Well, this is my first post without pictures. Weird. But I doubt any of you want to see a picture of me after one of my long runs. Anyway, I am finally winding down on my marathon training. Last Saturday was my 20 mile run and it was PAINFUL!!!!! Both physically but more mentally! I am not mentally strong when I run those distances by myself. The marathon will mentally kill me, I am sure that by mile 21 I will be wishing I had never signed up and telling myself that I will never ever run a marathon again (which is what I did last time). And then I am sure that I will then again do another marathon at sometime in my life. Maybe after each baby. It is great at getting those last pounds of baby weight off. Today was my "long" run of the week at 10 miles. It felt great. I love that length of run. It is actually fun. Next week my "long" run will be 8 miles and my other runs will be a couple of 3 mile and 5 mile runs. I am looking forward to the end of training. It has been a lot more difficult since Chris went back to school. I take the kids in the double jogger on all my runs but the long runs. It is painful and SLOW! Nixon is constantly needing things and wanting to get out. Maddy is totally bugged by Nixon squirming, trying to hug her, kiss her, and feed her. My 4 mile runs turn into hour long runs...So needless to say, it will be nice continuing the running, but not feeling like I absolutely have to stick to mileage for training. Nov 8 is the day!!!

Well we have been having lots of fun with cousins lately! My brother and his family came and stayed with us for about 5 days with their kids. Nixon loved having cousins around. Then my sister, Candice, came with her 2 kids and stayed for 2 weeks! We had a blast! She left last Friday. Between my running and her biking and planning things with the kids, we were wiped out. Below are pictures of what we did. My marathon training is winding down-yea! I have a 20 miler to run this Saturday and then I am tapering down for 3 weeks until the marathon on Nov 8! I have had such a great time getting back into running. Hopefully I can keep it up! For Family Home Evening we carved pumpkins. Nixon really wanted to do it on his own. Maddy realized that pumpkin doesn't taste that great!

We went to the pumpkin patch with the cousins. We had a hay ride and played in the corn boxes and had duck races. We played in the hay maze and ate raspberries at the end. The kids loved it. It was a little muddy, but we had a great time.

Below is me, Maddy, Nixon and cousin Adi at the patch.
We also made Halloween cookies, decorated them and gave some to our neighbor! The kids loaded the cookies with candy and sprinkles (and their tummies) Below: Nixon and Adael
We rode bikes and played with slugs and snails (below): Briggy, Nixon, and Adi
Maddy just had to get some milk! She loves to be involved, riding her little trike around and dinging her little bell. It is really cute and funny.
We went out for pizza and played in their playroom. I think the balls were a hit for the kids as always. It was crazytime!
Maddy liked the balls too although it was a little crazy for her at times with all the bigger kids!
Yes, I did it. I gave her a huge sucker and she ate it faster than any of the other kids (which shocked me- Nixon is a candyaholic)
Nixon is getting ready for Halloween. He is obsessed with Spiderman! (thanks to Chris who is living through Nixon). Chris brings him home a new superhero everytime he goes to the store and makes up stories for him, buys the superhero coloring books...I could go on and on.
The kids played in the pool one last time before the rain comes! It was Maddy's first time because she had her cast on before. The kids loved it, but Kymry takes the cake back in August for getting them to play in it. Maddy and Briggy played in it mainly, and Adi and Nixon climbed trees.

Well that is about it.