7 weeks old today

I know you've always been with us. It is funny how every time we have a new baby within a few short weeks I can't remember life never not having you in it.

You have been one of our easier babies. I have learned a lot about colic over the years and think I am finally understanding the whole ordeal. You usually do very well if I stay away from foods that have dairy and soy in them. This can be tricky as almost all foods have dairy and/or soy.

I had to supplement you early with formula as you weren't gaining very well. Bad cow. I am grateful you took to a bottle and still want to nurse. I guess it is the best of both worlds.

The big kids are still crazy about you. Clairvaux says 1,000 times a day "a hold her, pease." You are a crazy good night sleeper and I say this with all humility so I don't jinx myself tonight. I really don't expect anything from you just am grateful you sleep so well at night. As always, your father develops a certain hold he has for each of our babies to calm them. He gets it down just right. What a blessing.

VictoryQuest 2012

John participated in the Grand Opening of a new facility here in Nebraska. What a great time we had especially watching John WIN the race!!!VictoryQuest was created by two fathers dedicated to getting their own children in shape. Their sons fell in love with working out. As a result, one of the fathers did some research about the infamous "Tough Mudder" program developing across the United States. They wanted to create something similiar with the main emphasis in "developing sound character, heart, soul, mind and body extending it to a public more aware than ever of the dangers of sedentary life, and the benefits of exercise for young people." The Lincoln Journal Star ran an article here featuring the upcoming event. Pre-Race

The course can also be seen in more detail from this news channel.

The total course was 3.7 miles with around 24 different obstacles to conquer. He loved it. He said his favorite part was sliding head first down the mud pit. Dominic was in heaven. He ran from spot to spot cheering him on and then slid down the mud pit after the race.

The co-founders hope to really grow the program. Several people who have competed in similar races around the United States said this was the toughest course they had done.

One of the co-founders, Doug Barry, started also a program for young adults at the adjoining facility Camp Gargano. They hope to have groups of young adults traveling from all over to participate in their dream of building young adults with virtue and true character.

The Inaugural event was titled "Quest for Vets" this Memorial Day weekend. John signed up a couple months ago and has anticipating the race every since. Any form of competition runs crazy through his blood. I don't think he slept last night.

My brother brought a group from Kansas to participate in the activities at Camp Gargano. I would encourage everyone to check it out and consider making the trip.

The kids were so excited to watch and cheer him on. A total of 117 people signed up for the event. He was able to get a great start to stay ahead of the pack. Most of the race he was in third place. The end was thrilling. He was trailing the leader by about 100 yards and was able to pass him near the end to WIN first place. It was awesome. I was doing the laugh, cry, yell with excitement emotion. I was just so happy for him.

John being interviewed after winning the race.

Happy Pentecost!

We celebrated the last day of the Easter season today. It has all been a blur as Damaris was born a couple days past Easter. None the less, God gave us the greatest gift for Easter---NEW LIFE.

We definitely have reached a point where getting a picture of all of them smiling at the same time is virtuous. We have enjoyed these more probably because someone is always doing something funny. John told everybody to put their feet together. Clairvaux listened well.

Vianney was losing it over donuts we didn't get. I agree. You should see the fit I threw.

The best gift for the summer has arrived. AUNT DAMARIS. She will be living with us until August. I just did the Roger Rabbit across the room to express my excitement. She is like having 12 other women in the house. She cooks, cleans, plays, drives, swims, and is just a joyful person to be around. We are all so glad she will be with us this summer. Poor thing. In this picture, we hadn't been home for more than five minutes and was attacked.

Am I a Gibbon?

I started running again this past week. Oops. Chug-a-no-lug. John sent me this video to make me laugh. My question was "Who videotaped me running?" It reminded me of myself complete with those laughing in the background. Everything about this video is me. From his initial stretch to the crazy run to the sudden stop/fall. Perfect. I know I will get there. It just takes a few weeks to get going.

Track Meet 2012

Once again, the kids participated in the homeschool track meet in Wahoo. This has become something they look forward to many months in advance. Dominic even created a pre-workout routine to prepare.  Oh, the excitement was intense at 6:30 in the morning.  

Dominic met another Dominic this year. What instant friends they were! They are two months apart exactly, have the same first and middle name, love Legos, Hardy Boys, and all other things that little boys love. The other Dominic has three brothers and a sister. I had a great time meeting their mother. We could have talked for hours. It is so enjoyable to see your kids make great friends and watch them talk with such interest about different topics with their friends.

Rose is a fierce competitor. She is our track athlete. She loves running and has loved it since she was little. We both enjoy watching her run. Beautiful and innocent. She won four ribbons this year.

Last year, Zellie struggled emotionally the whole track meet, BUT this year LOOK OUT...track star here we come.  She ran her little blue shoes as fast as they could go.  She loved it.

This was Vianney's first year. She was so excited until we got there and she shed a few tears about running. She claims she "didn't want to hurt her legths." ??? ANYWAY, she did participate in the field events. John and I laughed that she looked like a little boy with wild blond hair dressed in her black track outfit.

I wish I could say that I didn't scream like a crazy woman while they are running, but I can't. I yell them down the track with excitement...this year, a newborn in my arms. I bet it was awesome to see.

Lillie's best gift hands down is her ability to make people feel loved and welcome. She is a sweetheart and wants to make sure everyone is having a great time. I think she distributed half of our track food amongst her "new friends". Darling. She kept coming up to me asking if she could give so and so a granola bar, or a juice box, or a piece of gum. She is very thoughtful. She is ridiculously happy to just run. She never cares nor is aware of if she placed or not. She just runs and smiles. It is so funny how different kids respond to different settings. Dominic use to be unaware and always thought he won every race even if he came in close to last. One year, I remember him finishing fourth and came running up to me "MOM! I guess we bought the right shoes this year because I won my race."

These days are my favorite days to enjoy with them. They ran, they played, they ate, and got so dirty that it is delightful to let them go home and soak in the tub. I know when we put them to bed how content their little minds must have been.