We're walking 100 miles!

We went to the Minidoka County fair this year.  That's something we've never done before, but seeing how Kevin works in Rupert and all, we went!  Apparently it is the 100 year anniversary of the fair, so they were having a "Walk 100 miles for 100 years" challenge.  "What the heck," we thought!  We can do that!  And so we started.

We began at the first of August.  School had not started, weather was nice, we pretty easily walked 2 miles each day--one in the morning, one in the evening.  It wasn't all fun and games, however.  Madeline, Camilla, and Eliza were pretty good about it and even walked 3 miles sometimes.  Natalia and Anna did well the first few miles, but the novelty wore out pretty quickly--especially for Anna!

I didn't make her walk, but she didn't really like staying home while we walked, either.  There were a few fits along the way--many in a neighbor's yard--but we pulled through!  We made about 60 miles before school started, then our schedule changed and it got a lot harder!

We didn't have time for a mile in the morning anymore, and it was hard to fit in a walk, dinner, homework, and piano after school.  I gave up on Anna walking the full 100 miles long ago, but she has logged over 50 miles so far--pretty darn good for a 3 year old!  We have until the end of the year to finish, though I don't fancy walking many miles in December.  We have between 18-20 miles to go (depending on the person).  We keep on plugging away, some days walking 0 miles, but most days walking at least 1/2.  I think we'll make it, and have some great 100 mile calf muscles to show for it!

 Little 'Liza is a pretty competitive girl.  She does not like to be left behind by her older sisters!  Actually, she can probably outrun them if she wants to.

Natalia and have have been practicing counting to 100 as we walk.  She also loves to sing "Froggie Went A Courtin.'"

 A little fresh air for the babies!

 Our lane is 1/4 mile one way, so we have walked most of our miles on it.  Anna usually went home to draw with sidewalk chalk after our first loop (1/2 mile).  She surprised us on this walk, though.  We walked 2 miles and she carried this baby and/or pushed a stroller most of the way!

Madeline walked many a mile in these flip flops.  Even after the straps were stretched way out, she kept using them!  The three oldest also walked many miles barefoot.  

 Doesn't that baby look comfy?

Little Mari put up a fight about riding in her stroller for the first 3 miles, then she resigned herself to it.  Good thing since we still had 97 more to go.

She really has been very good about riding and riding and riding.

Here's a funny thing about me.  I can walk to all the houses I have lived in (not counting my college days) in just over 1/2 mile.  This is house number one.

House number two is four houses down from house number one.

I used to climb this tree and read my books amid its lovely branches.

House number three is almost 1/2 mile down from house number two.  We built this one with our own little hands.  I probably did more complaining than helping in the process, but it made a lot of memories!