glutton for punishment

Oh, dear. Why do I do this to myself? {Yes, I know all you real runners out there think a 10k is a gimme race, but it's hard for some people! (mvo)}

what did you do today?

I did this with these fabulous ladies.

These are our cool timing chips. {Way better than the last one I wore, by far.}

And here we are, post-race. Aren't we awesome?

How did I do? Not awesome, but it's over, right? Give me a few days before I even think about doing a half or even another 10K. Running just might not be my thing ...

dandy-lions

I love, love, love this shot taken by my sister.  I could use a spot right about now, that's for sure.

4 days and a wakeup.

from megan.

Zack Attack!

This is the best thing I've seen in a long time. I'm a long-time Saved by the Bell junkie and could probably still tell you which episode it is simply by watching the first 30 seconds of it. Zack Morris forever.

happy birthday, babe!

Happy happy birthday, Matt! I'm so glad you were born.



**I also have to give a shout-out to the guys who married two of my favorite people and just happen to share Matt's birthday, Gary and Shayne. Happy birthday to you, too!**

happy birthday, dude!

I can't believe how old you are, especially since it means I'll be that old in a few more months! I'm so glad your mom made you come sit by me that day at church 20 1/2 years ago!

**picture from our yummy lunch today at Market Street. Carrie and I made Jen wear all this, in case you were wondering.**

last 5K post, I promise.

I found a few pictures of me at the race. Most of them make me look like a chubby, slightly constipated walker. This one, though, makes me look like a runner!!

{What you can't see is the 9-year-old just ahead of me that beat me. Seriously.}

happy, happy birthday!

Today is Stef's birthday. Do you know Stef? You should. She's:

• an awesome friend (aunt/roommate/daughter/sister/girlfriend)
  
• one of the most generous and helpful people I know
  
• a great seamstress
  
• a wonderful cook
• one of the best people to watch movies with
• a great road trip partner
• one of the few people who really gets me!
  
• my favorite Canadian

from Stef's birthday 4 years ago ... I love the birthday gnome!!

Happy Birthday, Stef!!!

**click here for more posts featuring Stef or here for pictoral evidence of 6 1/2 years of shenanigans!**

so, i did it.

My only goals were to run the whole thing and to not fall down. Check and check. I wasn't the fastest or the slowest. I came in somewhere in the middle of the pack, and I couldn't be happier about it. I loved having Matt and Maddy at the finish line waiting for me.


I don't know if I'll do 10K or a half-marathon or even another 5K at this point, but I like the way I feel when I run. It's my selfish time to recharge -- no cell phone or laundry or baby or husband to worry about for those few miles. I can just focus on my music and whatever thoughts happen to bounce around my head. I love knowing that I can run farther than I could a month ago. I love logging my runs and seeing how I've progressed and my total mileage. I love knowing that I'm doing something to improve myself. I love knowing that I'm closer to my goal of being able to grab Maddy and physically run away if I feel like we're in danger. I don't consider myself a 'runner' and maybe I never will, but I think I'll keep it up.

i got this today

and the nerves haven't stopped yet. I was half-afraid they'd tell me that I wasn't a real runner and couldn't do the race. Now I just have to get through the next two days without talking myself out of it.

hoppy easter!

the pigeon

I love Mo Willems. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is one of those fantastic children's books I love to read and can't wait for Maddy to finally get and laugh at. I'd love to get this print for Maddy's room.


It would be perfect for when Megan comes to visit -- she can read just Pigeon's pleadings, which are the best part anyway. In case you didn't know, Megan is the best story-reader around. I hope she really gets around to recording some books for little Maddy.

{buy the poster here}

weekend roundup: Amy edition

We had a great weekend, starting early on Friday. Matt's sister, Amy, came to town for a last-minute visit. Here's what we did:

• Friday: After physical therapy, Maddy and I picked up Amy at the airport and stopped at Whataburger for a quick lunch. Maddy managed to spill a strawful of DP and spit up on Amy in the first five minutes, of course before Amy had to meet the director of her program at Cook Children's for a tour. Good thing it's a pediatric hospital - they understand kids and messes! While Amy was getting her tour, Maddy and I drove around and then walked the hospital for awhile. We picked up Tuscany for dinner {Tortellini Michelangelo, yum!!} and waited for Matt to get home on his perpetually-delayed flight from Louisiana. Amy and I tried to watch a movie, but like a true Kotter, she fell asleep.
• Saturday: Matt and Amy went to the temple first thing in the morning while Maddy and I stayed home. We met up with the Strongs for lunch at Costa Vida and ran into Rob and Paula there, too. After lunch, we drove Amy around a bit and even visited my old houses in Colleyville, since we were nearby. It's amazing how different everything looks! We went home for a tasty dinner of IBC and a celebratory strawberry cheesecake trifle. We were all worn out and went to bed early.
• Sunday: Matt was up and gone to meetings before we got going for our day. Maddy and I pulled it together and left to get Amy to the airport before church. Afterwards, Matt let me take a much-needed nap while he played with Maddy. Matt left again that night for a few hours, so Maddy and I played and recovered from our weekend.
  

Maddy LOVES her aunt Amy {it's a good thing I'm not a jealous mommy, seriously} and we had a great time hanging out and catching up. We can't wait to have her here full-time!

do the shuffle.

Matt surprised me with this today. Apparently they had them at the 'store' at work, so he got me a silver one. I can't wait to use it. Who has suggestions for good running songs?

so,

does sitting in a rocking chair and doing this:



today while Maddy napped make me an 80-year-old woman? Actually, I really don't care. It was fun. I re-learned how to crochet from this tutorial.

remember when

I was going to do this? Well, I'm only about six months behind, but I successfully completed week one on Saturday. It may be pathetic that I only ran 5 miles total during the week, but I guess that's 5 miles more than I've run in any other week in several years. A girl's gotta start somewhere. Here's to week two! In order to psych myself up to keep at it, I'm going to run this in April. I think Matt and Maddy {in her stroller} are going to do it with me!

charley harper

I bought these board books for Maddy on clearance at Old Navy last week. I love the illustrations. Aren't they cute?

Maddy's not quite so sure about the illustrations, but she sure thinks they taste good.

here's a list

of things I never realized I used my abs for:

• sleeping
• walking
• sitting
• standing
  
• cooking

Thanks to this, I'm now well aware. On the bright side, I can still pick up 20-pound Maddy.

this is what happens

when emily and ryan come to town. Matt and Ryan play 'tough-guys' and Emily and I cook and play with the baby.