Marathon Gifts and an MG Update

I am so excited to be going to Chicago this weekend with two girlfriends who are running their first marathon.  I am going along for moral support and to do the driving on the way back when their legs may feel like rubber.

I wanted to put together little gift bags for them to commemorate this momentus achievement.  I asked my favorite running blogger, Tricia, if she had any ideas.  Between the two of us, I came up with these goodies.

I bought a frame for each and embellished them with paints pens.  They read "26.2", "Chicago", and "2010".  I'll take a photo of the two of them at the race to put in their frames.  I got a bottle of bubbly to share in the hotel room.  Bath salts, lotion-infused fuzzy socks, Luna bars, Extra, and good dark chocolate.  Tricia suggested an iPod gift card too because they're probably tired of their music after months of training!  Thanks Tricia!

This guy was soooo happy when his MG carburetors arrived last week.  He sent them off to NY to be rebuilt and has been patiently waiting for them in the mail.

I won't attempt to describe correctly what all David has done on the MG of late.  He got the carburetors in, has the fuel pump working and has found some leaks in the fuel line.  He made a great list of parts he'd like for his birthday, even labeled the parts catalog for me.  He'd love to have the engine running in the next few weeks.

Lemonade, Blueberries, and an MG Update

Yesterday Brennan decided to build a lemonade stand.  These photos tell you a lot about my boys.

This was Brennan's idea, and Brennan did all the work.  Notice the box says "Bren's Drinks".

Yet, here is Thomas, somehow in the middle of it, enjoying the only chair while his brother sets everything up.

Notice the crossed legs.  He has a future in management for sure.

The boys lost interest before they had any customers (except for Mom and Dad).  We live on a very quiet street and I suspect everyone was at home having lunch after church or enjoying a Sunday nap.

Thomas took some great photos of our blueberries.  We have two large bushes in the backyard.  Many years the birds have gotten to the berries before they've ripened and we've had time to pick them. 

David won't eat them because he knows about the fertilizer and weed spray he puts out in the yard, but the boys and I have enjoyed a few!

I think Thomas did a great job on the photography.

We enjoy berries over ice cream. 

Heat 2 cups of any berries (we've been using our blueberries and the CSA cherries), 1/2 cup sugar, 1 Tbsp cornstarch and 3 Tbsp water over medium heat.  When they're bubbly and thick, pour over vanilla ice cream!

In MG news:  David has been consulting all of his manuals - this is going to be a long process getting the MG ready to start up.  They did a great job cleaning up the gas tank this weekend.  And David sent the carburetors off to be rebuilt.

Here's Brennan stopping for a moment to brush off some rust.

Thomas was a little more into it, even pausing to get safety goggles.  Brennan's off again.

After a couple of coats of spray paint, it's looking good as new!

Summer's Here!

School's Out!  We now have a 5th grader and a 3rd grader - I can't believe it!  74 Days of Summer - yeah!!!

It has been quite the year, especially for Thomas.  We all made it through in one piece.  The Accelerated program was exactly what he needed - a true challenge for him finally.  But, boy, did it challenge us :)

In other Thomas news, he lost a tooth last weekend and when I went to the end-of-school class party today, he had lost another tooth!  It was really sweet - he came up to me and hugged me and showed me his tooth box around his neck.  How much longer will I get hugs from my boys in FRONT OF THEIR FRIENDS?  Not long, I'm sure.

In MG news:

David and the boys cleaned it well.  David replaced the battery and now the horn and lights work and the radio comes on! 

Next up - working on the starting system and fuel system.  David's really enjoying this new hobby!

Bringing Home the Baby

David went to Mississippi for the weekend to see the family and pick up his dad's 1963 MGB.  Don bought the car new in 1963 as a second car and I remember David driving it in high school. 

It's a great car! 

The MG hasn't been driven in several years and David has been excited about bringing it home.  A new project for him and the boys.

He prepared the nursery (garage), cleaning and organizing it (nesting), even hanging up a decorative mirror (that we were going to throw out - he'd like to point out he didn't spend any money on it).  He bought books and tools and he's ready to go with his new hobby.  The boys are very excited about helping.  I'm excited about having a convertible :) 

{Can you tell David's standing behind me as I write this?  Never has he cared so much about our family blog :)  } 

Here it is coming home - note the tarp and rope holding the convertible top down.

After much a bit of drama, the three of us got the MG off the trailer and into the garage.  Brennan lucked out by being at the movie with a friend.

David put the top down and he's ready to get started.  First order of business - a good cleaning and then the battery, starter, fuel pump, and rebuilding the carburetors.

Welcome Home, MG!