Reminisce Design Team Search 2009

I've waited all year for this . . . last year I tied for 4th-runner up, I was close but just not close enough! At the beginning of the month I won 2nd place in Reminisces' "Capture" photography contest, I dove right into the box of goodies I was sent. Their products are so much FUN to create with! Here's my submission . . .

Less than 9 days . . .

until my Marathon! I can't believe it's almost time, the past nineteen weeks of training have been tough as hell, especially those LONG RUNS! I've made it through the worst part (well, except for the actual race) but I think I'm ready . . . ready, but really nervous! This is probably going to be the toughest thing I've ever done. I don't think that even childbirth will compare to this . . . it's going to take me longer to complete this race than it did for me to give birth to Kaitie and Jakob.

My runs have scaled back a ton, I finished up my last long run this morning down at the river . . . only 8-miles. My body is telling me that I've been over working it, the little aches and pains don't seem to be going away very fast now. I just keep telling myself that this is almost over . . . and it is! Next week is the last week of training, just three VERY short runs and then I am off to Leavenworth for the big day . . .

Who was I trying to kid . . .

20-miles was harder than I thought! Saturday morning I set out for my last long-long run before race day. When I finally got down to the river I noticed that there was a race scheduled. I certainly didn't want to be running amongst all those runners, but didn't know of any other 20-mile courses I could have switched to. If I'd only known that this half marathon was taking place I may have actually considered running it, 13.1 miles sounded so much better to me! I was already into 6.5 miles before I ran into the race traffic, they were going the opposite direction . . . YIKES!!! By the time I had finished up 12 1/2 miles I was completely out of water and it was HOT! I was so thirsty that even the water at the drinking fountains tasted good, I stopped at every single one all the way back. I was giving myself a time limit of 3 1/2 hours . . . didn't make that goal, it ended up taking me 3 hours and 42 minutes. It was pretty close and considering all the stopping at the drinking fountains it wasn't too bad. I'm sure glad that was my longest run until race day, my body hates me for punishing it! Tylenol Arthritis Pain is my new best friend! LOL :D

A card to share . . .

Be on the lookout for the Holiday Cards & More Vol. 3 Special Issue by Paper Crafts, it should be in stores now. The FedEx man delivered mine this afternoon, here's the card that I had in it . . .

Isn't she a Beauty???

I THINK SO . . . I entered this photo in Reminisces' "CAPTURE" photography contest and found out the other day that I won 2nd place. I can't wait for the prize package to arrive so that I can play with all those goodies.

I really don't know much about photography, but I'm getting pretty good at trial and error. I suppose it helps to have a good model too, right? She definitely has quite the portfolio already! Kaitie came home from school earlier this week and said that her teacher told her she was pretty and that she was going to break alot of boys' hearts. Although I know that this is probably true, it was a little weird to know that her teacher actually said it out loud. Kaitie's response was "I know, but I need to get them first!" . . . oh man, I think we're going to be in trouble!

I also recently had a request for a double-page LO for the January '09 issue of Scrapbook Trends. Of all the shitty things that have been happening in our lives lately, it's so good to get these little pick-me-ups to brighten my day.