GNARLY NEON, DUDES!

A color run is a 5k where they douse you with brightly colored powder about every kilometer or so.  Kelton and I really wanted to do one and since they are all the rage lately, it was relatively easy to find a run that fit in our schedule.

We got dressed in our bright white tshirts and bandanas and headed out for the Gnarly Neon 5K.

Thankfully, the weather was great!

When we were done, we were definitely colorful!!

Kelton and I have so much fun running together and I know it really helps him with soccer, but wow does that boy wear through shoes like nobody's business!

Our next run is 2 wks away in Winfield.  The Sharon K Bird Memorial 5K or 1 mile hosted by CCL, which Sharon founded.  The Birds are close family friends and I'm honored to be able to run with my friend, Susan.  Kelton will be running the 5K.  Eric and Katie are going to run the mile, while my mom pushes Konnor in the stroller.  It's going to be a fun day!

Konny's MRI

Although Konnor is 3 yrs old now, there is still enough of a gross motor issue to cause some concern.  He's made HUGE strides with PT.  He's falling much less, running a lot more and even tackling the front two steps on his own!  His core and neck strength haven't shown as much improvement.

We've seen a developmental pediatrician who ordered some blood work for quite frankly a very scary condition.  After receiving her report in the mail, I was a bit shaken, but I went into Konny's room and prayed over him before I went to bed that night.  Especially considering how uncertain the first part of his pregnancy was, I know God gave us him for a reason.  After that night, I didn't have a touch of anxiety over the blood work, even though it was a 3 wk wait to get the results...which were negative!  God is good!

The next step was an MRI, which they scheduled quite quickly!  Maybe so we wouldn't have time to over think it, get scared and back out.  After a lengthy discussion though, Eric and I knew it was a necessary step.

The staff at the hospital was great.  There was even a person who was there specifically to play with and distract the kids during procedures.  Konnor used his IV arm like it was a transformer gun.

We were able to stay with him until he was sedated.  It was comforting being with him the entire time (other times he's had anesthesia, we had to hand him over to a stranger as he cried), but slightly unnerving and I nearly had a moment as he drifted off.

Afterwards, they allowed him to sleep it off, have a drink and then let us head home.  It took most of the day!

As we were leaving the hospital, he saw a bird feeder and thought we should have one.  So I picked up a feeder and some seed while Kelton was at soccer that evening.

*There is nothing wrong with his arm.  The nurses let him bring home the IV board, so he could still have his transformer gun.

Before bed, he requested ice cream.  How could we say no??

Thankfully, the MRI was normal.  Such a relief, but still leaves the question as to what the issue could be.  The Dr is supposed to be calling about more testing and I although I'm feeling weary, I know she won't drag it into the ground.  She said in the beginning that it's possible there is no diagnosis.   At least for now, I know it's important to keep looking because we are his parents, his biggest advocates and cheerleaders and it's our responsibility to give him the best start in life we possibly can.

Soccer x 2

With a bit of persuasion from Daddy, Katie decided she would give soccer a try this year since she was finally old enough.  So we got tennis shoes, the tiniest pair of shin guards I could find and some pink soccer socks. 

She was pretty timid at first and then had fun kicking the ball around with the other girls.

Being the smallest really didn't seem to bother her.

Then it was time to scrimmage....and she froze...and cried.  She stood there while the other girls played around her.  I encouraged (and bribed) her and the coaches were kind and encouraging also, but still she wanted nothing to do with it.

Kelton practiced with her.  Daddy tried helping and still...nada.  We even bought a soccer ball colored like a ladybug.  Regardless, we went ahead with the first game anyway.
Warming up, she did fine.

But, that was it.  She had no interest in playing.  No interest in going back to practice the next week either.  We offered to let her just practice and not do games, but she declined.  She's ready to sign back up for dance.  ;-)

Kelton is an entirely different story.  Eric and I are both so impressed with some of the new moves he's picked up.  He even scored a goal their first weekend of games even though he's on the younger end of the age group this spring!

I could watch Kelton play soccer for hours.  He's such a good little player but what makes it so fun is how much he loves it too. 

Ice Ice Baby

Toooo Cold!!

Seriously!?!  This is not normal Kansas spring weather, but I maybe the words "Kansas" and "normal weather" don't belong in the sentence.

The plants are covered up again tonight as the low is predicted to be in the 20s!  Ugh! 

Easter Weekend

Since we only use farm fresh eggs from a lovely lady I went to high school with, we had to remember to pick up some white eggs at the store so we could color them!  Eric boiled them while I was at Winter Jam with the high school kids from church and we dyed them the next morning.

Katie made sure to take care of all the ones that might be any shade of pink or red.

Somehow we managed not to make too big of mess!

As soon as they were done, the kids wanted to eat them.  We did make them hold off at least until they were dry.

Shortly after we finished, Eric's parents arrived and took the kids to the zoo for the day.

That night, we watched WSU advance to the final four!

The next morning, the Easter bunny had stopped by!

It didn't take the kids long to find the eggs filled with marshmallows and jelly beans.

Their baskets contained jammies, undies and a small present.

After they were sufficiently full of sugar, we got dressed to go celebrate the Resurrection at church!

Later that afternoon, we took advantage of the nice weather and hunted eggs outside.

The next night we got to wear our new jammies.  I believe the Easter bunny got a fabulous deal on these!  They were only $9/pair, which you can't hardly beat anywhere and they're gymboree quality!  Plus they will be worn for yrs and yrs as they are passed down from child to child!

I've really been dragging my feet on allowing Kelton to take communion at church.  Being raised Catholic, it's such a major event and I haven't been sure how to handle it.  When he said his prayer before we had dinner on Easter though, it became quite apparent that he is very knowledgeable about the significance of Easter and the sacrifice Jesus made for us.  It is so exciting to see him learning and growing in his faith!

Rough and Tumble

You may have noticed some extra bruising on Konny in the last few posts.  One day, he fell in the backyard and bumped his forehead.  The next day, he fell at daycare and got himself a black eye!  Poor guy looked like he'd been on the losing end of a big fight.  While he is falling and tripping much less than he used to, we obviously still have a little ways to go.  That's just our Konny!

Spring Break, the final chapter

While Katie was spending the afternoon (and the night - her first sleep over) with some friends, the boys did some building with marshmallows and toothpicks.

The friends Katie stayed with came over the next day to play and the mommys got to have some craft time!

Kelton wasn't feeling so hot the next day, so he didn't get to make volcanos with us, but Layla did!  It was so fun, we used all the vinegar in the house.

Sunday, the last day before we all jumped back into our normal routines, we woke up to SNOW!  Seriously! 

Since it wasn't exactly BBQ weather, we decided to cook our hotdogs in the fireplace.

It's always sad how quickly spring break flies by!  Now we're getting busy with soccer and still waiting for mother nature to give us some spring time weather. (It snowed again today!!)