Family Reunion

We kicked the family reunion of 2011 off by running in the Seattle Rock n Roll 1/2 marathon last Saturday. My sister and I ran it together. It was fun to run with one of my sisters! I was pretty sore for four days after the run, but that just made eating bad food and hanging out with both of my sisters that much more fun! I have an empty house for a few hours as my sisters have left for our parent's house. My brother will be coming in tonight. It's been years since I've seen him, so it will be nice to catch up. It has been FIVE years since we have had each member of our family together. There are nieces that I have never met and nephews that I haven't seen since they were babies. I LOVE my family and I can't wait to have all 34 of us together!

Softball

My day in the sun finally came! Ryan was so short of girls on his softball roster that he asked me to play. Of course I had to think about it for a while (just to add drama), but I agreed to play. And I didn't totally suck. Some of the girls are really good. I was able to hit the ball most of my at-bats and I was able to catch the ball most of the times Ryan pitched to me when I was playing catcher. It was a great time!

Children's

I took Halea to Children's today for a transfer of care from the crappy office after the incident last time. We were treated so well! Our kids got to play while Halea was in the cast room (full of other children that have casts, too). They took off her pink cast and replaced it with a below the knee purple walking cast. She's healing well. It looks like she will have this one for three more weeks and then hopefully she will be healed.

Rumpus Room

We've had this space up above our detached garage. We've used it as a storage place for all of our overflow crap from the house. For a long time we've talked about turning it in to a play room for our kids, but it was never a priority. With school getting out soon, it's become a priority. The last two days I've been painting it. Now all that's left is painting the floor trim and the job will be done. The kids will have a computer (no internet), a tv/dvd/vcr set up, a mini trampoline, basketball hoop, queen sized bed perfect for launching themselves onto the mini trampoline, and much, much more. Ok, that's really about it. I'm so excited for them (and me)! Since we've done away with tv in the house, their only source of media entertainment will be in their rumpus room, which means my house will stay way cleaner. And that makes me happy!

*Over two weeks without TV! Woop Woop!

Bath Time

Halea had her first bath in 5 weeks (give or take). I double bagged her cast and tucked the bags inside of her cast as well as I could. Then I put one of Ryan's socks over the whole thing to try and keep the bags compressed on the cast. I chose to put her in the kitchen sink because I thought it would be easier to keep her leg elevated out of the water in the sink. She loved it! She kept pouring water from the cup over her head and cheering for the bubbles from the soap. It was so cute to watch her enjoy her bath. And her cast barely got wet!

Velour

I love my velour track suits. They have been a source of much teasing from my husband (1999 called, they want their track suit back), but I love how comfortable and stylish (I thought) they are. I went to a practice for a flash mob that I will be in and there were mirrors all around. I hadn't seen just how fat I've gotten and how bad the track suit looks. I think it's time for some dietary changes and to let the track suits go. Ouch.

Opinions Please

I'm trying to decide on a Father's Day present for Ryan. Since money is tight, I thought I would get him a funny t-shirt. I like all three, so which one do you think is funniest?

The first one says: This is what a male nurse shark looks like, what about it?

The 2nd one says: That's Mr. Nurse to you

The 3rd one says: It's hard to be humble when you're a male nurse.

I'm the most drawn to 2 and 3. (sorry the pictures aren't bigger).

Misunderstood Friend

Dear Fanny Pack,

I feel like I need to formally apologize for the snide / hateful remarks I have made about you over the last 20 years. I didn't like you in the 80's. Even though I heard people say how "handy" you were, I just couldn't get past your outside, physical appearance with all the zippers, pouches, secret pockets, etc. While you do come in various "stylish" colors and patterns, I had a hard time accepting the qualities that you offered because of your physical appearance. It wasn't until yesterday while I was running 26.2 miles that I made peace with you, dear friend. You held my platypus full of water, cough drops, pep-o-mints, lipgloss, tampons, and gu. Your zippers stayed where they needed to be at all times, and I never had to worry about losing my equipment. You were a lifesaver. Unfortunately, I don't think I will be using you again, but I thank you for your wonderful service yesterday.

~M. + Blisters 1 & 2

5:14.14

I ran my first and last marathon today. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done ~ and I thought bombshell training was hard. I had only trained up to 8 miles (although I ran a 1/2 marathon last October). I have a new respect for marathoners. My feet began blistering at mile 4 and I got two bandaids at mile 7.4 ~ I used them for my right foot even though I felt my left foot beginning to blister. I kept telling myself that I could get more bandaids at the next aid station, but no one had them. It wasn't until mile 22 that I got more bandaids but my time was running, so I just lived with it until the end. Ryan and the kids met me at the finish line and we got a cinnamon roll at the Beachside Cafe on Alki. I have the most amazing, supportive husband in the world, who also happens to be my best friend. I love him! (Sorry about the way gross pictures of my feet, but I always want to remember this for the next time a get a crazy idea to run a full marathon two weeks later).

Love and Logic

I got this book from the Love and Logic series on parenting teens. I just started reading it, but it's so applicable to our life that I can't put it down (except to blog about it). Hopefully it will give us some better solutions to parenting our oldest than helicoptering and drill-seargenting. It really focuses on letting kids suffer the consequences of their decisions and allowing them to grow from their experiences (not bailing them out). I'm excited to learn more!

Rachie, this one's for you!

My sister asked about the "unfortunate event", so I will let you read Ryan's review of the Manresa Castle. I use the word Manresa'd, Ryan uses the word Manrese.

We have a new word in our family vocabulary -- Manrese-- which means to misrepresent something and consequently leave someone in a state of seething disappointment. The castle is old-- grandma doily old-- and lacks charm. The foyer is small and musty. The stairs are steep and the elevator is only operated by the overworked gal behind the reception bench-- imagine standing around with your arms full of baggage for ten minutes to get a ride up to the third floor; also imagine waiting ten minutes for the concierge to come back so you can check in/out. The rooms are awkward and cheaply decorated. Every door has a fogged window at eye level that allows people in the hallway to make out general shapes in the room -- this comes in handy when you are a 14-year-old who wants to press your nose up against the window and make groaning noises at the couple down the hall enjoying their marital rights. I guess if you are dying to stay in an old place that cannot be updated due to historical landmark laws and pay $200/night to do so, and you like stairs, and oddly shaped old rooms with water-stained windows, this is your place.