The Original Mud Run

This past weekend Ragnar and I participated in the Houston Mud Run! The Mud run is a 10 K race full of 30 obstacles. Some fairly easy, some very difficult. I was so proud of Ragnar for finishing. He did all but a couple obstacles and on one there was a 20 foot cargo net you had to climb up that was very hard and then you have to come down the other side...he made it up and halfway down he lost his grip and fell flat on his back onto a mat....scary! (thankfully I didn't see as we weren't running together) He was fine, it just knocked the wind out of him and he kept going! He did great and it was his very first race....of I hope many! :)
Ragnar had some of his Rockets buddies running with him and I ran with a group of my friends. There were 7 of us girls and we called ourselves the C.T.R. girls...the chicks that run. It was fun....I wanted to run with Ragnar but the competitiveness in me didn't allow for that. Hopefully next year when he is in great shape!


Before the race with Kenna and Cris Garthe

Here is his Rockets group (and me in my other shirt :)

Here we go!! Natalie, Kim, Mitzi, and Stephanie were the other girls who ran with us! It was so fun to do it as a group!

So gross!


This obstacle they called the "Leap of Faith" you had to climb up and then jump in 8 feet of muddy water....as you can tell I really did not want to jump in! (Somewhere inside of that pit is my bandana!)



I could do the running part....but I need to do some more major weight lifting for next time!

Here is everyone when they are done....I finished in just under an hour so I was already cleaned up.



Here are the two girls I ran with Emily and Brittany! We did great...we were one of the first girls to finish and were in the top 10!

Wahoo...you did it!

Time for the hose down....it felt nice to get the mud out of your ears and your shoes! We had a great time. Thanks mom and dad for watching the kiddos while we got dirty!

Our Bundle Of Joy!

Channing is now 5 months old and she has been such a fun addition to our family! She has slept through the night since she was 6 weeks old and is such a peaceful, good natured baby! I have been so lucky to get three wonderful kids!
Channing has recently been showing us more and more of her personality. She is always trying to roll and move and loves to jump in the jumperoo. She has a cute little giggle now and is always smiling or blowing bubbles. She has a big mouth and is always trying to eat whoever is holding her's nose or when the kids talk to her for some reason she always opens her mouth as big as she can in response. She has found her voice and man some days, although happy, she is loud! She also is obsessed with sucking her thumb....we will be starting a braces fund soon :) She is our red haired, green eyed charmer...never thought I would get the "strawberry blonde" child, but we sure wouldn't trade her!

Just chillin in my high chair!

Sweet Smiles!

Oh how I love my thumb!

Check out this mouth mom...getting ready for my braces :)

Bubble Blowin Time!

We sure do love you baby girl!

Round 2!

As you know, Ella started kindergarten this year and has absolutely loved it! However, due to the large amount of enrollment in Eagle Springs Elementary this year, they had to create a new 6th kindergarten class. They selected 3 to 4 kids from each class to create a new one. Ella was one of the "chosen" ones and started with a new teacher today....Mrs. Adams. We really liked her last teacher Mrs. Harper that she had for about a month, but Ella is a good sport and didn't care at all that she had to move classes, make new friends, and start with a new teacher. She has a boy she likes in her old class named Levi and I explained that he will now be in her old class...she just said mom it's o.k. I can still chase him at recess!! Oh my...I am not ready for my girl to grow up!

A Visit from the Grandparents!

This past week we were privileged to get a visit from Ragnar's parents. They came and spent 6 days with us, and we had a nice visit. The kids were excited to see them as they don't get to come often. It was sad to have Ella at school for most of the day, but we found things to do when she came home. One day we went over to "Imaginations" and painted. The kids love to paint.

Here is Cavin concentrating on Lightening McQueen!

Here is our cute little thumb sucker. Who just enjoys being along for the ride!

Ella worked on Minnie with Oma

On Monday Ragnar, Hellmut, and Cavin went to Galveston to visit "The Galveston Railroad Museum" Hellmut loves trains, and that love has now passed through two more generations.


When he got home he kept telling me about the blue train

"All ABOARD!"

These two pictures make me laugh..I just love Cavins faces!

Here are the three generations before the big "boys day out!"


Opa meeting Channing

Oma playing with Ella, books and games!

Our little princess

Don't they look lovely :)

One of our other adventures.....Chucky Cheese!!! I think the men liked it as much as the kids!

We pretty much had the place to ourselves :) nice!



And lastly....one of the reasons they came....to meet our little 4 month old cutie!

She is such a happy baby!

Thanks so much for coming Hellmut and Ursula! We miss you already!

For the Love of Running...

You all know how much I love running, and this weekend 5 girls and I ran in a Lake Houston 5 K together. It is the hottest day on record at 107 degrees, but we had fun regardless. My friend Emily and I ran the whole way together and finished 4th and 5th with a time of 22:56, so that was fun. We had a good race, and it makes me want to really get in better shape!

Natalie, America, Me, Kelci, and Emily

After race sweating!

First Day of Kindergarten

The dreaded day for me has finally arrived. Ella started her first day of Kindergarten today. She woke up so excited to go, and so for her I am happy. She is so ready. As for me, I am trying to decide why I have been dreading this day so much. After some thought, I think there are a few reasons. One, I worry if I taught her enough...if she can stand up for herself or remember to wash her hands, say please and thank you or put the straw in her juice-box....just silly things. Two, a phase that I have come to really love of my life is ending. I now will have to be somewhere and have a schedule, and not be able to go where and when I want to. Third, I feel like her sweet pure spirit will be exposed to so much filth. There are so many things you try so hard to protect your children from, and now I won't be with her constantly supervising what she says, does, sees, or hears. Finally, that sweet little girl of mine will be spending more time with someone else and I will miss her AND SHE IS GROWING UP :( so sad. I am glad she is independent though and wants to be on her own and try new things. I am so excited to see what kind of wonderful girl she will become.

In Germany on the first day of school you get to make your child a "schultuete" to bring. It is filled with candy and such. I wanted to be true to Ella's half German side and make one for her :)


Starting the day out with playdo...not bad :)

This is Ella's teacher, Mrs. Harper. She seems great. I hope she learns a lot from her.

I'm counting down the last hour until I can go pick her up. I can't wait to hear about her day. Although I was super sad today, I did not cry (I think with my lack of emotion...it's kinda hard to) Cavin only asked when she was coming home once and he has been paying a lot of attention to Channing. Maybe they will become as good of friends as he and Ella are.

Marisa and Liam Fun!!!

This summer my sister Marisa and her son Liam spent 7 weeks in Texas with my parents. Having the luxury of only living 35 minutes away we got to see her a few times a week. The kids loved playing with her son Liam. The cute little guy turned one while he was here and learned how to walk...it was fun to watch, he is the happiest, smile-st kid. We are sure going to miss our cousin and now that John and Madison have moved and Liam is gone, the kids aren't sure what to do! I also had the pleasure of hanging out with my sister Marisa. I love how we can just look at something and be thinking the same thing. Now don't get me wrong, we are very different, but I sure do love having her here and SO hope that Ethan can hurry and finish school and they can move back to Texas! Thanks for playing with us Marisa and Liam!




















All my kids and Liam :)