The Rainy Half Marathon

05.18.2013

What started out as a constant drizzle as we loaded the buses at 4:30 am and waited for the Race Start, turned into a downpour about 10mins before Start Time! Fortunately, my running partner had grabbed trash sacks for us, and I joined all the other trash sack poncho wearing runners and sacked up! I tend to get rather warm while running, so I ditched all the long clothes and jackets and went for lighter clothes, planning on the body heat the bag would generate to keep me warm- and it worked great! I was warm and ready to ditch the bag at mile 4, so I tore off some of the bag, wrapped it around my phone in my arm band, and trashed the sack. Even though it continued to rain the ENTIRE time, and I was completely Soggy from head to toe, I was comfortably warm enough- uh, except my hands- they were Freezing!

My body felt great, I had good energy, and if the energry started to wane a little, I just reminded myself of the dry, warm clothes waiting at the finish! I was actually amazed about how wet a body can get, and it doesn't seem to bother it a bit- it doesn't rust or leak- the water just keeps rolling off that wonder of a water-proof thing we call our bodies!

The only time I felt like I was freezing and started shivering really bad,

was at the end, when I stopped running and had to stand in line to get those warm clothes!

And,

Of Course,

Seeing My Biggest Fans standing in the Rain at the Finish,

was a Wonderful sight!

Knowing that they're there waiting for Me,

always makes Me want to Hurry and finish Strong!

Definitely wasn't my fastest Half Marathon time,

but I had such a blast,

I really hardly noticed!

That was Fun!

Garden:

Planted.

 

We were able to go over to our New House,

and Plant the Garden Boxes,

So, when we moved in,

they'd be in Full Growing Mode!

 



Mother's Day

J's preschool planned a

Snacnic

for the Moms.

J was sick that day,

but his teacher put together our Snack Sack,

and put his gift to me in it,

and we went on our very own

Snacnic when he was feeling better.

He even sat and looked right at me,

and sang the Mother's Day song,

he had learned to sing for me.

I LOVED it!

I Loved the Hot Pad he made me

(using lots of my favorite colors!)

and on the back he answered a few questions about his Mom,

he said he Loves it when Mom plays Soccer with Him!

Awwwww. I Love that, too!

We stayed at the park,

and we played on every toy,

then we laid on our blanket,

looked at the clouds,

and rested.

I asked him Over and Over to sing the

Mother's Day song to me, and He did,

each time, looking at me, like he really meant it.

I Loved our little Snacnic,

and smiled about it for days afterwards.

Then, On Mother's Day,

I was treated to Breakfast in Bed,

and lots of Lovin and Spoilin!

They sure worked hard

(with lots of Behind the Scenes Help from Dad)

to make sure I was treated Special!

What a Lucky Girl, I am!

For Sale

The First Weekend in May,

We put our Little Labor of Love

On the Market.

It was a tough decision,

but once we decided that's what we were supposed to do,

We knew it was Right.

We get the Grand Opportunity to

Adopt a 78yr Old Man, 

(aka Pa-in-Law T)

and we needed somewhere to cage Him!

We were able to Purchase a Home

that We've always Admired,

in a Beautiful Area,

with a separate, detached Apartment

(aka Slave's Quarters)

So,

We think it will work well!

The hardest part is that we absolutely Adore and Love 

the People and Area where We currently Live!

We feel really blessed to have been able to live there

and have such Wonderful People in our Lives!

By the Way,

I don't think I've shared on here,

that this Home was a Surprise Christmas Gift to Me,

More than Ten Years ago,

after we had just had our First Baby!

We were looking for houses,

and I really loved this one. We made an offer, and to My knowledge, the offer had been rejected. I was very sad and disappointed, because I had really wanted it.

Several weeks later,

Christmas Morning,

I open a little Christmas Tree Ornament in the shape of a House.

Husband says, "You know that House You wanted? Its Yours!"

I was so Happy and Surprised I sat there Crying!

Then He said,

"Let's Go See It!"

It was all empty, he had the key and everything!

The next day we went and signed the papers,

and we started packing!

Our first night there was New Years Eve,

and we looked out the top story windows

 at all the Fireworks that night, 

and we thought it was the most glorious House and View

in the Whole World!



Soccer Season has Begun

....And,

We have a New Player among our Ranks:

The Older Two play on the Same Team,

and their Dad is One of the Coaches.

The Youngest,

is playing, probably solely,

for the Treats at the End of Each Game.

He's waited a long time,

to get his own little treats at the end of the Games,

instead of Bumming them off his Brothers!

At Last.

So,

Saturdays for the next few months,

will find us Traipsing around the Soccer Fields.

And,

I get to Cheer My Little Heart Out

for My Favorite Soccer Players!



NFL Draft

Because "Our Team"

Got the First Pick in the NFL Draft,

(cough, cough)

We had Ourselves a Wee Little Draft Par-TY!

 

Sigh,

 the Devotion of True Fans.

 

{Easter Sunday}

03.31.13

March 30, 2013

We had the Big Ol' Privilege of going to a MLS Soccer Game,

and Having a Big Ol' Awesome Time!

We had never been before,

and as it turns out,

our Family Loved the

Whole Blessed Occasion!

We got to Meet the Mascot,

and He signed a Poster or Two or Ten,

for our Group.

And,

because the Kids were too scared to

Visit with the Big Friendly Mascot,

He Scooped Me up instead,

and

I've got a Not too Flattering Picture

of Him Cradling Me in his Arms.

(Yes, I Spared Your Eyes from that Scene. You are Welcome)

We'll Definitely have to Go Again!



She'll be Coming Around the Mountain

Right after the Karate Competition,

We hit the Road.

We spent 4 Hours on the Road,

Stayed Over Night at the Halfway-ish Point,

then Put in another 4 hours,

heading to My Sister's House.

We Literally,

Go Through,

or Around

the Mountain.



 

Its become a little Tradition for Us,

to Travel to Her house,

and Spend time there,

with her family

having a little Vacation.

 

While there,

We Marked St.Patrick's Day

with Green Food,

"Shamrock Pizza",

and the Boys and their Cousins made

themselves into Leprechauns

and Wizards.

(What does a Wizard have to do with it? I Dunno.)

Anyhoo, Moving on..

 

On the Day we were Supposed to Travel back home,

It was a Blizzard

and the Freeway was closed.

So,

Instead,

We played in the Snow,

and Pigged out on Cookies and Hot Chocolate.

[No complaints, here]

 

 

We ended up staying TWO Extra Days,

due to the Weather,

but At Last,

We were on Our Merry Way!

[Road Trip]

 

It's also become Tradition for Us,

to Stop after 6 Hours of Driving

and Get Burgers and

Big Ol' Ice Cream Cones

Before the last

 2.5 Hours. 

 

[Hoo-Ray for Ice Cream!]

 

And?

It's always Good to be back Home.

 

Hi-Yah!

3.9.2013

The Boys Competed in a Karate Competition.

C did a Traditional Form

and Board Breaking.

He chose to Break 5 Boards,

One right after another,

doing a Different Hit or Kick

as He moved from one board to the Other.

He broke ALL 5 First time around!

 

B decided to also do a Traditional Form,

and

he also decided to do an Open Bow Staff Form-

Where He made up his own Routine,

using his Bow Staff

(a Bow staff resembles a Long Stick. Think: Broom Stick Handle.)

with as many twists, kicks, spins, etc.

that He wanted.

He also got to use his own choice of Music.

I was surprised that he would have the Gumption

to choose to make something up on his own.

And Because it was his own,

I simply wrote down his routine,

as he put it together as he Practiced.

I wanted it to be his own Creation.

And it was.

And even BETTER?

When he forgot his routine,

he didn't even stop,

but kept right on going,

making it up as he went,

We were so Proud  of his 2nd Place Medal!

We're so proud of the Boys

and how well they did!