Mudder X 5K - July 14, 2012

James wanted to jumpstart his fitness this summer and Group on had a deal for a reduced entrance fee to a 5K.  Not just 3.1 miles, this race is called RunnerX - it is held at the motorcross track near the airport and each runner goes around the 1.1 mile track three times.  The dirty, muddy, up and down motorcycle jumps and through obstacles added just for this event.  THREE TIMES!  Here is James' race number: 1728.

James and Lincoln - BEFORE PHOTO - pretty white shirt, gold shorts, gray shoes. Handsome :)

James was in the 3rd heat of runners, so we got to watch two huge groups of runners begin and go through the obstacles. Finally it was James in the starting bunch.

The first obstacle- nice distance James!

Next Obstacle: monkey bars (notice the pool of muddy water below!)

Next Obstacle: Go up the rubber tires, across the cargo net and down the other side.

Over the canal (or through).  James made it across all three times without falling in.

A rope swing across a mud puddle.

A random bit of fire to jump over.

A canal of water to really get your thighs burning - talk about resistance training!

Not an official obstacle, but wet, slippery mud!

Several places had a fence to climb over.

One of the favorite obstacles: There was wire strung at hip height across the course, so all the 'runners' had to make their way under the wire (through the wet, slippery mud).

At the top of the biggest hill, a slip and slide!  This was a favorite obstacle too!  A nice clean wet slide down a plastic sheet....

Over a bump and into a trough of muddy water!

VIDEO - James' slip n slide ONE

VIDEO - James' slip n slide TWO

The finish line was at the top of another hill.  This hill had ropes to help you up the slippery slope.

FINISH LINE!!! James finished in less than an hour. Not his best time for a 3.1 mile run, but he had to wait in line for some of the obstacles.  And the AFTER photo.  Grey shirt, brown shorts, dark gray shoes.  Awesome.

That was fun?

After the race, we thought Lincoln might like to experience gooshy mud between his toes.  He tasted it. Ha!

So we just sat him down in the mud and let him experience it.  The 5K mud run hero, the muddy baby, and their biggest fan!  Lincoln loved playing in the mud. 

VIDEO - Lincoln in the mud

He hated the cold hose shower afterward.  Poor baby!  After his nap, he's getting a bath to finish up his clean up!

That was fun!  Let's do it again!

4th of July and Simpson Reunion - July 3-8, 2012

Hooray for Adventures!  James had class until Friday, July 6th, so Lincoln and I drove to Eagle without him on Tuesday night, July 3rd.  We celebrated the 4th of July in Eagle.  On the 5th, we set up camp at the Simpson Family Reunion.  We played and visited on the 6th and 7th, then drove all the way back home on Sunday the 8th.

Tuesday July 3rd: We stopped several times along the way to get our wiggles out: This covered wagon was the perfect place to play peek-a-boo:

 Wednesday July 4th: Ready for the neighborhood bike parade!  Emma, Aspen, Bree, McKayla, Ellie and Carter

Rachel and Lincoln were in the parade too!

Playing with cousins is so much fun!  Lincoln and Aspen played bumper-walkers.

Friday, July 6th: Happy Birthday Oma!  It is family reunion time in Cascade, Idaho.  Ready for the beach!

Lincoln liked digging in the sand

 And he enjoyed floating in the shallow part of the lake on a tube with Mommy.

And sitting on Oma's lap

Saturday July 7th: Daddy's here!  James drove up on Friday after class and got to camp after Linc was asleep.  Saturday morning Lincoln was excited to play with his Daddy! (outfit one: pajamas)

We took a family drive and stopped for a quick hike - Lincoln has his sunscreen on, are you ready yet? (outift two: shorts and a onesie)

Tule Lake - the forest around the lake had burned in the last few years, so the trail was very, very dusty with lots of deer tracks.

Lincoln was taller than most of the little pine saplings that are growing around the lake.

We ate our lunch on the trail, then hiked back to the car.  Lincoln likes the backpack, but LOVES to walk.

Our drive took us along the South Fork of the Salmon River and eventually into McCall.  We stopped at the grocery store for a beverage and they had these great little wheeled baskets.  Lincoln loved pushing the cart up and down the aisles.  Notice that Linc is in a new outfit (outfit three: shorts and a button-up shirt).  That's because we stopped at Warm Lake to wash our dusty legs after hiking and Lincoln ended up sitting in the sand and water. Fun fun!

After a busy weekend, little boys need to take a bath!  A sink bath in the kitchen is the easiest!

Bree took the bath and post-bath pictures.  Lincoln's eyes are so blue!  And we discovered that Lincoln finally has a second tooth!  It is on the same side of the mouth as his first tooth, but it is an upper - He's going to have a jackolantern grin!

Fourth outfit!  Tie-dye shirts for the annual picture with Oma-Great. 

What a difference a year makes: July 2011.  Linc already grew out of last year's sweet little tie-dye onesie.

July 2012.  Linc is 9 months and Oma is 94!

Lincoln's first pinata!  He got in a coulple good wacks (well, James did) and a rubber ducky.

Outfit five: pajamas again!  We borrowed a big tent (thank you Kurt and Carlee!) and a port-a-crib (thank you Opa and Oma!) and Lincoln's first campground experience was a lot of fun!