Monday, May 21, 2012

It's all about the shirt!


This weekend was the Fargo Marathon; one of our favorite weekends of the entire year.  It’s a toss-up with Bison Homecoming! 

What do these weekends have in common?  Friends.  Family.  Sense of community.  Anticipation.  A reason to eat whatever we want all weekend long.    Cheering sections that can't be beat!  Both weekends start and end at the FargoDome!  Not to mention, both are a great excuse to get a new shirt!

What makes these two weekends different?  Homecoming we buy a ticket to sit in the stands and cheer.  Marathon weekend, we pay to play!  We tie up our shoes, pull back our hair, and head to the start line.  There's nothing like it!!

This year we signed up for the half marathon and “oopies” (as Pinky would say), we just never started training.  This is kind of an important part of marathon weekend.  Needless to say, I was feeling less than prepared as the marathon approached.   (Besides the fact that I had found pretty awesome running shirts for Beret and I.)

Fortunately, I am part of the marathon version of the 3 musketeers and we have an “all for one and all for one” mentality when it comes to race day.  We were hoping to run about 6 miles and see what happened after that. 
The good news:  We ran just about the entire thing. 
The part that reinforces the need for training: The last 5 miles were incredibly slow and painful! By mile 10, pretty much the only thing that was getting me to the finish line was knowing they would have an abundant supply of nutterbutters and chocolate milk (which they did)! The little cups of cookie dough were the icing on the cake! Next year my shirt should say “will run for cookie dough!” 
My favorite running shirt!  (Philippians 4:13)

It all starts at the dome: bright and early before the race

Obviously going for a GOOD time and not a good TIME! 
We love to stop on Broadway!

Yes, he rocked the fargo half marathon!  And is already
talking about how many minutes he can cut off his time by training next year! 

Our favorite cheering section!  So sweet!
I wasn't kidding about the food! 

With our medals and our #1 girl!

Cheers to a job well done!
I think I need a new pair of shoes.  Pretty sure I need to see someone about my knees.  But I am pretty sure I'll keep my awesome running partners and the shirt for Fargo Marathon 2013!


Sunday, May 13, 2012

Mother's Day

My Pinky-Pie

We make a good team! 

Our little Pinky. 

A mother (or mum/mom) is a woman who has raised a child. 

Today I celebrate all of the mothers who helped me become the person and mother I am today:

My mom

My grandmothers

My sister

My friends

My aunts

My mother-in-law                                       

Being a mother is awesome. 

                It’s hard. 

                                It’s rewarding. 

                                                It’s challenging. 

                                                                It’s unpredictable.

                                                                                It’s a blessing.

                                                                                                It’s true love.

We had a great day at our house.  Last night we went to bed listening to Pinky serenade us from her room.  We woke up to smiles and giggles as we got ready for church.  We enjoyed a bagel lunch with friends.  I spent the afternoon in my hammock with a book while Pinky napped.  We snacked in the park and then we played and played! We enjoyed a dinner of burgers and fries with Pinky’s auntie/Godmother and her “uncle to be”.  And now, we listen to her little voice singing in the room next door.  An hour after she first lay down, I just walked in to remind her it was quiet time.  Her response:  “Mommy, I’m talking to Golliath.”  (Any guesses what story we read tonite?) 

She cracks me up.

                She makes me smile.

                                She makes me glad, every day, that I am her mom.
                                             
How can I be anything but happy this Mother's Day?