Where we're at....

Chris - currently at work, yes, on a Saturday afternoon. He traded working his birthday morning off last week for meeting a client today. Yesterday, he called a sports auction and sold a $500K+ baseball bat...sorry, I don't remember who it belonged to!

Hannah - I think we've survived the cast...so far. We're hoping to get it off Monday morning, and you'd better believe she will have a freshly scrubbed arm when she arrives at school! It's starting to get stinky! School is going well and she's really enjoying herself. I love hearing about the cool things she's doing. We're so glad we decided to keep her at Red Apple for one more year. It's a nurturing environment with high expectations...just like me and Chris. ;)



Isaac - definitely using up his last few weeks as a "Terrible Two." We've had lots of melt downs, lots of whining, lots of pushing the boundries...But...lots of cuddling, lots of hugs, lots of "I love you's" too. So I guess we'll keep him. :)



Me and Baby Boy - we're still one and the same, although we're having a harder time sitting, fitting through small spaces, sleeping through the night...the end is in sight!!

From the "Run Faster Mommy" Blog

The topic at The Runner's Lounge "Take it and Run Thursday":

"You get to run the last six miles of your next marathon with 6 different people. They can be dead or alive; famous or not famous. Who are these people and why did you pick them? Furthermore, why did you pick them for the specific mile you did? Remember, you get an extra .2 miles with runner #6."

Since I've never run a marathon, much less a half marathon...well, it's a bit of a stretch, but I'm hoping to one day have a marathon under my belt.

Mile 20-21 - My brother, Michael. He's run two marathons now and I think could coach me through another mile....although we might just spend the whole time teasing each other...

Mile 21-22 - My friend Karah - she's one of the people who inspired me to take up running in the first place. She's a Boston Marathon qualifier on her second attempt and quite a whiz about all this running stuff. http://www.tiredmamarunning.blogspot.com/

Mile 22-23 - My mom - someone who has taught me about perserverence and grace under pressure...definitely someone I want pushing me.

Mile 23-24 - My sister Angie - one of the strongest women I know.

Mile 24-25 - Team Hoyt - if you've never heard of them you should watch this them...be fore warned, you'll probably cry...But I think for me the 2nd to last mile would be the hardest...totally inspiring to run alongside them.


Mile 25-26.2 - My kids - wouldn't that be awesome? Little kids have so much energy and wouldn't they just get a kick out of running through the cheering finale?

Rain, Rain, Go Away!!!!

Well, it has been raining since Saturday...or was it Friday...the days are all starting to run together into one big muddy mess.

Our back yard has horrible drainage due to clay soil and the entire development (from what I hear) has poor grading. This results in every few yards being the swamp. And we just happened to be one of the lucky ones. This is a picture of what our yard looks like when it rains...you may need to enlarge it to appreciate how far up the water comes...and it stays wet for at least 2-4 days depending on how much rain we've gotten.



Unfortunately, with an active little boy who loves his backyard, and an older sister who can't go to any indoor jump places due to her cast....well, we've seen this face around ALOT!

Long Overdue Catch-up post

How can our summer have gone by so fast!?

We've been go-go-go-go since the middle of May! Even before school was "officially" over!

My mom arrived on Wednesday May 20th and we left directly from the airport for Iowa. After two days of driving, we arrived...tired, messy, but oh so happy to see Aunt Angie and Cousin Noah. We spent two days in Pella before heading for Altoona and the Dykstra Clan. Aunt Maribeth was graduating from high school and we were to spend the weekend with them. Many spoilings, gifts, and graduation parties later, we were back in the car on our way to Illinois.

Although only 20 miles from our old home in Plano, we didn't make it back to see friends. :( We crashed at the hotel and got ready for my cousin Katie's beautiful wedding. It was a wonderful wedding with many happy tears and laughs as the bride and her father (battling lymphoma) took to the dance floor followed by my little footloose and fancyfree kids. :) From the reception we took off for Michigan and more family time.

We had a great visit and a number of memorable momments, including a priceless moment from Hannah. My uncle Jim had a stroke many years ago and has many aids around the house to help in daily living. Hannah headed for the bathroom the first evening, and as usual, with the door wide open. Soon we heard, "Hey guys! Check it out! There's an arm rest on this toilet! Come see!" We just about died laughing. I finally had to go in there, observe the wonderful thing and how it could be used. :) Quite the kiddo!
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Of course, Isaac had many memorable momments as well. Including when he was being restrained from running crazy around the nursing home and he started yelling, "Let my people go!!" Oh dear...what will they come up with next. :)

The 2009 Zoo Run Run

At the last minute I actually changed to the 5K from the 10K. They close that race at 1:15 and I was just worried about squeaking in under that time. So...Chip pick up was from 7-8:15 and the race was to start at 8:30. All the info was that parking would take 45 mins and we live about 25 mins away.

So at 6:25, I downed a bowl of oatmeal, and headed out the door. Made it to the zoo in 20 mins, parking took all of 30 seconds...and there I sat...what to do now for the next hour and a half!? At this point, I almost considered changing back to the 10K, but knew that mentally I just wasn't ready...seeing all these long lanky runners wasn't helping!

So at 7:15 I wandered over and picked up my chip, wandered back to the car, sent some texts, tried to relax. The parking lot actually didn't even start to fill up until about 7:45-50. And there are 2 other huge grass lots right across the street...so, note to self. At 8, I wandered back to the race start area and got in line for the all of TWO portopotties...a little nervously I might add. Chris and I had gone to his boss's 25th wedding anniversary party the night before and something didn't sit well, nope not alcohol...let's just say between nerves and the food...I was up a few times last night! About 8 people in front of me, a lady went in, stuck her head back out for some kleenex from her friend, and I never saw her again. so I was really freaking out....but all was fine despite no TP in my side either...again, note to self.

The start of the race was really frustrating. The 5K timed/Fun 5k was all lumped together. So although lots of people were walking and pushing strollers, I was right in the mix. I think it took me about 25-30 seconds (although it felt like hours) to get to the start. And I had to weave through walkers/strollers/kids goofing off for probably the first 1/2 mile. Made the actual part where you're going through the zoo rather frustrating.

As soon as you come out of the zoo, there is a long slow hill...my first in a long time! It wasn't too bad and I think at the top of that was the first water station...1 of 2 I think. I had to walk through the aid station because it was so wet (it had rained all day yesterday too) and I had forgotten Karah's little straw trick! I really needed the water because of last night's events and I've been super congested for the last 9 days.

I had to take about a 30-45 second walk break somewhere after mile 1 (race was really poorly marked) but did manage to run all of the hills in the race (and there was 1 doozy!) There were two runners with me that were doing the sprint and walk which was frustrating, but I did beat them both! I took a 20-30 sec walk break again about mile 2 (I'm guessing because that's what the aid stations marked?) But did run the whole rest of the race! Chris and the kids were waiting about 200-300 yards from the finish which was so nice. My chip time was 35:59.11! Considering the hills and that my best "treadmill 5K" time is 36:10, I was thrilled!

Wow...this is sad. :)

It's sad how long it's been since I've posted here!! And of course, I just got called away to play "Bingo" - "cause it's not fun to play with 2, Mom. And Isaac choosed it." :)

Only 2 weeks until my race and I must say that having 2 house guests for 25 days certainly puts a crimp in training...back on the treadmill today and it wasn't very pretty. :) But my sister made excellent meals (and desserts) while she was here so hopefully, a few normal meals and I'll be back on track. :)

A very late Three things....

Okay, like I mentioned, I will almost always be late...but here goes.

1. I ran 4 miles today! I think that's the furthest I've ever run without stopping to walk at some point. I think in HS I ran 5 miles on the track during the 1 hour challenge but I know I walked some of that! So, yeah me!

2. I'm listening to the kiddos yelling from Hannah's room. Hannah is really kinda giggling and Isaac is doing the "I like this, but only just a little" screech. I wonder how long it will be until one of them is in here. :)

3. Chris and I watched "Don't Mess with The Zohan" this weekend. LOL Quite funny in a "I'm so glad it's just the two of us watching this and not with either of our mother's" sort of way.

So how's that for a random Three things. :)

Off to rescue some kids....