Marathon Ryan

So, Ryan got into running about a year ago.  (He loves how great he feels now that he can hike and ski and do the things he loves without getting exhausted.)  After running his half marathon he decided he didn't feel challenged enough (unlike me who after my 5K a few years ago felt no need to go a farther distance) and decided to sign up for the Phoenix Marathon.  He trained hard and I supported him on all those long runs on Saturday mornings.  He had some difficulty training with leg problems (he was never quite sure what it was but would get these deep leg aches that made it impossible to run farther than a few miles on some nights - even when he just tried to push through the pain.)  But all of us here at the Melzer abode supported him and did our best to help him prepare - with leg rubs, cleared schedules, and sacrificed time.

The week of the race I was nervous.  I wanted him to survive and meet his goal, but mostly to just survive.  Then...the stomach flu hit our house.  In the night, Tuesday night, Annie threw up a little.  We weren't sure if it was from coughing or what.  We gave her a throw-up bowl and we all went back to bed.  Wednesday morning, after I got back from taking the girls to school, I went in to wake Annie up (don't fret - Ryan had been home with Leta and Annie) and found that she had thrown up more in her throw-up bowl in the night but never let us know and just went back to bed.  It was a babysitting day and preschool day, so Annie stayed secluded in my bedroom.  I was already having a difficult day and felt a little pitty for myself, but then, after picking up all the kids from school, without warning, the boy I babysit threw up all over the kitchen.  Oh, it was bad and everywhere.  I had to work hard not to vomit myself.  Then, as I'm cleaning that up, his little sister was in our living room playing and without warning, she threw up everywhere too.  All over the carpet and my couches. I about lost it.  It was one of my most disgusting moments ever, especially because the throw-up was not from my own children.  I learned not to throw myself a pitty party because things can always get worse and I called Ryan and told him not to come home.  We couldn't afford for him to get the stomach flu right before his race!

Somehow, I survived that Wednesday.  I also called our carpet cleaner and he came out Thursday morning (such a tender mercy) and I practically bleached the whole house.  We hadn't had our carpets cleaned in years - but I couldn't go another day after that fateful Wednesday.  We also instituted the rule that no one was to touch dad until his race was over.  For 3 days - no contact.  It was sad.

Then Friday hit.  I usually babysit, but the kids I watch were still sick.  That worked out because I ended up getting sick Friday as well.  My neighbor and I had a little ward get together at her house and I while there I just kept getting more and more sick.  By Friday evening I just wanted to die (it is pretty sad that I loose my will to live pretty easily once you throw in nauseousness and dizziness.)  Thankfully all my girls got to go spend the night at the Melzer's and all I had to do was lay there and try my hardest to breath deep so that I wouldn't throw-up.  And I cried because I didn't think I would be well enough to make it to support Ryan on his race.  I went to bed at about 9 and just prayed and prayed that I would get better.

I didn't sleep the best but 3:00 AM rolled around and I could actually stand up!  My pleading prayers had been answered.  Ryan wasn't sick and I could go see him race.  I dropped him off at Riverview shortly after 4:00 in the morning.  Then I came home for a bit and then drove all over Mesa to kill time before his race.  Because the girls were sleeping at the Melzers, I was able to support Ryan at 2 different spots on the course before joining up with the girls at about mile 17.  For the first part of the race, Ryan was doing awesome with his time, but at about mile 16 - he hit a wall.  His stomach was cramping and he wasn't feeling the best (he probably had some of our sickness).  He ended up needing to walk for a bit, which put his finish time 1/2 hour after his goal time.  Of course I didn't know any of  his troubles, until the race was over.  So when he didn't come to the finish line at his project time, I began to worry.  I checked my phone a million times to make sure no one called to say he died on the course.  Our girls were hot and crying, I was sick and still worrying.  Thankfully we had aunt Lilly there to help.  Finally he made it and we were all so proud! (And I could stop worrying) He actually ran 26.2 miles in about 4 1/2 hours.  He had fun giving kids high 5's all along the route and although he wished he could have made his goal, he felt good about his work and would like to run it again next year so he can get a better time.  Although I'll probably never run a marathon, it's nice to be able to say that my husband ran one.

So these are the pictures I took of my girls on Thursday and had planned to enlarge and post them throughout Mesa during Ryan's race.  Sickness prevented that, so I posted them on Facebook for the world to see.  Second best I suppose.

The morning of the race.  It seemed as though there were miles of buses.

Ah- I finally got to hug Ryan before he left on the bus.  You would never know I wanted to die the night before from stomach flu :)

Mesa before dawn

There is Ryan - the spec in the gray shirt.  This was in Las Sendas.

The girls and family cheering on Ryan!

Leta sees her daddy coming down the line (this is about mile 17 - right by the Melzer's house.)

These girls love the free loot at races.

These girls do not like waiting.

Our Finisher!  Soon after this picture, I sent Lilly off to play with the girls and Ryan and I sat and recouped.  I felt like a looser.  Ryan had just ran 26.2 miles and I was the one needing to sit down and rest for a bit because I was still weak from the stomach flu.  We love aunt Lilly!

























Also, I wrote this thought down on Facebook after the race was over:

After Ryan finished the race, Lucy wanted to know what he would have received if he would have won. (She likes awards). It made me stop to think and really appreciate marrying a man whose goals do not take over our family. For him to win the girls would have received a lot less of his special breakfasts, a lot less of his "the curious boy" bedtime stories, and a lot less awesome dad time. I hope these girls always remember that they are his grand prize. (And I'm done with my sappy Sunday post)

The girls got their face painted.

Leta has been a cat almost every day since Halloween.  This was the moment that she saw that she actually had turned into a cat.  It was priceless.  Even the lady doing the face paint got out her phone to take a picture of how happy and cute Leta was.

Eating snowcones.

Lucy matches her favorite stuffed animal "kitty" that she got at Disneyland and can't part with (her blankie "purple" and "kitty" are her constants in life).

After the race my sister Katie kindly watched the girls so that Ryan and I could go out to eat and enjoy a huge meal.  It was a great day and many prayers of safety and healing were heard and we enjoyed the support of our wonderful family.  Many cheered Ryan on from home with phone calls and encouragement, from the roads and by watching our girls. We are truly blessed.

April Fools

Today was April Fools day.  It started with me setting the clocks ahead one hour.  I woke the girls up at normal time but fooled them into thinking that we slept in and were late for school.  Lateness does not sit well with my Lucy.  She keeps track of time like a hawk and is paranoid about being late, just like her father.  All morning long she was rushing me and asking about how late we were.  I finally let them in on the fool when Lucy was begging me to head out the door 25 minutes early.  She wouldn't believe me when I said it was all a joke.

Then right before I picked up the kids from school, I coached Leta and Annie on saying, "Lucy and Elsa, we ate all your Easter candy."  (I got this trick from another mom of two sets of twins).  Of course I had to take the lead.  But when Lucy and Elsa got in the car, me and Leta and Annie worked our magic.  I really knew I should have videoed it.  Their faces were hilarious.  At first they thought the younger girls only ate some of their candy.  Then I piped in and said, "No, Leta and Annie ate...." and I let Annie finish with "all your candy."  They turned from upset to bawling and crying tears.  I'm still laughing just thinking about it.  Then Annie quickly said, "Happy April Fools Day," and everyone started laughing.  It was classic.  I love this age of my girls.  I kind of wish I could freeze them at this age a bit longer.  

When Ryan and I were first married I spent about an hour hiding his mountain bike in our tiny little dusty, spider infested outside closet.  I made him think someone stole it (we lived in a more sketchy neighborhood, it was believable.)  I think that was the only other time I've really had a good April Fool's joke...until today.

It felt good to actually get a few good fools in today.  Thank goodness for foolable six year olds.  They make my life fun.        

Also, today was opening day for the Diamondbacks.  Ryan went to the game tonight.  This is Leta in her "Divingbacks" shirts.  She wears it all the time.  

Today

Today was my preschool Easter party.  I woke at 6 and showered and headed to Walmart to get the supplies.  I decided that though it was nice to be at Wally when it wasn't crowded and the lines were nonexistent,  I hate starting the day by spending money.  Then I rushed home, did hair and tried to get off Elsa's mascara from her play last night.  Ryan had already gotten up and made pancakes for the girls.  He is a huge help every morning.  Him and Lucy also teamed up to catch Leta a pet moth.  She carried around in the glass jar that I gave her all day long.  She named it Fluffy, then Jackalope, then Mothy.  After getting everyone ready, I drove the girlies to school.  Wednesdays are my day to pick up a few kids who need a ride to school.  

By the time I got home from delivering the kids at school, the little girl that I babysit was already here.  Ryan then left for work and I continued to work fast and furious to get ready for the party.  When my regular preschool kiddos were getting dropped off, I decided to let some of the siblings stay and enjoy our party too.  There were 13 kiddos here to enjoy the festivities.  We colored, read a book, decorated bags, made a whisker mask, made bracelets, played with toys, did an egg hunt, ate bunny tails and cupcakes, and planted pots of grass. Thankfully my neighbor stopped in for the last little bit to help with grass planting.  As kids were getting picked up, we busted out the fun princess bounce house that my friend from high school graciously gave us.  We did have one little girl wet her pants a little because another boy in the class without me realizing had said there was a bee in the bathroom.  It wasn't a bee.  It was a fly. The girl is deathly afraid of bees and wasn't going to mention the fact that she needed to use the restroom. Thank goodness I have a plethora of size 3 underoos.      

Mothy at preschool

The hunt.  I said to start with 5 eggs.  Some kiddos found 20, and some 2.  I have a feeling there will be many impromptu Easter egg hunts in the next few days.  

Bunny tails.  It took me all morning to harvest these large tails.  Some kids said they tasted like marshmallows.

After normal preschool hours, I kept some of the kids longer so that their moms could finish up some appointments.  I fed six kids the best Lunchables imitation that I could come up with from what we had on hand.  The last of the preschoolers was picked up right as it was time to pick up kids from school.  Today was an extra early release day.  I loaded Leta, Annie, and Decora in the car and picked up Lucy, Elsa, and Aaron.  Leta and Annie always argue over who gets to sit in the all black car seat that we use when we have extra kids in the car.  I'm so glad we have a suburban.  We fill it to the brim daily.  

When the kids got home they had cookies and milk and watched part of a movie while I cleaned up and swept up cupcake crumbles and beads and scarfed down a bowl of beans for my lunch.  I found out my sisters were at my grandma's house so we packed ourselves up and headed there as well.  The kids had a fabulous afternoon of playing restaurant and swinging on homemade tree swings, playing Easter BINGO and making more bracelets, eating and drinking lots of sugar, and just being crazy together.  I spent the afternoon roaming around, keeping an eye on everyone, making sure everyone was safe and was having fun.  I even had to climb a tree a few times to do so.  (It's an ego booster to know I can still climb a tall tree after all these years).  Soon after we arrived at my grandma's I had to go rescue Karyn and her kids after her car broke down.  Then Kristen, my sister who lives in Safford, came down for a visit.  It was a great afternoon to spend with all my sisters, my parents, grandma and a million kids, and of course when it was time to leave we had 3 temper-tantrums because it is never easy when the fun has to end.         

Lucy giving the boys a rid in the wagon.  Lucy loves to try to take care of younger children.  Oh the energy of children.    

Leta tried to wear a black leotard daily (so she can be like a cat).  She also loves boy shorts and was elated to wear these ones from aunt Katie.  

As we dropped Aaron and Decora off at home, I said something to the effect of, "Lucy, now we need to run home."  She took it quite literal and her, and Elsa and Annie, ran barefoot all the way home.  Thankfully they only live about 1/4 a mile away from us.  

My running girls - I trailed behind in the car slowly.  

By this time it was after 5:45 PM and we arrived home to Ryan who had already started preparing dinner.  He loves to cook and I love to eat his creations.  As he cooked, I showered 4 dusty, dirty girls who had the blackest feet ever.  Then they worked on homework, I planted some more things in our garden, we ate dinner, the girls did more homework outside while I worked on packing away the bounce house (not my favorite activity) and worked on the sprinklers for the garden.  Our neighbors rode by on their bikes and of course made our girls a tad jealous.  They said we could borrow their bike and bike trailer for a quick spin around the block, so Ryan came out and rode the girls two at a time around while I took one on my bike in the kid seat and another tagged along riding her own bike.  We took turns with everyone getting a chance either in the trailer or in the baby bike seat, all the while smelling the flowers and orange blossoms.  When I was giving Lucy a ride, someone just outside our neighborhood started lighted off fireworks.  It seriously capped off a wonderful spring day.

Bedtime of course was an effort on my part not to loose my temper (by bedtime I'm usually out of energy and  patience and the girls seem to still be brimming with energy).  Now I'm sitting here not wanting to move or do much.  I should clean, I should do my college class and work on preschool registration for next year, but my body and brain say no, so I figured I would just blog.  It's not witty, and it's not proofread that great - but I need to do better at capturing the day to day.  I'll probably finish this and go make myself a treat (chocolate chips and nuts), visit with Ryan, and then go to bed.  I'm attempting once again to go to bed at decent times and wake at 6:00.  

The End. 

6th Annual Orange Festival - Spring Break Day 1

I really need to get back to doing regular postings - not one post per month.  So here it goes.....

Today was the Orange Festival.  This was the 6th annual Orange Festival.  It started as a celebration of our orange harvest and was a time for kids to play and celebrate orange and parents to try to juice some oranges.  Since then, I have learned that it's too hard to juice oranges and provide an awesome extravaganza for the kids.    And this year, I strayed from our usual all orange day and did a wild and messy day.  It was different, but I'm pretty sure it is going down in these kids' life long memories.

This is 2008

Look at these babies.  We thought we had our hands full then....(of course not everyone is pictured, but in 2008 we had 15 participants with 5 adults and Lilly)

(I've also realized my backyard is not as beautiful as it once was - it's called no winter grass and I just don't have the time and money to spend on it like I once did.  I like how my yard looks with green winter grass, but I also realized I probably wouldn't have wanted a messy day if our backyard looked pristine.).

Flash forward 6 years.  We had 27 participants and the same 5 adults and an awesome aunt Lilly.

We started off with cloud dough (8 parts flour- 1 part oil).  The kids made different shapes and then eventually made 'snowballs' out of them and had a snowball fight with Lilly.

There was some extra flour in our water table that a few of the kiddos got into.

Then we did donuts on a string, hanging from the trees.  Leta may have cheated a bit.

Next we did a shaving cream and Cheetos game of catch.  It turned into a shaving cream fight and Cheeto eating fest.

We also had our play with snot session (or it's call goo, or flubber, or homemade silly putty....)

Not pictured is the find the 8 objects in the tub of mud session.  I was too worried about my camera at that point.

After cleaning some of the earlier messes, and attempting to wash up a bit, it was food time.  There were no plates and no common utensils.  We just dumped the spaghetti right on the tables and gave the kids weird utensils and had them go to town.  Some opted for the use of their funny utensil, some just chowed using their face, as evidenced below.  Elsa used her utensil to aid in holding her drink.  Parker had a whisk as his funny utensil and was very handy for those needing their sauce mixed in better with their noodles.  One kid would scream "MIX" and he was to the rescue.  The food was the only thing that was more traditional orange festival:  orange drink, oranges to eat, and food that turned their faces orange.

After the meal we did our Diet Coke and Mentos experiment.  I had never done it before.  This was truly a huge hit.  I'm glad I had bought four Diet Cokes.  Kids were dancing in the raining Coke.  It shot as high as the trees.  Some even got their cups out to catch some pop to drink.  

We also did Alka-Seltzer rockets, which the kids liked because they all got a turn to put their Alka-Seltzer into the container and watch the top explode off.

I didn't get a picture of the highest point.  It shot up into the tree.

Look at this big crew.  It was a crazy messy day.  I had to use my loud voice all morning long to be heard over the roar of the crowd and I felt like a constant nagging rule reminder, but they seemed to all love it and were excited to go home and try some of the experiments at home.  We are chalking this one up to a successful day!  No major injuries.  Nothing broke.  Everything could be cleaned up (although it did take awhile) and the kids were all excited.

Oh, and of course we had to finish with our usual orange juliuses.  My dad had to work though, so these were blended using my new BlendTec and not my dad's gas powered blender.  Vroom Vroom.

Aunt Karyn kept the Orange Festival traditional alive by dressing her kids all in orange.  Even their hair had orange hair spray!  (Kent came with an orange shirt, but got covered in mud so we had to switch his shirt before eating)  Orange power.  

My little crew.

And of course we couldn't just leave orange festival at that.  After everyone else went home, those remaining got to play with our food paint.  After you finish painting, you microwave the paper and the paint puffs up and dries.  All of these activities today turned out really fun and I want to try them all again.
(Mallory got to stay because she is spending the night and then Eldon got to stay to play with Aaron that I babysit.  Lilly stayed because she is awesome.  )

So my kids are much smarter with all the sensory activities we fit in today.  Our house is still standing.  We even had an outdoor movie tonight projected onto our garage with a few of our neighbors and now all the girls are having their slumber party in our living room.  We definitely started Spring Break with a bang!  Now I might need tomorrow to recoup.