We're making hula hoops

Doing new stuff

Scared with Helmet Backwards

Confident with Helmet on Correctly

Checking in to Swim Camp (Nervous)

Alien with New Camp Snorkel

Ragbrai tips (click to read)

Stages Theater

We've been to at least one Stages show per year over the last six years and I have to say the current production of The Wizard of Oz is really, really good. Short too, which is good if you have a tiny bladder. I love having a friend whose family is nuts about community theater. It means we sometimes get to go see the show for free.

Questionable parenting

I helped Hank saw off the barrel of his Nerf gun this morning. I didn't ask any questions. Next thing I knew, he had tracked down the address for Nerf toys and wrote someone a letter about his idea for a new and improved shotgun.

You'll be the first to know if he gets a reply.

Mary has more questionable parenting ideas over at her blog.

Gary and I are almost retired from lawn mowing

We do the trimming around the tricky stuff and he does the rest. He's very excited today that I let him hydrate with some of my running supplies.

Barn

Dick and Jane

If you are a boy going into the fourth grade apparently there is nothing more hilarious than coming across your sister's anthology of Dick and Jane stories and read key portions of it aloud to your friends.

See Dick.

Dick, Dick, Dick.

Oh Dick.

The picture doesn't show it but they rolled on the floor for about five minutes while laughing hysterically.

Here's to at least 20 more years

It's not real

Hank likes the Farm Town application on Facebook. He woke up this morning and the first words out of his mouth were, "My corn's ready to harvest," and he proceeded to virtually harvest his virtual corn. I know he's thinking there ought to be a way to get real money for doing all of this virtual work.

Action photos, ABC gum, and cherry-dipped cones

We rode our bikes to the World's Most Dysfunctional Dairy Queen this afternoon and I threw my camera bag on my back to take with us because I MUST BE TAKING ACTION PHOTOS OF MY KIDS AT ALL TIMES.

Guess what. They are sick of it. They have begun to hide from me.

So, when Hope ducked under the table at the DQ in order to avoid me and my camera little did she know that with the auto focus setting I almost don't have to be looking at her to take a decent picture. I stuck my camera under the table, aimed it at her head and caught this image:

She had completely forgotten about being mad at me for taking pictures. Instead, she was incredulous that someone had stuck a perfectly decent piece of gum (i.e., gold to most six year-olds) under the table. Upon closer inspection she discerned that "SOMEBODY EVEN ALREADY CHEWED IT UP!!"

Substance vs. Style

Obama is about to find out that you cannot rely on image to bolster your presidency when the underlying issues are crumbling.

Favorite pictures from the week

Monkey See

Less than 24 hours later:
Monkey Do

Hank attempts to teach a 16 month-old how to spell her name. :-)

"Scenes from the Uptown Criterium," plus "Hope makes friends with yet another dog"

Do we need a tutorial?

A couple of kids in this family could use a refresher course on how to eat strawberries. This is not an acceptable strawberry-eating performance.

Dinner last night

Gary had to put me in a head lock so I wouldn't embarrass him by licking the plate.

Casual dining

Specializing in action photography

If you want me to chase your child down the street in my car while taking action photos let me know. Also, stay off Turner's during daylight hours when I'm not at work.

Reincarnated as

Whoever those guys are who edit sound/music and video/pictures. I want to do what they do in my next life.

Just finished burning the DVDs of the school year for Hope's class. It was a very teary morning in the Hanson house. Good tears.

Running related

Have I ever complained to you how I cannot keep white clothes white? It's not in my genes. So I was a little bit irritated that the only compression socks they had on hand at the running store are white. Ran with them this morning and they felt good and looked like they went straight to dingy grey in one wearing. Whatever.

Gratitude journal

I can bend my knees again!

Toothless hobo

Expect lots of marathon dénouement

Running a marathon might be fun but I couldn't help thinking how much fun guys like these were having on the course Sunday:

Gratitude journal

I'm thankful there are no stairs at work.

Day after

Mental marathon pain is over; physical pain kicks in. Hobbling down the stairs is amusing to the kids.

Marathon #11? Check.

(Before)

Andrea and I were very, very happy to see the finish line yesterday. (Is anyone sorry it's over at the finish line?) It was a long and hilly run. Scenic though. Andrea is used to big city skylines and as we were running east over the Stone Arch Bridge she made the comment that Minneapolis has an impressive skyline. And it sure is beautiful when you're looking at it from the river. It was a really pretty run with perfect weather. Andrea has been sending me inspirational running quotes for the past few months (see the Patton quote below) but I made up my own on this run.

You can finish faster or slower but you can always get a PR (personal record) in fun.

We'll be back at it soon to train for the Twin Cities Marathon with a group of first time marathoners. But for today? Lots of rest, relaxation, and eating the stuff I can't eat (or shouldn't) when you are training. It's going to be pretty nice.

(After)