1:53:09

Today was the Frederick Rescue Mission 10 Miler.
Also known as my first race.  Ever.

I got my packet yesterday and felt pretty good.  I did my math and figured out I have put in a little over 300 training miles this year.
When I got my timing chip today all those good feelings were gone. I was nervous and felt distinctly out of place.  People looked so fit.  So confident.  So like they were ready to have a fun 10 mile run.
So everything I just wasn't.

I knew there was going to be one lady there that I was acquainted with - she works with Jim and was the one that actually talked me into this craziness.  But I only met her once and really couldn't remember what she looked like (and would she remember me?).  I got into line at the bathroom and just started talking randomly to the lady behind me in line (Jim tells me I've never met a stranger I didn't like).  We were having a nice conversation until she said, "Wait.  Are you Jim Watson's wife?"
And what do you know?
It was her.
Yay!!!!
We got to chat and attend a running clinic.
When it was time to line up, we parted.  She is much faster than I am and we lined up accordingly.
I was at the very back.  Where I met two ladies about my age who were discussing their pace and previous training runs.  Turns out - they were projecting the same exact finishing time that I was aiming for.
Yay again!!!
We ran together for most of the race, which was great.  We got along swimmingly.  All three of us are mamas with small kids and running to retain some semblance of sanity in our world.  They were bumming because it would be one of their last races together because one was moving back to Chicago.  The runner that is staying lives in the next town over from me.
Guess who might have found a new running partner?
Yay again again!!!

The race itself was good.  Having someone to pace myself with helped a lot.  By the time we got to Mile 3.5, we were slapping hands with the lead runners already on their way back.  We spent the next 3 or so miles cheering and yelling encouragement to those runners that we passed or passed us.
The nicest surprise was the cutest cheering section I have ever encountered at Miles 4.5 and 5.5.

I pretty much smiled from there to the end of the race.

I ran with the new group until about Mile 7.  We were doing easy 12 minute miles.
It was good, but I wondered if I could step it up a bit.
I was able to pull off an 10:30 pace for the next 3 miles.
I have to say hills at Mile 9.5 suck.  Royally.
But I made it.
1:53:09.
And am very, very grateful that I could have a day like today.

10.0 - CHECK.
Next stop - 13.1. 

1st Soccer Game

Caroline surprised us all by asking to play soccer this spring.
Being decidedly of the math-letic  persuasion, she is not usually one to put herself out there when in direct physical contact/competition with other kids.
So we decided to go with it.
She is having fun with the soccer.  I even think she feels like she is doing well (in spite of the tears because, "I didn't score a goal").  The most difficulties are with the kids on her team - mainly because they all go to the same school and she doesn't.  She is keenly aware of not quite fitting in and it is grating on her.
I hope it gets better.
With the way her schooling is set up, she will be at a separate school until 6th grade and then integrated back into mainstream classes.  Last year she was cognizant of the fact that she wasn't like the other kids.  She wanted to talk about reading "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator" or about the documentary she was allowed to watch on the BBC about dinosaurs.  When she brought up the topics she enjoyed, she was greeted by blank stares from many of her peers.
This year, in her new classroom,  she is "normal".  There are other kids her age that will discuss CS Lewis or the geography of Europe try to figure out multiplication tables just for fun.  She likes that.  She feels comfortable.
Is being segregated in a class with kids with needs like her own what will happen in real life?  Certainly not.
Is being considered a "regular" kid something that will happen once she is mainstreamed again?  No.

But for now, the magnet program is working. 
It's just that all those uncomfortable, "I don't fit in" kindergarten feelings are coming back again with soccer.
This has led to lots of outbursts and some serious attitude.
Fun stuff.  Ugh. 
Hopefully it will get better as things stabilize soon.

Back to the Game:
It was COLD this morning.  Not cold for Maryland.  But downright cold.
Last year at this time it was 80 degrees.  I would have gone for 40 this morning.
Sheesh.  Everyone was bundled up.  

Here are some action shots:

By half-time, Caroline was pretty tired;

That's okay, though.  Nate had given up on the game by that point and was busily hunting for fossils.

After the game, everyone was all smiles.

I should be sleeping.
10 miles tomorrow is going to be a very, very long way. 

Spring Carinval

This Saturday was the Spring Carnival at Caroline's school.
The organizers did an amazing job with the auctions, raffles, cake walk, Book Fair, gym, food and carnival games.
Because of parent-teacher conferences last week, we had some extra time to make a cake for the Cake Walk.  It contained as much artificial coloring as we could possibly pack in (we dyed both the coconut and the frosting).  It was messy.  It took a long time to make.  Nate got food coloring everywhere.  Ugh.

But it came out well.  When we got to the Fair, only 30 minutes after it opened, it was already gone.  One of the first ones picked!!!  Hooray.
So, to celebrate, I told the kids we could do the Cake Walk once.
Nate won.
Just what he needs.  More sugar.
Oh, well. 

The main attraction was the face painting.  The kids were thrilled with what they looked like.  So much so that they wore their faces to Mass that night.

And not to be outdone or forgotten...here is Princess Caroline...

They were SuperHeros, but we found kryptonite in the back seat on the way home.

Happy St Patrick's Day!

In 2006 we started with this:

 And then we moved on to this in 2007:

 In 2008 we added Sam to the mix...

 They liked each other in 2009 (for a little while, at least)...

 In 2010 we weren't able to take pictures together because they didn't like each other that much anymore...

In 2011, we added Nate to the mix...

2012 was our first installation of pictures in Maryland...

And here we are in 2013...

1001

We made it past 1000 posts!
None of the aforementioned upgrades were made...but hey - we've been busy.

It's nice to sit a bit in the afternoon.  We had a very productive morning.
I got 5 miles in, everyone got up and to the bus on time with minimal fuss, the boys and I got 2 loads of laundry folded and put away, changed the sheets on the bed, cleaned 2 bathrooms, had lunch, hard boiled some eggs, picked up the kitchen, got clothes ready for T-Ball tonight, got the younger two down for naps and Sam to school. 
I haven't sat except to feed the baby.
No wonder it feels so good to just BE.
I have to admit, we've been glued to the coverage of the Papal Conclave on the Catholic Channel on XM Radio (Holy Smoke!!!).
I've been rooting for Dolan for a while.  I've been going out of my way to listen to broadcasts of Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral just to hear him preach for a few years now.  All I know is that we need a man who loves the Lord, loves his Church and isn't afraid to kick butt, take names and clean house.  I hope the Conclave gets that. 

We have been following the World Baseball Classic, too.
We were very excited to hear a familiar name playing for Team Italy.
Chris Colabello!
Here is a nice article about him:
Chris Colabello: Minnesota Twins Have Found Bat to Come Off Bench

I think I remember that he went to Assumption College.  We DID sit next to his parents (with Caroline and Sam in tow) at a Tornado game and recall them being very nice and very excited to see their son play.
Good work out of him!
Nice to see good things happening to people following their dreams. 

Benjamin sprouted his first tooth.  He is also attempting to crawl.  We'll put him down in one spot, look away and 3 minutes later he'll be across the room.  Between rolling and pushing himself backwards, he is starting to get himself where he wants to go.

He has also started eating solid foods.  We started him late because of the RSV and how it impacted his ability to breathe (you have to be able to breathe well to eat well).
He likes food.  Or rather, he likes spoons and to feed himself.  Very independent, he is.

In the mornings, on the way to school, we usually pray in the car.  This morning Caroline and Sam both wanted to pray for their soccer/T-Ball teams.  Nate wanted to pray for Captain America.  Story of my life.  Put the four of them together and craziness is sure to ensue. 

Sunday, 9pm

So much for being in bed before 9.
This time change is kicking everyone's butts.

The next few weeks are going to be frenetic.  I'm getting overwhelmed just thinking about it.

-T-Ball starts (with the e-mails, planning, coordinating and communicating that goes with being coach)
-soccer starts (with Caroline and the gnashing of teeth that there will be because it's going to be really difficult for her to keep up)
-Caroline's Science Fair project is due 4/4 (oh - the things I never wanted to know about the KT Boundary...)
-the Tolleson Draft is coming up (got to bring the cups and power strip!)
-Parent/Teacher conferences (and bringing a dish to pass for the teacher's dinner)
-1/2 days of school
-North Frederick Spring Festival (making a cake for the Cake Walk)
-preparing for Benjamin's baptism (a very small get together - heck - who am I kidding?!?!  NOTHING is small when the 6 of us are involved!!!)
-preparing for Holy Week and Easter
-Benjamin has both urology and cardiology appointments at Children's National (we'll probably end up scheduling at least one procedure for the poor little urchin)
-the half-marathon thing...

ENOUGH!!!
But, as with anything else, it's usually worse thinking about these things than it is actually doing something about them. 
If I shut my mouth, quit b*tching and get to work...it's not going to be that bad.
Challenging, yes.
Bad, (hopefully) no. 

We had a snowstorm last Wednesday that was predicted to be a whopper, but turned into nothing but a snow day (5").  Worcester, on the other hand, was supposed to get 8" and ended up with 24".  Heehee.

So we did end up getting some good pictures on Wednesday, since the storm ended up as just a cold, nasty rainstorm.

We've also been experimenting with a lot of bread recipes and found some really easy, really good whole wheat beer bread.  One of Nate's favorite pastimes has been watching it bake.  I won't complain about all the finger and nose prints on the oven glass.  It keeps him out of trouble.

We also had some visits from some super heroes this weekend.  They sure do keep things interesting.

I also found some budding paleontologists digging in my front yard.  According to one, they found coprolite from an Argentinosaurus.
Figures it would have something to do with poop.  That is a frequent conversation topic (along with farting and burping) here.

Oh...and because I'm old and like to sleep, I missed Justin Timberlake on SNL last night.  Grrr.  He was AWESOME!  We got a big, big laugh from this skit...LOVE the 5 Timers Club! 
We wondered where Eliot Gould was, though...



Saturday Night Live - Tom Hanks - 12/08/1990 by ccob