it turned out to be a great season.
Eric is running more and ALOT faster than me. And he does it early in the morning--go Eric!
I am still running, though. Not sure at what point I'll stop. I've never run this far into a pregnancy--but I still feel good. I usually go 3-4 days a week for 5-6 miles.
It's a GIRL!
I've had quite a bit of marketing work to do, which has kept me busy at the computer and is my excuse for not blogging. We have felt blessed to have another source of income. Though not a huge amount, with the economy negatively impacting the construction industry so much and Eric's job being so closely tied to construction, we have been grateful for every little bit extra.

Here are some notable pics from the last few months:

Eli showing off some of his race bling

Brandt getting some air in the long jumpBrandt tearing up the track

Eric and Eli at a scout campout at The Farm

Asher feeling baby girl kicks

Asher the shot-putter

Asher asleep--I found several similar pictures of him dozing in this position but decided to just post one.

Eli's first 5k

It was a cold, rainy morning. Eli and Brandt had been running regularly for about 6 months. Brandt had run as much as 2.5 miles at once and Eli had run over 4 on multiple occasions. Both were dual-athletes this fall, participating in flag football and cross country in the same season. So they were prepared, and they did not fear. Eli finished his first 5k (official time was 34:07). Brandt finished the mile run in 11:12. Way to go!! (I'll post more pics when we get them from Mom and Dad).

Quotable quotes

Eli: "Dad, do you know why the moon looks like it has bumps all over it?"
Eric: "Because it's made of cheese."
Eli: "C'mon, Dad. I'm talking SCIENCE here."


Asher to Eric: "Dad, what're you eating under there?"
Eric: "Under where?"
Asher: "UNDERWEAR?!?!"

Brandt to me: "When I grow up, when I wake up in the morning I'll be a normal human; BUT, in the nighttime, I'll be a NINJA!!''

Eeeeeeeeek!!!

This morning I began my run on the trails. It rained alot yesterday and during the night, so I hoped the moisture had thwarted the arachnid acrobatics during the night, leaving a web-free path for my workout. There were fewer spiderwebs than usual, but I still ran into THE ONE. It completely covered my head and face. I must have blinked just when I hit it, and when I realized I had, the web was so sticky to my face and eyes, I couldn't open my eyes. I was frantically trying to wipe the webbing from my eyes so I could see clearly. My right eye was to first to be clear, and when I focused it, I spotted a bee--still alive-- stuck to my shirt. With my one working eye, I used the side of my pepperspray I was holding to wipe the bee off, afraid that my bare hand might catch the bee's stinger. Bees' little legs can hold on very tight to synthetic fabric. I think the legs are still on my shirt, and just the body was laid to rest along the trail. My left eye took lots of forceful opening and closing to finally become clear of the strong web. Luckily, I didn't see the web architect at all. I might have injured myself in the frantic dance that would have ensued. I am home now, showered and safe-- thanks for asking.

Eli's Baptism

Eli was baptized on his eighth birthday, August 2, 2009. Eric baptized him and confirmed him a member of the Church. Eli was very thoughtful and attentive during the service. I asked him afterward how he felt, and he said when he came up out of the water, he felt a warmness in his body. I feel so blessed and humbled to have such a valiant, good boy for a son.

No time for losers, 'cause we are the champions.....

Eli and Brandt participated in the Birmingham city championship swim meet last Saturday. They did SO well! Brandt swam the freestyle, breast stroke, and backstroke, and completed them and was competitive in each event. Eli swam the freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly and won the freestyle and backstroke. Their team won the whole meet (I think there were about 10 teams there), and Eli received a trophy for scoring the most individual points in his age group at the meet.
Having Eli swim each summer for the last 3 years has taught me something. Eli began swimming barely able to get across the pool (he had to wear a chest float for the first few weeks of practice). He didn't win a single race his first year. And although he doesn't swim year-round, he continues to improve each year. This experience makes me feel much less concerned when my boys aren't the best on the court, field, track, etc, when they first start a sport. No sport I have ever participated in has come easily to me, and maybe my boys will be the same.
I have also decided I want to encourage my kids to have a different sport for each season. I'm not a fan of "specializing" kids in sports. The purpose of their playing sports is to develop high self-esteem, become more physically fit, and to learn good sportsmanship--not to become professionals or get scholarships. I want them to always enjoy whatever they are doing. Eli and Brandt loved doing swim team this summer, but when I asked them if they wanted to do it in the fall, they said they'd rather do flag-football, and I said, "Okay!"

Jedi Training

Eli and Brandt each invited 4 padawans to their Jedi Training birthday party. They were greeted as they arrived by Princess Leia, who helped them dress in thier Jedi robe and explained the rules of the training.

We began with the "Physical Training Obstacle Course" in the basement. The Padawans had to go through the course once, then go through again and better their first time to move on to the next stage of training. They all passed with flying colors (brown, sandy Jedi-type colors, that is).

They then went upstairs to build their light sabers. This moved rapidly into light-saber training, done mostly out on our still work-in-progress sport court. They had a visit from Darth Vader and each took a turn battling him one-on-one to complete their training and become official Jedi Knights.
We completed the party with Yoda Pizza, Yoda Soda (Fresca with lime sherbet), and Galactic Cupcakes.