Oliver's Preschool Un-Birthday Party

Oliver celebrated his Un-Birthday party at school the other day. Since his birthday is in the summer, they let us choose another day during the school year to throw a party for him.

For Oliver's un-birthday, he wanted blue jello cut in train shapes...blue trains...wonder which train he was thinking about.

He also got to pick a book to have his mom read in front of the class...

He picked "Where the Wild Things Are"

Oliver also got to bring in something for show and tell...he brought his diesel train collection

Ruby joined for the fun and was a hit with the other kiddos

They couldn't stay away from her...

Oliver's friend Liney was super sweet with Ruby

After the party - the kiddos went outside to play and Oliver switch back to his new found favorite topic...dinosaurs

St Croix Race Photos

Here are a few photos from the race:

Swim start...we had to swim 200m out to get to the start...really, I only signed up to swim 1.2 miles...they add another 1/8 of a mile and then I zig zag down the course and add an extra 1/4 mile of swim.

Coming out of the swim heading to T1

On the bike course giving one of many thumbs up, high fives, and thank you calls for being out on the course

Getting close to the run

Out for a little jog that just happens to be in the middle of a race

The finish line is in sight

Me and Chris at the finish!

St Croix 1/2 Ironman

Yesterday, I participated in the St Croix 1/2 Ironman...1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run. What a fun and challenging experience. I joined Chris Miller from Vasque down there for the event. He has either attended or participated many of these events and says that this is the most difficult 1/2 Ironman out there. Here are a few photos from the few days before. I will update again once I get race day photos.

The view from the room...just a large step over the wall and a quick 10 step walk on the lawn to the beach!

The view from the beach after a training ride...

While other athletes trained on their swim, bike, and run the days leading up to the race, we chose to work on our golf game, shoot hoops, and throw the football around. OK - we might have slipped in some rides, swims, and runs too...

Golfing with iguanas...

There wasn't much to the town of Christainsted, but it did have some charming features...

This is the day before the event...the water looks fun to swim in. Unfortunately the day of the event included rain and wind - thus the water wasn't so clear and blue

Here's the bike staged and ready! Just a 2 mile ride in the rain to get there. Then a quick swim to the starting line...

Oliver's Preschool Concert

St John's Preschool recently had their pre-K concert. Oliver and his friend Liney had their own little solo poem reading...

No stage fright here...Bees Buzz, Giraffes eat leaves, and dinosaurs stomp their feet!

They sang a few songs - here are some of the motions throughout the show...

When Dad is away....

While Mike has been in St. Croix, the kids and I have kept busy playing at the park, going to Oliver's soccer game and getting all geared up to cheer on Uncle Steve's Beavers at Opening Day.

Oliver and Kendall swinging at the park and loving the sunshine!

Ruby getting ready for Opening Day. Go Beavs!

Oliver is on the Bummble Bees and is #6...go Bees!

Nancy and Scotty over for dinner and doing a bit of ready with Oliver

Here's a great photo of both kiddos in the OSU colors

Oliver and Auntie Rachel cheering on the OSU and UW boats heading down the cut for Opening Day.

Uncle Steve sharing some of his soda with Ruby?

Ruby has been a bit of a stinker and not wanting to sleep. Here she is joining me to take Bogey out before bed...way past her bedtime!

Oliver on the left, Ruby on the right...both swinging at the same time - so fun.

Random iPhone photos once again...

Oliver has been a speedster on his strider bike for the past year, but just a couple weeks ago we picked up a peddle bike and he was on his own within 5 minutes...

Go Oliver Go!

We had a bit of tree work done last week. Here is Oliver having breakfast at Grandma Karen's house while watching the guys up the the tree working away.

He spent much of that day out back keeping an eye on the crew and making sure the job was done right!

Now it's time to have some fun and do some climbing. I forwarded this photo to a co-worker who was interested in picking up the wood, but his comment in seeing Oliver was "He looks like a big boy now - not just a little kids". He sure is growing up quick!

Oliver and Liney having some fun on the sidelines during a recent soccer game...all smiles with these two

We made the first trip to the Woodland Park Zoo for 2012 with the Swanteks. When Oliver gets tired, he sits in his funny spot at the front of the stroller and shares the ride with Ruby

Do you think there will be any dinosaurs here? Dinos are starting to replace trains as the go to thing to talk about and play with...

Nancy and Oliver on the merry-go-round

Oliver took a second ride on the merry-go-round but had to have Scotty join him this time.

In the bird house - Kelly held one of the birds while Oliver fed it

Kelly and Ruby checking out the elephants

Roar!

We had a great view of some giraffes frolicking in the field

Not as exciting as the zoo...but our first Costco trip where both kids sat in the stroller together