Adventuring

This weekend, Dave and I competed in a 12 hour adventure race in Oqwauka, IL. It was hard work but well worth it. At the pre-race briefing on Friday night, I was wondering to myself what in the heck I was thinking to WANT to do this to myself. But as we raced, I realized I could do it, I wasn't very good at it, but I could do it. That is an incredible feeling. We have awesome friends (Todd and Lori Larsen) who have been racing with Dave for a few years now and graciously have included me into the group. It's always fun talking with them and getting to spend 12 hours with them was fun too.

The pictures are before and after from our friend Monica. The first one was taken on Friday night when we first got there. The after one shows the bedragled group. We didn't get all the checkpoints but we did finish within the 12 hour limit so we were proud.

One thing I really thought I wouldn't be able to do was the Tyrolean Traverse. I have described this on here before as a rope stretched straight across a river that we harness ourselves to and then have to pull our body weight across it. It's usually okay for the first half when gravity helps but in the middle, with the weight of your body pulling the rope down, you realize 'O crap, I have to pull myself up to the other side now'. The twist this time was that we actually had to pull our bike across with us. So I'm strapped to the rope and my bike is strapped to the rope and to me. Standing there watching people go before me and struggling, I really thought it would be impossible. I have almost no upper body strength and therefore I thought I'd get stuck in the middle and have to hang there forever. Dave kept assuring me that wouldn't happen. He said this is a team effort and therefore if he had to come and get me he would. Turns out the river below was too far down for him to walk out and grab me. So he went across first. (Our friends were on the other rope going at the same time as us). When it was my turn, I got to the middle okay, hand over hand, but then I slowed down considerably when I didn't have gravity in my favor anymore. I ended up grabbing the rope with both hands and heaving myself. It took me awhile, it really did. I would get tired and just hang for a few seconds before feeling like I could give another heave-ho! When I finally got to where Bart and Dave could grab me I was so happy! I had nothing left, but I made it! I was challenged and made it! (Dave, by the way, shimmied across like a monkey.)

The worst part of the race for me was the single track biking. They call it single track because it's usually through the woods and the path is only big enough for one rider at a time. There are usually sticks and branches that you may have to get your bike over. There could be big rocks in the way. There are usually hills and twists and turns that you have to manuever around. This time all of the single track was sand. Where they got sand in Illinois is beyond me. We're talking beach kind of sand. Deep, soft, fine sand. And we had to ride our bikes through it. I ended up walking for almost all of it. I hated it. The only thing I loved about single track that day was being done with it.

Note of interest. If Oqwauka sounds familiar to anyone, it is probably because of an elephant. Norma Jean was a circus who died in Oqwauka and they didn't really know what to do what with her so they got a backhoe and buried her right there. We had to stop and get our passport (to punch our checkpoints) at the grave of Norma Jean. RIP Norma Jean.

Same cabinet...

same kitchen, same pots and pans. Different little girl. Some things are timeless.

Tough Kid

I'm sure my family that we visited this summer got tired of me lamenting the fact that my 1-year-old doesn't eat. It's true though. She doesn't eat. She's the pickest little thing ever. She won't even try the food we put in front of her. I think for awhile we were giving her too much milk, which my sister, Kris, helped me realize. So I cut way back on the amount of milk she got in a day. She also doesn't get the milk until after meals. It didn't really change much. She usually eats a little something for breakfast but lunch and dinner are so hard because she hardly will even look at food and push it away. Some of it is even yummy stuff like banana bread. She's been known to not even try ice cream. Or cookies if she doesn't know what it is. She won't even look at any kind of bread. Wierd kid. Both of my sisters finally agreed with me. Your right, she doesn't eat.

One thing she has liked is fruit. She'll eat almost any kind of fruit and most vegetables. So you say, why am I complaining about that? I'm not really, but I look around at other toddlers who will eat pretty much anything you put in front of them and anywhere and I think, Wow, that's easy. It's not for lack of choices. Believe me, I have three other children who can not be considered picky. If I've done the same thing this time around, why the pickness/stubbornness?

Well yesterday we had our first ray of hope. For supper, she not only ate her mixed veggies (which she normally would) but she also ate spaghetti and get this, bread! She actually put the garlic bread in her mouth and tasted it! Then she ate the whole piece. I guess some people may not be able to relate to our joy when that happened. Dave and I kept looking at each other and trying not to look at her so she wouldn't stop eating when she realized she had an audience. Also, yesterday morning, she decided she would try a bite of my zucchini bread. Wonder of wonders, she liked it. I had kind of decided when the kids went back to school, she would be my project. It's looks like it just may be starting to pay off. But I'm not counting it a victory just yet.

Nana and Buddy's house

Dave's brother Mike (and family) came for the weekend and we got these sweet pictures of the seven grandkids. We haven't attempted it in a while and since it's always so fun...!

1st day of Kindergarten

Trey isn't at all relaxed about going to school or anything. He barely looked up from his book when I said goodbye. Alexis, on the other hand, needed 3 kisses before she would walk into her room. Second day jitters, you know:)

2009 or 1809?

Conversation with Alexis after school today.

A: Mommy, what's in the pot?
Me: Tomatoes
A: But what are we having with the tomatoes?
Me: They're not for supper, I'm canning them. You know in the jars so we can use them all winter long. Kinda like Little House on the Prairie.
A: You're storing up food for the winter?
Me: (smiling) Yes.
A: You could just go to the store, you know.

First Day of School!

Today marks the beginning of yet another school year for the Huntley family. Zach is in 8th grade this year. Lexi is in second. Trey is in Kindergarten! He actually has his first day tomorrow but we had to be at the school for his testing at 8:00 this morning so we did pictures today. Mrs. Garvin seemed very impressed with Trey and what he knew. I hope he does well this year. We'll find out who his teacher is tomorrow morning-until then, he has one more day at home with Leah and Mom. We're going to enjoy this one...more...day.....