What We've Been Up To...

For those few folks who actually read our blog, here is an update of what we've been up to...

James ran "Robie Creek" which is dubbed "the hardest half-marathon in the northwest" and he finished 69th out of 2,400 runners.  Here he is at the finish.  I'm proud.

Ben is mastering the art of plumber's crack

We visited the Bruneau Sand Dunes and climbed the highest sand dune in North America.  Is that a feat or what?

Here we are at the top, about to be blown off the back.  Notice I have a firm grip on James--I don't know if I was worried that I would fall, or that he would fall with the baby.

We've been watching out for crazy squirrels at the VA.  This one was particularly crazy.  He stayed on our screen for a really long time.  We were fascinated.  Then James went out later that evening to bring in Sam's pants that I had left in the stroller basket and the squirrel was INSIDE SAM'S PANTS.  James almost had a heart attack and then spent the next ten minutes trying to get him out of the stroller.  If you look closely in the next picture, you can see the squirrel's tail under the flap by the handle.  Also notice James' ski gloves.  It was hilarious.  And a little scary.

We had a great visit from Grandma & Grandpa G.  Grandpa never gets a break when he comes to visit.

James turned 33.

Sam has mastered the piano and walking.

Ben finished his swim class with his two best friends.

Sam has joined the morning breakfast ritual. Ben has been sharing breakfast with Daddy since he was a year old and now Sam has decided he can't be left out. James gets to share his breakfast with two kids now.  He says he needs a bigger lap.

Lots of silliness and hair-pulling/eating.  Sam has always had a thing for Ben's head.

Ben & Sam wore these suits to church today.  My mom made them 40 years ago for my oldest brother. Sam can't hold still for a picture and we were running late, so this is the best photo I got.  I love it that the brown suit looks almost exactly like Napoleon Dynamite's suit. 

The family orchestra.

In other news, if you've made it through this monstrous post, we signed the papers and paid the money for our house and we get the keys on Tuesday.  The homebuying process is almost over and now the real work will begin!