Mud Run

Growing up there was nothing I enjoyed better than going to play in the mud. I loved when it rained and we could put on our wellies and go run in the forest or when we went mud squelching in San Luis, so when I saw a mud race coming to Orlando I just had to do it.
The race was so much fun. It had us going over low walls and high walls, up and down mud hills, through mud tunnels, swimming in swamps (and praying for no gators) swinging on monkey bars, up a hay bale tower and the whole time getting as muddy as possible!

The best part of the whole race happened right at the beginning. We had just gone through the starting gate and there was no mud around except for one muddy puddle. Everyone was running around it trying to stay clean. Not me! I went full speed to that puddle and jumped both feet in, spraying everyone around me. It was brilliant!

So fresh and so clean - I didn't get the all black/all white memo. No one tells me anything.

I cut my hand open crawling through a tunnel. I was trying to get it cleaned out - needless to say it hurt.

Thankfully I can always put on a brave face for a camera.

Half way through. I intend on having words with whoever left those handprints on Kevin.

A face only a mudder could love.

Jumping over a low wall. By this point my hand was seriously hurting, so admittely I did just walk around all these obstacles.

Proud finishers! You end the race by going down a slide and being dumped into a pool of water. Made for a very refreshing end to the race.

My war wound - after lots of water and hydrogen peroxide.

The camera loves us.

Team work on the Monkey Bars.

Mud beard on his real beard.

 

Angie's and Meghan's faces kill me in this one.

 

We can't wait for next year!!

Olympiad

I was feeling a little down about not being able to go home for the Olympics, so to cheer myself up I hosted my own Olympiad. Like all good Olympics, we had multiple games; accompanied with winners and losers (lets be honest, Silver and Bronze are glorified losers), intermixed with nail biters and topped it off with some tears (It makes for better ratings, just ask NBC)

You don't own a set of Olympic rings?

Fencing - USA v. China

Javelin - Excellent technique as demonstrated by South Africa.



Trinidad and Tobago - Game Face



Water Balloon Shot Put. Beautiful throw from the Canadian, eh?





Team GB got caught up in a Javelin incident, receiving "sympathy" from T&T, and what appears to be laughter from Australia and South Africa. Stupid Southern Hempishere, it hurt!



Discus - Argentina and France hoping for Gold.

Our podium encouraged building international relations.

After noticing a podium pattern, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) agreed that Equestrian should be the only Co-Ed competition.



Someone was a little too pleased with their gold.



Not sure whether I should boast about this or not, but the only game I won gold in (or actually placed in for that matter) was the Academic game of: Name That Flag. 

And then we all went and partied the rest of the night in the Olympic village.

The Fourth

I am always up for some good old fashioned patriotism! Kevin and I had a great fourth, including:
- A parade (which I was so close to being in, but the world seemed to conspire against me, AKA - Kevin didn't build me a float)
- BBQ
- Hours upon hours in the pool (we've invented the ultimate pool game: Canoodle. It's cricket, meets baseball, meets basketball, meets swimming meets pool noodles. It is exhausting. But I can proudly say I beat Kevin 12 canoodles to 8!)
- And fireworks!

I really got into my decorations this year

Kevin carved a watermelon shark for an early 4th celebration with friends. We later shot fireworks out of his mouth in the hopes he would blow up. Turns out our shark was quite thick skinned.

Waiting for the parade. Turns out you get more candy thrown at you when you're with an adorable 2 year old or a no shamed 26 year old.

The parade took place in a town some may consider to be a "hick" town - which is why the parade had everything from tractors, 4 wheelers, horses and drag racing cars.

Cake Walk! Don't let the name fool you, it's no cake walk when you lose.

Mr. Bean's car! I kindly volunteered to drive it in the parade. For some reason they didn't go for it.

Sparkler dancing!

Destination

We met the Campbells in Destin for the first annaul Memorial Day beach weekened. It was the perfect Destin-ation! The water is crystal clear and the sand was so white and so soft!



 Our condo backed onto lake which had a large family of turtles that we loved to feed.

 Super Wells!

 Early morning walks with Aunti Nicki

 The water was perfect for snorkeling - we just wish there were less jelly fish and more actual fish.

I was snorkeling out to meet TJ and Kevin when I heard Kevin scream. Both he and TJ got stung by the jelly fish. I immediately turned around and started swimming for my life! I felt just like Dory as I had to dodge the jelly fish while chanting "just keep swimming."

 Wells loved when I did his hair. I think the mohawk was his favourite.

 Ice cream pie to celebrate Dani's birthday. Kudos to me for remembering candles, just too bad I forgot the lighter.

 Swimming with Wells was hard work. For starters he weights 20 lbs and then once you get him covered in sunscreen, it has a greased pig effect! You have to hold onto him for dear life.

 The sunshade was great for keeping Wells out of the sun. Although the boys could never seem to figure out how to put it away.

 Unky Kevy loved having dinosaur conversations and playing with Wells.

I just love my little MarshWellow.