Peaches (in case you couldn't tell)

I spent a few hours last Saturday canning the peaches with the kids while Mr. Sick played video games downstairs. I was amazed that Kolya and Amira actually helped. I expected them to want to help, but that including them would ultimately make the process take even longer. But thankfully my children amazed me and they actually helped a ton. Kolya and Amira peeled almost all of the peaches for me. Amira peeled 10 max. I kept her going by telling her that if she wanted a peach slice she had to peel a peach first. She'd get all excited and a few minutes later I would be handed a slightly mangled, but mostly peeled peach. Kolya peeled the rest of the peaches, minus the 5 I peeled. So I was able to focus on washing boiling, and slicing the peaches. It was such a wonderful experience to be working with my children to accomplish something. And here's the kicker, when all was said and done Kolya said, "Mom, thanks for letting me help you do the peaches." It doesn't get any better than that.

At death's door

When we got home on Saturday from running our half marathon Eric was running a fever. He felt horrible and kept getting worse. On Wednesday he was having a hard time breathing so he went to the doctor. The poor guy was diagnosed with bronchitis, pleurisy, and pneumonia! He's feeling a little better now that he is on steroids and antibiotics.

Smart Cookie

At school they tested Kolya's classes reading levels. Kolya is at a 3rd grade reading level! Okay my bragging is done.

My little girl

I was holding Eliana this morning and Amira told me that she wanted me to hold her. I told her to climb on my lap, but she insisted that Eliana was in her way. I told Amira that I had to hold Eliana because she was a little baby, and that Amira was big so she needed to just sit right by me, or share my lap. Amira's response was, "I'm not big Mommy, I'm just a little girl." I put Eliana down and held my sweet little girl.

Suncrest half-marathon

Eric and I ran the suncrest mountain half marathon on Saturday. It was my first race and Eric's second. It was quite the run. There was a lot of ups and downs the first 7 miles, then it was uphill for the next 5 1/2 miles, and downhill the last 1/2 mile. I ended up walking up all of the hills in the last 5 1/2 miles. I came in at 3:02:25. My average pace was 13:55. It was a lot of fun and Eric and I are already trying to decide when we are going to do our next one.