The Horse Whisperer turns 4

My little Zac turned four today and the only thing he wanted for his birthday was to pet and ride a horse.  When asked what kind of toy he wanted, he said a toy horse.  He has been fascinated with horses for as long as I can remember.  He is definitely our animal lover, but horses in particular.  There is a big section of plastic animal figures at one of the stores we frequent and when given the option to pick a birthday toy (thinking he'd head straight for the Legos since he is old enough to have them now), he went right to the animal figures, not hesitating one second.  So, I let him pick a few horses out and he has been as happy as can be ever since.  However, as his big birthday surprise, I lined up a date with a local stable to have him ride a horse for a half hour.  They didn't charge us, they were happy to lead Zac around the arena, let him pet the other horses in the barn, feed them and brush them.  He was in HORSE HEAVEN!  He even got to walk out to one of the pastures with the owner and hang out with the horses there.  All the while, he was completely at ease and appeared as though he'd been doing it his whole life.  He belongs on a farm.  I definitely couldn't be that comfortable on or around a horse.  I can't even be in the barn that long before my allergies start going crazy, so I was in awe of his courage and abilities at his young age.  It helped that the owner's 11 year old daughter was the one leading him around the arena and showing him how to brush and feed the horses.  The owner has welcomed us to come back anytime.  I think it was a very happy birthday for my little cowboy and one that he will talk about for a long time!

Prepping "Freckles" for the ride

Zac in his element

Hanging out in the pasture with the owner, Gram & Trev (and the owner's son)

Topped off the night with cake and ice cream...

And admiring his collection of Barnyard animals

Did the P'allup

"Besties"

Zac, Sammie and Scotty

The big Puyallup Fair wasn't as exciting as it usually is for us.  Maybe I am stressed about too many other things right now and as a result did not find it in me to be as patient and enthusiastic as I would've been otherwise.  It is too bad because usually I love the fair, but I think our smaller county fair was a lot better this year.  However, we met our good friends, Paulette & Troy Fryar there since they only live about 15 minutes from the area; and my dear friend, Sherri, who brought her daughter, Sammie (Scotty's gal pal).  As always, it is great to be able to spend time with our friends, but I could've done without the chaos of the fair crowd.  The kids went on a few rides and Zac got to do the pony ride twice in honor of his birthday.  We ate some fair food and the boys walked with Jay through the animal exhibits, but that was about it.  The fair is huge, but I don't even think we walked half of it and I didn't even eat a funnel cake or an elephant ear!  Ah well.  We came, we saw, we went.  The End.

These two are so stinkin cute together....it will be a shame when they grow up and don't want anything to do with each other!!

Sher & Me

Dirt Bike Outfitted and Advancing...

Make shift bumps so Scotty gets used to rough riding

Well, we did not waste much time in getting Scotty outfitted for the dirt bike.  We stumbled upon an ad for pants and boots on Craigslist, and it turned out to be an old friend from high school who was selling them.  Crazy!  So he gave us a smokin deal on these brand new items, as well as gloves, knee and shin guards and a helmet for Zac.  Its all in who ya know and we definitely lucked out because this gear aint cheap!  Jay then bought matching jerseys for him and both the boys, goggles and a helmet (sorry Trev, they don't make "toddler sized" dirt bike jerseys...).  He is good to go and I barely pull into the garage after picking him up from school before he's jumping out, heading in the house to change into his gear and waiting for Jay to come home so he can ride for an hour before football practice.  He is hooked.  Zac is too little yet, but he rides with Jay or he follows Scotty around on his bicycle and desperately tries to keep up.  He feels important with his dirt bike helmet and now his new jersey.  Its only a matter of time before he's out there too, operating a motor vehicle.  Lord help me.

Zac's happy place

Always trying to keep up with his brother

More bumps in the road

Matching jerseys

Around and around they go, all through the neighborhood

Even through our neighboring vacant yard

Warrior Dash Portland

Ruth and Me, pre-Dash

After Jay did the Warrior Dash in WA, I was so inspired that I made plans to do it with my friend, Ruth and some other gals who were already signed up for the one in Oregon.  3.18 miles with about 12 obstacles didn't sound too terrible.  However, the website neglected to inform us that there were several straight uphill climbs in the course....and I'm here to tell you that those were the killers.  Trying to run them, in the 96 degree dry weather, with four hundred other people around you kicking up the dust....yikes.  My lungs were on fire the first part of the course....but I prevailed.  Did not walk around any obstacle.  Since the run was on Sept 11, I told myself beforehand that I would stick it out no matter how hard in honor of the victims and heros of 9/11.  And so I did.  The one obstacle that I dreaded most was the Deadweight Drifter.  Blech!  You had to slide yourself into this mystery lake/pond and in order to get to the other side, you had to heave yourself up and over floating logs.  Website says trudge through "waist deep" water, but to me that is more like neck deep.  Trying to find my bearings with my short legs on the bottom of the pond in order to heave myself up and over about eight logs proved to be very difficult, so my friend Ruth stayed behind me the whole way and basically pushed me up!  Any friend that is willing to put her hand in your rear and heave you up is a good friend :)  Good thing I had goggles on because there was no getting around being dunked head first once you popped over the log.  OY!  I have a phobia with water that I cannot see through and to the bottom of (think: Stand By Me, with the Leach scene...), so this was a huge challenge mentally.  But I did it, by Gosh, I did it!  It was definitely an experience and though I say I don't have the desire to do it again, I probably will if we are still here next summer.  Ruth is already counting on me.  It is just NOT my style, but its pretty cool knowing I conquered some fears along the way.  To top off my jaunt to Portland, I got to visit some of the Oregon family which was a bonus....especially since they let me take a nice warm shower and clean up :)

The location was way out in the country, at a place called Hornings Hideout in North Plains.  A pretty cool chunk of land actually.

Soooo many people!!

Just after the race

The girls dipped in the "warrior bath" to clean most of the mud off of them, but I chose to pass.  Did not want to get near another pond of mystery water!!

You get a free bear once you finish the race, but we all donated our tokens to Ruth

Part of the course that we parked next to - the "plank walk".  Harder than it appears (at least for those who have short legs!!)

One of the switchback 'mountains'.  This photo doesn't do it justice - it was a killer, hence the ambulance....

Generations of Brothers

Tranilla Brothers with the Wahrmund Brothers, from oldest to youngest

My dad's youngest brother, Uncle Pat, was in town with his wife, Aunty Sharyl, and my dad's oldest brother, Uncle Ric, who lives in Lynnwood came over as well and for the first time in 15 years, I was able to sit and visit with them all in the same room together.  It was a great time and one that I would've liked to last longer.  The one thing I wanted most was to have my boys photographed with my dad and his brothers.  Even though my boys aren't smiling, it is a picture I will cherish.  Uncle Ric is considering moving back to Hawaii, so it may be another long haul before we have an opportunity to be with all of them together again.  I am so grateful that my boys have now met both of their great-uncles and that I will forever have the moment captured.

Pops and his "Bruddas"

(Ric, Tom and Pat)

South Kitsap = Win; Silverdale = Loss

"Taking a knee"

Scotty played in his first football game this morning and it was a blast!  I lost sleep over it the past couple nights, worried that he wasn't quite ready, but he proved me wrong.  The team as a whole did awesome.  There are a few boys on the team that are rocket fast, they are fearless and take off at the speed of a bullet as soon as they get the ball.  It is so cute and so fascinating!  Scotty is not exactly the quickest kid, but he is strong and is great at blocking - he is definitely our lineman, which is what we've said about him from the day he was born and weighed in at nearly 10 lbs.  He eats like one and now he plays like one!  They do not keep official score for these little guys because they want to promote the fun of the game and not have it be about winning or losing, however, WE WON!  Not sure of the exact score, but we were a couple touchdowns ahead.  These boys are only five and six years old, but they were really very impressive and played well together as a team.  Scotty is learning so much, soaking it all in and seems to really be enjoying it.  So proud of him!  This is just the beginning of what will eventually be THREE boys in sports....the Wahrmund house is about to get crazzzzzyyyy!  Loving every minute.

"Down" 

"Set" 

"Hike" 

"18" is in honor of Uncle Scott's favorite number.

Nevermind the typo on the last name, its missing the "R" (never fails...),

so we will get it fixed this week.

My First Grader

Scotty started first grade today with his new teacher, Ms. Buzzell.  He has a lot of the same kids from kindergarten in this new class and I think seeing familiar faces made him even more excited this morning....he just walked right in, sat down and went to work on the activity.  Barely batted an eye when I was leaving.  It is just crazy remembering just three years ago when I was trying to put him into a preschool.  That was a complete NIGHTMARE!  Screaming, carrying on....it was such a hard transition for us to make.  Brings tears to my eyes just thinking about how horrible that time was and how unhappy he was.  I never thought we'd get to a point like this and now he's grown up and its no big deal.  So very proud of my boy.

Coast Guard Night at the Mariners Game

We attended our first and last Ms game of the season.  Sadly, the big guys have not been doing too well this year and my interests have been elsewhere.  In my heart I will always love my Mariners, but I just haven't had the desire to go watch a game this year.  However, it was Coast Guard Night, where the Ms honored the USCG and we thought it was a good opportunity to go and enjoy the night with some fellow Coasties.  The 13th district Commander (Admiral) threw out the first pitch, which was pretty cool.  Had bought tickets for my dad and his wife to go with us, even had awesome seats on the 100 level in the very back row so the kids could play and would provide easy access in case my dad needed special assistance, but they couldn't make it at the last minute due to my dad's health, so we invited the MIL.  It was her first time being at Safeco, and maybe even first time at a MLB game, and she seemed to have a good time (but it would've been really nice to have shared the time with my Pops).  The Ms lost against the Angels, but it is always a good night in Seattle at Safeco Field, regardless of how the Ms are doing.  Good ol' fashioned family fun! :)

Zac would only pose with the Moose if I was with him...ugh..

Then he ended up going again with his brother

Zac throwing a pitch

Scotty throwing a pitch.

Neither of their pitches even registered on the radar :(

Gram & Trev gravitating toward the Moose.  The Moose was very patient and sweet with him even though he had a line of kids to pose with.

Trev thinking "I will grow up to hunt and shoot a Moose someday..."

The 300-level Coast Guard section. 

Our friends Paulette (in the pink) and Troy Fryar were waaaayyy up there.

Rally Caps a bust - Ms lost 4-3.