Happy Birthday to Me!

This week was yet again another busy week! We had some great weather for the beginning, and spent a lot of time outside. The weather wasn't so great towards the end, but I still managed to get in my "Birthday Big Brick" as I called it on Saturday.

On Monday, we hit the gym and then enjoyed the nice weather. The roof project was coming to a close, so we were just about ready to play in our yard again. We were comfortable taking the short walk to our playground, as we were just waiting for gutters and all the roof debris was finally gone.


Here is the roof, all complete! It looks so much better. We were not fans of the white shingles.

Once Ryan got home, we hit Maybury as a family and Keira and Soren got to enjoy the playground a bit before leaving.


On Tuesday, Keira attended school. The topic today was caterpillars and butterflies. I really liked her project that showed the life cycle using pasta. (Our computer wouldn't let me edit anything I uploaded today, so sorry, this is not turned and no red eyes are fixed)



While she was at school, I attended a presidency meeting with Soren. After getting Keira, we played at our playground a bit. Keira and Soren both enjoyed sliding down on their stomachs.




Once Ryan got home, we went to Maybury again for a really quick outing- no time to play today.

Wednesday was my birthday. I started the morning with a nice long swim, and then met up with my visiting teachers Michelle and Amber, and their children, as well as a woman who was in town for an adoption, Natalie. We enjoyed a nice lunch at California Pizza Kitchen. Soren was very excited about my birthday dessert, and was sad when I blew out my candle.
These flowers are from Michelle and Amber. Thanks so much!

It was a beautiful afternoon, and Keira and Soren had a blast outside. The trees were in bloom, and it was fun to just be outside. Keira and Soren were so cute playing ring around the rosey. Soren just kept saying, "Ashes, Ashes" which is exactly what Keira used to say when learning that song.




Once Ryan got home from work, we went out to dinner at The Deadwood in Northville, and Kris and Linda joined us. The kids again were excited about my birthday dessert!


Ryan had given me flowers and new jeans for my birthday, and I got cute cards from Keira and Soren.



On Thursday, we took it pretty easy in the morning. Soren was marveling at how his toy matched his shirt, which is also one of his favorite foods.

It was take your children to work day at Ford, so it was important that Soren get a nap while Keira was at school to allow us to go to work with Ryan after we picked her up. Keira did turtle projects at school today.



We headed straight into Ford from getting Keira. They really had a lot of activities for the children. Keira and Soren are a bit young- they are not old enough to go without me there, so many of the things were above their level. They did sit in for a good portion of the ergo demonstration that was presented by my first mentor, and Soren was slightly interested in finger painting a car. He was much more interested in doing it when he did not have a "smock" on. Keira was very shy all day.




That evening, Ryan rode at Lakeshore Park and I watched Keira and Soren on the playground. Soren is so brave! He climbed up to the top of the playground and went down the biggest slide there. He doesn't know how little he is. Keira also is no longer afraid of slides, and had a blast.




On Friday, after my swim, I took Keira and Soren to Conrad's for open preschool gym with Valerie, Katie, and Luke. The kids had such a blast! They were both getting really brave on the balance beams and Soren loved climbing on everything. They also both love the trampolines. Soren can't quite jump yet, but he is getting close, and enjoys the movement.















That evening, Ryan did a road bike ride with Kent. The weather forcast for the weekend was not so good, so they wanted to get out whenever they could this week.

Saturday was the day of my Birthday Big Brick. It rained most of the morning, so I really wasn't sure if it would happen. Ryan had to cancel his Wolverine ride due to rain, so he was really ready to ride with me this afternoon. Valerie and Kent, Cristina, and Kristel met up with Ryan and I at Island Lake for a 25 mile bike ride. I really slowed the guys down, but it was nice to ride with Ryan. We have never been out road biking together, so that was really fun. We had cooler temps, and a few sprinkles of rain on us, but it was not as bad as I feared for the bike portion. Everyone except Cristina opted to skip the run. I am so thankful that Cristina was there to push me to complete the full 10K that I had planned. We did it at a fairly decent pace (for me- 8:15ish), especially condsidering that I had just biked 25 miles, and it was the first time in a LONG time for me to ride this far outside. Riding outside is nothing like riding inside. It took me just over an hour and a half to finish the 25 miiles. I have some work to do, but at least now I feel a lot better about my upcoming race. Below: Valerie, Cristina, Kristel, and Me
Kent and Ryan

I made some fun pink cupcakes for after the event.

Soren was attempting to scale the stove to get to the cupcakes.

Keira and Soren had a decent day today too. Soren was bummed that he couldn't go with us, and slept a lot. He loves Keira's train, and they are working on sharing it, but it is still a work in progress. in fact, while I was working on the cupcakes, I noticed Soren had gone upstairs and was being unusually quite. I was expecting to come up stairs to toilet paper or baby wipes all over the upstairs, but he was just sitting quietly with the train.



Sunday was really a day of rest for us. We went to church today, and really didn't do much else. Soren slept a ton, and Ryan and I vegged a lot with Keira on the couch. Soren did better in nursery today, and enjoyed playing with the train again.

Keira had fun twirling.

My Team Compex profile requires a picture that is not in racing attire. Ryan took this picture of me today for me to use in my church attire. I wasn't sure what to wear since there is no real stay at home mom attire, and my church service these days is a pretty big time consumer.


Up for next week: Hopefully the weather will clear up so the kids can play outside some more. Two days in a row of being inside was a bit much for them. Otherwise, we may need more train track! I have the Live Like Andi 10K planned for this next Saturday, so that will get me out regardless of the weather.