My 2nd half marathon.... and pics of the kids!

My first half marathon was in August 2006 just before I found out I was pregnant with Cliffton. It was a pretty run down Provo Canyon and through the riverwoods residential and shopping areas. I remember feeling pretty good and I kept my pace easy until the last 2 miles or so. I finished at 2:22. This past weekend I ran the Great South Bay Half which was an almost entirely flat course in mostly residential streets and I finished in 2:03 (2 hours, 3 minutes). That's a 9:24 (min:sec.) average pace. My knees started hurting around 7.5 miles (oh joy) and my feet were burning around mile 10. Instead of looking at the overall time on my watch, this time I kept my watch on laps mode so I only saw my (apprx.) time for each mile. I had no idea, really, what my time would be at the end only that I was sure it was below 2:15. So, I'm glad I came in under 2:10 which is approx. what I thought my time would be. Next time I run one, I'd like to come in around 1:50. But that won't be for awhile.... So, anyone want to join me? I'd love to race with a friend!  The kids had a lot of fun with Richard at a park while I ran.  Let me tell you, that sweet husband of mine has been a great support to me in my running goals.  He sometimes got me out of bed to run on those early mornings.  He's watched the kids while I've run.  And lastly, he played with all 3 of 'em for a little over 2 hours while I ran the race. RICHARD IS THE GREATEST!  :) 

we love shoes!

We got in our car and we drove in the dark....

And then we came to the home of the Clarks.
Inside was happy, cheerful and clean,
would you think the Clarks were mean?
Oh no they were not,
and their meals hit the spot.
They said come on in and have some fun,
and you need to meet our little one.
The little princess smiled and gurgeld and cooed,
as she thought to herself, Hey I remember you!
Cliffton Violet and Azure all agreed,
Sophia is sweet and cute as can be!
*pictures are here!
We went to the Smithsonian Zoo (something like that) while we were visiting the Mike, Michelle and Sophia, and had a good time. 

Um, you guys know this isn't a real CAT scan, right?

I'm just too darn happy to be eaten alive.  :)

                  

Richard, on the other hand...  well, soon to be one hand.

Scaling dinos is fun to do, fun to do....

If you don't know, this is a very typical Azure pose.  With her blanket in the right hand, 2 of her left hand fingers go immediately into her mouth.

Society is better off when husbands and wives love each other, and their kids, immensely.

Dad is great....he swings us across the states.

We have really bad rims (and our tires are pretty sad too) and our tires constantly need to be pumped.  We have two electric pumps and a bike pump that we use.  Richard usually uses the bike pump but not to be outdone, I will showcase my muscles now and then.  Not here though.  I was glad to admire my He-Man.  :)

Don't worry Mom and Dad.  We'll drive now.

We ate out that night with Michelle's family (Richard's older sister) and Azure loved the lights.

And the food.

Aunt Michelle (and Baby Sophia Lilly), Cliffton, Uncle Mike, Violet and some of Richard.

:)

SOOOO CUTE!!!

Isn't Sophia just beautiful??

The proud parents!

Everyone! 

9/15-9/18

Cliffton's first day of Kindergarten 9/4/2012

Cliffton was nervous.  He made some pretty silly faces that morning as we got ready to take him to school.

I couldn't find his bus tag so he didn't ride the bus the first day but when I picked him up that afternoon I got a copy of the tag.  He really likes the bus.  It actually takes longer, a LOT longer, for him to ride the bus home.  I've told him a few times that we can walk to school since its so close (we are just barely far enough to qualify to ride the bus, about 1/3 of a mile or so).  He says he wants to stay on the bus.  When we've walked to school, it takes about 15 minutes, more or less depending on if I let the kids walk some of it or not.  The loading onto the bus, the bus route (his is the last stop) and our walk home from the bus stop is about 50 minutes.  Yeah.  If this winter is the opposite of last and we get tons of snow, I know I'm gonna love the bus, but right now, I think its a bit ridiculous.
I stayed with him for about the first half hour of kindergarten.  So did almost every parent  :)

 So here we are at the end of his first day at the main office.  We 'enjoyed' a lovely downpour on the way into the school to get Cliffton!

He really likes his teacher.  His teacher is a musician and seems like a very kind, easy going personality.  A bit quieter and mellower person than his Pre-K teacher last year.  Cliffton has homework!  I am a little surprised that its a rare day indeed when they don't have homework.  Cliffton typically does not like his homework very much but he does it and does quite well.  Most of the homework has been tracing letters and then coloring, cutting and pasting objects that start with the chosen letter.  He can write his name and count to at least 20, I think.