Birch Park

Van has been doing great on his big kid bike, so I decided to venture out for a trip to the nearest park. Unfortunately, unlike our culdesac days, Birch park is about a mile away, on mostly dirt roads, with plenty of hills.
It was an adventure for sure.

Here is Esther, packed in and ready to go

That face!

Heading up the driveway. I look like such a mom.

Here's the crew, ready to head out.

This was Van's favorite.

After much swinging, we finally had to head home. The trip back was mostly uphill, difficult on a new rider to say the least, but I was impressed with his perseverance.

Immune system support?

Things Van has eaten in the last 24 hours.

Lemon Juice
Van: "Mom, pour me some of this lemon"
I poured about an inch of pure lemon juice into his cup.
And he drinks it.
Van: "More!"

Pickled Asparagus juice
Van: "I really like this juice. Try it."
Me: "No, I don't like that juice."
Van: "No it's really good, I mixed it with this." points to a glass of water. "You have to try it."
Me: "No, I don't really want to try it."
Van: "No, just try it, it's not spicy."
Me: "ok..."
I try it, it taste like pickled asapargus juice.


Toothpaste. Off the floor.
I was cleaning Van's bathroom and Van asked what he could do. I thought I would give him a challenge.
Me: "Try to get that dried toothpaste off the floor, it's stuck pretty hard. I don't know how to get it, just give it a try."
I go back to washing the toilet. I turn around and Van is trying to lick the toothpaste off the floor.
Me: "Noooooo! that is not what I meant!"

Bacon Grease
Van and I are eating breakfast and Van points to a jar of bacon grease that has solidified overnight.
Van: "Mom that stuff is terrible. I tried it yesterday. it taste like nothing."
Oh dear...

The Heart Run

Today Van and I ran the 3K Heart Run. We did the untimed race, so I recorded his time on my phone. He finished in 34:01.98
Here are some pictures of our day.

Here we are ready to leave the house, Esther is impressed.

Here is Van walking to the start of the race, we had to walk pretty far just to find the start.

 I filled his backpack full of racing snacks and water.

Doing a few warmup sprints.

Some pre-race snow climbing

We ran into Allison, Andy and Clem at the start of the race!

Here's Van racing!

Go, baby go!

Stopping for a little walk rest.

He saw a duck.

Then for a while he got pretty tired, he was ready to be done, he wanted to sit on a bench. But luckily Daddy came to cheer us on! That really lifted his spirits.

Some mid race encouragement :)

Here he is moments after he crossed the finish line! 

So pleased with his 'golden medal', which was handed to him by Tasha Bergt, Svea and my old ski coach.

He is tired.

Luckily they had free bread to give us energy to walk back to the car.

Back at the parking lot, a post race thumbs up. 

Great job Van!