Ten Ten and 99.1

Our next race!

10 mile Trail Race at Milford State Park on March 31st

And it's coming up fast.  But luckily with our training schedules, both Chad and I should have no problems with this 10 mile race (I think we both may even need to run more than 10 miles for that week of training). 

When I first started running, I really didn't think there was a need for a fuel belt.  I didn't think there would ever be a need to carry water at all in the beginning.  But then as I started to run during the hot summer months, I knew I needed to have something with me when I was running over 5 miles.  So I tried carrying a water bottle...that lasted one time.  Then I tried a cheaper fuel belt we'd had for awhile that held just one large water bottle.  This was okay....at best.  It sloshed all over, the belt wouldn't stay in place and it was just a pain in the already hot and yucky conditions.  So shortly after Valentine's day last year, Chad got me the version you see above.  This one time skeptic can say that now that I have had one (and have used it a TON)....I have to say that my husband was right (and yes I have to say he was right again) about this.  And since the above race we are running is on a "green course" meaning they won't be handing out water in cups, they will only refill your water bottle....I am again very thankful for my trusty pink fuel belt. 

And who knew that another Despicable Me was in the works?!?!  The boys LOVE this movie and it is also one of my favorites.  Wish we didn't have to wait until the Summer of 2013.  Guess I'll just have to continue making the boys laugh with quotes from the original until I get some new material a year from now....MINIONS ASSEMBLE! :)

With the extra day in February, I have now officially logged 99.1 miles of running for 2012!  March (more like Friday) will have me in triple digit mileage. :)

Weekend with Wyatt

We had a wonderful visit from our youngest nephew Wyatt this weekend! Of course, Wyatt was also good enough to bring along with parents and Grandma and Grandpa Bunger as well. :)

We had a great weekend together and they were able to see Mitchell play two basketball games on Saturday afternoon.

And then at the end of the day the boys got to play in pool with Aunt Christa, Uncle Aaron and Daddy.

At the end of the night.....both boys were exhausted!

Week 8 and I will have a 2 mile tempo run during the week and 8 mile long run coming up next weekend as part of my training plan. Only 62 days until the OKC Half Marathon!

The Games We Play

I decided to post a few old pictures of the boys as well as document some of the hilarious made up games we are playing around the house these days. I know if I don't document them somehow....time will slip away and I will forget the cute details. So forgive me as I use my blog as a virtual memory book.

 Collin at 10 months old in 2009....we had just moved into our new house in Manhattan.  What a cute little chunky monkey he was!

Cheetah Cop-I've already devoted an entire blog to this....but it's still a good one!
Dadda Bull-Inspired by the several rodeos we have experienced as a family.  Daddy is the bull and Collin and/or Mitchell are the cowboys attempting to stay on Dadda Bull by any means necessary.  The bull is undefeated to date.
Thundertank-My little thundercat loves to use our bed as a make-shift thundertank that takes us on many adventures on both Thundera and 3rd Earth.  If you have ever been a thundercat fan....this is an awesome pretend game to play! :)

 Mitchell in the spring of 2009....a silly 4 1/2 year old boy!

Sneak Up-Daddy lays on his stomach and hides his eyes while Mitchell and Collin do their best to sneak up on him (or jump on him) to surprise Daddy. The key is that the boys have to be quiet while doing this.....a feat they have yet to master.
Scar and the King-This is our newest addition to our imaginary game play. Inspired by Collin's new love of the move The Lion King. We aren't really sure how to play this yet....Collin just does a lot of bossing telling you what to do/say as Scar while he is the King.

How could I not include this picture?!?!  I'm sure Collin will NOT be happy about this someday....but I guess it could be good material for him when he is in middle school and I need to bring him down a few notches? :)

Campus Run

I ran the second half of Chad's 15 mile run with him this Saturday and he mapped out a 7 mile course through campus.

The whole course we ran from our house, around campus and back was also full of hills....LOTS of hills. But it was still a great run.

Living in Manhattan is great for so many reasons. And if you have never visited Kansas State University, it is gorgeous and something we tend to take for granted until you are running for over an hour all around it.

We ran by the old East Stadium about mid-way through our run......

And went by Bill Snyder Family Stadium toward the end of our run, about a mile from house.
7 miles completed and now on to Week 7 of my half marathon training!!!

The tooth fairy steps in on another holiday

For the second time...Mitchell has lost a tooth on a holiday.

Tonight his tooth fell out at swim lessons when he bumped into the lane line. I'm not sure how he has talked a tooth into falling out again on a holiday, but he definitely has this figured out that it is an added bonus to the excitement of the day!

I needed to distract Collin on Sunday while Mitchell was on the floor for Jr. Wildcats as he wanted to do what his brother was doing. So we took silly pictures and looked them. This one was our "defense game face" as he called it.

Still no picture for Collin with Willie. He enjoys him from a distance...but turns to stone the minute we approach him for a picture.

It's week 6 of my half marathon training and I will be logging 7 miles this weekend! I have had a hard time getting my running done during this week, so I am hoping I put in enough time before attempting this distance on Saturday.

Paired

We have been fortunate enough to have the Ingram's as close family friends since Mitchell and Ally were barely walking. 

And since both sets of kids are the same age....we are always excited to meet up and have fun in any arena!

Could this be a pre-destined match? We could only be so lucky. :)  But at the very least we are blest to have such great friends and cute pictures like this from babies to 1st graders.

Making Snow Tracks

Due to a water main break, I have had two unexpected days off from school this week!  Collin has enjoyed getting his "special time with Momma" as he has told just about anyone everywhere we have been these past two days.  We have also went to eat lunch with Mitchell yesterday and this afternoon his teacher has been gracious enough to let me come and read a book to his 1st grade class to end the day.  I have enjoyed being able to be a part of dropping him off right before school and picking him up right after school ends which I rarely get to do since I commute to work each day.

Collin was thrilled to see snow on the ground when he woke up this morning and wanted to get his winter gear on to make snow tracks in it as soon as we got home from dropping off Mitchell.  As you can see, we just got a dusting really and all the roads, sidewalks and driveways are clear.  But considering this is the most snow we've gotten since before Christmas...he thought it was "so much snow" as he kept saying.

This snow is cold and delicious according to Collin! Thankfully he gets cold about the same time I do, so we weren't out making snow tracks for too long.

While I was taking these shots I thought about how just on Monday afternoon (after let out of school early due to the water issue) that I had been out running 4 miles in shorts and a short sleeved shirt. Then yesterday I did a tempo run dress in my winter run apparel....to snow on the ground and below freezing today.  Unlike last winter, the running conditions have spoiled me so far in 2012 so I will not complain about the cold as long as the streets/sidewalks remain dry and clear for our long distance run each weekend!