The boys have been working hard in school.  Right now we are trying to improve their reading, memorizing math facts (adam-multiplication b&b- addition), bible memory, etc.  There are plenty of "funny" things that happen along the way.  Adam nailed a Science quiz today after lots of studying definitions of 20+ hard words like Sublimation, condensation, state of matter, mass, etc.  Turns out the whole time he was studying and even after the test he thought it was Social Studies!  And Brad spells his last name wrong every.single.day.  BUT I can already tell the one-on-one they are getting from me is helpful for them.  And like everything else around here, if I can stay on top on things (their assignments, test prep, communication with teachers and so on), it can go smoothly.  They do have to work very hard to get things, which is hard for me to understand sometimes.  Elementary school was easy for me, from what I remember.  God has been very kind, giving me the strength I need for each day.  We start our school days with their Bible assignment which we use as our devotions as well.  We are reading through Genesis. 

Last week on a non school day, Clay and I took his cousin and grandma on a bike ride.  We hit my favorite rails to trails.  It's a new and beautiful trail, overlooking the river.  Many picnic tables and benches along the way.  The boys were very entertaining, they had a great time outriding mom and I. 

Rode to the 3 mile marker, then turned around.  

We saw an eagle fly in on the way back.  So cool!

And Saturday was another 5K, this time benefiting a very local ministry GAiN (global aid network)  The boys said i should have ran to my run, it was only 2 miles from our house!  The conditions were great, cool and dry.  I didn't love the hills but i liked the run.  I ran right past Rod's uncle's farm and chatted with him briefly while going by.  And Rod flew around me the whole time which is why i didn't walk up that one hill.
But the highlight for me was the boys 1 mile fun run.  Adam crushed it.  Granted there weren't many kids in it, maybe 20.  but he was well ahead of the next guy (which happened to be Brad).  I was so happy for him, i think he thought he wouldn't be able to run a whole mile.  This gave him confidence.  I'd like to run a 5K with him next year.
He said "i'm wearing jeans mom"  you go right ahead

Clay beat a 12 year old boy and didn't break a sweat

I didn't catch his official time, but it was 6 minutes and something.  

The boys got to run with their church friends.  Ben just missed placing in the boys catagory.  He was so disappointed.  Run faster next time buddy! 

I got first in my division, female age 30-39.  Yup, i'm hooked on small races now  

church friends

The money raised from the races went toward buying seeds to send to other countries. 

My next run isn't until Thanksgiving Day, the Turkey Bowl benefiting a Christian Camp.  

Pumpkin field

Sunday after church we took advantage of the pumpkin field in our front yard.  Rod knew our Amish neighbor was going to be picking them the next day, so he decided to do a photo shoot with the boys before they took them away.

The pics don't do this justice.  The pumpkins are so huge, some reaching 200 pounds.  

I like Rod's style of picture taking.  He used walkie talkies to tell the boys where to go, since he was far away in some of the pics.  (the boys are all in this picture)

The Amish even rented bees to help pollinate.  He might not have needed to because our bees are very close to this field, but i'd say it worked!  There were so many.

And Monday they did come and got a couple wagon loads full.  It's still full of pumpkins!  So far he let us pick 4 pumpkins to keep for ourselves.  Hoping he tells us to "glean" soon :)  

honey harvest

I am glad to say our first year of extracting honey is behind us!  Monday night we took out the frames that we planned on extracting, leaving 2 full boxes for the bees to chow on over the winter.  The bees were very angry with us.  fortunately my full body bee suit did the job and I didn't get stung.  Rod had stingers all over his gloves, 6 of them made their way through the gloves. 

We set those frames in the garage, covered, to be extracted on Tuesday night.  By Tuesday, the bees got the memo that the frames were in the garage and by the time we started the process outside of the garage, thousands of bees were joining us.  It was such a rookie mistake.  I have first year beekeeper written all over me.  But Clay had fun running through the bees declaring he won't ever get stung, and somehow he didn't.  

We decided to do it at night, after the bees go home:

Cleaning out the extra

We did get 2.5 gallons of honey, which for a first year is pretty good.  we would have gotten more if our hive didn't swarm.  But I'm happy with that and I think that'll last us a year, or at least through the winter.  I hope the bees make it through the winter.  The one hive appears healthier then the other so we'll see what happens. 

Happy with our harvest.  Bees are so facsinating, there is much to learn.  I am grateful to have this experience.

Run

I ran in the Bird-in-Hand 5K this weekend.  When i did my first race back in May, i thought 500 runners was so many.  But this one had 900 runners!  My goal was to come in 400th place :)  i came in 200 something place and beat my 5K record.  But i felt terrible the last mile.  i was very tempted to walk but didn't.  

The whole weekend event was such a blast.  My run and a balloon launch was Friday eve.  The 1/2 marathon and balloon launch was Saturday.  There was a wonderful free lunch after that.  We got to see a lot of people we knew.  Krista ran in the half marathon Saturday and the boys and i ran/walked the last 2 miles with her.  There were 1700 runners in the 1/2, 50+ of those needing treatment, due to the heat.  And some of them were sent to the hospital.

It was so neat to see this community come together, most of the volunteers were amish, you can tell they love serving in this event.  It was so well organized, for the size of it, the money raised went towards the local fire department.  I hope to do it again next year, maybe with Adam!  I think he could do it.  Actually they all probably could, but that just sounds like a circus act waiting to happen now doesn't it?

Pics from Friday night's run:
Coming down the finish line.  Yes i'm pretty sure that old man passed me.  My time 28:10

The crew waiting for me to finish

Saturday's 1/2.  Rod flew in the morning with the balloons at the start of the race.

We had a great visit with Krista, she stayed with us from Wed-Sunday and her mom and sister came for the weekend and stayed in our apartment.  They were such fun.  The boys loved every minute.

Now gearing up for a new week of school, and Clay starts preschool this week.  Also honey extraction day is Tuesday!  Look for that sticky update soon :)