I Ran...Really, I Did!

Sunday, Nov. 11th

Team AUC ran in the 20th Annual Around the Island Relay Race! There were 10 of us and we each ran a leg adding up to 25 miles. We definitely didn't win...not even close...but it was a Blast. And I can seriously say, I will do it again next year.

I am still asking myself what...WHAT was I thinking?! Somehow, Steph & Ashley wore me down is what I think happened! What with Ashley's "Think of all the great pictures!" & Steph's "Self-Motivation!" Anyway, it sounded fun and if nothing else, I can forever say that I ran in a 'relay marathon.' It was for bragging rights that I did it, actually. The day before, we made t-shirts to wear and I put my kids hand/footprints on mine. It said "Run, Mama, Run!"

The legs ranged from short to long, flat to super hilly. I asked for the shortest and easiest leg since I don't run....EVER. Sweet Sheryl followed through and gave me the easiest one...but it was the second to last run and it went straight through Phillipsburg at the end of the day...in the heat of the day.
Megan passes to me

What was I thinking?!
So, at some point, I should mention that I, um, got....LOST. Yes. I missed a turn and kept running down the wrong road for, like, a 1/4 of a mile. I know. It sucked. In my defense, I have to say that the girls following me in the car, pointed me in the wrong direction but really, it was totally my fault since I should have known my leg. It was totally demoralizing. The girls came and got me and I ran the rest of the leg...in the right direction.

At this point, I was totally ready to be done running. So, when I saw some teammates standing by the side of the road, I started to SPRINT! Stupid. Very, very Stupid. Since it wasn't the checkpoint and I had a lot more to run. Darn! So, I ran some more and saw some more teammates, and Sheryl, who was kinda like our captain was there. What did I do?! I sprinted AGAIN! I just don't learn, do I? Yup...it wasn't the checkpoint. Steph wasn't waiting for me there. I almost died. Sheryl yelled at me to keep running but at this point, I was dizzy. Somehow, with Sheryl's help, I made it to Steph. But I have to say...next time I run a race, I am going to MEMORIZE the map. Maybe I won't get lost and sprint needlessly and almost have a heart-attack.
The best part of the race? NOT running!!

Megan, Steph, and I hanging our feet out the back of Kara's car while cheering on our team. And while running, I could hear my boys cheering me on!

Mom...You Didn't Die!! Good Job!! At the end of the race, they had subway, drinks, and t-shirts waiting for us. We didn't get a trophy...too bad.

My son was still proud.

Happy Birthday Daniel!!!

Thursday, Nov. 15th

The boys and I made decorations and cards, blew up balloons, baked a breakfast cake (blueberry bread) and hid them all before Daniel came home on Wednesday.

He came home exhausted and tired since his exam is looming closer and closer.

Early Thursday morning, JT, Nate, & I hung up the decorations, balloons, and laid out the cards. Then, we waited so that Daniel could get some sleep. He had gone to bed really, really late.
After an hour of JT hopping up and down, we invaded Daniel in bed with a candle-lit birthday breakfast cake. He is going to kill me for posting this pic! I'll post it really small.

After a super quick breakfast, Daniel was off to school! My poor husband didn't even know it was his birthday until we barged in with the cake. He was actually sad to know that it was thursday and not wednesday...you know, one less day to study!

While he was at school, I cooked traditional Korean birthday soup for dinner. And I baked my first birthday cake! I baked a two layer butter cake with chocolate frosting! So, so proud :)

I hid the cake until after dinner and surprised Daniel with it.

It wasn't the ideal birthday...since we didn't get to spend time together. But considering the circumstances, I think we managed. I also told Daniel that we couldn't be friends anymore since he is now in a different age bracket than I am. Hey, I'm still in my 20's no matter how late in them I may be! My Sweet Daniel is now a 30-something. Isn't life crazy?

Sugar & Spice: My Nieces

Maybe having 2 boys makes you appreciate the sweetness of little girls more! At any rate, flipping thru their pictures has made me miss them more, so I thought I'd post my purty little girls.

Kaylee is my sister's little girl. I miss her sooo much but I think the boys miss her more. We missed her 1st steps which was a bummer. I can't wait until I can see her run around. She used to follow the boys around on all fours so it'll be interesting to see how she keeps up now!

Ali isn't really my 'niece' but she kinda is...
My best friend had a baby girl right before I moved down to the island and I'm missing her cute baby antics! I can't wait until I get to hold her and smell her baby smell!