Pictures of our Everyday Lives

I wish my eyeballs were cameras. I wish they could catch most of the little things that happen in our lives. I say most because obviously there are somethings in my life that aren't very pretty! Screaming, yelling, fighting...
I was really thinking about this yesterday when I was in the swimming pool with Benjamin. He was so happy and silly. He was floating around, singing and just so adorable. I wish I had a waterproof camera in my possession not to have missed those smiles. But, with a real camera in my hands I have missed pretty special moments because I was behind the camera trying to catch that perfect shot. Where do you find that happy medium??

Spring Break 2009

We Hirning's know how to Spring Break! NOT! If we don't have anything really planned we atleast like to hit the road with Dan for a night or two while he goes to visit schools that aren't having spring break at the same time. We atleast get away and the company pays for the hotel. Dan needed to head to Great Falls, Seeley Lake and the Land of Tana, Shelby! In the past I wasn't working so it was pretty easy to get up and go. We decided to head over Sunday after church so Dan could get up early Monday and we could hang out at the hotel; sleep in and swim. We had no idea the weather was going to be as horrible as it was. The pass should have been closed and Dan read in The Tribune this morning that it was closed probably right after we got thru it. I have never been so scared in my life. We couldn't see a foot in front of us and then the wipers froze up and really didn't help the situation. There was a car in front of us that every now and then we could see their brake lights *pop* on and there was a truck behind us. We couldn't stop or pull over to get the wipers all unfroze since we didn't want to get stuck and we also weren't sure the truck behind us would see us stop. We had to trudge on. There were cars off the road all over when we did see a car. There wasn't many on the road. It took us an extra hour which I guess isn't that bad but poor buddy was so scared. Dan and I tried to keep it light but I think inside, well, atleast I was, freaking out! We kept sliding and ugh, it was horrible. We pull into Great Falls and Benjamin states "I think I'm gonna...*as he throws up everywhere*". Lovely!

We went and had lunch and then checked in at the hotel. We all went swimming for awhile and then weren't too sure what to do. Great Falls is not that hopping of a town and then with Sunday night and the cold, cold weather. We headed to Target to buy a game or two and an ice scrapper for the car - we couldn't find ours! We then grabbed some dinner and headed back to the hotel. While Dan got ready for the next day, the kids and I headed down to the pool - Emily & played some card games, while Hannah & Benjamin swam. This morning Dan headed out by 6:20 and the kids and I slept till almost 8:30 headed down for some breakfast and then got ready for them to swim again while I worked out. Headed up to the room and Dan got back, we showered, hit Scheels sporting store, grabbed some lunch and headed home! The roads were so much better this time. What a difference 26 hours makes! We are home safe and sound! I told the kids next year we are going somewhere nice and warm for Spring Break! California 2010 - here we come! Benjamin thought we shouldn't drive because he may "fro up" again...that's how we roll!

OMG!

So I just looked at the ticker I have on the blog and the Missoula Marathon is in in 3 months, 2 weeks and, gulp, 3 days! I better get going. Maureen and I were doing well and then I got Influenza A. The doctor told me to take two weeks off to avoid pnemonia. Then we finally get back into training and I my knee gave out on me one day on the track. I ended up having a Medial Collateral Ligamentous Strain - ugh! I am now bracing up and we are back at it but damn those 3 months, 2 weeks and 3 days will be here before you know it!!! This is something I really, really want. Hopefully the weather will get nicer soon so we can start running outside - that will help and shake things up a bit! If anyone has any good ideas or comments on running for me - post them here. I'm looking for some advise on any aspect of running!

They Are The Champions!

Hannah's AAU Basketball team - Magic- finally got their win!!! The girls have all been playing together this winter and there is some talent there but gosh darn it those girls just never seem to get it together on the court. Part of the problem is there are not many 5th grade girl teams in Montana so usually when they go to a tournament they end up playing a 6th grade team! This weekend we had a tournament here in town and there were lots of 5th grade teams. We won our second game on Saturday and played two games on Sunday and the girls ended up winning both. They were the champions of the B Bracket! They played so awesome and us parents were so proud. One more tourney and they get to hang up their high tops and pull out their cleats! Soccer & Softball are starting up...

Out of the Mouth of My Babe

The other morning Benjamin was going to jump in the shower with me and he came running into our bathroom naked! He then realized he had to go potty before he got in the shower. He pulled up the seat of the toilet and I hear him state "you guys never flush". Well, that is a comment that Daddy and I state all the time in their bathroom! I said "we don't have to, we are kids". Benjamin says "you are not the kids, you are the grown ups". "No we aren't", I say. "You are bigger than me" he says...I asked him if Emily & Hannah were adults then and he told me they were taller than him and Emily has boobs like mine but they are not grown up. He proceeds to tell me how Hannah has little boobs like him. He is such a goof!

Also, last week Benjamin was going very slow one morning. It was like a constant push to keep him on track. After he was finally done eating breakfast, I told him to go get dressed. A few minutes later I walk in his room and there he stands in his pjs still playing cars. I said "buddy, we gotta stay on track. You have to get dressed or you are going to miss the bus". He threw himself on the ground and started to throw a huge tantrum that this was "THE WORST DAY OF HIS LIFE". I should have really explained to him that life is going to get soo much worse but I didn't want to go there.

Kiss Me I'm 1/4 Irish!

Our usual for St Patty's Day is to hit the parade on Saturday and then we walk to The Bridge and have a yummy piece of pizza! This year the weather was so nice! On St Patty's day the kids were in school and really dressed up this year! There was no pinching the Hirning kids!

Benjamin's BIG 6

February 12th - my little guy's birthday. The kids only had school until 11 that day so we decided to do his party that day. We had it at the Wingate Inn Water Slides - and we partied with Gracie who turned 6 two weeks earlier. The kids had a great time and it was nice to be done with it and my house still intact. After the party though Benjamin and I started not feeling well and that is why I haven't really blogged since then. I was dignosed with Influenza A the next day. The whole family was on medication for 10 days. We are finally germ free in this house and all are feeling well! Yippee!