Okay, was it clever or was it lazy? I'll opt for clever! I didn't feel well Sunday morning while SG was still with us, so I asked Mark to make maybe a first-time run to Dunkin Donuts and this is what culminated. The kids had their first donuts (while watching Barney) and we were able to relax and EAT IN BED! Hunter double-fisted the donut while SG picked up every last sprinkle that fell off her donut and Hunter's. It was a great morning.
Here's the other kid eating his donut:
I never did post our trip to the Reston Zoo with our friend Jen and her daughter, Chloe. There isn't a lot to share, unless you want me to go into all the animals we saw. The problem was- the temperature must have dropped like 10 degrees from earlier in the day, so we were freezing! Let's just look at the pictures and call it good enough?!
The kids were warm with their jackets and blankets, by the way. The adults were freezing!
Inside the goat and sheep stall or barn thingy. I loved petting the babies, SO cute!!!
You've got it- a Spider Monkey. Although a pricey, small zoo, it has some pretty unique animals. You should have seen the tarantula!
Did I mention they look like a married couple? She's already letting him take the wheel. ;)
Aren't these little troopers cute in their matching shirts?!
What is it with toddlers? They have these annoying habits that, at times, outweigh their sweetness. Hunter's annoying habit is screaming- it's not a scream like he is frightened but more of a squeal, very high-pitched and quite loud. I encourage him to "use your words;" but he refuses. He wants something but instead of communicating like any normal person, he communicates, well, like a toddler!
Mark & I were discussing this tonight- he reminds me: "It's the Terrible Twos." Yeah, yeah, I know but I didn't think my son would succumb to such a stereotype, such a demeaning label. Man am I sorely disappointed.
Let me counterbalance my child's annoying habit with something that makes me want more of these little monsters. Almost anytime I ask for kisses, he puckers right up and walks over. I don't even get that response from my husband! He also asks for hugs in the middle of lunch or grabs for my hand to put it on his head. (Maybe I have stumbled across his love language: Physical Touch???) When he wants me to read a book, he climbs in my lap: butt-first, nonetheless, and I melt around him. He squeals when I leave. He says "Mommy" like an angel would sound calling your name from Heaven.
That's how they "getcha." They're so cute- it must be God's way of populating the Earth. At that moment, you want more; and then... he starts screaming.
Well, we did it! Mark & I ran our first race, well, at least together. Sunday, Mark & I ran the GW Parkway Classic 10-mile run. It was a gorgeous day, the parkway is always lovely and there were thousands of people there, including a couple of our friends- the formula for a wonderful time.
We have no pics to share because we couldn't take a picture of ourselves while running and the professional didn't get a picture of us. You apparently need to tip the guy. ;) We are so disappointed! However, we can share with you how fun, hard and exciting it was to run.
We were up at 6:00AM to get ready, left at 6:30 to drive into Old Town Alexandria, made a CVS pit stop because I forgot to bring my Ibuprofen along and were parked at 6:45. We waited in line to board a bus for 20 minutes in 50-ish degree weather in our shorts! We were in lots of good company, though. After a 10-minute ride to Mount Vernon, we were off to get our timing chips, bagging our extra clothes and going to the port-a-potty. Along the way, we saw men peeing in the woods, which I couldn't believe because there were tons of port-a-potties. However, after waiting in line about 10 minutes to pee, I completely understood why they went in the woods.
We were able to catch up with our 2 friends and off we went. I was amazed to see how running races is a lot like car races: lots of pit stops in both. However, there was no oil/tire changing going on here, though, just peeing and pooping.
Mark runs quite a bit faster than me, but chose to run slower for the race so he could run with me. With adrenaline coursing through me and a competitive spirit, I managed to run under 9 minute miles, a bit closer to Mark's training pace. At the 8-mile mark, I started praying: "God, get me through this. I can't do it. It's up to you." Somehow, we finished under an hour and a half! Thank you, Lord! Mark, on the other hand, felt like he took a 10-mile jog. Stinker!
At the end, we had even more excitement because I started gasping for air and asking for an ambulance. As soon as I thought I couldn't breathe anymore and would surely pass out, I started getting some air in and within a few more breaths, I was fine. Crazy! Poor Mark said it's at least the third time since being married to me that he thought he should be a trained paramedic. I've gotta keep the man on his toes; right?!
After this race, Mark is finally ready to do IT- the BIG ONE! He wants to run the Marine Corps Marathon! (Mom & Dad Wright, you're going to have to come up for this one!) For now, we are considering running a 10k in May. We're hooked.
I feel like I am going to a priest for confession when I say: Please forgive me. It's been 2 weeks since my last blog (or so). Having Mark home for almost 2 weeks was wondeful! We were able to have almost every meal together, do some work around the house, go see a move and go out on a couple adventures. I had even planned on taking several bike rides together as a family. However, while Mark was off, the high for the 2 week period was probably upper 50s. There was no biking to be had. Oh well.
How cute! Remember- they're still babies.
See- they look like a married couple already!
