What?

I logged on last week to register for the Boston Marathon and registration is CLOSED! Yes, that's right, closed! I called, emailed, and begged for them to let me in, but no such luck. I was basically told that it was tough luck and to try again for the race in 2011. Don't they know how hard I trained? Don't they realize that this is the second time I've qualified and haven't been able to run? Don't they know that we want to have another baby around that time? Why can't they just let me run!?!

The most frustrating part is that the race closed a week after my race in Indy, so if I had just registered the next day, I would have been able to run. In other words, it's all my fault! I was sick to my stomach for days after finding out, not wanting to accept it. Why, why didn't I log on earlier?

So, I guess there won't be another 26.2 for a while. Hopefully I won't be an old lady by the time I get to run Boston!

26.2

New Balance Running Shoes $120
Insert for Arch Support $40
Nike Running Gear $60
Marathon Registration $75
Pasta Dinner at Macaroni Grill $30

Qualifying for the Boston Marathon,
PRICELESS!


I ran the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon on Saturday. I finished in 3:37:40 (8:18 second miles) and qualified for Boston (qualifying time was 3:40). I was fifth in my age group and also beat my last marathon time by two minutes. It was a great race. Indy is a beautiful city!

My friends, Emily and Marianne, ran the half marathon - here we are at the start line

Running, running, running....


Still running...


I have to give a shout out to Russ who was such a great supporter. He was at miles 2, 7, 15.5, 16.5, 17.5, 18.5, 20, 21, 26.2. He was everywhere! He drove around crazy, parked and raced to the course so he could cheer me on. He even got a little teary-eyed a few times, which motivated me even more. I couldn't have done it without his support. Thanks, Russ, for being my rock!

Aaahhh... the finish line. Could that last mile have been any longer?!

After just finishing -- I was pooped!


Even though I am a little sore, have a few blisters and a few toenails that will soon fall off, it was totally worth it and I am pumped to train and run Boston. It is something that I have always wanted to do. Here's to another 26.2...

Great Analogy...

Last week for preschool at our house we learned about the letter H, so we took a little trip to Hawaii. We used Hawaiian names, had smoothies, made grass skirts, wore leis, and learned to dance the Hula. It was a huge hit and the kids loved it.

Today I was reading the Book of Mormon to Cole and Garrett and we were reading about Ammon. Cole is fascinated by Ammon cutting off the arms of the lamanites who were trying to scatter the flocks of sheep. He can't get over how mean Ammon was and that it would have hurt the men. With that thought he immediately thought of Abinadi, who was burned alive for his beliefs. The conversation went as follows:

Cole: It would really hurt to be burned. Even his eyes and nose were burned up.

Me: Yes, it would hurt really bad.

Cole: Even his arms were burned so he couldn't dance the Hula like this (moving his arms in waves and moving his hips).

Me: Chuckling, Yes, he wouldn't even be able to dance the hula.

What a great analogy for a three year old! Too funny!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I love Halloween and this year was so much fun because the boys really got into it. Cole was a pirate and Garrett was a lion (the same lion costume that Cole wore when he was nine months and Gar is twenty months -- oh, how different they are!). Cole begged to wear his costume any chance he could, which was often with a preschool party, Trunk-or-Treat, visiting Russ at school, and Trick-or-Treating on Halloween.

I had pictures taken of the boys in their costumes. The boys weren't exactly cooperative, but the pictures turned out great anyway. Near the end of the session my little lion attacked and mauled the pirate, so I knew that the photo shoot was over! I think the picture of them wrestling is a crack-up and had to include it!
AAAARGH, MATEY!

ROOOAAAR!

Look out pirate - you are about to be dinner!

My brother and his family were in town for the weekend, so it was fun to celebrate with them. We watched their kids while they were gone interviewing for jobs and they got back in time for Trick-or-Treating. We went to our favorite part of town and the kids did great filling their buckets with candy and we (the adults) loved seeing the old homes that were beautiful and meticulously taken care of. It was a great night of Halloween fun!

Garrett (lion), Cole (pirate), Sarah (Little Miss Muffitt), Ross (Spider that sat beside her)

Russ really got into carving his year and his jack-o-lantern looked great (left)

Not Bad

Russ' mom taught me how to make cinnamon rolls the last time she came to visit. There is nothing like her cinnamon rolls! She makes them every Christmas morning and it quickly became one of my favorite Christmas traditions. Since we probably will not be in Utah for Christmas, I decided that I had better learn because I knew I would be craving them as we opened gifts on Christmas morning. So, here is my first attempt at making cinnamon rolls -- not too bad for an amateur!!

Lookout Thomas . . .

. . . Here Come the Cars!!

Cole has been a Thomas the Train fanatic, but recently discovered "cars" from the Pixar movie Cars. His cousin loved them and since they have spent to much time together lately, Cole got hooked. I knew that it was serious when Cole used the train tracks for race tracks. Part of me is so sad to see his "Thomas phase" fading, but part of me is so happy to not have to watch Thomas movies, play Thomas, or tell Cole "no" to buying any Thomas paraphernalia that he sees.

Cole still enjoys playing with his trains, but Lightening McQueen and his friends have made their debut and look like they will be staying!