Big kids

I can't believe how quickly Ava and Harrison have become a second grader and kindergartener. They are so grown up -

Ava is swimming, telling jokes, able to unload the dishwasher, and completing some homework without us doing each item with her.
Harrison is counting to several hundred by 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s. He is beginning to add and subtract, starting to spell, draws well, plays baseball, and likes monopoly.
They are becoming their own people. Although we do have trying moments (daily), I am very lucky!

School and Running

I have had a few requests for updates..
What is Hill doing all summer??? Summer school principal and RUNNING!
I shouldn't post all the interesting happenings of summer school in a very poor, urban, California district, so I am going to post the link to my running blog. I will be putting updates there through October when I run a marathon!!
If you haven't had a chance to donate, please consider it (and tell your friends)! It is a great cause!!
http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/nikesf09/hmillers00

Run, Run, Eat, Eat, Eat...and Run.

Wendy and I are all signed up to run the Bay to Breakers in May, and still training! We've been running nearly daily for over 3 weeks now, and have successfully run 5 miles a few times now. In 6 weeks, I hope to be able to do the 7.46 we have signed up for!!
Wen is in Mexico at a fancy spa for the week (birthday gift), so Mike ran with me both Saturday and today. We hired a babysitter to come over for an hour and a half today so we could go together- totally worth it.
Harrison's birthday is Wednesday - can't believe he'll be 5. Crazy...
Last week we celebrated my birthday (thanks for all the well wishes!) with an ice cream cake and Thai food with the Spies. (see picture of Carsten, me, and a yummy cake).
On Friday we celebrated Wendy's birthday with Sushi and Cupcakes (see picture of Wendy, Ava, Harrison, and August).
I also included a picture of Ava reading to Harrison - love that one!
Thank goodness I am running so much - between all the birthday celebrations, and food related fundraisers (Ava's school, my schools, and GIRL SCOUT cookies) I would weigh 500 pounds if I weren't - b/c we all know I can't say no to food!! :-)

Where did February go?

Harrison and I had a great trip to Shreveport last weekend. I saw a bunch of old friends, ate well, saw my grandma and grandpa,  and spent a lot of time with my parents. Ava and Mike stayed in California and toured the city/did really fun stuff as well. 

Wendy and I are planning to run the 12K Bay to Breakers in May. I registered today, and began training last week. Hopefully, I'll keep it up through the spring and be ready by May. Anybody want to do it with us?

Work is crazy busy. Mike's company is set to announce their product later this month, so he's working a lot. He took Ava to work with him on saturday. They stayed most of the day - which was totally fine with Ava. Mike's boss' daughter (Ana) is in Ava's Sunday school class, so they had a great time playing with Ana's Littlest Pet Shop toys and watching 12 Dancing Princesses. It's testing season in the education world, so I'm pretty strapped for time as well. I am also planning summer school for the district (will be the principal of summer school, too). It's an honor - but a huge challenge. Basically was given a(n economically challenging) budget and told to go for it.  Hopefully I pass the test. 

Weekend

Great weekend. Had to work yesterday while Mike took the kids to gymnastics and the park. By the time I got home around 3:30, Ava had ridden her bike with no training wheels!! Woot!
Ava and I invaded the Spies house last night while the Houghtons were over. It was great to see them. Calder is getting SO BIG. It's really fun to see the way he and August interact. If one of them has a toy, they both have to. They don't play together much, it's more - "how can I get you jealous?"
Today was Sunday School, and Super Bowl. Great game again over at the Spies. Eric, Lisa, and Darwin were over. Darwin just turned two - very well behaved, happy little guy.
Managed to run both Saturday and Sunday - hope to keep it up throughout the week.

Going to Shreveport in a couple of weeks with Harrison!! I can't wait to see everyone!

little boys

I don't know how people who have more than one or two boys do it...
When I pick Harrison up from preschool lately, I get more and more notices about his behavior. Today he pushed a little boy down because he was "trying to help him". The little boy hit his head pretty hard. Later in the day, Harrison spit on another little kid "because he said he was going to spit on me first". Harrison doesn't even know how to blow his nose!! How can he know how to spit!
I don't remember issues like this with Ava in preschool, and frankly, I am not sure how to deal with them. With her, it was more "your daughter walked into a door and got a bump on her head", she never hurt others.

My dear friends with sons...got ideas?

flying by

This week went by so fast! Monday was a holiday, Tuesday was the inauguration (WOOT!), Thursday I had training at the county office of education all day, and Friday afternoon I was in a training down in San Jose. Technically, I had a 4 day work week, but I only had to really think for about 2 1/2 of those days. Very cool.

I spent most of the day yesterday outside. Even though it's been raining and cool out, I felt the need to ride by bike and go for a couple of walks. It felt good. I rode over to the Spies' house and back, and to the grocery store. While the kids were at gymnastics, Mike and I walked at the Baylands preserve across from gymnastics, and then I took Oscar for a stroll after dark last night. Hope the rain holds off long enough today so I can get outside.

On another note...
I saw a Ferrari (may be been 2 years old) pulling into Taco Bell this week. Think the driver just loves Taco Bell, or is it the economy? :-)