before and after

Here's a sneak peek of today...I will post more later when I have time and energy!

Here's me at the start line... Here's me about a half hour after finishing....Honestly it was an awesome race. I am in pain, but it's the good kind. Sort of like when you have a baby and the pain becomes worth it. Again, more later, just wanted to share...I ran 26.2 miles in 4:32:58 and lived to tell about it!

Correction

So I forgot that we start in "waves" so my wave will be about 20 mins. after the original start time of 7am, so the times from earlier...just add about 20 mins. or so to them.

I will post pics as soon as I can!

Just heard that there will be a live webcast of the finish of the race...I have no idea if this means the half marathon, full marathon or both. If anyone is interested you can go to http://www.rnrseattle.com/ in the morning. I am hoping to finish somewhere between 11:20 am and 11:50 am. (Probably closer to 11:30 and 11:45, running the full marathon)

Every wonderful, horrible minute

I have this posted on my fridge. It sums up my relationship with running...and maybe anything worth working really hard for.

Today we went to pick up bib numbers, timing chips and tons of free stuff! Lacy, me and kids ages 1,2,4,5 and 8 in the middle of hundreds(or thousands?) of runners and their families.Making posters to cheer us on to the finish.

Peyton was upset she didn't get to finish, but seriously she could color for a very long time.

Upon returning to the car, we realized we had no pictures of ourselves...the ones who are running. Easton attempted to help, but they all turned out blurry...here's an example. Outfits were not planned :)
So I snapped one in the car.
2 kids are in the back row behind these girls, one of which was also sleeping. It was a quiet ride home.

Peyton's Dance Recital

Peyton's dance recital last week was fun. Her cousin Michal came to watch.

I figured out where the "fashion show pose" came from:

Freaking out...

Well it's the Monday before the Marathon on Saturday. I am freaking out just a bit...somehow I have to get to Seattle this week to pick up my "packet" which has my timing chip and number, etc.. It is no small feat to get me and kids to Qwest stadium along with 25,000 other runners and their families. I would take Jon, but the expo closes at 6pm on Thurs and 7pm on Friday. Kind of dumb if you ask me...since people have jobs all day.

I also worry because Saturday morning I have to be at the starting line downtown Seattle by 6 or 6:30 for a 7am start. No we are not staying in a hotel. I will probably lay awake all night worrying that I will not get up in time.

Freaking out that I will somehow forget something, wear the wrong clothes, the weather will be too hot, I will injure myself or just plain "hit the wall". I don't know. Please say a prayer for me. At least this week is an easy mileage week.

I am super excited though. I somehow think it will all work out and I will be sad when it's over. After all this race is what has motivated me to run for the past 4 months. Almost time to think about what could be next?

Partying with the Bishops

The Navy is taking the Bishops away from us soon. It's always sad when friends go, but we know this will be a blessing for them to be closer to their family. They came over for a cook out and water balloon fight the other day. It was super fun. Wish I had taken more picutures, but I got a good bit on video. Here is Alec. He wouldn't look at me trying to take his pic. He's a cutie.

Easton is going to miss his buddy Zach.

Macy eating a red pepper. This girl will eat anything, I love it.

"Gradulations"

Peyton graduated from Adventureland Preschool last Friday. She kept mixing the words "graduation" and "congratulations" and asking "Are you coming to my Gradulations?" Here are some pics in random order...

Grandma Connie and Macy

Grammie & Papa Byrd with Jon

and the bunny ears again...doesn't it ever get old?

Aunt Becky Jon's sister, the kids think it's funny to call her "Aunt Bunny

Peyton and her friend Sierra

I am calling this "the fashion show pose"

Anticipation

Our annual trip to Kennewick for the 4th of July festivies is coming soon! The kids are so excited. Jon's sister's family lives there. We have a blast at the riverfront park where there is an enormous playground, water park, bouncy houses, and fireworks. Peyton and Macy made a countdown chain yesterday...

Kennewick Video

Here's a little video...also about our upcoming Kennewick trip.

Buddies

Macy and Easton have a sweet relationship. They just adore eachother.

One of the things I love is that we can play outside until really late in the long summer daylight. Here, I told Peyton to "Strike a Pose".

Silly faces..Here's Macy's camera face. She does this every time, then laughs...such a comedian.Leftover pinata from a birthday party...also doubles as a hat.

I asked Macy to smile and show me her teeth...

One more thing...we visited the Tacoma Children's Museum last Friday (Free admission the first friday of each month). It was cute, and fun. I definitely recommend going on "free Friday"...not sure its worth the admission price for a 5 people ($46) It took about an hour to see and do everything, then we went across the street to the fountain park which was also fun. So all it cost was the bridge toll of $4.

Stayin' Cool in the Pool...

...and being very silly.

Macy loves to play peek-a-boo (way more than the other kids ever did). She plays off and on all day long, wherever she is. I took a video the other day with my digital camera...my first attempt... and hoping this will upload correctly. She was a bit tired this day. I also took another video of her saying lots of the new words she has learned, but silly me took it "portrait" style, so it uploaded sideways and I don't know how to rotate it.