Twelve!

Dear Pierce,

I have to resist the urge to ask where the time has gone. MUST. RESIST. 

You are now, TWELVE.

As your mom, I just don't think of you that age.

You know I imagine when you leave for college, when you get married, when you venture off into adulthood, I will still be all like, WHERE'S MY BABY BOY GOING?

You are getting SO independent.

I guess being in sixth grade that's a good thing, I mean this is your last year of elementary school. Which by the way, you are still doing so well in school. Sometimes you think all the work and effort is stupid, which I get. However, you never quit. You always work hard and get the grades, mom and dad appreciate that about you.

That independence thing that you are getting so good at? Well, sometimes it stings for a mom.

You know what else can sting?

Your pre-teen attitude.

In your favor though, you ALWAYS apologize, which is a pretty awesome quality.

Something else I think is awesome? You still want to spend time with us.

I always hear of kids taking friends to the beach with them, and I'm sure one day you'll want that too, but for now you still think mom and dad are fun to be with.

You and Hope still fight a lot, but then you also take good care of her. Just the other night she was sick and I heard you telling her, "it's okay Hopie, you'll be okay." I just need us to remember those moments...

I think your past year of life has been filled with some pretty great moments, and yes, even some rough moments. Together we will always get through it though.

Like I've told you many times this last year: you are more than your grades, you are more than sports, you are more than our son, you are a child of God.

Wherever year TWELVE takes you, remember that.

Oh, and you'll always be my baby.

Here's to year TWELVE!

Love,

Mommy

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! 

Life according to kids

Pierce: "Mom, you are grumpy in the morning and late at night, but during the day you are really good."

Hope: "Mom will you be alive when I get married?" 

We've been discussing me getting a bike..

 Pierce: "Mom you really should go on and get one now, you are 41 and I'm just not sure how many good years you have left."

Hope: "Mommy do you know what I do when I have to take a gross medicine? I close my eyes and envision a brownie or an iPod, then I just down it. It really helps."

My friend Brittany is pregnant and Pierce heard me saying she was going to the doctor...."Mom, did Brittany go to the doctor for an inspection?"

Hope: "Momma I'm gonna ask you something, I'm sure you'll say no, but go big or go home I say."

Speaking of Brittany having a baby, Pierce lets me know: "Mom not to be offensive, but you are too old to have a baby." 

Hope: "Mom if you were younger that would look good on you." (Apparently my kids are obsessed with my age.)

Pierce: "Mom we had to take a WRITTEN test in PE! What's this country coming too?!"

Me talking to Hope....

"Hope! Your handwriting on this paper is so nice!"

Hope: "Mom this is fourth grade. No more messing around."