I'm Thankful For...

...for all of these guys! And super proud of them for running their first 2 mile race today! I am also super thankful for my sister Molly who is learning photography for doing this shoot. I am learning too and did some for her family.

Coming soon to your mailbox. :)

No pics of Lindsay goofing off - imagine...

And this one might be my favorite picture of the shoot. Maybe EVER.

13.1

Rickie, Me, and Maddy
Casey had already left with her husband - missed her for the photo!

I did it. I ran a half marathon. It was hard, I feel awesome, I beat my expectations and I would do it again!

Feel free to stop reading here. This is my story to write. You don't have to read it. :)

About this time last year I decided to try running. I don't have any idea why I decided to try this. Afterall, I have NEVER had an interest in running. I have friends that run and I thought they were crazy - I would rather go to a cardio class at the gym any day. In Elementary school when we had to run "the mile", I about died. It was pure torture. I played soccer for years and warm-ups always involved running laps around the soccer field. I thought there couldn't possibly be a worse soccer drill than running laps. Or suicides up the side of a hill for that matter.

Then last fall I decided to get up early and see if I could make it around our block - it measures .8 miles. I just about made it. Then when I could do the full block I did a full mile. And I added quarter or half mile increments until I could do 3 miles. I set a goal and last January I did my first 10K and then ran a few more races over the spring. Summer is tough for runners here in the valley of the sun so my running really slacked off.

In July Maddy asked a few friends (Rickie, Casey and me) to commit to the Shun the Sun half Marathon on November 13th. And I said yes!! That meant in August I had to pick up my runs again which meant the treadmill at the gym and super early runs to beat the heat.

I had some weeks during the 12 week training schedule where I missed some mid week runs due to sickness (me) or the kids (up all night with a sick kid) but I tried hard to never miss my long saturday runs. The week I mapped a 9 mile run it looked really long. REALLY LONG. But I figured if I had done 8 the week before I surely could do 9. Then after I came home, reviewed the route, and realized it was actually 10.5 miles. It was hard but I was higher than a kite the rest of the day on endorphins and I felt awesome. OK - there was hope that I could actually pull off this upcoming half marathon. I knew I would be really slow but I could make the distance. I ended up doing the same 10.5 mile route again the week before the race and it was terrible. I was having such an off day - I walked much of the last 2 miles and I felt crappy all day long. I was so nervous for the race if I felt that bad a week before. But my friends reassured me that sometimes you have an off week and that meant the race day would surely be a good one!

Friday Maddy hosted a potluck "Carb Load" dinner for us girls and our families - spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, potato & leek soup, homemade french bread and salad. Yum. We fretted about what we would wear (not that it's a fashion show...) The weather had changed over the week and what had been comfortable to wear for long runs was now not so comfy (we were freezing) so we had to come up with new plans - 3/4 running pants, running tank with a jacket/long sleeve layer we could ditch.

Bright and early I picked up all the girls and headed up to Mesa. It was freezing (probably about 43 degrees). We got parked, found the ladies room, and then shivered as we waited for the start. Maddy sat in a corner and stuffed her legs into her jacket. Wish I had a camera.

The four of us moved to the start. Someone said they had to go again. I kinda did too. But i knew we would never make it back in time so we decided to hit a porta potty on the route instead. We started the run and I kinda paired up with Casey. Just as we lapped the stadium before we even hit the first mile, Casey suggested we stop at the potties up ahead in the parking lot. Good call - because there were NO other porta potties on the race routes! (We got an email today from the race organizers that they were never delivered and the organizers were so apologetic - the company still had not called back to explain why they never showed.)

This route was basically the same route twice - down the canal and through downtown Mesa. At about 2 miles I fell behind Casey and saw her for a while but soon realized that she was going to be a tad faster than me. That's OK - I always run alone and I was fine with it. I decided it would be wise to grab water when I could, and I did it about every other water station. There would be a water station at every corner. The volunteers holding out the cups and I grabbed one and noticed it was green. I tossed it. I am not a Gatorade girl. I asked if they had any water and they all stared at me like I was nutso - "Water? At the water station? You must be crazy girl!" Later on it seemed they had a better ratio of water to electrolyte drinks. If you aren't used to drinking that stuff or down it thinking it is water, it is so gross.

I pretty much found a groove and stuck with it. I know I am not fast. That is my next goal - to start improving my time. Anyway, a lot of the people around me were doing a run/walk. They would run past me, stop to walk and then run past me again. I just kept on moving at my steady pace.

NieNie was running the 5k event as her first race since her accident two years ago and she and several other women were part of a music video being shot by Mindy Glendhill. I saw them across the canal taking some photos while I was on lap two - looked like a great group.

When I run, I don't like to run two loop routes - I feel like it gives me the chance to stop after the first if I don't feel like doing the second one. But this one was a two loop race and it was OK - I didn't feel like wimping out and quitting so that was good!

Oh - I had a couple of issues. First, I left my gum in the car so I had no fresh gum - that was a bummer. Second, my lips were super dry. Luckily at one of the water stations they were also offering sticks of lube (tongue depressors with a smear of a Vaseline type stuff for all your chafing and blister needs. ) I remembered that so I was looking forward to that station around mile 9 on the second lap - for my dry lips.

I didn't take off my jacket until about mile 10. I wasn't too hot and I didn't want to have to try to find it by tossing it at a water station so tying it to my waist didn't sound great either. But I did just that. And it was OK for the last 3 miles and it did feel good to finally take it off!

At this point, I was moving into the territory of distance I have never done before. I watched for the 11 mile marker. And the 12 couldn't come fast enough! By that time I could see the stadium and knew I was just about there. And my iPod died so I really had to finish soon! Coming into the stadium I was just so glad to be done but also sad for it to be over - it had been hard But I did it!! I crossed the finish line and looked at my watch and saw 2:26 something and I was glad I beat my expected time of 2 hours 30 min.

official results: 2:26:22

Soon I saw Rickie and Casey. They had all finished ahead of me. I looked everywhere for my family. They had trouble getting out of Caroline's soccer game quickly, a messy diaper, etc. We pretty much have a tradition of them missing my finishes for one reason or another so we need to work that out. They could have skipped Caroline's soccer game but I would have felt worse about her missing her game. So it is all good.

Got a complimentary massage, took some photos, stretched a bit, and felt awesome for finishing.

What have I learned in this whole experience?

I can do hard things.
I can do something completely out of my character. (Maybe it is my new character?)
I can set a goal and stick to it.
I learned you can train for a half marathon and not lose a single pound.
I can beat my expectations.
My left knee will hurt and be stiff for about 36 hours but will be fine by Monday morning.
I love the time alone to think and listen to music.
I love my family and their support.
I especially love my husband.
I love my friends and their encouragement.

My super supportive family post race. I love that my girls are excited to exercise and even run too! Steve may also give it a shot!

Yow!

You know how your kids go through weirdo phases and you keep meaning to take a picture and then forget and they have grown out of it? Grown out of it's quirky and endearing silliness? And you kick yourself for not getting a picture of them wearing their favorite shirt for the umpteenth day in a row or falling asleep in strange positions or their fascinations with passing crazy fads?

Well, this time, I remembered. Back before we went on a big break from eating out, Steve had taken the girls to Chick-fil-A and while we usually trade the toy/book/CD for ice cream (who wouldn't - ice cream instead of clutter - I am so there) this time they kept the plastic toy cows. Toy cows that came with stickers to decorate and dress the cow. Umkay... We had 3 kids so 3 cows. I am pretty sure one made it to the trash can before the night even ended.

But Kate immediately became attached to said cow. Except Kate isn't our talker, let's just say that. So the cow became "Yow." Yow went everywhere with her for over a month. Sleep. Eat. Play. Car. Zac's house. Everywhere. If we didn't have Yow we were in big trouble and we frequently had desperate searches for cow, er, Yow.

Sleeping with Yow... (and Barney and Puppy and Baby and...you get the idea)

Feeding Yow chicken nuggets and bananas...

Going out on the town with Yow...(and "dap-dap" = backpack)

Right now I couldn't tell you where Yow is. But I will forever be grateful I remembered to get a few pics of Yow before this cute little phase ended.

The bathoom is (pretty much) done! But the Kitchen isn't.

It's Done!!! ('cept for the faucet, shower curtain, personality...that sort of thing...)

We all LOVE LOVE LOVE how the bathroom came out. Took a few weeks off and on to get it all done but was worth it.

Our kids/guest/hall bathroom before shots

In Progress...

Read more about the whole process HERE at Tuesdays with Molly!

Ski Trip

When your blog is hopelessly behind, why not start with something that reminds of a cooler time, say, a ski trip?

Thanks, nice skiing guy, but this picture is a little blurry...

I used to ski. A lot. I learned as a teenager in Oregon and then living in Provo I skied some more. I thought my skiing days were over when I married a non-skier and moved to Arizona 10 years ago and figured I needed to be wealthy to take ski vacations out of state. I had always wanted to ski with my kids and this year, I decided to give it a shot. Arizona Snowbowl in Flagstaff, about 3 hours north of us, was a great place to start. I planned a little getaway during spring break and my girls didn't know until Sunday afternoon that we would leave the next morning. I booked a hotel and enrolled them in ski school. Sure, it was the end of the season, spring conditions, but that made the weather more tolerable for the first timers.

The snow bunnies excited to get going

I was nervous about it being just me and two non skiers - that is why I decided to do ski school for them. Just a half day lesson would be enough to get them started and accustomed to basic techniques and learn how to get on and off a lift.

Lindsay's small group lesson turned into a private lesson and she had the best time and really took to it like a fish to water. You couldn't wipe the grins off her face. She learned all about pizza (snowplow wedge) and french fries (parallel) and "skis to the trees."



Caroline was having a harder time. First, her class was a little bigger than Lindsay's lucky private lesson. Second, the instructor changed part way thru and the second guy was not terribly patient with the 5-6 year olds. She said he was mean. :( But she was brave and kept going and going. I never did get a picture of her in class.

While they took their lessons I went by myself to ski the upper bowl. I was a bit nervous - it had been over 10 years since I had been on a black diamond! I rode the lift with a guy from Phoenix who travels a lot to ski and he reassured me that a black diamond at Snowbowl was like a blue in Utah. The view from the top was pretty.

Our first day was a gorgeous sunny day. Look at that happy girl - she loved every second of it.

Back at our hotel we swam in the pool and had a slumber party eating rainbow Twizzlers.

Day 2 was a little more chilly. We had to bust out the beanies. Caroline was a trooper and ready to try again. She was frustrated that she wasn't doing so well but I was proud of her for trying and trying again. As we were on the lift, we looked down at the snowboard classes and I said "I could have enrolled you in snowboard school - but you would spent ALL your time on your booty."

Navigating the lodge stairs in ski boots is definitely a skill that requires a little work.

OK, maybe I am too much of a party mom. Day 2 lunch in the lodge cafe. At home my kids eat broccoli, drink their milk, eat fish, and have fruit as snacks. So when the lodge has options like nachos and fries and cheddar cheese Ruffles and sprite, who am I to say no?

I spent a lot of time with Caroline on the beginning beginner hill and Lindsay rode the lift herself with us and on the advanced beginner hill. After a while I was able to get Caroline to the top of the advanced beginner hill and got a little video of them on the trail off the lift that bypasses the "upper bowl" and drops you off at a more tolerable spot on the hill. Not the greatest but a time I actually remembered to shoot one.

Don't be alarmed - this is just how we finished our day on the mountain. Caroline bit it hard and I think that crashing on her face didn't help. She cried, saying "I am all done skiing!" and stood up, took her skis off, and started walking to the lodge. We had made quick friends during our two day trip with the locker attendant he thought Caroline should go visit the ski patrol office to get checked out. She was fine. Just tired. And done skiing.

I am so proud of my little big girls for trying something new. I am excited to take them again next winter/spring. Lindsay is super excited to go again. Caroline says she is "kind of" excited. I think the second time around will be a lot better for her.

Run Wild!

Another in our family running adventures - Run Wild at the Phoenix Zoo back at the end of March. A 5k for mommy and a "Kid's k" for the kiddos. A 5k is only 3 miles so a run on the shorter side for me but the girls have been bit by running bug so an event like this is great for everyone. It was early, yes, but after we were able to spend the morning at the zoo and saw tons of animals up close - early mornings are when they are at their most visible. A super fun day for all of us!

Pinning the race bib on a sleepy participant.

Gosh, I look so serious. Just putting in ear buds, that is all.

Two little runners getting ready for their "Kid's k" race.

If they have sunglasses on, they are the Simpson Girls!

And finishing the race - I stayed about 15 feet behind the girls so they could cross the finish by themselves. They loved the table of snacks for the runners - fruit and muffins and stuff.

Off to see animals - running the race meant early admission to the zoo and early mornings are the best time to see animals!

GREAT views of the lions...and I don't have a camera with telephoto lens! (yet...)

Rhinos...

Orangutans...

Turns out we were there to celebrate Dutchess' 50th birthday - the oldest Orangutan in captivity in the US. Lindsay fell in love with Orangutans during this visit and decided this would be the topic of her upcoming animal report - her big research report for the end of 3rd grade.

I don't know about these critters. This must have been when Caroline was sprinting from exhibit to exhibit - I don't think she wanted the race to be over.

Isn't the monkey walk-thru a cool exhibit?

After we went to the YUM-O Joe's Farm Grill. Tasty as always.

We ate outside under the citrus trees and it was lovely. The place was packed though - they were celebrating "Diners Drive-Ins and Dives" - the Food Network show that featured Joe's, and were featuring recipes that were shown on the show. I love the BBQ chicken pizza - tons of fresh basil, so good.

Anyway, we don't get a lot of days like this, where we can just play on a saturday, so this was definitely one to remember. Because soon our Saturdays would be spent digging up and fixing our sprinkler and drip irrigation system. Yea us.