Adorable boys and new projects?

Here are the cuties in a daffodil patch they stopped at while visiting Grandma Donna and Grandpa Chuck the weekend of the half-marathon.

Baseball dirt

I love baseball.  (Well, not Chicago baseball this year as both teams are pretty sorry.)  I hope my boys play baseball, however, something has to be done about infield dirt.  Yesterday, after Joshua's t-ball class (where he picked dandelions instead of doing drills), we walked across the infield of the other diamond to our car.  Little did I know that it was a HUGE mudpit.  Poor Wesley got his feet stuck in a mud puddle and fell over :(. I was slightly stuck as well, and had to run and pick up Wesley and try to get him cleaned up using a reusable grocery bag I keep in my car for trips to the store.  Fun times :).  Joshua managed to avoid the giant mud pit and taunt his brother.  Ah, boys.

I am remembering how tough it is to get infield dirt off of shoes, clothes, bodies, etc.  Yikes!!

Wisconsin half marathon

On Saturday, May 7th, Andy and I ran the Wisconsin half-marathon together.  I am so proud of Andy for really working hard to get in shape, as an aside.  Running is something we do together now, which is really wonderful!  Anyway, I had a great running day.  It was a beautiful course along Lake Michigan in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and very flat.  Yay!  Andy and I had a great time and are looking forward to our next race together this fall (another half-marathon, which will be hilly, oh no!)

For my personal information, my time was 2:10:07 for a pace of 9:56 min/mile.  I am so geeked I averaged under 10 minute miles for this!  Yes, I know it is still slow, but fast for me!

Spring Break!

The week after Easter, Joshua had Spring Break.  We had a great time with many special activities, including the grand finale on Saturday, visiting the Sears/Willis Tower!  Joshua was so excited as he got to take the Metra (or double-decker train) downtown, go to the top of the Sears Tower, take the CTA to the Hancock building, eat at Cheesecake Factory (Ok, that was for Andy), and then take the Blue line train home, way past his bedtime.  Here are a few pictures from the day!

Waiting for the Metra

Mom and sons at the top (yes, they are wearing matching shirts, but on Joshua's request!)

In the "glass room" with dad.  Yes, you really can see the ground from way up there!

Goofing off at dinner, why we chose to eat outside!

Little Brother's revenge :)

Rambles

Lately I feel that just making a list of what needs to get done would be a big improvement :)

I am just really in need of encouragement in my stay-at-home mom life. I am feeling like I am doing a lousy job at keeping the house going and raising the boys (I often feel so inadequate at this task!). My encouragement tank is rock-bottom. I don't think Andy realizes how much encouragement I need, especially after his travel weeks. Those are ramping up again for a while, sigh. I realize I don't encourage him enough either and it can feel so hopeless and overwhelming at times to really have a growing marriage. Not that things are bad, I just know how self-centered I am and want encouragement all the time from him, yet I don't do the same for him. Lord, I need your help. Ahh, no answers for now.