My mud running boys

My idea of swimming, is in a POOL, with clear water, on a float, maybe drink in hand. If someone is on the bottom of said pool, I enjoy being able to see them. No critters floating around my ankles, oh no. No possible rip tides. CLEAR BLUE WATER. 

So the idea of people lunging into water like this, ON PURPOSE, and actually PAY for it? Uh, crazy.

Or maybe I'm the crazy one. Or just boring? 

Because there are HUNDREDS of people who pay to run through mud. 

I happen to married to one of those people.

Look at all these men and women living out their, I'M A WILD MAN OF THE WILDERNESS fantasies.

Probably pretending they are in Nam or something.

Paul has been Mr. Active this year.

Training for races that involve obstacles and mud..

Look at the mud splashing right in his face. Blech. Oh and look at that guy in the background flexing a muscle, men really never grow up do they?

While I myself would never want to do this, I admire all these people that do it.

Especially Paul.

He decided months back to do a tough mudder, and I was all, that's nice dear.

I thought maybe it was a couple mud puddles.

That's his friend Phillip with him, who decided last minute to join and killed it!

Anyways, it was a lot more than some puddles.

It was legit!

And Paul rocked the whole thing!

I was tired just standing there taking pictures.

So yeah, I couldn't swing this sorta thing.

But watching all this fun got one certain person thinking he wanted to do one too.

Stands about 5 ft tall, and a cutie patootie.

So this got things rolling..

A father/son run in the mud was in order.

Somehow Paul managed to find another mud run, sorta last minute.

I already had plans to be gone the day of the race, so I missed it. Ugh. Look that is my first born scaling a mud wall. 

I mean can you believe I apparently missed Paul falling right on in. Ha! 

Quality of pics are poor, but you can see what I see. MY BABY IN MURKY WATER. Oh my lands. This goes against all water safety protocol that I deem necessary.

Probably a good thing I wasn't there, can you imagine my screaming and carrying on?

Pierce absolutely loved it!

He's really been struggling with his allergies/asthma with running this season , so I was so happy he got to do this and have fun!

So proud of my mud running boys! 

Paul answers

So my lake post still isn't finished. I JUST DON'T HAVE THE GUMPTION.

Instead of making myself do it, I decided now is a perfect time to steal an idea from Katherine. She did this post a few weeks back and I really enjoyed it, so now it's Paul's turn.

1) How long have we been married?
10 years.

(Literally that's all he said. His answer is correct, but what's with the brevity?)


2) Where was our first date?
Don Pablos.

(Again, that's all he said and he is correct again. It all started over chips and salsa.)


3) Where was our first kiss?
I have no idea!

(YOU GUYS, apparently he's super nostalgic about us. Oy. But never fear, I remember. First time I thought he was going to kiss me and I asked him, "are you going to kiss me?" as he stood an inch from my face, and he said NO and walked away. Something about he wouldn't kiss me until I was ready to publicly be his girlfriend, or something like that.  But that strong front only lasted one day, he kissed me the next night in his backyard.)


4) Who said I love you first?
I did. When I said it, I have no idea.

(It was about this time I started to have a meltdown, HE DOESN'T REMEMBER ANYTHING! But I actually don't remember when he told me either.)


5) When did you know you wanted to marry me?
Still don't have the answer to that one! Actually I have no clue! That was over 12 years ago!

(Clearly he thinks he's hilarious, and clearly he remembers nothing.)


6) What was your favorite thing about our wedding?
When we held hands around the door but still didn't see each other.

(This whole reach around the door thing, was actually Paul's idea, and I thought it was very sweet.)


7) What will I say was the least favorite thing about our wedding?
Dealing with family.

(I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT.)


8) Best meal I've ever made you?
Anytime you cooked me my venison.

(You know I don't do this enough, because I don't enjoy making it. I should work on that)


9) Worst meal I've ever made you?
You did something with chicken, and it was funky.

(That's pretty vague, but I do remember making nuggets once and I had run out of breadcrumbs and didn't realize it. I tried to wing it with some seasoning, and it did end up pretty funky indeed.)


10)  What would I say is your most annoying habit?
When I scratch my head at night?

(Yeah, that's one of them.)


11) What is your favorite thing about me?
This is something everyone is going to read, right? Okay, then I will say when you scratch my back at night.

(So his favorite thing about me can't be told actually. SORRY DAD.)



12) What is my favorite food?
Salad-Grilled Chicken.

(Yeah that's about right, but also guacamole.)



13) What is my favorite thing to do?
I actually wont say what he said first....But then he said working out.

(Yes, shopping and working out are tops. No comment on the other)


14) What makes me happiest?
Blogging.

(Yeah blogging is great, but it doesn't make me the happiest.)


15) How many kids did I want?
Two.

(At this point I began to complain about his blunt answers at which he told me, "I'm a dude.")


16) What's the funniest thing about me?
Your fear of bugs.

(I had no idea he thought it was funny that I'm scared of bugs)


17) What do I consider a good date?
Going out to eat, home by 8:00, me rubbing your feet, you asleep by 9:00.

(WHATEVER. Asleep by 10)


18) What would the perfect day look like for me?
Getting up and working out, having the kids at school, no laundry to do, shopping, me rubbing your feet, and you finishing the day blogging.

(There is actually a lot more to me than this, but this kind of day would be lovely)



Some of his answers were not exactly what I expected, but then again that's us.

My husband is insane

The man whom I married over a decade ago. 

The man who I trust with my life.

The man who would rush into a burning house to save your life.

The man I call baby daddy. 

Well, he's inane. 

While I was spending my weekend with a sick child and sobbing for my nephew, he was out in the wilderness like some homeless person, having a good time.

Turns out he's not the only insane one though....

There's a whole group of them that enjoy playing homeless.

I mean, can you honestly imagine backpacking into the wilderness, WHILST IT'S SNOWING?

Kill.me.now.

But I can appreciate that my husband is a manly man, and definitely no pansy.

Oh, and insane.

Why he does what he does.

This man right here.

The one I have almost nothing in common with. 

I don't always understand this man, but I get him, just as he gets me. And sometimes our children don't understand him either, and why he does what he does. 

"Why does daddy have to fight fires? I really wish he didn't do it."

And how do I explain that to them? How do I make them understand WHY he does what he does. 

Why he puts his life in danger for other people.

I hope one day they can understand all the years he suffered, and felt helpless.

And what a miracle is is that he can in fact help others.

I hope they can one day understand that when God put their dad together, He made him with a heart to serve others. That in his very nature, their daddy wants to sacrifice for others, just as he does for them.

I hope that one day they can understand the importance of serving others in some form or fashion, and be proud of a dad who is so unselfish.

I can try and explain it all day long, but usually my explanations fall short. So, I will continue to point to THE one who is the ultimate example of sacrifice. 

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Tellin' fish stories.

The 'no girls allowed, stinky fish and stinky boy trip' has come to a close, and it was a HUGE success. Pierce had a great time, and is chomping to go back, I'm so glad he got to go do this with his dad and grandpa. I was also glad to hear him say, "maybe the next time we go, mommy and Hope can go with us?" He warms my heart ;)

I am telling this from a second hand account, so I can't take as many liberties with my story tellin' You know my fish stories would me greatly embellished ;)....All of these pictures are from Paul's cell phone, he was sweet to take a lot of pics for me. A view of the lake from their little house they stayed at.

I think I may have added this one on an earlier post, but I think it's too sweet. Pierce and Grandpa sharing a moment, man to man.They grilled out, and had a nutritionally deplete meal of hot dogs, chips and junk.
This was also where they stayed, how cute is this??

Pierce running around in the rain :-)On the morning of the fishing trip they got up at 5:00 in the morning, to head out. They caught 9 total fish, but could only keep three. Here's one of grandpas :-)
Little skipper. :-)
Pierce caught 3!!!

Notice the chocolate all over the teeth? Paul said Pierce would randomly grab an Oreo and say "Hey, it's boy time, I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want, even when it's dark outside!!" HA!! Nothing like breaking the rules to make it a good time :-)

Here they are!! The 3 fish they brought back, and they are good eatin'!

First he was able to drive the boat with daddy....
Then all by his self!! BIG STUFF!!
He conked out and slept the 2 hour trip back.
When he walked through the door he chest kind of 'puffed up' and he was SO proud of his self. Gone away, and had a big time with just the boys. I'm so glad he got to go do this, these are the memories that will last a lifetime.