Pumpkin Fun

Thanks for the comments/encouragement on my previous post. Much appreciated!

In previous years, Jill has hosted a pumpkin carving party. There was always food, laughter, and lots of creativity from people I didn't know were creative. This year, we had a mini mini party with just the four of us (Anneli is gone during the week for work). Sarah didn't carve a pumpkin, so there are only three pumpkins out on our deck. which are already shriveling in the heat.

Here's Jill, with her hands full of pumpkin goop. She baked the pumpkin seeds afterward, and I took some to work today for a yummy snack.

Nat, also scraping pumpkin innards.

The finished pumpkins. Mine, Nat's, and Jill's.

I don't like making just a face on my pumpkins. As usual, I was the last one carving. I always put too many curved lines.

Here was my inspiration. I got this ring at Target about eight months ago, and rarely take it off. For some unexplainable reason, I just love it.

So although our party was downsized, and probably not as loud as last year, it was a good one nonetheless.

Sorry, I've been neglecting you

I don't have any new pictures, and not too much exciting news, so I've been staying away from the "new post" button. But maybe you like to read about things that aren't awesome and exciting. If so, stay tuned.

It finally hit me. homesickness. I was just tra-la-laing along, for a good six weeks or so, and then thoughts of home began to make me feel teary. I wanted my mom, but I thought talking to her would make it worse. Not talking to her made it worse too. I gave in and called her. I felt better after I realized she hadn't changed a bit, and will still be MOM when I get home too.

Maybe the excitement of being in a new place has wore off. I still love Arizona, but I wish it weren't so far away. Like maybe just a two hour drive and not 24. I keep telling myself that Christmas isn't so far away and will be here before I know it. I can do it!

Also, the weather difference (87 degrees today) makes me feel a teeny bit better. :)

New roomies are here

Nat D and Sarah H arrived from Michigan on Tuesday night, and then we said good-bye to Coralie and Kayla on Thursday morning. The total count of girls was seven for a short bit, but is now back to five.

Nat and Sarah brought furniture with them, so our apartment is starting to look more normal, and our backsides are feeling better. They are also full of excitement and zest for life in Arizona! We're excited to have them.

Inspired

I was excited to watch Leanne's marathon, because I never had watched one before. I told Mark the night before the race that I would probably tell him I wanted to run one after watching it. Then I said to disregard it if I did say that. I just knew I would be inspired.

We got up at 5 am to catch the shuttle from our hotel to the race start. All of us, bright eyed and bushy tailed.

The atmosphere down by the start spot was giddy, exciting, and most people were smiling. I wouldn't have been happy if I had to wait in line for a porta-potty though. There were about 50 of them all lined up, and the lines to use them were very long!!!

Kind of a blurry picture, but this was the starting line. Mr. Heart was jammin' and dancing all over the place. The runners took off in 6 waves, with the fastest ones in the first wave. Leanne was in wave 5, and estimated she would finish in 5:30. One lady in the first wave had a prosthetic leg, amazingly!

I have never seen so many people running in my life. Everyone running the half-marathon started with the full-marathoners, so the streets were crowded for the first ten or so miles.

As we sat and waited for Leanne at mile 4, some man and his daughter walked by with home-made noisemakers. They gave them to us, and for the rest of the race, we made an annoying, but fun, racket.

We kept seeing the same runners (the ones around Leanne's pace), and I think after a few times they recognized us because we were so loud. I was surprised at how little people were cheering on the runners.

Our signs said "Sweat is sexy", "Nice legs!" (got lots of comments, smiles, and shorts-raises on that one), and "our MN rockstar".

Leanne's goal is to run a marathon in every state. This was her ninth marathon in her fifth (I think) state. She seemed to be hardly out of breath, even at mile 22.

Finish line!!! Her official time was 5:25:something, a personal best by about 15 minutes!

Here she is showing off her sweet medal by the coolest sand sculpture I've ever seen.

I think all of us AZ girls were inspired by watching the race to run one. If not a full, than a half. I'd love to be able to do a full, but since I've had leg stress fractures in the past, I'm not sure if I could. I'm amazed by anyone that can or has!!!!

Yippee

We're going to Cali this weekend! Long Beach, to be exact. We are watching Leanne N**ka's marathon, and will be staying with her and Ruth Helt*n*n. Should be fun.

It almost makes up for missing R Ladies Weekend... :)

6.5 mile bike + 1.6 mi hike up Camelback + 1.6 mi hike down + 6.5 mi bike home = WHEW. tired.

Still have to bike 3 mi to work and 3 mi back today too. Plus maybe the library later (5 mi round trip).

Gettin' crafty

Been feeling creative lately, and the others have too. Some of the girls tie-dyed shirts, and they turned out pretty neat. Cor and I stitched on our shirts.



Sara preparing hers for tie-dying. She left home for MN this morning, and already the apt feels empty without her! Notice the fountain pop... 79 cents at the gas station that is a few short minutes on foot from our front door. Anneli is hooked on them :)


Shoot, my pictures came in sideways. Oh well, it's not too awesome, so probably looks just as good that way. I took a plain yellow shirt (already had the ruffle) and added some rolled fabric flowers and embroidery thread stitching. I got the idea for the flowers from Heather A.'s blog, and the how-to from http://mysparkle.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-to-rolled-flowers.html. (the link thing wasn't working, so maybe that will)

I really like what the stitching adds.

The shirt was pretty worn out, so I didn't mind if I messed up. Now I'm ready for bigger and better (aka newer and nicer) things.... maybe.

World's 2nd Largest

Fountain, that is.

It's 330 feet high, but when all three pumps are going, it gets up to 530 feet. It is located in Fountain Hills, which is about ten miles east of us. We went for a nice Sunday stroll around the lake.

Today, it rained, and then was 65 degrees afterward!!! The coolest it's been since I came down here. This week is supposed to be "cool", or in the mid-eighties.

some new Vivian pictures

She is adorable. You don't have to agree, but take a look at these pictures anyway.... :)

They were taken by Emily Hammar.
She's such a big girl now. She doesn't talk much yet, but gets her point across using facial expressions and gestures.

Here she is with her mother, my beautiful sister.

Joce wore this dress when she was little, and Kurt had a matching outfit, I believe.

Now do you agree with me? ;)