News

1. I'm 22 weeks pregnant with a boy.

2. We are moving to California at the end of July (no job change).

3. Elizabeth is potty trained (a family record at 2.5)

4. Camille is 5 and getting ready for kindergarten. I'm trying to teach her to read and having a hard time finding the time because

5. Spencer and I are doing K12 (online public homeschool) first grade so I can try to get him to skip into second this fall. Why? Because in CA the cutoff for school is December! I held him back in Kindergarten, so he will be 6 months older than the oldest child in the class. I will be very upset if all the time and energy this is taking doesn't result in my having a second grader.

I've been on the couch for two hours trying to work up the motivation for nightly clean-up. The only reason good I can think for getting up is chocolate ice cream.

I'm a believer

When I moved, I started running with someone who wore Vibram Five Finger shoes:

I was a skeptic, but I started reading shoe reviews and barefoot running theory online. I decided to give them a try, needing new shoes anyway. However, the local running store was out of the kind I wanted, so I decided just to see what the experts (being the running store sales crew) recommended. At the running store, they watched me run on a treadmill with a camera attached to the back to better see my gait, stride, etc. I was told I have a slightly collapsed arch and pronate a tiny bit when I toe off. Liking that I needed special shoes, I bought a pair of corrective Brooks.

Previous to the Brooks, my knees had bothered me a little. I thought the pain was because I needed new shoes. When I started wearing the corrective shoes, my knees started really hurting. They popped and cracked, even hurt to the touch. They hurt so much, I switched back to my old shoes. That didn't help.

I had read Vibram reviews online claiming that the shoes cured shin splints, knee trouble, hip pain, etc., all of which I have suffered at one time or another. I was hesitant to drop another $100 on shoes I wasn't sure would help, but I am SO glad I did. The first time I wore them, I ran a mile in my old running shoes, packing the Vibrams in the back of my pants. I changed shoes and ran two miles in the Vibrams. The pain I felt in my knees in the first mile disappeared in the Vibrams. No pain. I was/am thrilled.

I still couldn't do a full run in the Vibrams because my feet muscles and tendons needed to strengthen. I've had them for about three weeks now and am running in them exclusively, except for Saturdays when I run on a rocky trail. I had shin splints--they're gone. Knee pain--gone.

My calves are what hurt now. I have started trying to run more on my forefoot. My calves actually cramp until I can't run anymore. BUT I'd much rather have muscle soreness than a knee injury or shin splints. I LOVE MY VIBRAMS!!!

Here is a little video on the theory http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jrnj-7YKZE.

Besides taking care of all my running pain, running in the Vibrams is really fun. It's freeing.

Spencer, a sweet and patient playmate and Camille, an adventurer ready to play, fight or get hurt (and make the most of it), have been best friends since Camille was crawling. Recently there has been a change in their relationship, and it's making me really sad. Spencer now has three boys he'd rather play with right next door. I think he'd move in with them if I let him. Poor Camille is left at home. Yesterday after school Spencer was playing in the basement with his friends when Camille came upstairs to tell me that Spencer said to his friends, "There's my annoying little sister." SO sad. Where did he learn that?!?

Camille and Elizabeth are playing together more but have a tempestuous relationship. I hope they can work that out. For now there will be a lot of girl fights, lots of mommy and Camille time, and me feeling a la recherche du temps perdu.

Settling

What we love about our new place, in no particular order.

1. The natural trail going through the woods near our house. It is exhilarating to run at sunrise on a winding, twisting trail. We see deer every morning. It's beautiful. It's by a lake a stream and the kids love it almost as much as I do.

2. Visitors! We live closer than we ever have to family. I've had my brother and sister and their families already for a visit. I love it. My brother is less than 2 hours away.

3. The farmer's market. Every Saturday we start at the French baker's booth for breakfast, eat by the lake, grab a bag of kettle corn, and buy a week's worth of produce. At my first visit I bought a half bushel of apples and peaches, going for the deal, and ignorant of the amount of food I was buying. We didn't have a problem finishing it off. The peaches are the best I've had for years.

4. The playroom.

5. The deck and eating outside.

6. Big yard and long driveway.

7. Seven minute commute for Luke.

8. Trader Joe's and other fun places to do my least favorite chore.

9. A house full of boys for Spencer to play with. He is seriously in heaven and they live right next door.

10. So close to a fun city with tons of free things to do.

Here is a little news on the kids.

After nearly 6 months of working and saving, Spencer finally bought Lego Star Wars Wii. He is only allowed to play for 2 hours on Fridays, but he spends a lot of time making his own Lego Star Wars fighter ships, etc. He even made a little video with Uncle Jared. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmC6PaZBWOA

He’s also learned the joy of playing outside all day with neighborhood friends. He’s never had that before. The kids and their parents are really nice, but I find myself wondering what sort of rules we should have to regulate his play. He starts school on the 7^th.

Camille misses her friends. I know we have neighbors her age, but I haven’t met them yet. I need to look out for some little girls at church this Sunday. Meanwhile, she is my little best friend, helping clean and make bread. Right now she is sitting next to me coating her feet with pale pink, sparkling eye shadow. No serious mess yet. She can hardly wait for ballet to start. I can hardly wait for preschool to start…

Elizabeth is still as round as ever, has a penchant for accessories, and is becoming very verbal. She’ll repeat anything the kids tell her to say. They get a real kick out of it. It’s fun to see them almost falling off their chairs while laughing at her.

Sold

I think the house is sold. The option period ended last night. The only worry now is that the buyer won't be able to get financing. Luke tells me not to worry about that. When was the last time you stopped worrying because someone told you to stop?

We are moving to Virginia at the end of the month. I am excited but still a bit in denial. I'm planning on loving it. I like the little house we found, and the schools look good for the kids. However, I am sad to leave Texas. I've made some great friends here whom I will really miss. The kids have good friends. Texas is a great place to live. I'll also miss our first home. I never thought I would, but I will. I love my house. Now that I'm leaving I even love the color of my living room. I think it's because I know I will never see that color on walls again.

Spencer

Spencer turned six last month. He also lost his first tooth, read his first chapter book (the first Magic Tree House), and graduated from CCDC. He loves basketball and swimming and action figures and those stuffed animals he has in that first picture.

Camille

Sweet and devilish (you can see it in her eyes). That second to the bottom one she reminds me of Jack Black. I don't know why. She turned four in May. She is the delight and fear of Elizabeth and the friend and foe of Spencer.