Memory Time

I thought this was a cute idea. Feel free to participate if you wish.

Here are the directions:
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I or Brian had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me/us a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.

It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you
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Disney Princess

I had to add this one after seing it everywhere else!


You Are Mulan!

Strong and spirited. You're no one's girly girl; actually you are very determined person with a strong sense of self. Never let go of that! The only thing that equals your sense of self is your family, but the traditions of society can always be bent to protect something or someone you love.

Which Disney Princess Are You?
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Race Day

So today I was in my first race. I feel this blog should start with a little preface first....

I am NOT a runner! I can't even say that I ENJOY running. For about six months now I have been trying to prepare for the Sheriff's Academy, but certain life events have complicated the matter...but to complete the Sheriff's Academy you need to run...A LOT! I could not even run 1 mile without stopping back in Feb, and everyone kept telling me that you just need to keep doing it. Well then I took some time off and in May started back up. Tania and I have been walk/jogging for a few months and our goal was to complete the Promenade ( about 2 miles) by the end of Summer. Back in the beginning of May when I first started running I got shin splints really bad. I have always felt like I was just a bad runner, and although it sounds stupid, I felt like I didn't know how to run. But when I went to go buy nice shoes this was confirmed when the man suggested not buying a pair of shoes until i see a specialist. Turns out I really didn't know how to run. After a little bit of physical therapy and re-learning how to walk properly ( heal to toe) I began running again...and went back to the shoe guy who helped me get a great pair of shoes! So I started running! My friend Keely suggested that I should sign up for a race so I had something to look forward to. Since I was happy to be able to run a mile I didn't think there was a race designed for that type of runner. But we found a race that was an Aquathon, which was a 3k (2.1 mile) run and a 400m Ocean swim. Having been a swimmer this sounded a little more fun. So we signed up. Amazingly I went from barely a mile without stopping, to 2 miles and then 3...while pushing "tubby" (Max) I also want to preface this with the fact that I am not a fast runner...and probably never will be. With Max I do about an 11 minute pace,and can run a 9 minute mile by myself (HUGE improvement over the 12 minute mile I started with!) But honestly I can say I am impressed that I have built the endurance to be able to run 3 miles, and figure if I can be a runner, pretty much anyone can do it.

So back to the race....

Keely and I were in the last heat and stayed close together throughout the swim, until coming around the second buoy. By the time I hit the beach I was pretty tired and was surprised at how much effort it takes to walk through sand when your muscles are sore. So I walked to the transition area ( wasn't the only one), and got out of my wetsuit. I can't say I am fond of the picture, but thought it was a good representation of the day! And then we headed out for our run. We kept a nice even pace, and at the end Keely even let me cross the finish line first since it was my first race! It really was a lot of fun to complete something like that, and who knows maybe there will even be a future race post! So thank you Keely for encouraging me to do the race, and staying with me. A huge thanks to Max for being so good in the stroller as I continue to run and train, and of course Brian who has been my coach and has always seen what I am capable of and helped me achieve things when I can't always see it!

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Two Trees...Again

So we decided to go to two trees again. My brother Jeremy was in town from San Francisco and had talked to my nephew Payton (4) about going on a hike. Being 4 Payton did not forget this and wanted Papa to go with him. So the hike turned out to be a family one. Nana, Papa, Brian, Max Tania, Payton, myself and Pippin too, all started up the hill to visit two trees. We are so proud of Nana and Papa for being such troopers. They say that we were not so upfront about some of the hills in the hike and may have claimed that it was a very easy hike to get them to come along. But we all made it and enjoyed such a beautiful day with our family.
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4th of July

We had a fun Fourth of July this year! We started the day with a pancake breakfast at our church and then head downtown for the Annual Push 'N" PullEm Parade. We were so excited to be in the parade this year and to show off the wagon that Grandpa Russ made for Max. Grandpa Russ and Grandma Jeannie even came down to watch Max in the parade. There were tons of kids in the parade this year and we waited on the sidelines for Max to come by and then walked the rest of the parade route with him. After the parade and a good nap we went to the college to watch the fireworks. Before the show Max had fun dancing with his cousins and friend Hannah, and of course eating all the kettle corn he could fit in his hand! He also enjoyed a bag of cheesy popcorn too, need less to say, he likes popcorn. Unfortunately he did not like the fireworks so much. After crying for the first few minutes he ended up watching the fireworks like this...!

At one point we think he may have fallen asleep. Afterwards we asked him if he liked the fireworks and he said "YES!" Maybe next year he will even open his eyes !
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