The Lake (continued)...

Due to issues with transferred pictures not liking my computer, I wasn't able to publish all the good pictures from Grammy & Grampy.  I can't quite figure it out...
But I WILL put up some pictures that we got on our camera...

Bow Lake

From our Annual Pilgrimage...
We had a wonderful time.  Lots of family, friends, loons (literally and figuratively) and adventures. 

Pictures courtesy of Grammy and Grampy...

He Just Won't Sleep.

Running blocker outside Nate's door.
Again. 
I hear his breathing slowing, so I know he's relaxing, but I'm afraid to look because he'll get riled up again.

A good, though tiring, day today.  We walked around the Antietam National Battlefield.  Both Sam and Caroline earned Junior Ranger Badges.  Nate got in a fight with gravity and lost (evidenced below).  Benjamin and I both survived to take on another day.

*Have to say that I was very impressed when Nate went up to a photograph of Gen. McClellan and Abraham Lincoln, pointed to Lincoln and said, "Mama!  That Abraham Lincoln.  He dead."
I was less impressed when we had to leave the Ranger talk on artillery because of Nate's incessant use of the word "butt" and his inability to modulate his voice beyond a loud setting.
Oh, well.
Batting .500.
I'll take it*

We got some time in playing outside and the kids got to watch some cartoons (waaaay into "Little Einstein" recently).  We even had a decent dinner until we noticed Nate ate his paper napkin.
Seriously.
And he liked it.
We are in so much trouble.

"Mama.  That say  'CSA.  And my butt'."

Time for an animal cracker break near while investigating the monuments. 

Showing off wounds incurred from a hard fought battle with the sidewalk. 

We're just happy to be here, hope we can help the ballclub and the Good Lord willin' things will all work out. 

Writing about how perspective changes when you move on the battlefield.  I think she was starting to understand that the terrain of the field determined everything that happened that day.  Pretty fascinating, actually. 

Resting at the NY monument.  Question of the day, "If coming here was Lee's first invasion into the North, then why do we say we live in the South?  We live in Maryland.  It was in the North, right?"  I let the Ranger explain to her that Lincoln had very persuasive means of getting Maryland legislators to vote to stay Union.  I learned a lot, too.  Every time I go a National Park I learn something new.  It's great we have so many of these nearby to take advantage of.  If we are ever bored living here, it's our own fault. 

Showing off their badges.

 AND LOOK WHO DECIDED TO RIDE HIS BIKE!!!!!!!
Only took 19 months after Santa delivered it for him to get on...but he did well - especially after so much riding in Rochester. 
He's something else, I tell you. 

"Look Mom.  This is how I engage the brakes."

Boilermaker.

I don't know what the heck took me so long to run the Boilermaker  (besides the fact that until October, I had never run more than 2 miles in a row at one time).
Seems like most people I know from that area have run it at least once and have rave reviews about it.
Turns out they're right.
Best.  Race.  Ever.

I have to admit, I was a bit nervous when I heard it touted as the "most competitive 15k race in the United States".  I'm not competitive like THAT.  It's more of a competition to see IF I can get myself over the finish line.
Frankly, I wasn't thrilled about going back to Utica, either.  It's a town like Worcester, just with more sections that you don't want to go in.  Not real pretty. 
But Patrick was all for it, so I set my alarm for midnight one day in January so I could get up and register.  I signed up 3 hours after registration opened and I was nearly the 5000th runner.  Dang.

The first 10k are uphill.  The golf course was brutal, especially considering that I saw Patrick about 1/2 mile ahead and was busting butt to catch up to him.
The spectators were great.  Almost every inch of the 9.3 miles were shoulder to shoulder people.
There were kids handing out popsicles, people spraying us with garden hoses (there is a special place in heaven for these folks), singers, dancers, drum circles, DJs, Italian bands, firetrucks, public works trucks spraying water, more volunteers than I have EVER seen at a race, spectators handing out ice,  a polka band (really helped me get through the golf course) and a gaggle of bagpipers at Mile 9 that almost made me cry.  I got a lot of shouts about my Red Sox hat and went out of my way to slap hands with every Sox fan I saw and every kid along the course dressed as a super hero (there were more than you would think). 
I did catch up to Patrick eventually (though Sarah Leahy BLEW by us) and we did okay, despite the heat and Patrick's feet/hips.
The last 5k were downhill and the street was smaller, making control more of an issue.  People were dropping.  My inclination was to not stop until I had a cold Saranac in hand.  Yuppers, beer and fear ARE the biggest motivators...
Sibling rivalry still exists since once the finish line was in sight, we both sprinted, shouting mean things at the other, only with smiles on our faces.  ;)
1:38:59.
This is a race that it's okay to go a bit slower during and enjoy.  

Already looking forward to next year.

Pre-race antics at the hotel.  Had to get the Tempo in the picture.  It's surprising that thing doesn't have antique plates!  :)

More antics.

Saranac has never tasted so good. 

Also - a friend directed me to a website where athletes can sign up and sponsor/run for someone with a disability that is unable to run.  Mobility is an amazing gift and if I am able to use that gift to somehow help another person, I will.  
I have been paired up with a little boy who is rockin' his extra chromosome. 
He is amazing and I am very grateful to be running for him. 
If you are able to do something like this, I encourage you to do it.  I have learned a lot in just the week or so I have been running for Ethan.  But more importantly, I've been able to teach people a lot, too.
And that's what it's for. 

Yet Again.

I'm playing catch-up with the blogging. 
I'm also lying on the floor running blocker to keep Nate in his room, so I guess we're back in our normal routine. 
The Olders were up in Rochester for a week while I had just Nate and Benjamin.  The "heavy-lifting" part of motherhood was much easier with just two urchins about, though the "keeping the kids entertained and out of everything they shouldn't be in" part was certainly NOT.  I think I don't give the Olders enough credit for keeping the Youngers out of trouble (MOST of the time).  Benjamin even figured out how to disassemble the tot locs on the kitchen cabinets. 
Seriously. 
We're in that much trouble. 
Oy vey.
But we managed and had fun while we were at it.
Everyone was fed, watered and packed for our trek to the Lake and the house was even clean, to boot!  THAT could not have been accomplished with all four urchins around.  And have I mentioned how wonderful it was to come home to a clean house?  If not, I'm mentioning it now - I have to appreciate it because it won't happen very often.  
I have got some pictures from Rochester, but not everything...I'll post what I have. 
It is so nice to look back at June and see everything we did.  Gives me justification for feeling so exhausted! 
That being said, both Nina & Pops AND Grammy & Grandpa are probably still recovering from our visits.
They are probably also enjoying the quiet.  

The Rochester Science Center was one of Caroline's favorite spots on her trip.  She is STILL talking about it. 

Sam, on the other hand, LOVED seeing Kyle Busch.  He told everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) in the service department at Wegmans today about him. 

Nate has a working vacation.  It's a good strategy.  Keep the boy busy and he stays out of trouble.  Mostly. 

The raspberries the kids picked in the back yard.  I am SO jealous if they got angel food cake with the raspberry frosting!  Mmmmmmmmm...

We were getting frequent updates about new foods Sam would try during the week.  Because he eats NOTHING.  But he gave the Crunchy Nuggets the thumbs up (in yogurt).

Stylin' with the WalMart shades.  :)

Watch out, Rochester.  They're already talking about next year.  I have fielded (and re-directed) requests to go to Niagara Falls and another country concert.  

Since When?

Since when am I so old and stuck in my ways that staying up for the Dodgers game is too late?
Oh, yeah.
Since I decided I liked running and Nate decided he hates sleeping.
He won't sleep.
I mean it.  He won't close his eyes.
That is, until he is so utterly, totally and completely exhausted that he can do nothing but pass out on the floor.
Like this:

This morning Nate woke up and asked, "Mama?  Can we walk to Jefferson Rock?"
Since the time I get to spend with just Nate and Benjamin is limited, I ditched my morning work and we went for it.

Nate climbed up all the hand carved steps by himself. Not an easy feat for 2 year old legs. 

Nate at the top of Jefferson Rock

Not too shabby for a picture taken by a 2 year old!

Nate's spider friend, "Fieder".  He was in a hurry to get back to his Spider Family.  I have to admit, I was intimidated by a spider the size of a nickel!

"Mama!  It's the Fotomac Rivah!"

"I look at my map.  Yup.  He's dead.  And so is him, him and him.  And the horse."

  He was looking at a timeline of famous people in Harpers Ferry.  After asking about each one, he would ask, "He dead, right?"

I'm only *somewhat* ashamed to admit we had ice cream for lunch. 

Benjamin was pooped by the time we got back to the car.