A band of Hippies

Day # 527

Does she ever stop taking pictures?

The Big kid decided to get serious with his girlfriend, the future Vet and bringing her to VA for a short weekend visit.  Since super secret spy husband had to save the world, the visit wasn't the best timing but we still made sure to make her feel welcome.  That's right as soon as she arrived she was helping with chores.  She is such a nice girl she didn't complain at all but jumped right in to help.

Bring me a glass of milk!

We refueled at Panera Beard.  Super secret spy hubbs joined us to chat and get to know the future Vet a little better.  Although it is still a little like pulling teeth to get her to talk, we all enjoyed the brief visit.  Can you remember that nervousness in meeting a boyfriend or your husband's parents for the first time?

Don't take my photo!  My hairs not done.

LBM is beyond needing a haircut.  I have put it off even with a niece who is a beautician because it is always a traumatic event for him when it happens.  But he is starting to look like a bit more like a daughter than a son so I know I'll have to medicate myself knuckle down and get it down with week.  I knew after all the sugar from our Panera Beard visit I would never get him to sit still for it. 

I'm gearing up for round two.

I underestimated sugar crash and should have cut his hair while he napped in the jogger.  Instead I grabbed a few more miles and tried to figure out what our team, of two guys and two girls should dress like for the Tough Mudder this coming weekend.  For some reason a band of hippies keeps coming to mind.

Ideas?  Any one else doing the VA Tough Mudder on Sunday?

The TN mini-cation

Our mini-cation started Wednesday evening after working all day, I picked up the little kids and headed home to gather our bags and get Army Son

who isn't in the Army any more so he'll need a new bloggy name soon.

We drove the 3+ hours to our VA house thinking that we were planning to drive through the night after meeting the MIL and FIL however they had decided to spend the night in VA with us.

After a night's rest in VA I headed out bright and early for my morning run and then we headed south.

At first I was in our truck with the kids but with the MIL and FIL driving their mini-van it wasn't long before I joined them for a little more leg room.

It was hard to leave this much back seat fun!

Once in TN we briefly checked into our condo and then it was off to Mexican Night with the extended family.

Ready for some fun!

We took over the place.  We enjoyed catching up with family we don't get to see often. 

We eat wonderful food. 

We left a mess!  With full bellies we head back to our condo needed some sleep only to be kept awake by a huge thunderstorm!  Although the mattresses in our condo were so hard I doubt we would have slept much anyway.

Even though I didn't feel very rested I was determined to get out early so that the rest of my day was open for family fun.   

 Hubbs was going golfing with his uncle and the kids and I were hitting the beach but not before I admired some of the amazing properties in the area.

You can file this under:  Things I see along my way.

I also also a Raw Water project going on in the area.  Working in the water industry, I had to stop and talk with a crew member.  What a geek!

After a HOT run and Insanity we were off to the beach.

Army son decided to forgo listening to his mother the sunscreen and lay in the sun...in TN sun!

With my hands full making sure LBM didn't drown himself, I neglected to wake up remind Army son that he was in the sun and still had not put on sunscreen. 

Photo refused by Army son

Once I noticed that Army son was french fried getting a little too much sun, the little kids played on the playground to get into the shade.   

S'ghetti girl was all about the photo-op' in her new bathing suit.  But she really needs sunglasses.

What do you do?  If your kids wear glasses do you usually buy prescrip sunglasses for them?

I could hang at the beach the entire vacation but with Army son feeling the effects of too much unprotected sun time it was back to the condo to clean up and meet up with Hubbs for the shrimp boil.

The little cousins enjoyed getting to know each other.

Family reunions are very hands on in this family.

We had a great time working together to prepare the meal while the cousins rode four-wheelers and caught up on all things fun.

Day # 412 

Hubbs and I shared Running Partner Appreciation Day by sharing a run while Army son watched the sleeping little ones.  Thanks dude!

It was the second longest run he has taken since his knee surgery.  Although it was challenging due to the heat and elevation, he proved that he can outpace me in the short distance every time!

Nothing like keeping me in my place.

After our run we got a call that MIL had twisted her ankle the evening before after leaving the shrimp boil. 

Maybe a little too much wine?!? 

She had iced it through the night but it was still very painful and swollen. 

They were going to the hospital for x-rays. 

The official family reunion luncheon was held at the state park.  It was a nice gathering of many of our extended family. 

Some of the older cousins were already planning their next way to escape spending time with the grownups activity,

laser tag.  We enjoyed our meal and conversation although we were still waiting for an update on MIL.  Finally word came that they would not make it to the luncheon the ankle was broken.

After the news the MIL had broken her ankle, FIL asked us if we would head back that evening so that we could share the driving and they could break up the 11+ hour drive by sleeping for a while at our VA house.

We all decided to finish our day at the beach while FIL got prescriptions and packed up to leave that evening.

Although our time was short in TN we always enjoy getting to spend time with extended family and our own.

Even though things didn't go as smoothly as we might have liked, nothing beats a little time away together.  I am impressed with how my family has grown to be able to simply roll with our circumstances.  

This will be a mini-cation to remember and one my MIL will likely not live down anytime soon. 

Racing the storm

I watched out the window all day at work.  I saw the sun shining.  I saw the birds busy at the nests.  I saw the breeze blowing the blossoming trees.  It was wonderful to think that spring was finally here to stay.

Until 4:50.

That is when I remember that spring equals thunder storms because it began to down pour.  I thought all hopes of getting outside for a run where lost.

But just as quickly as it had begun the rain stopped.  The skies brightened.  I knew there was a window of opportunity.  I quickly picked up the kiddos and headed home.  We briefly paused to move a gorgeous orange box turtle off the road. 

Army Son was thankfully home and willing to help. 

I quickly changed my clothes and headed out the door. 

After a mile and a half I saw the second turtle of the season was one of the two giant snapping turtle who I have seen each year at the bend in the creek.  He was swimming in the water that had ponded in the field.  I'll look forward to more encounters as the days pass.

(photo rights)

I cruised along enjoying the breeze and didn't notice the dark clouds filling the cove from the south until I was nearly half way around my egg shaped looped course.  I watched over my shoulder as the dark clouds hugged the far ridge line and quickly over took me.  Luckily my route took me back across the cove and back along the opposite ridge line.  I made it home in time to watch the dark clouds begin to spill across the cove and tumble over the mountains near my house.  S'ghetti girl and I stood on the porch and watched as the lightening lit the darkening skies knowing I had raced and beaten the storm.

This time.



Day # 352 ~ 6.5 evening run

Wordless-ish Wednesday

Guess who comes home on Friday?

Could my weekend get any better?!



Days in my life

In typical holiday fashion life has been busy.  I have been putting in my miles both inside and outside keeping my base mileage around 50 - 60 miles per week through the holidays knowing that March and my first known races of 2011, will be here before I am ready for it. 

We are blessed to have Army Son home with us through the holidays.   

The family hasn't been together for about a year so we have a lot of catching up to do in what little time we have.  Army Son has a large group of friends to spend time with also and he's need to find some solitude before he goes back to share nearly every minute of life with his battle buddies.

We all made sugar cookies at my sister's house.  The kids have fun decorating each cookie and everyone enjoys testing the end results. 

It is a really nice way for all the cousins to get together, share a tradition and make memories. 

LBM currently believes he IS Buzz Lightyear.  He worn his Buzz outfit all weekend long.  Last night I finally got him to let me wash it!  I told him the lasers wouldn't work if it got any dirtier.

Day # 225 ~ p.m. run 10.5 miles

And that brings me back to running.  Last night on the treadmill since my helper Army Son was out visiting with friends.  I am getting used to the routine but miss taking LBM out in the stroller. 

Who knew that I would actually miss pushing that heavy ackward thing?!

Soon enough, right?

Finally here!

Ttoday is day # 223

That's not really of any importance to me today, oh I will make time to run but mostly because I need the exercise, love it and have a BOAT LOAD of excited energy to burn off!

What is a BOAT LOAD you might ask?

Well a boat load is the amount of excitement you build up in about 9 1/2 months waiting to see your oldest son come home from the Army!

yep

I will finally get to hug my 'little squirt' again.

I'll hear his voice and be able to look at his face.

We'll be able to talk without someone saying, sorry I couldn't hear you.

We'll get to talk about his time away, friends he has made and experinces that he had all on his own.

I can not wait to meet this man who was my "little squirt." 

I can not wait to know him as a man on his own making his own choices.

Just to be part of seeing that kind of new excitement in his eyes as he tells me about the things he has done and places he has seen.  This is what parents work towards, the day when your children come back from striking out on their own to share their lives with us...

because they want to...

because they miss us...

because they love us.

Yep.

I am just a little excited.

So much to be Thankful for

To all those who serve; past or present, for all those who are left behind at home, THANK YOU for giving far more than should ever have been asked.

In the continuing drama of my life, you may remember I have yet to make the switch to running in the dark after work.  This is partly laziness and partly I can get more miles on the treadmill. 

yeah, I said.

I like a lot miles.  No that's not correct.  I like a certain number of miles a week.

The treadmill allows me to get more quality miles in each week once the weather turns.

And NO they are not JUNK miles.

Don't even get me start on that topic because it's a post or two all by it's self!

With all that said (and who was I trying to convince, anyway?)  I don't enjoy the treadmill running in the same way I enjoy being outside.  In fact being outside in nature is a BIG part of why I started running.

So this morning I started here. 

Yeah, Heaven.  I know!

And I ran through some of the most beautiful scenery on the planet.

It was so wonderful to be outside wrapped in an envelope of my own warmth as the steam lifted off the creek.

It is never lost on me how lucky I am to get to do this wonderful thing where I get to do it.

This morning I ran to here.

It's called "the Y."

It's just a short run. 3.5 miles partially along a creek where I have seen more fish crane, ducks, deer, muskrats, turtles, kingfishers, and newts than I can remember. 

This morning for many reasons I tried to remember.  I tried to remember how all the days and years have piled up and created so many wonderful memories.

I thought of th emany veterans in my life. 

I thought of my dad.  He served in the Army National Guard.

I learned to tie my shoes using his Army boots while sitting on the front porch.

I thought of my husband who has seen life in different places.

I thought of our neighbor who has fought along side some who didn't make it home.

I thought of my son.  I thought of the times he was with me on this stretch of road and I wondered where his roads will take him, what amazing things his eyes will see.

Sometimes being Thankful can make you both happy and sad at the same time.

Day # 186

This morning I enjoyed the freedom to be outside, to be carefree, to be safe.

and I don't take it for granted.

Where did the time go?

Last night was basketball for S'ghetti girl so LBM and I ran around the playground, chased after balls and shared a few books.  We were having so much fun!

But before we knew it S'ghetti girl was racing out the door and basketball was over.

Where did that time go?

While playing with LBM on the playground chasing after him and making sure he didn't fall off the top of everything he just had to climb on I wondered the same question.

Where did that time go?

How did Army Son go from Squirt to Army Son to soon to be Married Army Son?  With problems and choices and decisions beyond the ones I can catch him if he falls from?

Where did that time go?

Since I had already ran in the morning I didn't do any real miles last night.

I mean the race is a mere 2 sleeps away.

Where'd that time go?

And I haven't talk goals yet.  So here it is:

My I FINISHED goal:  To arrive on time.  To start.  To finish.

The race has a 9 hour cut off.  Which tells me the course may not be a challengening as The Skyline Challenge course was.  If you remember, that was my all time favorite race EVER!  I know that I can finish in 9 hours as long as I don't fall off the side of the mountain, which can happen you know!

My I CAN goal:  Finish within 33 minutes of my last 50k trail ultra.

I say 33 minutes becuase that is the distance of this course in minutes.  I figure I can finish easily within a minute either side of my previous time.  Again barring not falling off the side of the mountain. 

My I LOVE IT goal:  A new distance PR. 

Since trail ultras are not exact distances.  RDs like to say their course is at least 50k, a new PR would be more about average pace than finishing time but with a 50k PR (time) of 6:46 I'd love to crush that on Sunday.

My I DREAM IT goal:  Under 6 hours.

Yeah.  You read that right.  When I dream I don't have little baby dreams.

When I dream I jump in with both feet even on Day # 175

 I dream that I can cover that distance in under 6 hours.

If I don't fall off the side of the mountain.

It can happen.

The only thing more I could pray for is to have that thought that has been with me so much lately stay with me as I run across that finish line and throw my log onto the bonfire!

I pray I see those flames and think;

Where did that time go?

Surprises

Just when life is rolling along on it's usual routine way little surprises happen to help add something to our days.

Sometimes those surprises are a box full of goodies from a thoughtful friend. 

Day # 164

Sometimes its a run that goes smoothly. 

Allowing you to slip into that wonderfully carefree style of running when it becomes like simply breathing.

Sometimes its a morning that greets you after a difficult night.

Surprises come in many forms. 

I like to think that none are good and none are bad they simply are an opportunity to grow and learn by offering a new way to look at things.

Army Son recently surprised us with big news. 

I am trying to not see it as good or bad.

He has asked a young lady to marry him.

This December.

Why not simply be celebrating?

They have known each other 2 months.

If you are familiar with the military and issues that many PVTs encounter while away from home for the first time you may understand the shock.

I watched my youngest play with a cardboard box last night.  It made him so happy.

And that is what I want for Army Son too.

To be happy.

With a few less surprises.