Goodbye get-together

The entire Thames family (sans David) got together last Saturday night to say goodbye to Michael and Sarah (our nephew and his wife). They are moving east to help Sarah's mom as she battles breast cancer, while Sarah's dad is deployed beginning in January. Busy lives and full schedules usually prevent the family from getting together regularly, so it was great to have (almost) everyone here, even if it was for such a sad occasion.

Sarah having fun with the kids!

Tim & Debbie's whole family, including significant others

And without significant others

Michael (nephew) & Sarah

Aren & Jamie (niece)

Jonathan & Emma (niece)

Ryan & Melissa (niece)

The brothers and the Debbies :)

Tim & Debbie

Randy & Debbie


We wish Michael and Sarah all the best and very safe travels as they hit to road today!

Tiny Dancer

Riley started dance classes last Saturday, a little combo class with 20 minutes each of ballet, tumbling, and tap. She was so excited and just looked adorable! The first week is the only class that they leave the curtain open for parents to watch, and of course I forgot the good camera- thank goodness for cell phone cameras! The photos I captured are a little grainy from zooming in, but better than nothing!

The whole class introducing themselves to the teacher

Doing some stretches!

And waiting her turn to tumble. :)

Pints to Pasta 2010

Rick and I completed our first 10k yesterday, Pints to Pasta- Rick had never done any race before and I had never done a 10k. It was the perfect first race to complete together!


The race began at the Adidas campus (pictured above), we ran past the Widmer Brothers Brewing Co., across the beautiful Broadway Bridge, along the waterfront, and ended up at the Old Spaghetti Factory. It was a crisp morning as we waited at the starting line, listening to the sounds of slamming port-a-potty doors and staying warm by holding cups of coffee.

Here we are on the Adidas soccer field (turf), after doing a few warm ups.

Now, although I have been running for years and love to do races, I am in NO WAY fast or competitive (except with myself and my own times). This past summer, Rick and I were able to run together a few times and he definitely leaves me in his dust! He's just a natural runner (in my humble opinion), so we made a point to cross the start line together and then agreed to meet up again at the finish line. I certainly didn't want to hold him back in his first race ever!

I'm so proud of how well he did!

A view of the starting line (the balloon arch) and the crowd of people waiting to begin!

Just minutes to go!

Getting ready to enjoy the Widmer Brothers beer and Old Spaghetti Factory pasta at the finish line and sporting our cool new t-shirts!

My personal goal was to complete the race in less than 1 hour- I came in at 56:15! An average of 9:03 per mile. (VERY proud of that, considering I'm usually a slow and steady sort of girl.) Rick crossed the finish line just about 4 minutes before me at 54:19, averaging 8:25 per mile... amazing for a first-timer! Something we thought was funny... out of 878 male runners, Rick placed 416th. Out of 1650 female runners, I placed 415th. And I love the fact that females outnumbered male runners 2 to 1!

And a little side note: As we entered the gates for the beer line, there were ladies there stamping hands to get beer. I walked up first and the lady stamped my hand... right behind me was Rick and she says to him, "Hmm, I need to see your ID." Nobody around us, not me... Rick. So, I said, sort of fake shocked/pouting, "Really? Him but not me? He's 4 years older!" She looked right at me and said, "Yep." OUCH!!!

Do I really look that much older than him??? I know he looks young, we get carded all the time, and Rick got carded constantly in Las Vegas last month. But apparently I'm aging horribly now and Rick can pass as a high schooler/early college student! Does this make me a cougar??? :) I have to say, stuff like that normally wouldn't bother me, like neither of us getting carded... but for some reason I was super-bummed. I've been researching Botox all morning... (not really).

I think we'll be making this race a yearly tradition!
Next year, come and join us!

First Day of School 2010

It's that time of year again!

This morning...

Rick was off to meet 32 new eager sixth graders on the first day of the new school year!

Riley begins her second year of preschool and is pretty excited to be moving downstairs in the building... the big time! She's been singing about her new teacher, Teacher Valerie, and the Lavender Room all weekend. :)


Tyson is beginning his first official day of preschool, even though he's been going all summer... he looked so handsome and grown up! He'll be hanging out in the Red Room with Teacher Ashley!



Cooper will also be in a classroom all day, everyday at the preschool. He seems to really love it, and he comes home with all sorts of artwork! He gets Teacher Karin!

Best shot of all three of them, after failed attempts on the stairs, couch, and in the entry way. :)

And love this one with Riley doing one of her new favorite "poses" and Cooper doing his "cheese" face!

As for me, on this first day of school... I will be off flying the friendly skies, not welcoming new students for the school year. Although I would have loved to begin my teaching career this year, it's a very tough, competitive time for the few teaching positions available. So, I'll be doing a balancing act this year, splitting my time between flying and substitute teaching. Should be interesting. I can only hope for some sort of long-term subbing position so I can be home every night and get some great teaching experience in the process!

Appropriate for Oregon, it was raining this morning... The kids were trying to smile, but couldn't because of the rain. And they were very distracted by every puddle between the van and the front gate!