Sorry for the lack of posts!

Life has just been *too* busy lately. Our new, busy "we-have-school-kids" lives are in full swing with Kindergarten, Preschool, church choirs and church meetings. Oh yeah, and that little 26.2 mile race that I'm running in less than a month.

This week is my longest training run....I will do 20 miles on Saturday. Once I get over that hurdle, it's a 3-week taper and hopefully I'll have a bit more energy and get caught up with my household tasks.

We got Natalie's school pictures back today.....they turned out really well! I'm still not quite ready to believe that I have a child in school. Guess I better ditch the denial one of these days, huh?




I'm thinking of turning this whole blogging business over to the cat....he really seems like he doesn't have enough to do.




Meet Gabe.....he's 3. He's huge. He pretty much eats, eats, sleeps, fills the litter box. Repeat as necessary.

Small town living

Yesterday I had two "happenings" that remind me why I love living in a small town.

The first was when our "back yard" neighbor came over to tell us that his yard had been sprayed by the the lawn company and to make sure the kids stayed off it for 24 hours (we cut through their yard - with their blessing - on our walk to school 'cause it chops off 2 blocks and at least 5 minutes).

The second was after school when we got Natalie's hair cut. I got out my checkbook to pay and the hairstylist said....."Oh, why don't you just wait. You and Andrew are coming in for haircuts next week, no need to write out two checks, you can just pay for it all then."

Sure, every once and a while I wish we lived in a town with a mall or Target....heck even Wal-Mart. But I can drive to those stores, I'll take my small-town living any day of the week!

460 miles

That is the number of miles I will have run over the course of my marathon training. I'm following an 18-week training program that has me run four days a week. Right now I'm almost done with week 12.

Isn't it crazy to run that many miles to train for one race?

I don't know what possessed me to add it up. I kind of wish I wouldn't have.

I guess it's one thing that's better not to think about.

Kind of like running 26.2 miles all at once....which I won't do until the day of the race.....and I'm trying not to think about.....too much......

Mmmmm.....tomatoes!

My tomato plants finally decided to stop tormenting me and now I'm getting bucketfuls of ripe tomatoes (I prefer roma tomatoes, so that's what you see in the pics) on a daily bases. And even my pepper plants are getting the groove.

I have learned that eating 5-6 tomatoes a day can give you heartburn and ummmm.....how can I delicately put this....make sure you're as regular as clockwork. ;-) Despite this I cannot resist their yummy goodness and will continue to gorge myself on tomatoes because I live in Iowa.....tomato season is short and it will be a long, cold winter before it comes around again.





My mom (a fellow tomato-a-holic) saw this picture on my computer and asked if I would print and frame it for her for Christmas. LOL!

Andrew's first day of Preschool!

Well, I had to send my baby off to preschool today!

He had a GREAT time! Alex was off work, so we first walked Natalie to Kindergarten (she has to be there at 8:15) then walked back to Andrew's preschool (he needs to be there about 8:25). I was a little nervous because when I left a handful of kids were having a cry-fest and I was worried that Andrew would get upset, but he didn't!

He talked up a storm about "circle time" and "center time", snacks and his teachers. He's ready to back on Thursday!

I did OK....he was only at school from 8:30-11am and I ran 5 miles, so by the time I ran and showered and got my ebay packages ready to ship it was time to go pick him up.




My big boy!


Natalie had to get in on the fun.


Walking to school


Just arrived a preschool and hanging up his prized Darth Vadar bag.


Already busy playing with all the fun toys!

By the way, both kiddos are wearing my favorite brand Mini Boden. :)