Matthias's birthday party

SNOW!!!!

We FINALLY got a long-awaited big snow last night! We have been waiting for years for a snow like this to enjoy with the kids. We couldn't have asked for a better one. We ended up with about nine inches of very packable snow. It was beautiful coming down and came on Sunday night so we could continue our weekend for a few extra days! We went out Sunday evening and had a snowball fight under the floodlights with the next door neighbor kids. Then today we spent most of the day outside.

Tad's first order of business was to build a fort for protection in the many upcoming snowball battles.

Andy was ready to go sledding.

Tad found that trays are not only good for sledding but also as shields.

Matthias loved snow cream, but he was perfectly happy to just eat the plain snow, too.

And here's my littlest snow angel making his very first one ever.

It was such a fun day, and we are all completely exhausted from it. Andy showed us a good way to cool off by rubbing a snowball on your head.

Winter Update

Well, we are surviving the winter. So far we have gotten through without so much as a runny nose! Anna Beth has gotten back on her feet running after surgery, Ed is getting ready to run his second half-marathon, and we have spent the winter relaxing, enjoying family time. (Tad took these pictures with his own camera, using the timer - pucker up!)

The boys got to go ice skating for the first time, but I don't have pictures of it because I couldn't hold the camera, hold up a child on each arm, and keep my balance all at the same time!

Our big event of the winter is the circus, and we were in the spirit!

Andy's favorite news of the winter is that the next door neighbor's lab had puppies. He goes and visits all the time and is going to be heartbroken when they go in a couple of weeks!

New Year's

New Year’s was spent with good friends and good food. The kids all stayed up until midnight. We ate, lit a bonfire, ate, did sparklers, ate, played games, and ate some more! When it got close to midnight, we gathered all the kids in front of the TV with their “noisemakers” and counted down.










Chaos ensued at midnight...

Then we all adjourned to the kitchen for a toast…

2008 has been a good year, and we pray that in 2009 we’ll continue to become more like the people God wants us to be.

December

December is always a fun month with all the Christmas and New Year's festivities. We celebrated all month long, baking scads of cookies, making a gingerbread house, cruising around looking at lights, visiting Santa, going to an amazing Bethlehem Walk.

Tad could hardly stand the wait for Christmas Day - he wanted a Nintendo DS so badly. (Think Ralphie from "A Christmas Story".) His dream came true on Christmas morning when he got his Nintendo Gameboy (close enough!)

Like Tad, like Granddaddy...

Matthias had the quote of the day when he opened a Dora trashcan and said, "Wow, it's a giant cup!!"

Naylor's Beach Tri

September 28, 2008 - The date loomed ahead of me on the calendar all summer. This would be the longest race I had ever done and quite possibly would ever do in my life. I trained hard all summer. Olivia travelled to Warsaw, VA with me the day before the race. After packet pick-up, we took a look at the beautiful river and then headed out for a carb-filled dinner and to drive the bike route. Then over to the Best Western for a little shut-eye.

The next morning was very cloudy and drizzly - perfect racing weather! I got my transition area set up, got all my body markings and my timing chip, and was ready to go. I couldn't wait to get the swim over with!

I knew the swim would be my biggest challenge. Since I do not enjoy swimming, I really didn't train at all for the mile-long swim in the Rappahannock. I took it slow - REALLY slow - and the tidal currents made the swimming tough. I got swept off-course at one point and really ate up some time getting back on-course. Here is my wave (all women - pink caps) waiting for our start...

Here I am coming out of the water after the swim...

I knew the bike route was notoriously challenging. In fact, one e-mail I received said, "The bike route builds character - LOTS of character." I was very nervous about it after driving the 26-mile route the night before. I was sure we had taken a wrong turn in the car because I thought there was no way it was humanly possible to climb some of these hills on a bike. But I ended up having great fun on the bike (as I almost always do).

The first half of the 6.2-mile run I felt pretty good. Then I crashed. I walked a lot the second half, but I was so proud just to finish the race.

Although it was pretty grueling, I am glad I did this race because I learned a lot about myself. I'm not sure if I'll do another Olympic distance triathlon (the Sprint distance ones are much more pleasant!), but I will definitely continue racing!

Broadway at the Beach 2008

Go Red Knight!!! We had fun at Medieval Times.

Best Buds

Wait a sec - are there 8 kids or 10???