Sweet sounds coming from the Elwell house!

Kaylee started playing the violin at the beginning of the year and so far, she has loved it. Her teacher told her she needs to practice for 25 minutes 4 days a week so we are hearing great music coming from her bedroom. Actually for just starting, she sounds pretty good. Her teacher plays in the Tacoma Symphony so she is a great teacher and Kaylee loves going.

As for the other kiddos, Connor is still playing soccer 3 days a week, scouts once a week and he loves to play outside with his friends. Cierra started soccer last week and seems to enjoy it. Brooke is going to preschool and loving it. She always asks before she goes to bed if she is going to school the next day. All the kids will be starting up swim lessons again in a week so we will add that on to our schedule but luckily I have playoffs for softball tonight and then that will be over, although I will miss it. Hope you enjoy your day!

The dreaded 10 mile run!

So to train for a half marathon, you eventually have to go from running 3 miles to running 10. Well, it happened to be time to run the dreaded 10 miles yesterday. I can't just run around in a big circle and call it good. I have to run to a certain point and then come back the same way. So yesterday I set off to my parents house which is exactly 5 miles away. When I got there, they greeted me with water told me to be careful and I was on my way back home. It took me 1 hour and 53 minutes(don't do the math-it's pretty slow) but I made it and I was so glad it was done. I love my Garmin watch because it tracks miles, time, calories and all that good stuff. I love to look at the calories when I'm done and yesterday I burned 1347 calories. I figured it would be ok to eat a few jellybeans. I hadn't had a sweet in two weeks. Dang! I was doing so good. And I probably wouldn't have caved if I didn't have them in my house. I got them as a Thank you just that day! Oh well, life goes on. So exactly a week from today I run 13.1 miles in Leavenworth. Looking forward to getting away with the girls for the weekend but can't say I'm excited to run. Wish me Luck!-(I'm going to need it:)

Northwest Trek "Run Wild" race

As I mentioned in my previous post, I ran the Northwest trek 8k run on Saturday. Anna just gave me these pictures. Definitely not flattering pictures but it was a lot of fun!:)

preparing to take off!(jk-just being funny)

before we were soaked to the bone!

As we came across the finish line Anna's mom snapped a picture of

us and got us at our finest!

And these would be the brand new pair of shoes I got for free(I love free things!) They were exactly 100.00. I didn't know it was going to be so involved but when I went to pick them out the saleslady measured all sides of my foot and then had me get on a treadmill barefoot and had me run for 30 seconds and she recorded it and then watched it in slow motion to see what shoe would be best for me. Then she told me running shoes should be replaced every 300-500 miles. (for 100.00 a pop these babies are lasting me 1000 miles.-she'll never know!)

Busy weekend:)

What a busy weekend we had! It all started Friday night when Sean and I had our date night while the kids stayed home by themselves. We left them for 2 hours and it was pure bliss. We went to Olive Garden and had fun not talking over 4 kids. When we came home all the kids had on paint shirts and were painting at the table. Kaylee definitely earned her 6.00. The tv wasn't even on!!! Then Saturday morning I woke up at 6:30 to go do the Northwest Trek 8k run with my friends Anna and Marci!(You girls, Rock! Thanks for running with me Marci, it was fun and of course Anna left us in the dust after about 4 seconds but that was to be expected) After the race we sat and froze while they did the raffles. It was pouring down rain and we were soaked to the bone but it was well worth it for me when I won a 100.00 gift card to Fleet Feet in Bonney Lake. I am so excited to get a brand new pair of shoes for the half marathon that is coming up in less then two weeks.(not sure if I am ready for that one but oh well, I will get through it.) So after I got home I rushed to take a shower because I had two very anxious girls ready to go to the fair.(what happens when you wait until the last day to go to the fair?-it pours on you! I was ok with it, after all I was born in Washington and I am use to the rain. On the other hand I thought Sean was going to melt.)
Connor had a soccer game earlier in the morning and Kaylee and Connor went with their dad and they also went to the fair. We didn't see them but they had a great time too.

We rode the metro bus from the mall down to the fair. This was as fun as any ride to my kids!

We all rode the ferris wheel. Sean didn't want to but the lady taking the tickets let Sean and I ride for free so he went. He is terrified of heights. Brooke was actually not tall enough and she instantly burst into tears and the lady working there told me if I put her hair in big fluffy buns on the top of her head she would be tall enough. I thought it was kind of funny but we did it and Brooke loved every minute of it. As you can see Sean is holding on for dear life!:)

Puyallup fair with the rain falling down. It didn't stop people from coming. It was still busy!!

Brooke and Cierra would have rode every ride there but we let them choose 3. That was a hard choice. All the rides Cierra wanted to ride, she wasn't tall enough for. She was used to Disnelyand where she could ride any ride there.

Fishing for Octopus. 20.00 later they both walk away with a fun prize!

Brooke wasn't a fan of the spinning bears! She looked a little green after they got off.

And finally the great prizes from fishing for octopus.

Harvest Day at preschool

Brooke is blessed to be able to go to a great preschool which so happens to be on a farm. Today was Harvest day and they got to go see the animals and then pick some things from the garden. Mrs. Spencer told them to try a little cherry tomato and so Brooke popped one in her mouth and chewed it up and swallowed. I was shocked. Mrs. Spencer knows exactly what to say to the kids and today as they were having snack they got excused to the table if they slept in their bed all night. I was the parent helper today so I sat back and watched Brooke. She sat on the carpet and looked at me. When we got home she said, Mrs. Spencer said(I am hearing that a lot already, but hey whatever works) I have to sleep in my own bed, so tonight she got right into her bed and was asleep in minutes. Amazing! I love this women.

Brooke loved the cows!

The group getting ready to get some vegetables.

She was so proud to pick this bean all by herself.

I had to help with the onion but she was excited she got a big one!

Hats, Hats and more Hats!

A friend of mine wanted my kids to model some hats that her sister-in-law makes and sells. They are darling hats and when I get her website I will post it but in the mean time here are a few pictures of these very cute hats.:)

As you can see, my kids aren't shy and they loved doing this. Connor even put on a few hats

(boy version, of course) but didn't allow a picture. (Thanks Jen!)

In memory of our dear friend Jim

I know I have posted this picture before but this is the only picture I have of our friend, Jim. He passed away this evening and we are so sad to see him leave this life but we are happy that he is now free of the pain he has been suffering. We will always think about this wonderful man that touched so many lives, especially our family. My kids loved our Sunday visits with him and so did Sean and I. He told amazing stories and we would love to sit and visit with him. One of our favorite memories with him was when I asked him if we could bring him anything. He lived in a nursing home so the food wasn't all that great. He asked if we could bring him some fried chicken and mashed potatoes. I think he wanted homeade but if you know me, that just wasn't possible so we stopped by KFC and got a huge bucket of chicken. We went to the nursing home to find out he reserved a room for us all to have dinner together. It was so sweet and and he loved the meal. I was tempted to take it out of the bucket and put it on a nice platter but I knew I wouldn't be able to fool him. Just a couple weeks ago we brought him a big mac and fries and a chocolate shake and he enjoyed that too. We will truly miss this man and it was a great pleasure to know him. We love you Jim!

What the heck?

Tiffany Skate Inn

Cierra had her friend party at Tiffany's Skating rink yesterday. She was so excited to be there with 8 of her friends. They skated for an hour and a half and then went and had cupcakes and ice cream and opened presents. She got some great stuff and was very nice about sharing with her sisters when we got home.

Happy Birthday to Cierra!

Cierra turned 7 years old yesterday! She is growing up so fast, it is hard to believe she is 7. Yesterday she opened some presents before school and then we met grandma, grandpa and the Gailey family at Cold Stone for ice cream. She has her skate party on Saturday. She is counting down the days.

My baby started preschool

Well the big day has arrived when I have 6 hours a week to myself. That's right. Brooke started preschool this morning. I kind of miss her. I didn't cry like I thought I would be is so quiet in the house, I am not sure what to do with myself. Isaac, that I do daycare for three days a week is also going to preschool so she had no problem going and saying goodbye to me. I said goodbye three times hoping she would say, "Wait mommy, don't go!" but nope that didn't happen. She just waved a continued to play with her friends. Her good friend Kaylee is also in her class so she is very excited to be with her too. Well, I guess I should clean the house or something..........