Another Race!

Well, you may be getting sick of hearing about my foray into the world of running, but I feel like I have to document my progress because a) I am progressing, b) I am having a lot of fun and c) maybe my goings-on will motivate someone to give it a try!

This time we did an 8k, which is ~5 miles. It was great that Dad agreed to do it too - he is turning into my race buddy. During the race, we realized it had been about five years since he had run that far. Way to go Dad!

It was also Tim's first race. That was also great fun! The more the merrier.

Hannah had a blast playing with Aunt "Meimi" (aka Mary) on the barnyard-themed playground equipment during the race.

Meanwhile, we were working hard. We started out running together...

...but soon Tim had to break away from his sissy wife. He finished the race about 25 seconds before me. I tried to catch him......but didn't. :0)
Time came to the finish line with a respectable time of 46:23.9, which is an average mile of 9.20. Not bad baby!

Dad crossed the finish line without having to walk at all, which is a great accomplishment!

My finish was a bit less picturesque, but hey, our photographer was also our babysitter, so what can I say? I am happy to say that I met my goal of finishing in under an hour and running the whole thing! My final time was 46:9.6, which is averages out to be about a 9.25 mile.

Starting out, Tim and I were the absolute last two people. But, it turns out we didn't end that way. Check out our results here. Even though we passed a few people along the way, we were definitely closer to the pack of the back than the front. So, we just left shortly after finishing and eating our complimentary pancake and sausage breakfast (courtesy of the Peoria Fire Dept.). It was pretty funny to find out a few days later when our results were posted that I came in FIRST in my age group (of two, mind you). Maybe if we had stuck around I would have gotten a prize. :)

The next race I'm planning on doing is the Mesa Mi Amigo's Turkey Trot. It is a 10k race on Thanksgiving Day. What better way to begin a day of gluttony than by running a few miles?

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Hannah was a pumpkin fairy. Her costume came with this cutest little tulle headband, but she refused to wear it.

I still thought she looked like a princess.

And just in case you can't tell, that is what her wagon says on the side, "Princess Hannah's Carriage." Let me just tell you, she loved it. She had the best time riding in it for our trick-or-treating.

In the process of collecting some sweet rewards for being so cute!

Of course, she had to try to scamper away into the darkness several times.

A sweet ending to a very fun day- sitting with Grandma and indulging in a deliciously sugary sucker. Yummy!

A Ghosty Jack-o-Lantern

Who doesn't like to carve pumpkins? We thought it would be a great family activity. First, you must begin by carefully drawing your design onto the pumpkin, as shown here. (Sidenote: Hannah is naked because the only marker we could find was permanent. Yikes!)Then, using a steaknife, you must assert yourself as being greater than the pumpkin.

The result are some ghosty pumpkins!

Ah, yes, very GHOSTY indeed.

So ghosty, in fact, it is possible that Hannah may have a pumpkin phobia for the rest of her life.

Last Day in San Diego

Alas, alas, all things come to an end. Tim and Hannah spent their last day in San Diego trying to make an amusement park out of a mall. By this, I mean that Hannah rode every single one of those little rides.

This meant another ride on the carousel...

...and the birdy...
...and, of course, she had to ride Thomas...

...and the school bus. In sum, it probably cost us about the same as a day at Sea World! Just kidding, but those things really do lap up quarters like a thirsty dog. :) But who cares? Not with a face like that!

Just before leaving town, we made a quick stop at the beach so that I could see the ocean. Hannah and I got a little carried away and ended up getting pretty wet and sandy. It was worth it. :)

Happy Anniversary Honey!

This is how we spent our fifth anniversary...We took Hannah for a ride on a carousel.

We went to dinner at "The Islands" with Hannah.

It was so romantic.

NOT!

It ended up that my work agreed to pay for me to attend a conference in San Diego to get some continuing education in feeding and swallowing disorders in preterm infants (kind of a mouthful I know). Mountain Vista just opened a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which has the capability of caring for infants as young as 32 weeks gestation. So, a lot of kidos born that early have feeding and/or swallowing problems, thus, the need for more training! Anyway, so it turns out that I was in a seminar all day, while Tim and Hannah played at Sea World. But, we met up and had a great evening. We are going to celebrate next weekend (without Hannah). ;) I just thought it was funny that that is how we spent our day.

5k Numero Dos!

No, the title does not indicate that I came in second place. Alas, far from it. I did, however, complete my second 5k race (for those of you who are metrically challenged, that is 3.1 miles). It was great because this time 1) I KNEW I could do it, 2) my dad actually ran WITH me for most of the time, instead of leaving me to eat his dust and 3) I shaved approximately 7 minutes off my time (compared to the last one in July). Whoo-hoo! Before the race...this one was a lot more low key, comparatively. It was part of the "Chandler Day of Play" celebration. My number one cheerleaders. (Don't worry, Tim made me change me headband so that it matched my outfit. Who knew he was such a running fashionista?)

From the looks of it, it would appear that Hannah and Mary were working almost as hard as I was during the race. (I'm fairly certain Mary is wearing Hannah's glasses...Does it look like their heads are the same size?)

The finish line!
And I still have a smile on my face!

Don't worry, I already have my next race planned. It is the morning of November 8th, and the distance is 8k (~5 miles). Any takers? Registration is only $15, and that includes a free pancake breakfast afterwards as well as t-shirt. You can't beat that! I keep trying to recruit someone to run with me so that I won't have to always run on the treadmill. Plus, it is getting so much cooler outside...think of the fun we would have! Come on friend, I know you're out there! It's time to lace up your shoes and hit the road!

My first Ponytail!

I realize that it is kind of embarrassing that I took so many pictures of a new hair-do, but how could I resist? Of course, Hannah played the part. As long as I let her play with my make-up, she will let me do her hair all day long.

Sitting her princess chair and holding her magic princess mirror. When you push the button, the Disney princesses say different things like, "Oh, your hair is so adorable," or "You look lovely." It is mesmerizing. She loves it. That would be because she is a princess. I honestly think I might have to break the news to her that royal blood does not flow in her veins someday - but not soon. :)

The look wouldn't be complete without hot pink toes. She loves to get her nails painted. Recently, she figured out how to get to the nail polish by herself, and now she asks me to paint her toes at least every other day.