Roller Derby Park Play

I love these 3 little people

Summertime Splurge

Running Thoughts: 18 Miles

We had the ever popular "train run" last weekend.  Our group got on the Amtrak Surfliner in Solana Beach and headed north one stop to Oceanside.  I think I was one of maybe 20 people who didn't ride the train.  Yeah, I know it was probably very fun, but who could pass up getting a ride from my ever lovin' family?!?!  I drove straight to Oceanside (got to sleep in a little later than the rest of the crew) and we started our run at around 8am and finished at 11:45am in Solana Beach.  It was a great run... a long one.  Alisa was once again my running buddy and we are unstoppable.  Yes, we whine a little, usually towards the end of the run.  Can you blame us??? 18 stinkin' miles!

I whined a lot as we had to run past our finish line an extra mile just so we could get miles 17 and 18 in.  Ugh.  That was hard.  5 Aid stations gave lots of snacks:  1 gu, 1 powerbar, salt packets, licorice whips, cheese-its, water and Cytomax (it's the "Gatorade" that they'll be handing out at the Rock-n-Roll marathon).  Everyone's getting so serious... don't make any more huge changes and make sure you're comfortable in your shoes, what you eat, what you drink, etc.

But in the end, Alisa and I finished strong with our 5/1 run/walk intervals.  Those 1 minute walks never seem long enough.  It took us 3 hours 45 minutes total which equals 12.5 minute miles, which included aid stops.  I was sore for 2 days, but feel much better today.  

Jeff and the kids were there to greet us at the end and played on the playground at Fletcher's Cove as Alisa and I soaked our legs in the cool ocean.  That's the best.

Only 2 runs left:  11 miles next week then 20 miles on May 9.  Hoooooooo boy.  Can't believe this is actually going to happen.  

I'm going to miss our training runs and track workouts after it's all over.  I'm considering running a 1/2 marathon in August.  

I hear a half is way easier than a full marathon.  

Only crazy people run full marathons.

Alisa and I after our 18 mile run... success!

Ocean waves = relief for sore running legs.

Jeff and the kids met us after our run for lunch...

and play at this beautiful park.

Double Dad Birthdays

Happy birthday to my dad (April 18)...

and to my Dad-in-Law (April 20)!

(Yes, these were random photos of my two favorite dads.)

We love you both!

Church Camping Trip

We shouldn't have gone, being sick and all.

But we went anyway, and coughed through it, but had a B.L.A.S.T.  What an awesome weekend.

Too much fun in the tent (can you find Z?).

Bike parade.

Face painting.

The "Olympic Village" where you could decorate your bike and get your face painted.

S competing in sack race.

Breakfast: Instant oatmeal.

Fishing using left over hotdogs as bait (thanks Bauckmans).

Poor Z with his eyes sealed shut in the morning.  We called him 'goopy eye boy.' 

The potluck was amazing.  I don't know if you can call this really camping because most sites had power.  Most folks brought a dish prepared in a slow cooker and just plugged it in.

Note to self:  Don't try to fit a family of 5 into a 4-man tent.  
Even if one person is a baby.  It just doesn't work.  

The kids anxiously wait as Mr. Bauckman lights the campfire.

S'mores.

We plan to do this again next year, but we'll be sure to be healthy next time.

And we'll get a bigger tent.

For sure.

First and Last

Last week, J had his FIRST day of speech therapy.  So fun for him to have this special school time, once a week.

Also last week, S had her LAST day of Kindergarten classroom school.  Hard to believe she'll be a first grader in the Fall.

Set Backs

Life is full of set backs.

We didn't get sick at all this winter.  

But now it's Spring.  Apparently it was 'our turn' to get the bug.

With the exception of the devoted Mr. Garland, we were all sick last week.  I had/have strep throat.  The kids all have a nasty cough / temperature / etc.  I think (and hope) this is our recovery week.  

I hope.

We slowed down our normal routine and included extra nap time.

It has been tough.  

But not as tough as it has been for sweet little 5-month old Stellan McKinney who has SVT, a dangerous heart condition where his heart speeds up way too fast.

You can see a news story here, or see Jennifer McKinney's (Stellan's mom, aka "MckMama") blog here, or check out Stellan's Name Gallery (very very cool) here.  I have been praying for Stellan, and will continue to do so.  

Life is full of set backs.  The only thing I can control is my reaction.  

Good thing I trust in a God who is in charge of all good things, which includes set-backs.  

Singing Fun

Here are 2 recent songs we've been loving:

All of My Life (by Jana Alayra)

Thank you Lord for Making Me

Also, this very fun video:

Sound of Music - Ok I just loved this coreographed singing of do-ray-me! (My sister in law Julie found this one :)

Enjoy!

Running Thoughts: 16 Miles

Last week we (TEAM in Training - San Diego) ran 16 miles.  We started at Fletcher's Cove in Solano Beach and headed north along the PCH (such amazing views!) to Carlsbad.  Our training runs used to start with at least 45 minutes of clinics: injury prevention, equipment, running form, stretching, etc.  No more clinics now.  We're all business.  We meet, stretch for 15 minutes then head out by 7am.  

Once again I ran with my good friend Alisa.  She's such a sweet gal and I enjoy our runs and conversation so much.  It's like having an extended coffee hour with a good friend but instead of sipping latte we're running our booties off.  

We ran 3 hours and 20 minutes from start to finsh, including 6 aid stops.  That's about 12.5 minute miles which is pretty good.  I take a gu (these funky liquid gel runners snacks) and down a couple of salt packets once every 4 miles.  I'm not a huge fan of the chocolate gu but the vanilla, green apple and fruity flavors sure are tasty.  We're continuing our 5/1 (run 5/ walk 1) intervals which have helped me to start and end strong.  

Oh, and can you say S.O.R.E?!?!  Usually after our long run, I get to soak my legs in the crisp ocean then I hop in the car (well I'm not really hopping at this point) and drive home.  When I get home, the devoted Mr. Garland is always there to greet me, help me stand up out of the car (this is the toughest part) and say hi before I flop my exhausted body onto anything horizontal.  

Instead, this week we had our church's Easter party so I had to drive straight to church to meet the fam.  Wow.  Note to self.  Don't ever schedule anything after a long run again.  Ever.  I sat down to rest for "just a second" at the party and literally couldn't stand up again.  It's only Easter once a year though, so it was worth it.

I'm super blessed.  I have such a great husband watching our kids while I train.  For the most part I've been injury free.  Well except for now (crazy strep throat).  I have several friends on TEAM who have injuries and are fighting against constant pain (knee, ankle, thigh, hamstring, etc.) on our runs.  This pain/fatigue that we're experiencing is NOTHING compared to what cancer patients have to endure.  

The marathon will be here before we know it!  (Yikes!)  Thanks for reading my rambling about my once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Eggapalooza

Z finds jelly beans just at his level.

Our church has a huge Easter Party every year called Eggapalooza.  Kids concert:  S is in purple jacket 5 from the right.  We were amazed that she volunteered to go on stage all by herself.

White pony ride.

Eggapalooza Volunteer Parking Guru Jeff Garland, looking busy.

Easter bunny loot.

Cheesy easter bunny photo that we took at Costco (no I'm not joking).  Our kids were too afraid sit with him all by themselves, so we all got in the photo.  I'd be a little scared too.

Health update:  Our family has been sick this week.  J and S have fevers and today the doc tells me I have strep throat.  Joy.  I warned Jeff that his day is coming.  We all share everything oh so well.  

Happy Easter

He has risen, just as He said!

Submarine Ride

My dad is staying with us for a couple nights as he gets to have a 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience:  he's riding on a real Navy submarine today!  The sub was docked in the San Diego Bay.  The devoted Mr. Garland and I are so jealous.  Dad's former boss is on staff with Gov. Schwarzenegger so that was what got him this very cool perk.

Our daughter S said this morning, "I hope Grandad can see some dolphins."  

I'm pretty sure these guys won't be interested in any dolphins.

Jean Skirt

I was recently inspired by my girlfriend Janna's post about turning a pair of jeans into a jean skirt - and I was hanging out with my mom, so yeah!  a Mother-Daughter project was born.  

My mom really did most of the work, she is still an amazing sewer.  As a child, she "helped" me (this basically means she did all the hard work) make purses for 4H.  Then we graduated up to full dresses (complete with puffed sleeves) and entered competitions.  

I enjoy sewing now and can hold my own, but mostly use my skills to mend or alter clothing.  (Or sew on AWANA Cubbie patches.)  The skirt is a little tight on me (we bought the jeans for $6 at Kohls on sale) so it's good inspiration to shed those 8 pesky extra pounds that I need to lose anyway.  

Speaking of... I've gained weight since starting my marathon training.  A nice person would say, 'you're replacing fat with muscle.'  A realstic person would say, 'just because you're training for a marathon doesn't mean you can eat anything you want.'  

Oh the joys of getting older.

And eating too many cookies.

Grandparent Time

New baseball field for the Rawhide Team.

Pool party.

Bean counters.

Cheerios for breakfast.

Triathalon

Our second year volunteering at the Oceanside Ironman Triathalon run aid station.  Can you say "up way too early"?  S was a trooper.

Makin' Pizza

50 States

Carlsbad 5K

My TEAM in Training group ran the Carlsbad 5K (3.1 miles) as our training run last weekend.  One of our coaches commented "You people are just warming up after 3 miles."  As I talked with the devoted Mr. Garland on the way to the race, we discussed that if I was under 32 minutes, that would be good.  I figured if there ever was a time for me to push myself to get a good time, today was it.  I did my best 5K ever:  28 minutes and 40 seconds.  

If you're a runner, this isn't an amazing time, but for me it's pretty darn good.  I'm typically a slooooooow runner.  Really.  Slow.   You could probably walk and keep up with me.  I might actually walk faster than I run. 

It was so great to have Jeff and the kids there supporting me, along with my 125 TEAM-mates.