11

The subject number of my latest blog also happens to be the size of running shoes I just bought this weekend!!! Size 11's.....really?!?!?! I've always had big feet and yes they did get bigger with each pregnancy....but this seems to be getting ridiculous!

I am happy to say that my Sasquatch like feet are very happy with these new running shoes that I was fitted for at the Manhattan Running Company this weekend. If you live in the Manhattan area and are an active person....I HIGHLY recommend checking out this store and giving them your business. They have a great selection and their customer service is outstanding. If they can keep a big girl like me moving.....think what they can do for you? :)

Anyway, I was able to get out and run 2.5 miles on Friday and it felt great with absolutely no issues with my newly nail-less toe. I even ran a 9:15 mile pace! I am hoping to get a 3 mile run in this afternoon and start back in on the treadmill after school this week.

I didn't feel like a picture of my new shoes did this blog justice....so I have included this great picture of Collin and Mitchell in front of our tree from Saturday morning. Collin has a big week coming up as he starts at his new school on Monday in Manhattan. We are hoping for a smooth transition for all....mommy will miss her little commuting partner to JC each morning! :(

My Next 1/2 Marathon

Olathe, KS

April 16, 2011

This will be the site of my next 1/2 marathon!!!!
http://www.olathe.org/cvb/sports/Marathon/information_registatration.html

It seems I was a little over-zealous with my thought of bouncing right back to running after I bid my 4th toenail on my left foot and fond farewell a week and a half ago. Since I am just now able to wear a comfortable sneaker (still not all day mind you)....I will not be able to run in the Turkey Trot this week. I was also hoping to run a 10K the first weekend of December.....but again it looks like realistically I won't be back to running for another week or so.

So, to keep motivation going with the holiday eating season almost upon us......I have decided to officially set my next goal of running my 3rd 1/2 marathon in less than a year. This should be a great 1/2 as it is sponsored by Garmin and will start/end at it's head quarters in Olathe. And with the theme of the 1/2 and full marathon being the Wizard of Oz.....I am hoping that my good friend Shana will also try and add this to her racing schedule. :) Chad just got back from running a 1/2 marathon in the Kansas City this past weekend and he will also be running this 1/2 marathon with me in April.

While I am bummed to sit out the 5 mile Turkey Trot in Kearney on Thursday and the upcoming 10K (which was the first 10K I ran EVER last year)......I am excited to have a new goal on the horizon!! Here's to a safe and happy Thanksgiving and hopefully I will be back in shoes full time next week.

So what if it's not even Thanksgiving yet?

The Bunger house is officially decorated for Christmas!!!!

Sure...most of us haven't celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday yet, but why should that stop us from getting in the Christmas spirit? And with two little boys who were so excited and absolutely thrilled to begin decorating....I was able to convince Chad that it was a good idea to get the decorations out and up this weekend!

Last year we bought a new pre-lit Christmas tree after the holidays which made the assembly of the tree MUCH easier for Chad! Mitchell did great and helped with the whole decorating process. He and I had a great time and made some fun memories decorating the tree while Collin and daddy worked on the outside lights.


Mitchell striking a silly pose as he straightend out the garlin for the tree.

I just had to include this picture! It's not hard to guess what is on Collin's wish list to Santa this year.....horses! Before he left for the store with Daddy, he left his own mark on our holiday decorations. Apparently, he feels that a horsie should top the tree....not a star or angel! :)

It's a short two day work week in our house! Here's hoping everyone has a safe Thanksgiving weekend and thank you to my husband for humoring me and the boys with the early Christmas decorating!!!

We Go Together

Sometimes there is nothing better than looking back at the fond memories of your past!!!

This morning I was able to check my facebook page before leaving for work and had an unexpected surprise from an old high school friend. If it wasn't for facebook.....I wouldn't be connected with most of these people anymore, and this morning I was treated by Nicki, an old high school friend and fellow pink lady, with pictures from high school. Not just any pictures.....pictures from my favorite and my personal best memories ever of high school. My senior year in 1996 when I played Rizzo in our high school musical "Grease."

GINW 1996 Cast of Grease....what a great picture! We had so much fun!!!!

Check out the pink ladies and the T-Birds! I went on to do a lot more singing and dancing after high school in college and had many more amazing experiences as a music major....but none quite like this. When I look back at doing "Grease" the whole experience was a great way to end my senior year of high school.

This picture made me laugh out loud!!! I can still remember sitting in the shower every night after performances as the hair spray melted off of my hair. I think Shana and I were a side show in the dressing room each night when I our hair was fixed!


If it wasn't for Facebook.....I'm not sure I would be in contact with all of these pink ladies anymore! Although I am still very close with Marty (Shana Mader) and can you believe that Rizzo and the principal (Amy Traudt) are still great friends and even get together with their families on weekends? :)

It has been a long journey since those days back at GINW. And although I am not the kind of person who would like to go back in time.....I am so thankful for these great reminders of the road I have traveled that has made me the person I am today.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane Jan (Nicki)!!!! :)

This Little Piggy Had None

My title seems very fitting! I am now minus one toenail....and ironically it is the "piggy" labeled to have none in the familiar nursery rhyme game we've all played with our young children.

I will be sporting sandals in November for the next few days....guess I'd better put one more coat of paint on those nails I didn't think anyone would see until spring! Once I got past my initial anxiety about a needle being poked into my toe multiple times....things have been fine and I am glad to finally have the funky toenail I have put up with for so long finally gone. I should be able to hit the treadmill again in a week or so....Chad bought me some toe caps that will hopefully add some cushion and get me up and running again. But I guess I need to graduate to just wearing shoes again before I even think about running......huh? :)

I hate to post without pictures....so here are a few shots of the boys from this afternoon!

Mitchell is humoring me with a photo here....I was interrupting him as he was created an obstacle course in his room.


Collin's love for yardwork has continued!!! He helped daddy mow and rake leaves this afternoon. With all this practice, he is destined to have a great yard one day! :)

Having two boys means..

This mom of two boys doesn't know how to french braid and doesn't worry much about doing any one's hair but her own in the morning. I have no idea about pinkalicious and the only time we talk about princesses is when someone is slaying a dragon to rescue them!


But I do know how to play Star Wars being both Darth Vader and Count Dooku. I can have a light saber fight with the best of them!!!

Mitchell ready to fight with light saber in hand...while Collin is ready to battle as Boba Fett!


Mitchell waiting around the corner for me as I was battling him with my light saber...it was too funny not to stop and snap a picture of!

Update on running:

After giving my knee 3 weeks of rest while stretching and icing...I finally ventured out this afternoon and ran an easy 2.3 miles around the neighborhood. It felt good to get back out and my knee didn't start to ache until the end of the run. After stretching and icing, it has felt much better but I can feel my IT band tightening so I will have to be religious with my stretching. I am hoping to get some more running in this week after school on the treadmill before having my funky toenail removed this coming Friday. I am NOT looking forward to this and will be glad when it is over!!!!!

The Dynamic Duo goes trick or treating

Halloween 2010 was a success! The boys have enjoyed their Batman and Robin costumes and made good use out of them over the past two weeks.

Trick or treating at our neighbor's house....they were so excited to see Connie!

The Batmobile was unavailable for last night.....so the Radio Flyer Wagon had to do for trick or treating in the neighborhood. :)

We took this photo at Sunset Zoo the weekend before Halloween for the annual trick or treating event Spooktacular. Collin was sure we were going back to "trick or treat the animals" last night when we got ready go!

The video below is going to Grandma and Grandpa Ammeter's to trick or treat. I didn't get it on fast enough to get all of Robin's impatient waiting at the door! He was hollering at Grandma and Grandpa to open the door so we could get started trick or treating! Then he went in and thought we should just stay and watch Wonderpets!