C2 WHAT...???

I must be having a mid-life crisis finally...or something! Somehow I got the hair-brained idea that it would be a good idea to run a 1/2 marathon, yeah, me the aging non-runner! Speaking of hair-brained, that's kind of where the story turns!

As mentioned, I have never been a runner, never even really entertained the thought of becoming one. Yes, I did sort of train to 'run' the Wenatchee 5k a few years ago, but I really didn't believe that I'd run it, just that I could give it my really best 'speed walk' effort. I was, after all, raised by Mr. Speed Walker himself, Jerry Larkin.

When I was a kid if you wanted to go anywhere with Dad, you darn well better have your tennis shoes on because there was no 'lolly gagging' around. No sir-eee, WE went places with a PURPOSE! Anyway, that was pretty much the extent of my life long training except when I was getting ready for the Wenatchee race and did some speed walking with a tiny smattering of jogging...UNTIL I went to my hair dresser this spring.

So...I go to Danna just to get a haircut mind you and the darn girl inspires me to add a 1/2 marathon to my bucket list! You see, Danna has never been a runner either, but in 4 months she prepared herself to run a 1/2 marathon. Now keep in mind, my hair dresser is a friend of my daughter Lindsey. They are in their 20s for pete's sake not approaching 50! So in my warped aging mind I figure, well Denise if Danna can prepare in 4 months and you're older than she is, you should give yourself a little extra time. So, in a moment of generosity I decide that 6 months is plenty of time for a 49 year old total couch potato to prepare.

I still don't understand what came over me! But, I'm happy to report that I started the runners journey on April 7th with the Couch to 5k program (aka c25k). This is my first baby step to preparing for a 1/2 marathon, because it's really hard to run 13.1 miles if you can't even run from the front yard to the back! I'm determined to achieve my goal and have made sure that even when I have sick days I do makeup work so I stay on track. I committed (paid my entrance fee) to run a 5k in the Free Wheeling Run in Eagle, ID on June 9th when I'll be in Boise for Lindsey's baby Brooklyn's birth. My final c25k training day is on Wednesday the 6th and then race day on Saturday!

I have my eye on the Indian Summer Run in Tri-Cities at the end of September for my 1/2 marathon (registration doesn't open until June). That would keep me within my 6 month goal and would have me running a 1/2 marathon a few weeks before my 50th birthday. That'd be a pretty good way to celebrate a milestone birthday, don't you think?

My oh my!!

Jin-gum Bells, Jin-Gum Bells, Jin-Gum All The Way!

Today's post title is complements of Alex! The title is his version of Jingle Bells, and it's the cutest thing EVER! I keep trying not to think about how quiet life will be once this little boy isn't living in our basement any more! The Christmas holiday is in full swing now. And yes, that is Alex in the Bumbo seat telling me that he's definitely NOT too big for it! Briana, Emmett and I left Yakima day before yesterday and drove to Boise where we spent the night at Lindsey and Thomas's apartment and then we brought Lindsey home yesterday. Here's a pic of us at the apartment next to their cute tree.


The six hour drive wasn't bad at all either way as the roads were clear (just had a little fog on the way over heading out of the Tri-cities) and Emmett was a little trooper on the trip. Sweet little boy has been sick off and on for about two weeks with the snotty nose and off and on fever. I hope he gets better soon.

On the way home as we headed through Union Gap we stopped at Los Hernandez and purchased two dozen tamales. Had them for dinner and then took some over to Darvin's folks on our way down to the Valley Mall to see Santa. Those are GOOD tamales!!

Alex had a 'boys day' with Pops and his daddy. He and Pops took a drive in the 'monster truck' down to Costco where they got ice cream and then a hot dog. I'm sure they played their share of monster trucks too. Then Ivan took Alex to the park to play. With such a busy day Alex didn't get a nap, so on the way down to see Santa he fell asleep in the car.

Emmett was composed enough to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas!

Unfortunately Alex was just...um...too tuckered out!

Hope you enjoy the video showing Emmett and Alex's visit to Santa!

One last pic for the day. Here's 'Handy Alex' ready for any home improvement or repair project. Isn't he just the cutest little construction worker you ever did see?! A boy after his Nana's heart!