Update: Couple of Videos

Let me start off by saying that I am really really really going to try to post on this blog more often.  I get busy and don't think about it but I really want to.  A month or so ago I read back through a bunch of old posts on the blog from several years ago.  It was great reliving all the things we had experienced and written about (and even forgotten about). It is a great record of our lives. So, I am going to try to give updates more often.

Esther and Clara are growing up fast. Esther is now 2 1/2. She is a typical toddler, lots of fun with meltdowns thrown in. She continues to be very smart. She can count to 20 and say her ABCs. She is learning what letters words start with and learning to write a few letters.  She loves to read books and has a pretty big vocabulary. She has a great memory and recalls random things all the time. She loves to build with blocks, color, play with her kitchen and food, and take care of her babies. She goes out most days to help feed hay and check on the goats. She is definitely not outgoing though and is really reserved around new people.  It takes her a long time to warm up to people. Even though she smiles and laughs for us all the time,  she will hardly do it for other people.  Her personality is definitely more like her daddy's and therefore I feel like I "get her".

Clara is 14 months old. We still think of her as a baby, but she is really a toddler these days. She thinks she can do whatever her big sister does. She loves to be outside and see the cats, dogs, chickens, and goats. She still doesn't say many words, but her comprehension is really high. She understands everything we say. She follows instructions and knows everything we do. She is learning more words and sounds everyday and is finally starting to try and say some things. She knows most of her animal sounds. She loves to eat (though she only has 4 teeth) and sleep. She loves to stack blocks, read books, play with their kitchen, and play with her animals and dolls. She is ornery and emotional. She pesters her big sister, steals her toys, knocks over her blocks, pulls her hair, etc.  She is super fun and definitely a people person. Her personality is definitely more like her momma's.

They are both lots of fun in their own ways. They are busy and keep us on our toes.

Here are a couple videos of them.
This is our normal routine after bath time. Playing in Esther's room.  Esther gets really hyped up after bath and before bedtime and it usually involves her running around, dancing, and singing.We have no idea what she is saying/singing here except for the random "pink pj's".



And here is Clara saying Esther.  It is the cutest/funniest thing.  It kind of sounds and looks like she is sneezing but she is saying Esther. We get her do it it for everyone because of how great it is.

5k take two

Well, I am still running.  You never know how long these "new year's resolutions" will last but mine is still going.  Today I ran my second 5k of the year. I was hoping to have a big improvement from my first one since I feel like I am in shape now and was not even close to it with my first one a few weeks ago.  This race was in Conway.  Before I tell you about how I finished I want to tell you about why we went to Conway for a 5k.
Some of Margo's family organized this race (2k, 5k, and 10k) to raise money for Arkansas Children's Hospital.  Margo's 2nd (?) cousin (I am not really sure how the cousin numbering system works) lost her two daughters in the past few years.  One died at 6 weeks old to a heart infection and the second at almost 3 years old died last year from brain cancer.  It is a really sad story, I don't even like to think about it.  If you want to read more about it and watch a video that was on Little Rock tv local news a couple days ago click here.
Back to my race today... my first 5k I ran in 26:27 and my main goal for this 5k was to run a faster time and hopefully do it in under 25 minutes which I thought might be pushing it for my second race. But I knew I was in a lot better shape this time and I had high hopes.  Much to my surprise, when I finished the race I finished in 23 minutes even. I was so surprised that I mapped the race when I got home to make sure it really was a full 5k and it wasn't short (it wasn't). As an added bonus and surprise, I placed first in my division (male age 31-40) and I placed 16th out of 350 racers.  I even got a medal for placing first in my division.  I was very surprised. I can only hope that I keep with running for a while and keep improving. I still have a ways to go to meet my overall goal.
The whole event was a lot of fun.  It was very family friendly with lots of activities. The girls had a blast running around and playing.  It also was a really good day not just because I did well but because it was to support a good cause in honor of two little girls who are greatly missed by their family.

Proof that I was there