Camping on Sugar Creek

We have been eager to test out our new tent, but the weather has not been cooperating.  We finally had some decent weather this weekend, so we headed out to Sugar Creek in western Indiana.  We found a nice campsite just on the east end of Shades State park and found a place to pitch our tent right by the creek - which was a big hit.

We spent some time looking for pretty rocks (mostly quartz, agate, and the occasional fossil).

Here was BB's first big find. Looks like some kind of worms.

We spent the evening by the fire eating cookies and chocolate.

BB stayed up until about 10 with me watching the fire, listening to sound of the forrest, and debating me on whether or not beavers use their teeth or their tails to chop up trees.  Luckily, we got our fill of cookies because later that night, we got raided by a raccoon that seemed to have a sweet tooth (as well as a fondness for a $20 bag of almonds).

After a good night's rest, we had the traditional cholesterol bullets (i.e. tacos) for breakfast.

Next we headed over the red covered bridge (which can be seen in the background of one of the pictures above) in order to rent canoes.

Finally, we took a canoe trip, stopping occasionally to collect rocks, shells, and minnows.

Bath Time with Bea

Please disregard the dirt on the rim of the tub.  We are actually very good parents.

The giant inflatable ball thing

A good indication that your children may have too many toys is if Christmas gifts are not played with until some time in May.  So, without further ado, here is the debut of the giant inflatable ball thingy.

Movie Time with Maggie

Maggie and I went to see Jungle Book.  It was the best movie I've seen in a while.

Plus, I learned a new trick for eating popcorn.

Delicious!!

Running Weekend

About three weeks ago my friends (S and M) from work were talking about running the 1/2 and full marathon and they convinced me to sign up for the 5K and 10K (known as the mini i-challenge). So I started running again so I wouldn't suck too bad.
Here we are picking up our race packets and the expo. Always fun to leave work early :)

Here we are Friday night gettign ready for the 5K (S is in pink, M is in green, and C is another friend form work)

At the finish line coming in at 27:33 (pace 8 min and 51 sec).

Here is M and I. Let me also tell you that he said he would run with me at my slow pace because he wanted to do well in the 1/2 marathon

Yeah he left me. Don't' trust him. But I did keep up with him for the 1st half of the 5K, which I think is why I got a better time. I thought I was going to run a pace of 10 min/mile. Just in case you want to know S and M ran around 8min/mile pace for the 5K and the marathon. Crazy.

And the reason everyone reads the blog....kids. Maggie also enjoys racing. Her 2nd year running the 1K

No pictures from the Saturday 10K because it was raining and really cold. The ENTIRE RACE. Maggie's 1K which took place at 3pm was even in the rain. My 10K was completed in 1hr and 3 min. That's with a pulled calf muscle that happen in the last mile. I basically hobbled in. My time would been better. Anyways, I am excited to run another race. Super Fun!

More vacation pictures and stories

As Chris stated in previous posts we started off our trip with a little hiking in a state park. Of course, Bea spent about half the time on Chris rather than walking.

And then at the end Maggie was happy.

Then we found a bouncy house place for the kids. I liked it way better than Chuck-E-Cheese. Chris was a little too scared to climb the awesome playground, but this is what it looked like from above. Cool swings, bouncy things, and slides.

Then the main event. LSU baseball game.

Maggie cracking and peeling peanuts.

But by the 4th inning Bea was tired of baseball :P

And Maggie was a little too bored.

And last, but not least one last pit stop before we got home. Bea has not into the pictures when we got there or at all really.

My favorite part of the zoo was the margaritas. For about 1/2 an hour I thought Chris was drink lemonade. After I found out his secret things got a bit funner :)

Of course, the heat and walking in the zoo knocked the girls out for the remaining two hours that it took us to get home.

Zoo and Spring

After seeing the LSU baseball game in Columbia, we decided to stop at the (free) St Louis zoo on our way back to Champaign.  It was a nice, sunny day with temps in the low 80's.  I didn't get too many pictures (Gabby got many more), but here's Bea riding the "fox" on the carousel at the St. Louis zoo.

Maggie found the python.

Spring has definitely arrived in the midwest.  Here is one of our favorite parks in Urbana.

And BB picking the dandelions...

...from the LSU-themed vegetation in our front yard.

Here's Bea's new trick from gymnastics - a 10 foot drop into "the pit."

That girl is intrepid, I tell you.