Happy Saturday!

This picture was texted to me today while I was having anxiety out buying a new car...talk about a stress reliever seeing this cute face! Hope all are well!

July Happenings!

 

This past weekend was a lot of fun!  On Friday, the girls and I traveled to a nearby farm where we have a 1/2 farm share.  We go every other Friday to get our "goods".  Each time, we get to go out to the field to pick something.  This time, we picked orange cherry tomatoes.  Half of them have to still ripen because the girls picked them faster than I could say it was okay!  :)  It's fun to see all of the produce on the farm growing.  They have been growing flowers that we get to pick, too.  Saturday was a lot of fun at Uncle Dave's and Aunt Janet's.  Good food, company, and what a great fireworks display!  Uncle Dave, Dad, and Little John did a brave and great job.  We spent the night at Uncle Al's.  While Uncle Al was out biking this morning, the rest of us had a big breakfast together.  We headed down to Uncle Marianna's and Uncle Mark's lakehouse afterwards.  Stacy, Alex, and his girlfriend, Emily, showed up later.  What a fun time!  Good weather; water was great.  Cally is really swimming around.  Maya shows no fear and enjoyed jumping into the water with Uncle Mark again, and again, and again.  Cally went on her first jetski ride with Uncle Mark.  You could hear her screaming and giggling from far away.  After the first lap, Uncle Mark asked her if she wanted to go around again, and she said, "Yeah!"  It was a nice weekend with the family!

 

 



 

Adventure Race in Brookville, PA

A team of 6, consisting of 50% Oplingers, competed in an all day adventure race in Brookville, PA yesterday!  The race consisted of an 8.5 mile run, a 2 mile swim, a 28-mile bike, a 12-mile kayak, an 11-mile orienteering course, and a 9.5 mile run.  The race started at 7:01 a.m., and our team ended just after 6:20pm.  We came in 8th out of 18 teams.  Everyone worked hard, and there was great support!  Pictures and story soon!

 Packing up car in the rain at Mark's on Friday.

 Early Saturday morning...me, Mark, Daren, Darren, Kris, Chip

 Start of 8.5 mile run.

 Chip during swim.

 Daren starting bike.

 Cat!

 Cat waiting for Kristina.

 Last stretch for Kris on kayak.

 Darren starting orienteering.

 Mark during 9.5 mile run.

 Chip made these shirts; number represents the distance you completed.

Go Team Black Lungs!

Party on, CAT! Party on!!!

Sunday was a lot of fun at Uncle Mark's and Aunt Marianna's.  It was great to see everyone there!  The girls had a great time and passed out minutes after driving home.  Someone else had a great time... Cat!  Maya loves Cat, but she became more forgetful as she grew more tired.  First, she almost left cat a foot from the lake!  She had it when we went into the house.  As we drove away, I could not remember seeing Cat leave with us.  I texted Kris to be on the lookout for Cat.  On the drive home, I received images of Cat's partying after we left.  Cat, we will see you soon and you are in good hands; enjoy your vacation.  :)

What a sad day.

Like everyone else, I was shocked about what happened yesterday at the Boston Marathon.  I took Henry, the guy I train, for a walk yesterday afternoon after 3:30.  When we got back into the apartment, Henry, his wife, and I were glued to the television for a few minutes in disbelief.  I immediately texted Barclay who ran in the race; she texted me back moments later, "Am okay heard bombs but out of range." I usually avoid looking at photos and watching videos when these things happen.  But I can't stop looking and watching because a bunch of us were there once!  And it was a happy time!  I am thankful that I had a wonderful experience at the 2004 Boston Marathon and got to take it all in and have good memories with family and friends.  The Boston Marathon will never be the same.  As Tom Brokaw said on the Today show, tragedies like this,...although they are horrible, people help each other no matter what.  It doesn't matter what your race is, what you believe in.  A man posted on facebook that "good always wins."  I cry because of the tragedy of the whole thing and that it happened during such a happy time - for the runners, the spectators, the city of Boston, but also get choked up at seeing everyone spring into action and help - that's the true American spirit.

Hopefully, there will never be another tragedy like this, and future marathons will only have good memories.

The Bugs are Out!....Spring is Here!!!

The girls and I went to the M. Arboretum on Saturday to view their "Big Bugs".  We ran into Barclay and Rolly.  Perfect weather!  You can see pink cherry blossoms blooming behind ant!

Fresh Air!!!!!



Come on Spring!!!!!....again

I took Otis for a walk today.  Since it is "spring", I didn't wear a hat or gloves.  It's spring, so I am dressing like it's spring!  I'm in denial about the cold.  Halfway through the walk, the hood came up, and my frozen hands went into the pockets, and I thought, 'It's April!!!!'  Despite the cold, we had a sunny day in PA, and the girls and I were so excited to see birds eating out of our birdhouse for the first time today!  They look like sparrows; there was a male and female.  They came for a bite to eat at least twice.  It was so neat!

Milestones

Harp's ready for the lake.

Evie's on her feet.

Happy Birthday Jake!

How quickly time goes by.  A year ago today, we were blessed with the Jake man.

 

Jake and his birthday wagon.

 

 

Jake visited the Easter bunny today.  Not really phased by the bunny...however, very serious.

 

Jake then headed to the indoor playground.  The faces this kid makes are hilarious!

Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Ashley came over for dinner and cake.  Jake had no problem diving right in!