C25K

Wow! I found some fun resources while catching up at Sparkpeople. C25K podcasts! I'm sure most of you are asking what C25K stands for (I wondered the same thing when I saw it mentioned...even though I'm familiar with the program). It's the Couch to 5K running program. I am planning to start this - when Levi returns from his trip, anyway. Especially if I want to attempt any participation in the Bix next year. I haven't listened to the podcasts, yet, but found people online who find them useful. I just want something that allows me to not watch the clock while running. Kudos to this guy for putting them together! If any of you want to join me in this adventure, let me know... Better yet, if you have any tips or suggestions, I'll take 'em!

15 years already?

Levi had his 15 year class reunion this weekend. It was fun to hear what people have been up to since graduating. The kids had a good time hanging out with Jake, a couple of former classmates' son. Brookside Park in Ames provided some nice backdrops for pictures while we were there as well. You know I took a camera full!

Freecycle is amazing!

We landed a new (well, one year old) pool from Freecycle this weekend. The kids are thrilled since they found our smaller pool "boring". I'm really excited about the new one, too, since the whole family can actually swim comfortably in it. I'm doing a sort-of freecycle with our old one...giving it to a friend with kids younger than mine. I know they'll love it!

Also, Ayla is a bit over 9 months old now. She started the full crawl tonight and has been persistent with pulling herself up to standing. Walking while holding our hands is pretty new to her, too...but she's getting it! My baby's learning a great deal about mobility these days. Here are a few samples of pics I took on Saturday. This dress was Ayvarie's and we had her 6-month pics taken in it, so it's still getting some use. Since I have not taken Ayla to a studio regularly like I did with the first two kiddos, I'm achieving the visual documentation on my own...and it's a lot of fun! Some of the following are similar, but it's hard to decide which I like best.

I couldn't resist posting this pic of my vintage bike.

The weather is wonderful...

For biking! The kids rode up and down our street for quite a while tonight. All after we rode up to Casey's and back. It was Ayla's first ride in the bike trailer, which she really liked. Who wouldn't love to be out in the IA air when it's only in the mid 70s?

Ayv is riding a "vintage" bike. It's actually the one I learned to ride on!

I'm pretty certain Ayden is riding the bike Levi always wished he had.

Ayla makes the funniest faces!

I leave you with this...

Some days I feel like Oakley looks here. Thankfully, not today.

Remember July 8th?

Here are a few pics I didn't get a chance to post, but really like. Two show Levi (who snagged a kid's bike) holding Ayla on the handlebars. I'm sure he wishes she could ride already. The other is of Ayvarie & Beth getting ready to go to the barn. That was the night Ayvarie milked a goat for the first time. I can't even claim to have done that, yet!

My Fantastic Weekend!

Thursday night Levi, the girls & I saw Harry Potter at the Drive-In with Evan Almighty as the second feature. Harry Potter was great - as I had expected! Then, Saturday morning I rode up to IA City with one of my best gal pals, Christy. We met up with another one of my great friends, Sonya, for lunch and knitting at the Crazy Girl Yarn Shop. Here is a picture of Christy testing her new toy with Sonya's knitting as the subject.

That night I got home and the family loaded up for a pool party/birthday party in Mediapolis. The kids loved it - including Ayla. She sat in her baby float for nearly an hour and a half of the two hour party. Levi did take her out to kick a bit. Ayvarie played hard on the water slide and Ayden kicked it in the deep end with the boys. They start their swimming lessons tomorrow, so I'm sure there will be a lot of extra pool time in the next couple of weeks.

That was Saturday...today we visited the Naibi Zoo with the Thompsons. The last time (and only time) we visited the Niabi zoo was in 2004 for Ayden's 5th birthday. Here are some pics to recap our day.