Becoming a Runner, NOT!

Last year, when Ron's annual office 5K came around in August, I decided that we were going to participate rather than just donate to the cause. Without any preparation we got up on Saturday morning, took our double stroller and our two kids and went downtown for the walk. It was only 3.1 miles, a breeze, I thought. Well, I was wrong! It was tough, and I was not even pushing the stroller! We finished close to last and were very tired!

This year, Ron is involved with Central Ohio Men Against Prostate Cancer and as their fund raising director decided to host an inaugural 5K to raise money. I decided to run in the event, but also decided to train this year. I started a couch to 5K type program and got to the point that I was running between 2-3 minutes and walking 7-8 minutes when I developed shin splints. I didn't know that they were shin splints, but they felt like my shin was cracked. I tried to run through them, but it did not work. I just decided to give up running and continued walking three times a week.

The most noticeable difference was that this year, the 5Ks were not as difficult. In the Bull Run I walked the whole race in about 50 minutes and did not feel like I needed to rest and could go on with my day. In the Race for a Pro-State of Mind, I finished in about an hour while pulling a wagon with my daughter in it and encouraging my son to finish walking. I felt good about finishing both races and was very proud of my son for walking a 5K at seven years of age and my husband, who ran a wonderful race and finished with a personal best time for this year.

What's for Dinner?

Hot cheesy french fries

Teriyaki chicken wings

Coffee ice cream cone

Recap of 2009 Books Read

I am proud of myself for reading all of these books this year. My favorites for this year were: Sarah's Key and Keep Your Mouth Shut and Wear Beige.

Once in a Blue Moon by Eileen Goudge
a most uncommon degree of popularity by kathleen gilles seidel
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Summer on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber
The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club by Gil McNeil
The Diary by Eileen Goudge
Among the Free by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Among the Enemy by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Among the Brave by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Among the Barons by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Among the Betrayed by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Among the Imposters by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Of Beetles and Angels: A Boy's Remarkable Journey from a Refugee Camp to Harvard by Mawi Asgedom
The Skin I'm In by Sharon G. Flake
No One You Know by Michelle Richmond
Keep Your Mouth Shut and Wear Beige by Kathleen Gilles Seidel
Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay
They Did It with Love by Kate Morgenroth
Good Night, Sweet Dreams, I Love You Now Get into Bed and Go to Sleep by Patrick C. Friman, Ph.D.
The Fold by An Na
SPAM The Cookbook by Marguerite Patten
Beach Road by James Patterson
Wait for Me by An Na
A Step from Heaven by An Na
Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs by Elissa Wall
Hope's Boy by Andrew Bridge
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Catching Up

I know that it has been a long time since I have written. I left off in the middle of summer vacation in New England so to recap...

We went to Chinatown in Boston for dim sum on Monday.
On Tuesday it was raining, but we still stopped for some outlet mall shopping in Kittery, ME on our way to Kennebunk. We ate lobster dinner that night!
On Wednesday we went to Freeport to the LL Bean Outlet where I found all sorts of bags and backpacks. We also made it to Gooch's Beach that day.
Thursday brought the highlight of our trip: my brother in law came home from Afghanistan and we sped back to Boston to meet him at the airport. What a great day!
I went to the New Balance Outlet on Friday to return some things and my daughter ended up with Bert and Ernie tennis shoes. She loves them! I also took my kids to visit a friend in Salem, MA. We went out to Marblehead Point.
Saturday was our last day and our Maine relatives came down to meet us for a day on the beach near Gloucester, MA. The perfect ending to a wonderful trip.

Real life after vacation brought the set-up of a new classroom for me and 27 wonderful kindergartners for me to teach! No wonder I have had no time to blog, plus my two beautiful children at home and their activities (Cub Scouts and religion class). The change has been tough! Having a classroom there is always so much to learn and so much to do. Even in the two years that I was gone, some things have changed drastically. I am always playing catch up in some arena of my life!

The ironic things that have happened are: I have already attended the funeral of one of my student's mother's and today, a first in my life: I had a student bite another student on the ear a la Mike Tyson! So much for my rule of only food, drink, and candy go in your mouth! What can I say: life is never dull with children around!

The Scariest Ramp

10 years later, the memory doesn't fail me...

The ramp from the 405 North to the 105 West on the way to the airport has the feeling that you are driving into the sky. It is very high, and even in a car it is scary!

Boston Day Two

We ended up staying home on our second day in Boston. My sister in law, my niece, and her boyfriend came down to visit from Maine. They learned how to play Mahjongg while the guys went to play golf, and my children relaxed at home.

The evening was once again a huge meal of chicken and ribs!

In the middle of the night our room was so dark that Reese woke up and yelled out to me, "I can't see!" I had to go and get her from her mattress on the floor!