Portland to Coast Relay

Unlike anything I've ever done - I participated in a relay race with 13 other women walking a combined 127 miles from Portland to Seaside. We had fun training individually and doing our 6am Saturday team walks. We had two teams of 7, each member walking either 3 or 4 legs each ranging from 4-8 miles. After 32 straight hours we made our way through cities and towns and over the Coastal Mountain range to the beach. We were loopy from being in cramped vehicles, beyond exhausted and completely unaware of what day or time it was...but we FINISHED and we had a BLAST!!

Teammates loading up the vans at 3am...no, that time is not a typo. Our team was assigned a 4am start time, so we had to have the vehicles loaded and be downtown in time to check-in and begin the race. This was the first night of no sleep!
All 14 of us at the start line in Portland...the reflector vests were required at dark, but not very conducive to picture taking!
Me and Kim (my walking partner) at the exchange before our first leg...we've been awake all night and waiting...we're finally ready to go!
Keeping the pace along the roads through St. Helens. My 3 legs totaled almost 20 miles - Whew!
A ragged but happy bunch on the beach at the finish! From the talented quick changes in the porta-pottys, to the chocolate milk "power drinks", to Debbie's endless singing of oldies, to road kills and re-kills - it was great fun and fantastic memories. Great job "Celestial Soles"...let's get training for next year.

Detroit Lake Campin'

Our annual "Summer Chaos Camping Trip" with friends was a blast this year. We were a little

nervous since we didn't have reservations...but we ended up getting oh so lucky at the Detroit Lake forestry campground (first come, first serve campground) where we got 3 amazing sites right on the lake. We had a wonderful weekend with our friends the Evans, Williams, and Foxes (even though the Carley's were terribly missed this year). We were blessed with the surprise visit from Greg and Michelle Williams and family on Friday who brought their boat for all to enjoy. And of course, tradition held strong with rain on Thursday night (although it was only a light drizzle and more of a threat than anything...we'll take it anytime over past year experiences.)

This was the gorgeous view directly from our picnic table out over the lake to Piety Island. Is Oregon not the most beautiful place on earth?

The kids loved to be able to swim, wade and skip rocks all day long since the water was so close and we were in a safe and shallow little cove.
The water came in handy also for "rinsing off" since Bo was having a hard time staying clean.
This was clean for Bo compared to other times. Thankfully this was chocolate and not dirt or you know what.

Caden looking tough

Tyler intensely playing in the swingball tournament that commenced all weekend.

Cole was good as usual, just hanging out in the stroller
And then there was the "yeddo boat" (that's a combo of "little" and "yellow" - reffering to the beloved yellow inflatable raft that Bo couldn't get enough of)

Whether it was afloat or docked, Bo was the captain of the ship. He would have slept in it if we would have let him.

Bart as first mate. He followed orders as to where to steer the vessel time and time and time again. Bart deserves "Father of the Year" award for how much time he spent at sea with Bo.

The "yeddo boat" was Bo's love and Bart's nemisis, but he was a good sport waving from out yonder.

The crew of kids. Getting a good photo of 15 dirty, tired kids is nearly impossible...but then again, that's one of the things that makes it a "Summer Chaos Camping Trip" and makes it so great. Thanks Evans, Williams (both families) and Foxes - can't wait until next summer!

Haley's Tag

Answer these 15 questions about yourself on your blog. List 3 Joys, 3 Fears, 3 Goals, 3 Current Obsessions/Collections and 3 Random/Surprising facts. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names.

Joys
1.Tucking my 4 boys into bed with hugs and kisses, telling them I am the luckiest person in the world to be their mom, knowing we have had a fun day together, that they are safe and happy and finally asleep!
2. Friday Night Date Nights with my husband. Life is busy and all week long we work like business partners, coordinating, delegating, reporting, conquering. But on Friday nights we are best friends, husband and wife, two young kids still in love with dreams as big as life. To Bart, date nights are one of the highest priorities and I am so thankful to him for that. I look forward to it all week. We spend a lot of the monthly budget on babysitting, but he says there's no more important way to spend it. This summer we've had a blast golfing, bike riding, playing tennis, eating out...and sometimes we just hit Home Depot to buy a new lawn mower. It doesn't matter what - Friday night is a must!
3. A shower door. What you ask? Yes, it has been another Dickson remodel project, this time in the master bath. The new shower door took months to get installed. It's a long, frustrating story. But the new frameless shower glass is beautiful (no more corroded, nasty brass frame) and I smile ear to ear each morning when I get to shower in my own bathroom again.

Fears
1. My close family knows one of my biggest, that just came true!
2. Having to watch one of my children hurt in any way.
3. That no matter how many dips I do morning and night on the side of my bath, my arms will only grow bigger and bigger.

Goals
1. To compete with Bart in a triathlon
2. To some day use my nursing training in a medical mission (church related or not) to a third world country.
3. To survive this season coaching Caden's 2nd grade soccer team (I didn't sign up, but got sweet talked into it by the league coordinator - and my husband is too busy and little help - ahh!)

Current Obsessions
1. Straightening up my oldest two boys beds after they have made them...I know it's awful! They have done so good making their beds every day this summer, but most days I can't resist the temptation to go in after them and straighten out the covers. Don't worry, I compliment them on how well they do and do it without them knowing. I'm just sick and I know it!
2. Good books - I have rediscovered recreational reading (the burn out from reading all those medical books and nursing journals in college is finally a distant enough memory that I actually enjoy reading again). I find myself hurrying to get my work done so I can curl up with a book.
3. Walking - I am on a team training for the Portland to Coast Relay the end of August. I love mapping out routes on mapmyrun.com and trying to shorten my mile time. In my many miles walked this summer I have discovered: 1) that I like speed walking way better than running 2) that I live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world.

Random Facts
1. I have door-to-door milk delivery and dry cleaning service. Today was milk delivery day, and I love opening my door early on Tues mornings to two ice cold jugs of 1%.
2. I have no artistic training, but I have found a new love in painting murals. I am preparing to convert the play room into a playing field with a cheering crowd in the grandstands. I'll post pics if I EVER get it done!
3. I have chocolate milk with Hershey's syrup EVERY morning for breakfast. Maybe that's why I can't lose weight! But any diet I go on will have to make room for this daily indulgence.

Now I tag: Amy Fox, Heather Dickson, Leah DeWerff, Shauna Jabusch, and Roxanne Risenmay

Diary Queen dirty

Bo provided us a good laugh last weekend during a little summer treat pit-stop to Dairy Queen. He was enjoying his dilly bar so much it showed all over his face and clothes...but don't let it drip on his hands...that would be way too messy! Play the video for a little chuckle. He is such a funny boy.