Boo at the Zoo 2011

Last Monday, we checked out our fourth annual Boo at the Zoo. It was fun, as always.  And the zoo is doing a better job of controlling crowds and lines, so it was even smoother than usual.  Peter Pan and the rest of the Neverland crew had a wonderful time trick-or-treating and checking out the animals.

The leader of the Lost Boys and the Codfish both got a tad grumpy by the end of the evening, so we knew it was about time to leave....

...but not before a group shot of our motley Boo at the Zoo crew!

Runway 5K!

Ethan and I participated in the "Runway Run" today.

My facebook status was this: I pushed a 35-lb 2-yr-old for 37:00 on an operational runway at Columbia's airport this 44° morning! It was fun! However, I learned these three things the hard way: (1) runways are NOT totally flat, (2) wind resistance and chill can get a little brutal since there are no houses or trees to stop it, and (3) Ethan does not particularly enjoy the final mile of 5Ks.

This is right before the start!

Ethan was REALLY excited to see all the parked planes, as well as the ones taking off overhead during the run!

Ethan's already participated in two races. In one month. I didn't do ONE race until I was in my mid-twenties. He is two. :)

So many things to post...

...so little time...

It was an amazing weekend with Jon home the WHOLE TIME.  We planned NOTHING, which was awesome.  This IS newsworthy, trust me.

Postings of fairs and pumpkins and costumes will come....

A Musical Weekend

It's been a musical weekend.

Yesterday, the boys, Grandma Cathy and I watched Jon's high school band at their competition. It was wonderful!

And Friday night there was a disco-themed dance at my elementary school.  I took Andrew and Ethan for a little while. 

Ethan was really into the dance.  Here's one of my 4th graders chatting it up with him.

And here he is, getting a little tired after MUCH gettin' down. Disco fever!

5K #2: Race for Life (aka Ethan's First Ever Race)

The BCE Related Arts team was seriously out to respresent last Saturday.... The music teacher (me) ran the Race for Life 5K with the PE teacher.  Our science lab teacher, a 3rd grade teacher, and a 5th grade teacher participated in the walking portion. It was fun, amazing and inspiring to be supporting breast cancer research along with over 8,000 other folks!  The weather was lovely and the fairly easy route took us around and eventually into Columbia's beautiful Finlay Park.

Here's a starting line shot a co-worker snapped of the 7,000+ walkers.

Here's the PE teacher, Ethan and me a few minutes after crossing the finish line.

It was Ethan's first ever race! He slept most of the time.

Our PE teacher is a "real" runner but chose friendship over glory as she stuck with me the whole time at my 12-minute-mile pace. She pushed my 35-pound man up the hills, which I think gave her the added difficulty level she needed to keep things interesting for her, and it gave me the edge I needed to run the ENTIRE TIME! If she hadn't been right there with me, I know I would have walked a little.

Ethan enjoyed eating his "feesh" afterwards while duck-watching.

Here we are at the end with the 3rd grade teacher.  She was the one who got our school's team organized.

And, here it is: the course of my next race.... in less than three weeks, and ON A RUNWAY!  I am really excited about this one for two reasons: (1) I am afraid of flying, so registering for this race was a brave, bold move for me, and (2) it promises to be FLAT!!!
I hope to shave off a few more minutes of my current 36:30 5K time.

KARATE!

Andrew started Karate a couple of weeks ago. His teachers are Mr. Mike and Mr. Mike's black belt students. Andrew has never been more excited about any activity, and neither have we; Mr. Mike weaves life lessons throughout the classes, such as "go play outside," and "pick up all your toys." Everyone in our family is a fan of Genova Karate!!!

That's Mr. Mike walking toward Andrew.

Beach ball warm-ups (these photos are scattered throughout this post...)

Trampoline!

Chuks!

Army Crawl!

Grappling!

SC Train Museum (3 weeks later)

Mom was in town a few weeks ago and one of our ventures landed us in Winnsboro at the South Carolina Train Museum.  We took an hour-long train ride through the countryside and then toured some trains.  The boys really enjoyed it! (This happened September 17... I am behind on things I want to post.  This feeling of behind-ness seems to be a trend across teaching and house work, as well. [sigh].)

Fall in South Carolina

I love fall so much, especially 'round these parts when we get a forecast like this!! Awesome.