Summer with Daddy at the beach

On Saturday, with 90 degree temperatures, while I was out with friends at a baby shower, David took Micah to the beach. Micah spent a long time throwing rocks in the water. They had a great time. When we all got home, Micah helped Daddy clean up the backyard patio and ran in the sprinkler, saying "Cold!" We had a nice barbecue for dinner and then went out for ice cream as a family. What a fun day!

Finally!

Dave is finally on the web! He has been working hard these last couple of weeks in preparation for our trip back east to visit my family. He's got his business website up and running, a tech blog, and his own personal blog. I'm so proud of him! He's getting with the times. :)

Today was our 6th anniversary but we didn't do much to celebrate. After church we had a softball game in the afternoon, so we dropped Micah off at Nana and Papa's and then played in the blistering sun for a couple hours. We went back to pick up Micah and stayed there for dinner, eating out on their shaded patio.

At Nana and Papa's

We had our first two softball games of the season on Sunday afternoon. Our team did great. We won both games... by a lot. While we were out playing softball, Micah was with Nana and Papa. Nana just got a brand new camera and had to test it out, so what better subject than a little 20 month old?

This is a mischievous look that, for some reason, I think we'll continue seeing a lot more of!


Micah and Daddy

Caught with his hand in the "cookie jar"

Doesn't he look big?!

Look! I can put magnetized letters on my head!

Don't we all wish we could crouch like this?

Here, I found something for you.

Papa with big boy Micah

He loves their gravel driveway, he is fascinated with rocks right now. Joen says David was the same way, and would save rocks in ziplock baggies and put them in the freezer.

Rocks still won't top his number one love, though. He'll spend all day kicking, hitting, and chasing after balls.

Weekend Fun

A couple weekends ago my friend Kimber and I ran in the 5K race in Gig Harbor to kick off the weekend of festivities. I'm not really sure what the festivities were all about, but there was a pancake breakfast, a parade, and a whole bunch of other things going on that day. We had fun running the 5K, and then Micah and David showed up a little later, as did Kimber's husband, Matt, and we stood around and watched the parade. It was a fun parade. Micah mostly enjoyed it from the backpack carrier, but soon got antsy and wanted down.

As you can see from the winter clothes we are wearing, June was having some trouble finding the sun. This past weekend started getting a little nicer. I ran in another race just this past weekend in Tacoma. It was 12K (7.46 miles) called the Sound to Narrows. It's a really popular race around here and I was really nervous about it because I hadn't run anything longer than 4.5 miles since my half marathon a month ago. Also, this one was very hilly. I read on a crazy ultra-marathoner's blog that the Sound to Narrows is "referred to as one of the most difficult 12k's in the country and Matt Downin who is an elite runner for New Balance agrees with that statement." I didn't like the hills too much, but I am glad that I had trained (albeit only 3 miles at a time) with my friend Ketra in her hilly neighborhood because I didn't feel too bad during the race. There were two negatives though: 1. I didn't have a friend to run with and 2. I forgot my ipod and headphones so I was only thinking about how horrible I was feeling with the ache in my side and the racing chip digging into my ankle. But I am so glad I did it and I had fun, and I felt pretty good afterwards!

I went to check the results of my race and didn't see the time listed on the website, so I emailed the support team and they said the chip registered my start time, but not my finish time. My watch, though, said I finished at 1 hour and 10 minutes - about a 9:20/mile pace. Fine with me on "one of the most difficult courses in the country!"

David taught Micah how to roll down the hills. Micah loved it! He giggled and ran up to do it again and again.

Micah ran in the little Diaper Dash race for kids after my race was over. He's looking pretty determined (or distracted)!

A few new photos

It has been a while since I have posted any photos of Micah and what we've been doing. I will get a couple up tonight and then tomorrow if I get a chance I'll write a bit about what we have done over the last couple weeks.

Here's Micah trying on Daddy's slippers:

A few of these photos are from April - the one day all spring that we had nice warm, sunny weather. Micah wanted to help out when daddy was washing the cars.

Happy Birthday my Beloved

There are so many reasons why I love this man. Today seems like a good day to share.

This man loves his son and does an incredible job as his father. He is selfless and giving. He is calm with discipline and wise in teaching. He is goofy and quirky and his son absolutely adores him.

This man is a great spiritual leader. He loves the Lord. He is generous, always wanting to help those in need. He likes to pose questions that make you think.

This man is quick and witty and always makes others laugh. He is sarcastic and funny, and he gets away with it. He is a lot fun to be around. He makes others feel at ease.

This man is an intelligent businessman. He is trustworthy. He knows his stuff. He has great relationships with his employee and his clients.

This man is a strong and loving husband. He is thoughtful and caring. He always opens the door for me. He gives of himself in so many ways. He cares for me when I am sick. He loves me when I'm tired. He enjoys my company. He shares his life with me, the good things and the not so good things. He is enthusiastic about my latest hobbies and helps me achieve goals I never knew I had.

I am so in love with this man! Happy Birthday, David.

Calling All Cilantro Recipes

I don't know why, but I saw the big thing of cilantro at Costco and picked it up. I like to buy fresh herbs, especially when they are called for in recipes I'm using (imagine that?). However, I usually only use a couple handfuls of the herbs and the rest spoil in the refrigerator. So, I'm not sure why I purchased the huge bundle of Costco cilantro except that we had eaten a yummy pasta dish that a friend brought to our home group last Tuesday, which had cilantro in it. So far I have made a couple blue cheese sauces with cilantro (I also got the big thing of blue cheese), I have made salsa and yummy guacamole. I have a recipe for a really good chicken and sweet potato chili, which calls for a little cilantro as garnish. Still, I may only use an eighth of the package. So, I need help! If anyone has recipes that call for cilantro, please, let me know!

Tonight we had steaks with a blue cheese sauce (with just a little too much cilantro), and artichokes. Micah had a little macaroni and cheese with carrots, but he really wanted what we were having - so we mixed his macaroni and cheese with the blue cheese sauce and he much preferred it that way. A kid who likes blue cheese and cilantro over regular cheese sauce? I hope I can accommodate his expanding tastes!

Free Music!

One of my favorite bands is offering their latest CD for free download. Downhere is a band I know because they went to the same college that I did. It has been fun hearing their music on the Christian radio station around here and even seeing their faces on billboard advertisements! Their music is rocky, their lyrics are thought-provoking and their sound is melodic. Some of the songs on the radio these days is "A Better Way" and "How Many Kings". These are such beautiful songs. Another favorite of mine from this album is "Little is Much" talking about how the little things we do are great things when God is in it. I listened to that song many times on my way to work at World Vision when I was calling and talking to some very unhappy people about their giving. Here is the link to the free download. This is an offer that is available through the month of June to help get the word out about Downhere just in time for a new album to come out in the fall.

Little is Much

What is the measure of a life well lived
If all I can offer seems too small to give
This is a song for the weaker, the poorer
And so-called failures

Little is much when God's in it
And no one can fathom the plans He holds
Little is much when God's in it
He changes the world with the seeds we sow
Little is much, little is much

Who feels tired and under-qualified
Who feels deserted, and hung out to dry
This is a song for the broken, the beat-up
And so-called losers

Consider a Kingdom in the smallest seed
Consider that giants fall to stones and slings
Consider a child in a manger
Consider the story isn't over
What can be done with what you still have

A Better Way

I'm not alone, I really believe
You never go, You never leave
Here and now, You always stay
“I love you” could not be said a better way

It's everything You've promised
There's no greater love than this
From prophets until today
A man laying down His life for His friends
Your sacrifice has spoken, You gave everything
And “I love you” could not be said
A better way

I am forgiven, I clearly see
It's why You came to do all you did for me
Trading earth with heaven, You took my place
“I love you” could not be said
A better way

Because You redeem, I know what's to come
Everything I could lose here, You've already won
So You have my surrender, with passion obey
“I love you” could not be said
A better way