http://www.stjudeheroes.org/goto/Dan.Ryan

I'm doing a 10-week training program with a friend of mine. At the beginning, we just did our runs on our treadmills at home and met after work at my BIL's pool twice a week for a swim. However, that cut too much into our family time. Now we run in the mornings and swim at lunch. We've also had to start doing these weird looking drills with our run so it helps to have someone next to you looking just as stupid.

I can't believe summer is almost gone. Jake just got over all of his illnesses. He got sick the week school got out. School starts in two weeks and he just finished an antibiotic last Monday. That stinks. 

Derek's gearing up for ASU football. Oh,yeah. I can't wait. He emailed me the football schedule a month ago to make sure I knew the dates of ALL the games. As if he's missed one since we've been dating. I can't complain, though. He always takes Jake with him.

I'm going to brush my teeth. 5:50am will be here very soon.

I looked through the pictures from the Gary Schucardt 5k. Couldn't find any of me eating Sugars dust. Found one better.

Some random person picking their butt. HAHAHAHA.  Look in the middle at the person in blue. Notice far left. Follow the rope the man is holding and there is Sugar.

Goodnight.

Well, not really. I knew the cameras were there, I just didn't know why.

Here's  a little background info before I post the pictures. My friend, Jeri, and I decided to participate in the NEA Walking and Running Series for multiple reasons :lose weight, shape up, raise money for non-profit organizations,GET OUT OF THE HOUSE W/OUT KIDS. We entered our first one at ASU on April 8th. At that point, I hadn't exercised in over a year and that was just a short period before I got pregnant with Nick. I didn't think it would be too bad. After all, I used to walk 3+ miles on a daily basis along with weight lifting, tennis, dance classes, yoga (you get the picture). Well, I was wrong.

Here's what happened:

We got beat by an old lady.

Later in the week I'll be posting pictures of the weenie dog that beat me this morning at the Gary Schucardt 5k Trail Run. No lie. That dog was a little bitty weenie dog-about a third of Augie-and she was old, too. She also stopped and rested at the mile water marks and took one pee break. I know this because after her water breaks she would pass me again.

Now about the cameras. I always saw people with cameras at these things, but I figured it was somebody with that particular sponsoring organization using them for PR purposes. Wrong again. They post all of them on the internet. Great. At the finish line, they were snapping pictures of me in shorts laughing as I got passed again by a dog the size of my foot. This could be a nightmare. We ran the first oh, say two minutes. I'm thinking my shorts were long enough to cover the jiggly thighs, but I haven't self tanned in over a week. I'm wearing a cap and going incognito next time. If anyone wants to join the fun, its the Freedom 5K on July 4th.

Going to bed.

I'm too tired to write anything so I'll just post a picture of my friend, Cairenn.

For those of you that have no idea what this is about, Dan got to come home on Easter Day. No, the bunny didn't bring me a young couple from the "swingers" section of some adults only website. EEEWW.

This post is for Sherri, but anyone else going to St Louis might find it useful.

First of all, be careful. Second of all, have fun because I am so jealous. I haven't been back in a couple of years and I miss that city and my friends. Anyway, I know you are going to see the Cardinals and Blues, but here's some other stuff to think about.

Laclede's Landing-on the river, bars and restaurants, stays open to 3 am, but the metro stops way before that. check the time for the last train or you'll have to take a cab. fun.

Soulard-I didn't go to that area as much, but nice restaurants. The brewery is also there, but for some reason I never went. free beer, though.

Forest Park-more midtown area, fun to hang out, has a zoo that's free. just have to pay for parking. Muny Theatre for outdoor musicals. wonderful. fun.

Grant's Farm-free admission, free beer, animals and history lesson. it's a bit of a drive from downtown but worth it.

Fast Eddie's in Alton, IL-cheap food, crowded, working-class type crowd (from what i remember-it's been awhile), but very popular. i think mark mcgwire would go there.

Union Station-some shopping, fudge

the Arch-high in the air, i hate it, just go in and watch the movie about it being built, i had to ride in the time capsule thing to the top with a shirtless man that i thought was going to murder me.

Ted Drewes-concretes-my favorite flavor is "All Shook Up." you HAVE to go. Big crowd after baseball games.

The Hill-Italian restaurants. Your hotel room should have a booklet of restaurants. Pick one and go. You won't be sorry. I like Cunetto's for casual dining. There are some really nice restaurants in this area, though. And the Botanical Gardens are nearby. Lots of fun. Eat toasted ravioli.

If you order a pizza, get Imo's. Provel cheese is great.

Shopping-The Galleria and Plaza Frontenac aren't too far down the interstate. If the malls downtown aren't enough, these should be.

I'll update this if I think of anything else. Let me know if you think you'll be staying in the county (out of the city). That's awholenother post. Try www.stlouisattractions.com and www.epinions.com for some ideas and maps. 

amber

We took Jake to the Turtle Creek Mall tonight.  He had a great time. He got to eat a chookie (cookie), ride an escalator and SEE MA-MOT!!! She was roaming around Dillard's entering all the giveaway contests. We saw Bruce Burrow and I wanted to take Jake's picture with him, but he went wet noodle on me because he thought we were leaving (which we were.) Derek carried him out. Saw Steve quite a few times. He was traveling in a pack.

Nicholas is getting pictures made tomorrow with bunnies. I plan on keeping them out of his mouth. I hope I remember the appointment.

Jake skipped Kindermusik this week. I'm keeping him out for a month.  A little girl named Molly brought her grandmother to class a couple of weeks ago. Jake followed the grandma around the whole class wanting to sit in her lap and begging her to take him home. And he was calling her "Ma-mot." She did resemble my mom some, but it was just weird. And embarrassing. I guess it's just a "Terrible Two's" phase.

And I'll leave you with a picture of chubs. I've got to go find some food.

amber

We've been sick at my house for a couple of weeks now.  FIrst, Nicholas and I got colds. He got over his pretty quickly, but mine dragged out for over a week. Then Jake got a fever, and then another fever, and then ANOTHER fever. After the third fever, he got sent home from school because they thought he might get a fever (he just needed a nap.) On Monday, Derek came down with some funk and his throat swelled shut. Now he has ulcers in his throat. Nick got an ear infection and the antibiotic is messing up his stomach. He pooped in his bath water. Totally gross. That was a first at our house. If you are holding him this week and hear a rumble in his diaper, get him out of your lap or else you'll have to change your clothes.

Some twins were born at St. B's this week. Check out the name.

Zhykenya Monae Eboniqua Kizzet & Thykenya Jonae Moniqua Laron

Can you believe that??? It took up two lines on the list of names.

Going to bed.

amber

Nicholas has a new friend named Landon. We are really excited. He could possibly be Nick's first best friend. He was born March 3rd and he came to live in Jonesboro yesterday.  I have a picture, but I'm too lazy to post it. Maybe tomorrow.  In the meantime.....

Jake at one day old

and at one year.

I've made a new food at our house. It's broccoli paste.  Jake's iron is low, so he will be eating broccoli paste in everything until he's old enough to move out.  Tonight he had broccoli paste hidden in the little pizzas that I made him out of biscuits.  I plan on putting it in everything from applesauce to ice cream.  If you eat at my house and notice little green specks in your mashed potatoes, don't worry. I'm just boosting your iron.

One more pic.  It's the WagDog move (as in "Shake your hips like Wags the Dog.)

amber