Our Forays

And So it Goes....

2010-07-15T14:44:00.000-07:00

Hello! It's been a while, I know. After a lot of thought, we decided a few months ago to shut down our blog. Part of it has to do with privacy to our children as they get older. Part of it has to do with the fact that we no longer need the blog to update our ministry supporters. We also used the blog pretty regularly to share photos with our family when we lived over 2000 miles away. Now that we are closer to our families, we no longer need the blog as a means to update them. After a lot of thought and discussion we realized we just aren't a family who blogs.

My one hesitation in closing down the blog was that I didn't want to lose all the information we had already stored on it. Our blog did serve as a running scrapbook/journal for the past four years. It was easy to remember what we did, and where we were, because every blog entry had a time and date stamp. I'd love it if scrapbooking was so easy! Over the past few days I've been working on a site called blurb.com and discovering how to turn our blog into a book. What a novel idea! I've had a great time turning our blog into a scrapbook to keep.

The only thing I've been having trouble with is figuring out what to do with our stored videos on the site since they won't transfer to a book. At some point I suppose I need to download them to our hard drive, and until that happens, our site will still be up and running.

If you want to connect with us, or find out what we're up to, you can always reach us on Facebook. Thanks for reading!

Until later,
Anne

I Went Out of Town this Weekend and Came Home to Find This....

2010-02-21T18:43:00.000-08:00

Adam is quite proud of his work, although Alex did help some.

Mary Pope Osborne

2010-02-15T05:15:00.000-08:00

Mary Pope Osborne (at times along with her sister or husband) is the author of the ever popular Magic Tree House books. Brother and sister Jack and Annie, from Frog Creek, Pennsylvania travel around the world, or back in history, in a magic tree house. They've had many adventures with pirates, vikings, soldiers, dinosaurs, penguins, ghosts, fairies, mummies, etc. The list goes on and on. Alex began reading the series when he was in kindergarten, and we quickly became big fans. He has read almost every book in the series. Allison has read nearly half of the 43 books (soon to be 44) in the series.

Last spring we became aware of many other of Osborne's books which I highly recommend. They have become excellent resources on our homeschooling journey. For instance, there are 22 Research Guides that correlate with the Tree House books, providing fun facts behind the fiction. The Research Guides provide information about the times, places, and cultures Jack and Annie visit on their Magic Tree House adventures.

But, our most favorite of her books have been Osborne's retellings of classic tales. She has retold the Odyssey in five books that are definitely worth the read. She has collections of Greek Myths, Norse Myths, Mermaid Tales, and American Tall Tales, of which all have become a huge hit during our school day. (This year I have discovered we can renew books from our library up to 20 times!) She has retold the story of Christ with masterpieces of art. And, of course, she has done an excellent job retelling Bible stories which is worth reading to your child more than once!

My Kids Went to Narnia Today.

2010-01-21T17:57:00.000-08:00

Sierra wanted to stay home.

The 'bowing to Aslan' picture was all their idea. I really wish I could have gotten them outside for the perfect shot since the snow is 'thawing', but Sierra only gave us about 30 seconds in that lion's costume.

Regifted?

2010-01-21T09:51:00.000-08:00

Have any of you ever tried this trick? If you figure out how it works, tell me. I'm stumped.....

http://www.regiftable.com/regiftingrobinpopup.html

Organize Me!

2010-01-11T11:24:00.001-08:00

When we first began homeschooling, we knew that we'd have to organize our home to fit our new lifestyle. Fortunately our home here in Cleveland has plenty of space and several different rooms that could serve as a classroom. Last fall we began brainstorming the pros and cons of each room and what we might need to organize our supplies. We discussed buying some new desks, a new table, new shelves, etc. What we finally decided to do was to wait. Truthfully, we didn't know what room would work best since we never homeschooled before. Before we made a major purchase, and began rearranging furniture, I thought I should try a few things in a few different rooms to see what we prefer.

I settled on the dining room. It has lots of natural light, as well as a decent overhead light fixture. Our dining room table is nice and big, with benches on each side. Each child has a bench, and an entire side to the table. We can easily move to the living room, to sit on the couches while we read, and then transition quickly back to the table to complete some seat work. I've positioned a chair at the head of the table where I can instruct the kids from either side.

It really has served us well, and I'm glad we didn't spend a fortune on something that wouldn't have been so sufficient. But, we did have one problem. By having all our school supplies at the dining room table, often times dinner would roll around and our dining room would look like this....

Or this...So, we knew we needed a little something to help us contain all our supplies. One Friday in December, we had had enough of dining in the classroom, so we took a trip to the Pittsburgh Ikea. We found the perfect bookshelf to place under the window that would neatly assist us in turning the dining room into the classroom and back again. Each subject has its own box, and everything is fairly well organized so we can access it quickly.

My two favorite parts...
1. The entire set up was less than $100.
2. With simple Ikea furniture, the kids assembled it themselves.
Here they are. Proud of their work.We're off to a great start this winter, mostly because we're so organized!

We Have Snow!

2010-01-08T08:42:00.001-08:00

Lots and lots and lots of snow.

Bitty Baby

2010-01-08T08:37:00.001-08:00

Even with the addition of Chrissa, Allison still adores her first American Girl Doll.

Let's Read

2010-01-08T08:32:00.000-08:00

You may remember me mentioning our Christmas reading challenge here. Here's a look at our final tree.....

Pictures with Santa....

2009-12-24T11:23:00.001-08:00

....I mean Grampa.

Allison's Birthday Gift

2009-12-23T08:32:00.001-08:00

Along with our Disney trip, Allison received Chrissa (an American Girl doll) for her 6th birthday. She picked out the doll 10 months ago, but we told her she had to wait until her birthday before she received it. She even survived two trips to the Boston American Girl store while leaving empty handed. She has concluded that it was worth the wait. You can see a video of her opening her gift below.

Chrissa

2009-12-23T08:20:00.000-08:00

Board Break

2009-12-23T08:14:00.000-08:00

Tae Kwon Do

2009-12-23T08:11:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wonder what I'm going to do with all the photos and videos we've collected from TKD.

More Disney Pictures....

2009-12-23T08:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Allison!

2009-12-08T07:59:00.000-08:00

We spent Allison's 6th birthday at Disney World thanks to a Christmas gift from my mom. I have many more pictures to post and will do so after I get a little organized. On the 4th, the day of her birthday, Orlando had some torrential downpours and very cold (for Florida) weather. However, we managed to keep Allison looking most beautiful until after she dined with the princesses.

It's Christmas Music Time....

2009-11-28T09:24:00.000-08:00

...although we've been secretly listening to the holiday carols for weeks now.

The Greatest Thing on the Internet....

2009-11-20T08:26:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to blog about this for awhile. Let's face it, there's a lot of amazing things on the Internet (dancing cats, dancing babies, teenage hijinks, etc.), but several weeks ago a fellow homeschool mom suggested I check out e-mealz. Trying to find the time to grocery shop and meal plan on top of homeschooling has been a new challenge for me. However, for only $5.00 a month, some kind person will provide me with my meals and my shopping list for the week at the grocery store of my choice. Unbelievable. And, totally worth the $1.25 a week. I used to do a decent job of shopping the circulars, meal planning and hitting the sales at the local grocery stores once a week. However, now I find that task a little daunting, especially with my children accompanying me. Now, thanks to e-mealz, I'm making a weekly trek to Wal-Mart bright and early on Saturday mornings. I'm buying my groceries for the week, and we're saving a ton of money in the process.

FYI - the family plan serves 6, and it is a large 6 meals. I've actually reduced the plan to only 4 meals weekly and found that that is an adequate amount of food for our family.

Let's Read

2009-11-15T13:16:00.000-08:00

We've begun a holiday reading contest. We made this tree and posted it on our living room wall. Between now and the end of the year, both Alex and Allison will receive an ornament to hang on the tree for each book they finish reading. But, here's the catch....Allison has to read chapter books (early reader types, like Magic Tree House books), and Alex's books have to be a little more challenging than early reader books. As you can see, they've embraced the contest well, and we only began on Wednesday. Alex's ornaments are red. Allison's are yellow. We'll update you more as the weeks progress.

Field Trip Friday

2009-11-15T13:09:00.001-08:00

We've had simply marvelous weather again, so Friday we declared it zoo day!

This tree kangaroo has a baby joey in her pouch. You can see him peeking out to say hello!

Alex's Signature Dish

2009-11-11T11:36:00.000-08:00

We're fans of 101 Things You Gotta Do Before You're 12! If you have children, check it out. The book lists 101 ideas of some of the coolest things kids just have to do. Number 54 is Develop Your Own Signature Dish, and Alex has recently developed his. This actually came about as Alex was experimenting with what he wanted for lunch one day. We heated up some ramen noodles, then fried them in an egg. Its actually quite tasty, very Japanese. However, Alex didn't stop there, and added goldfish crackers and crumbled toast. He loved his creation and now has it at least twice a week. Since its become a favorite, we figure that's enough for a signature dish!

Why Allison Loves Homeschooling....

2009-11-11T11:33:00.001-08:00

...Everyday is dress-like-a-princess day.

Pictures!

2009-11-04T10:40:00.000-08:00

I've been busy organizing pictures. Well...some of them, anyway. I remember when I used to load film into a camera, and I took about 40 pictures a month. Now, thanks to the advancement of digital photography, I take 40 pictures on a Tuesday afternoon. Each year I've been making a book highlighting some family events. For each child, individual milestones (like loose teeth, dance recitals, birthdays, etc.) still end up being displayed in their own personal scrapbook. I've come to the realization that there is no way I can showcase every picture. There are just too many.

I've finished a book for 2008, and you can link to it below. I always end up quickly putting them together because there are certain times when shutterfly (my preferred online photo site) runs specials on the books and shipping. The sale ended today.

I've found this blog to be helpful in recapping memories because everything has been recorded, with a date!

And, by the way, the book has already been ordered. So, if you notice a typo, please don't tell me. :D Enjoy....

2008

2009-11-04T10:39:00.001-08:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Trick - or - Treat

2009-11-01T14:46:00.001-08:00

This One's My Favorite....

2009-11-01T14:44:00.000-08:00

One Month...?

2009-10-26T16:22:00.000-07:00

I can't believe its been almost an entire month since my last post. We've been terribly busy. Our new homeschool schedule seems to be the reason, but we're having a blast. Our days are full with lots of reading, writing, mathematics, history and more! We're enjoying every minute of it.

We're also enjoying the fall weather, and we took a trip to Washington D.C. There are some pictures below. With our trip to D.C., Alex has now visited 33 states, and Allison has been to 31!

Gorgeous Fall Days

2009-10-26T16:17:00.000-07:00

October rolled in with lots of rain, and very cold temperatures similar to that of late November. We were worried that fall missed us all together, but no worries. Autumn has showed up the last week and will hopefully continue for the last few days of the month.

Marine Corps Marathon

2009-10-26T15:53:00.001-07:00

We traveled to D.C. over the weekend for Adam to participate in the Marine Corps Marathon. We had a quick visit and saw some sights briefly before we were rained out on Saturday. Fortunately, the weather cleared up, and Adam had ideal conditions for his fourth marathon on Sunday, which he ran in 4 hours and 7 minutes. It was a wonderful experience, and we've now decided that unless a marathon has 30,000+ participants, 180,000+ spectators, military flyovers, a Marine Corps color guard and the nation's capital, it will be sub par.

Happy Birthday, Alex!

2009-09-30T11:49:00.000-07:00

Alex turned 8 on Saturday. In lieu of a party, he opted for an evening at Cedar Point. Cedar Point hosts its Halloweekends throughout the fall, and we heard the rumor that the parks are empty on Friday evenings. The rumor is mostly true. There are no lines for the rides. Whereas there are a few people at the park, most people attend in order to walk through the umpteen dozen haunted houses. We opted for the rides, and walked right on most everything we wanted to. Alex even cleared the height limit to ride most of the biggies including the Magnum, the Power Tower, and maxAir. This last one was even terrifying to watch. I'm glad I didn't have to ride it with him.

Happy Birthday, Alex!

Mercy Watson

2009-09-25T06:22:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of Mercy Watson? She has quickly become the new favorite pig in our home. And, we love lots of pigs...Wilbur, Babe, Piglet, etc. There are six books thus far in the Mercy Watson series, and thanks to the recommendation from one of our local children's librarians, we have already read all six books. Some more than once! They are written by Kate DiCamillo, who is probably most popular for Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux, since both of those award winning children's novels were turned into movies.

Mercy Watson books are easy chapter books for younger readers, so our librarian recommended them to Allison. However, we have all found ourselves enjoying the adventures of this pig who loves hot buttered toast. We giggle along as we listen to Allison read us the books.

Along with Despereaux and Winn-Dixie, DiCamillo also has several other books for older children that are worth reading. Alex read a new one, The Magician's Elephant, in two days. DiCamillo is a fantastic story-teller. Check her out!

Forseeing the Future...

2009-09-21T15:33:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our friend Scott, we recently discovered these AT&T commercials from 1993. Did we really believe, nearly 17 years ago, that we'd have the technology we have today? Check them out.....

As an added bonus, the commercials are narrated by Magnum P.I.

North and South

2009-09-20T17:17:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to report that we've had a great start to school. We've only been 'in session' for two weeks, and both those weeks were short weeks due to Labor Day and a Field Trip which was a blast! Friday we traveled to Zoar, Ohio with our Field Trip Co-op for their civil war days. The City of Zoar holds a Civil War Festival each fall which includes many battle reenactments. On Friday they host a school assembly with stations practicing old techniques (weaving, wood detail, candle-making, confederate and union camps, etc.) along with an artillery and cavalry demonstration. On Thursday, in preparation for the trip, we read quite a bit about the Civil War and the 19th Century.

The kids and I, enjoyed ourselves so much that we returned with Adam on Sunday to watch one of the battles. Neither one of us had ever been to a Civil War reenactment, and now I can see why they draw such a crowd! The South won the battle we watched, although I think it had something to do with their five cannons to the Union's two.

I'm super happy with all the curriculum I have chosen for the kids and promise to post more about what our school schedule looks like at a later date!

I caught this 'dressmaker' texting. Very 1800's.

Tomato Pie

2009-09-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my friend Kristin, I have come across the most tasty recipe, Paula Deen's Tomato Pie. I made this one afternoon, and we had gobbled it up by the next morning. I actually think its a little too cheesy (if that's even possible) and next time will probably reduce the cheese a bit. Enjoy....

Ingredients

4 tomatoes, peeled and sliced
10 fresh basil leaves, chopped
1/2 cup chopped green onion
1 (9-inch) prebaked deep dish pie shell
1 cup grated mozzarella
1 cup grated cheddar
1 cup mayonnaise
Salt and pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the tomatoes in a colander in the sink in 1 layer. Sprinkle with salt and allow to drain for 10 minutes.

Layer the tomato slices, basil, and onion in pie shell. Season with salt and pepper. Combine the grated cheeses and mayonnaise together. Spread mixture on top of the tomatoes and bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned.

To serve, cut into slices and serve warm.

Homeschool History Lesson #1

2009-09-09T15:54:00.001-07:00

'This is My Life' Time Lines.

Sheppard Software

2009-09-04T05:10:00.001-07:00

Our children are fascinated by maps (as are we) so we've decided to incorporate quite a bit of Geography into their schooling this year. So far, a worthwhile purchase has been a $14.99 globe from Target. Also, we have come across one of the best (we think) online tools for world and US geography. This site provides many games to learn the states and their capitals, countries and their capitals, as well as bodies of water and other landmarks. The other games are worth checking out, too!

Sheppard Software

By the way, Alex can already name, identify and locate all 50 states! And, we haven't even begun 'schooling' yet.

Boston Pictures

2009-08-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

Finally.

Whale Watching

2009-08-28T11:32:00.000-07:00

We spent one Saturday afternoon whale-watching off the coast of New Hampshire. We saw an incredible 50-foot Fin Whale. We have no pictures of the whale. If you've never been whale-watching, yet heard the rumor that you will get sea sick while whale-watching, know that the rumor is true. Therefore, we took no pictures on the boat!

Sights from the Freedom Trail

2009-08-28T11:31:00.001-07:00

Balcony of Original Declaration of Independence Reading

2009-08-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

Tombstone of Samuel Adams

2009-08-28T11:28:00.001-07:00

Massachusetts Statehouse

2009-08-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

Boston Harbor

2009-08-28T11:19:00.000-07:00

These scooters came in handy as the kids rolled right along from one sight to the next!

American Girl

2009-08-28T11:07:00.000-07:00

Allison was lucky enough to visit the Boston American Girl store twice during our trips out east.And, the Natick Mall definitely does it right, by putting the Lego store right upstairs from the American Girl store.

Road Trip

2009-08-28T11:05:00.000-07:00

The kids and I made the 12 hour journey either to or from Boston four times by ourselves!

Why I Love This Picture So....

2009-08-26T04:30:00.000-07:00

Last night Chick-Fil-A hosted a Back-to-School Pirate Party.

All over the eastside of Cleveland, school starts this week. Some started Monday, most started Tuesday. Our district starts today. However, we are embarking on a new challenge this year. We've decided to homeschool both Alex and Allison. Alex will be starting second grade, and Allison will be starting kindergarten.

It was always something we had considered doing ever since we taught both children to read (here and here). But, very early last winter we began thinking and praying much more specifically about it. After a lot of reading, researching, and investigating, we knew by spring that this was the right decision for our family. We waited until the school year was finished before we began processing through our decision with the children.

Truthfully, we are all very excited about it for so many reasons. We are excited to allow the children to move at an unfettered pace. We are excited to incorporate more things in to their educational experience that are of specific interest to them. We are excited to give them more time to be active. We are excited to incorporate the truth that there is a Creator, and that they were designed for a purpose, into their education experience. We are excited for them to become self-learners. We are excited for the freedom in the scheduling. And the list goes on and on and on. The kids are just as excited as we are!

So, back to the picture. In previous years, I spent the day before school started, labeling each crayon, discovering the child's teacher, hoping to meet the child's teacher, finding the right outfit, making sure all supplies fit into the backpack, arranging carpools, packing lunches, etc., etc. Yesterday, after a leisurely morning at the park, we spent the afternoon going through our wardrobes and dress-up clothes in order to assemble the perfect pirate costumes. I feel that the picture above captures beautifully our new lifestyle.

This Blog Needs an Update....

2009-08-24T21:41:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile, I know. Truth is, along with the 3-Day, we've had a pretty crazy summer. Adam was in Boston for 10 weeks. Yes. You read that right. 10. The entire time the kids were out of school Adam resided in Somerville, a suburb of Boston near Cambridge. He consulted this summer for the Boston Public Schools. He was offered the job last winter, and since it was inline with one of his specializations, we figured he should take the opportunity. Of the 10 weeks he was gone, we were together 4, so the weeks moved quite quickly. I was hesitant to say anything sooner since our picture is front and center on this website along with our city of residence. I figured the internet did not need to know that Adam was out of town all summer.

He liked his job, and we really loved Boston. It had been awhile since either of us had been there, and when you're there for that amount of time, you get to know the city far more than your average tourist. I have tons of pictures to upload and post once we finish unpacking.

We arrived home late Thursday night and today Adam resumed classes. Not much of a break. We did a lot of traveling during the summers while employed by Campus Crusade for Christ. Since this was our first summer not serving full-time with the ministry we thought it would be less chaotic. However, this one proved to be one of the busiest, but like all the others, well worth it!

More 3-Day Pictures

2009-08-04T05:10:00.000-07:00

Friday morning we began with opening ceremonies in downtown Cleveland with lots of rain. Fortunately the rain stopped by about 7:30 am. It rained again Saturday night and for part of Sunday's walk. Aside from that the weather was fairly pleasant.
There were 500 of these pink tents all lined up at the Westlake Recreation Center. The 3-Day also brings in mobile showers, a dining tent, a full-fledged medical center, a lounge-type area, etc. Its quite impressive.
Reminders of why we walk.
We walked through many suburbs of the west side of Cleveland. This was fun for me because I am very unfamiliar with the west side. We saw some beautiful homes and some great views of the Lake. Westlake put up these signs for us, and when we entered Westlake for the first time, we were greeted by an official looking man in a tie. Nice touch, Westlake!
This was my tent-mate, and six year Breast Cancer survivor, Sandy. This was the beginning of the third day. We had 43 miles behind us at this point. In this picture my face was a little sunburned. I didn't even realize it until I returned home, because I hadn't looked into a mirror once the entire weekend.
This is my friend, and Crew Member, Polly. The Crew is an amazing group of over 250 volunteers who make the event happen. They hydrate us, feed us, bandage our blistered feet, throw away our garbage, watch for traffic as we cross the street, etc. They get up at the crack of dawn and go to bed long after we do. I think they work much harder than the walkers, and no one is cheering for them every step of the way.

By the way, this picture was snapped at the last pit stop (places along the route where we could stop to drink, eat, stretch, etc.) on Day 3. It was Mile 58. Trust me, at that point I felt like I had walked 58 miles. The last 2 miles were the longest 2 miles ever! On Day 3 we walked 17 miles. It took me 3 hours to walk 11 miles to lunch. It took me another 3 hours to walk the 6 miles to the finish. You do the math.
Energizer is a fitting sponsor. The bunny was always there to remind us to Keep Going.....

One element of the event that I didn't get many pictures of was the amazing crowd and community support. People were constantly out in their front yards cheering, handing out candy and lemonade, inviting us in their homes to use 'real' bathrooms, and more! My walking days are going to be a little bit more uneventful in the future because I won't receive a standing ovation, or hugs from an elderly lady in her pink survivor t-shirt, every time I cross an intersection.

I'm recovering well. I feel pretty good today. My muscles aren't sore at all, which must mean my training paid off. I still need to carefully select what shoes I wear for the next few days because of the last remnants of the blisters on my feet. At this point, I'm maybe 75% certain I'll sign up to do it again sometime in the future. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks again for your support. The Cleveland event, alone, raised over $2.3 million dollars for breast cancer education, research and treatment. Plus, the experience was definitely worth it.

60-Mile Feet

2009-08-03T06:34:00.000-07:00

I snapped this picture last night after I returned home. It really looks worse than it is, and by this morning, most of the swelling has gone down. I had a great time, and I promise I will update you with more pictures in a bit.

3-Day Thursday

2009-07-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

My money is raised, my camping gear is sorted, my bag is packed and my alarms have been set. (Two of them, since I will be rising at 4am). Tomorrow I'll begin my journey at 5:30 am near Brown's stadium. I'll be walking 22 miles tomorrow, 21 miles on Saturday and 17 miles on Sunday. Wish me luck....

3-Day Thursday

2009-07-23T18:58:00.000-07:00

Days Until Event: 9

Actual Miles Last Week: 30

Training Goal This Week: 16. Not very many, however, I think Alex and Allison will be logging most if not all of those miles with me. I'll let you know how that goes.

Fundraising Update: I still have $93 left to raise.

3-Day Thursday

2009-07-16T16:18:00.000-07:00

Days Until Event: 16. I seem to be getting everything lined up. I have a tent mate, rides to and from the event and my registration credentials. Now I need to begin thinking about what I need to pack. Past participants have written entire handbooks on how and what to pack. I'll need to consult those in the next two weeks. I'm limited to 35lbs in one bag, which also must include my sleeping bag.

Training Miles This Week: I'm shooting for 36 miles. I wanted to recommend the site Map My Walk for any avid walkers. There's also a running site, biking site, hiking site, etc. I've kept an online log of my miles this year. The site is free to use. Prior to even registering for the 3-Day, I had set a goal to walk 1,000 miles in 2009 (roughly 80 miles a month) which is why I began logging all my walks (although, recently, I do think I've missed logging a few miles). I've logged about 615 miles for the year. I'm pretty confident I'll meet my goal, considering I'll be walking 60 miles in one weekend alone!

3-Day Thursday

2009-07-12T07:48:00.001-07:00

OK - so I know it's Sunday, but I figured you needed an update, and I haven't had much time in front of the computer lately. I'm 20 days out from the 3-Day. Unbelievable. I'm $93 from my fundraising goal. Oh so close. And, I just finished a 12-mile walk. I have plans to head out for a few more miles later today. Things are rolling along....

You Make Me Feel Like Dancin'...

2009-07-02T09:04:00.000-07:00

Here's a past due post about Allison's dance recital which was on June 19th. She's had a great year at Miss Noreen's alternating between tap dancing and ballet. She performed one dance number in her recital, and did a fantastic job. We loved the costume.....

3-Day Thursday

2009-06-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

Days Until Event: 37. Wow! I can't believe its less than 6 weeks away.

Actual Miles Last Week: I lost count, because it wasn't very many. Ooops!

Training Goal This Week: 25 miles. I'm also planning on logging quite a bit this weekend. Both Saturday and Sunday I have a 16-mile walk planned. I'll let you know how they go.

Fundraising Update: I'm waiting on a corporate matching gift, and if that appears, I will only need another $150. Keep your fingers crossed.......

One Belt, Two Belt, Yellow Belt, Purple Belt

2009-06-18T08:16:00.001-07:00

3-Day Thursday

2009-06-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

Days Until Event: 51

Actual Miles Last Week: 32

Training Goal This Week: My life has significantly changed this week. I have a few more responsibilities and a little less time to walk. If I could log 19 miles this week and 21 miles next week, I'd feel pretty good about myself. I'm trying to add in a little more strength training that I can do at home. I'll keep you posted!

3-Day Thursday

2009-06-04T10:42:00.000-07:00

Days Until Event: 58

Actual Miles Last Week: 28

Training Goal This Week: 32 miles.

Fundraising Update: Only a little over $400 left to raise!

Go Orioles!

2009-05-31T12:06:00.000-07:00

Alex had his first baseball game Wednesday night. This is new for him since he never played t-ball. Because of rain, the game only lasted two innings. He played catcher for both. He also got a hit, made it on base, and eventually scored a run (although, I'm pretty certain no one keeps track of the score). The most exciting part of the game came during warm-ups where, while trying to catch a ball, he missed, got hit in the face with the ball and it knocked out a loose tooth. He was a bloody mess for a bit, but he toughened up and went back on the field.

At the end of the game the coach awarded him the game ball. Here he is posing with the game ball and his newly missing tooth.

3-Day Thursday

2009-05-28T10:20:00.000-07:00

Days Until Event: 65

Actual Miles Last Week: 24.5

Training Goal This Week: 28 miles.

Memorial Day

2009-05-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day seems to be one of the holidays of choice here in South Euclid. There's a huge parade that comes right down the center of town and ends practically on our street. In fact, when we first moved here and were telling people where we lived, most replied with, 'Oh. You're right on the parade route. That must make it very convenient'. The joke is, how can there be anyone left to watch the parade, when everyone you know is in it....

3-Day Thursday

2009-05-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

Days Until Event: 72

Actual Miles Last Week: 10. Last week was my second recovery week from the Flying Pig Marathon. I had planned on taking it easy for two weeks. This week I'm returning to my normal training plan.

Training Goal This Week: 24 miles.

Fundraising Update: I'm thrilled to report I only have a little over $600 left to raise before the event. If you haven't given yet, I'm asking you to consider becoming a part of my team. Every little bit helps. Even though I'm still a few months out from the 3-Day, I'm hoping to have the money raised by June. That way, in the 6 weeks prior to the event, I can focus fully on my training. You can make a donation online by clicking here, or you can mail me a check (made payable to The 3-Day) at our home address. (E-mail me Anne.Huminsky@gmail.com for address). Thank you so much for your support. I'm getting excited, and I'm really looking forward to the event!

License to Drive

2009-05-20T07:43:00.000-07:00

19 years ago I took my first and only Ohio driver's test. I have a few memories from the event. There were three 'testers' at the location nearest to our suburb, two women testers (one had purple hair) and a man. Rumor was, you wanted the man. He passed everyone. If you had to have a woman, you didn't want the one with the purple hair. She failed everyone. When I showed up to my test, a woman tested me. But, not the one with purple hair. Thankfully. Even in my very large 1979 Pontiac Bonneville, I passed the first time, and immediately received my first Ohio driver's license. In my picture I was looking at the camera and behind me was a red background.

Four years later I returned to the DMV because my license had expired. The format for the license had changed. This time I had to turn my head to the right (maybe left...) on a red background because I was still under 21. This was a rip-off. I had to pay for this license that would only be good for one year.

I returned again at 21. I looked at the camera and smiled for my now 'legal' license which was legit because my picture was now on a blue background.

At 23 (1997) I visited a DMV in Athens County, Ohio for a new license because my last name had changed from Harvey to Huminsky. Ohio Driver's License Count: 4.

The next time I entered a DMV I was in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was the spring of 2000. It was easy to obtain a driver's license in Nevada. All you had to do was surrender a current, valid driver's license. The hardest part of the process was the wait. Sometime in the late 90's the population of Vegas went from 1.5 million to 2.5 million. They still only had 4 DMVs. I believe I waited over four hours for my Nevada driver's license which was valid for four years.

In May of 2004 I entered a Washington DMV. This time I had to take a test. Two tests. The first was the written portion. Most adults we knew failed the written portion of the test unless they read and studied the training book. I read the book and passed. Next I had to take the driver's portion of the test. I might have had to leave and reschedule this part. I have vague memories because I was spending my days (and nights) with a 2 1/2 year old and a 5 month old. Surprisingly, I remember more events about the test I took at 16 than the test I took at 30. What I do remember most is having to parallel park our minivan. Fortunately, I passed. However, throughout the test I wondered...if I fail, will they let me drive myself home? A Washington driver's license is valid for 5 years.

Fast forward 5 years to the spring of 2009. My license was set to expire on my birthday, May 10th. To obtain an Ohio license you need to retake the written portion of the test. No driving portion though. I had intended to read the book. We picked one up the week before my birthday, and I took a practice test. I passed the practice test so I assumed I was good to go. I was. I took my written test on My 8th, and I only missed 4 questions. I still don't know what the legal driving alcohol limit is, or how long points stay on your license. I also was unaware of how fast you are allowed to drive if you have children under the age of 16 in the bed of your truck. Honestly, I didn't even know you were allowed to drive around the state of Ohio with children in the bed of your truck. FYI - the speed limit is 25mph. I guessed 10.

So, 19 years later, my Ohio driver's license count is up to 5. The gal processing my license asked me if my height and weight were the same. I was assuming she meant off my Washington ID so I said yes. After she printed out the paperwork, I understood that she meant off the last records they had of me in Ohio, which I don't think I ever changed since my original license in 1990. Once I made that discovery, I made her reprint me out a new license. I told her that weight was from high school. She needed to update it a bit........

Busy, busy, busy.

2009-05-17T07:50:00.000-07:00

We've had a busy week. We've been doing some of this....

And some of this....

While watching this....

We also spent a lot of time on this....

And finally ended the week with this.....

3-Day Thursday

2009-05-07T16:52:00.000-07:00

Days Until Event: 86

Actual Miles Last Week: 9

Training Goal This Week: I have set no goal because of the marathon last Sunday. I'm taking a few days to rest and recover. However I do have a 10+ mile walk scheduled for Saturday. So, between the two, I'll still be logging over 35 miles this week.

The Flying Pig

2009-05-04T15:50:00.001-07:00

We've returned home, and have somewhat recovered, from the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon. It was a great (but hilly) course and a wonderfully planned race. The city seems to really get behind the event and the directors must think through every last detail. We had a rainy/drizzly start, but for the rest of the race the weather was acceptable. Not only does the race have aid stations at every mile, but the aid stations have themes and the volunteers dress the part. Check out Margaritaville at mile 18.

We went through many neighborhoods and the residents were out with their grills, radios and pig costumes having a blast and cheering us on. We heard that once you've 'Done the Pig' you wind up being a little disappointed in the other Ohio marathons because of how well you're cared for in Cincinnati. Once we check out some of the other events, we'll let you know if that rumor is true.

Adam ran the half marathon in a little under 2 hours, and I walked the full marathon in 6hrs and 20mins. Give us a few more days to recover (and to attempt to walk up and down our stairs) and we'll let you know if we'll do it again next year.

3-Day Thursday

2009-04-30T17:29:00.000-07:00

Days Until Event: 93

Actual Miles Last Week: 20.5

Training Goal This Week: 9

Fundraising Update: I've raised 53% of my fundraising goal. Yay! I have 10 weeks left to raise a little over $1,000. Thank you again to all of you who have already contributed. You are able to make any online donations by clicking here.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-29T17:20:00.001-07:00

Baskin Robbins' 31 cent scoop night....

Should We Talk About the Weather...?

2009-04-27T14:38:00.000-07:00

I've been frantically checking the online weather reports for Cincinnati's Sunday forecast. As the marathon approaches I'm hoping the weather cooperates. It has been close to 90 degrees here the past three days. The summer weather has been a nice break from the rainy spring, but I really do not want to log 26.2 miles in 90 degree heat. Nor do I want to log 26.2 miles in 40 degree thunderstorms. Of course, everyday the forecast seems to change, and I don't think we'll know for sure until a few days beforehand, but right now it is looking like lovely marathon weather. Keep your fingers crossed.....

Sunday, May 03
Mostly Cloudy
Hi: 66° Lo: 49°
Mostly Cloudy. High 66F and low 49F. Winds SW at 10 mph. Air Quality: NA, UV Index: NA
Precip: 0%

Discovery Walk

2009-04-25T16:24:00.001-07:00

This weekend I'm missing one of my favorite things about Vancouver, Washington. The Discovery Walk. Each year Vancouver hosted an international walking festival, and for three days the city was full of walkers. Over the years, I logged countless miles on Vancouver streets during the events by finishing two different marathons, a half marathon, and many 5ks and 6ks. In order to celebrate I'm wearing my Discovery Walk t-shirt today.

I found some old pictures on their website....
Alex and I running the 5k in 2008.
Finishing the marathon in 2007.
Family 6k in 2007.

3-Day Thursday

2009-04-23T19:04:00.000-07:00

Days Until Event: 100

Actual Miles Last Week: 21.5. I skipped a day. Such is life.

Training Goal This Week: 20

3-Day Thursday

2009-04-16T11:20:00.000-07:00

Days Until Event: 107

Actual Miles Last Week: 38

Training Goal This Week: 25 miles. This week I begin my taper for the Cincinnati Marathon, so my mileage will begin to decrease dramatically until after that event. Although this will still be a tricky week because Adam isn't around to help (more on that later), the kids had Monday off of school, and two of the four days they do attend school I will be spending my mornings (my main walking time) in their classrooms as the parent helper. I'll be logging quite a bit of miles on the basement treadmill. Not my favorite option, but it works nonetheless.

Training Walk Leader: I also mentioned in my letters that I have been trained to be a Training Walk Leader for the Breast Cancer 3-Day. My main responsibility is planning walks in our area by calculating the distance according to our training plan and arranging a meeting place for everyone to begin. I've also been able to impart some distance-walker wisdom (the little that I have) for such questions as...How can I alleviate the swelling in my hands when I walk? What type of shoes do you recommend? What's the best stretch for this muscle, etc. I've planned nearly a dozen walks. I've had a great time on the walks and have begun to meet even more people in the Cleveland area, as well as our little suburb. I've made a new walking friend who lives only a few streets away. I've also walked with another gal, a few times, who is a six-year survivor of breast cancer. This is her third 3-day walk. I once told her she should be training me........

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-15T11:47:00.001-07:00

From Alex

2009-04-13T19:11:00.000-07:00

Alex has a first grade pen pal at a neighboring elementary school. The other day he brought home a copy of a letter than he penned to his pal. I loved it, so I thought I'd share....

Dear (friend):

Thank you for writing me back. I like your letter. My favroite hobby is tie kwon do. We are counting money. I have a math club on Tuseday. Sometimes when I go home I play on the computer. I read a lot after school. I do not play video games a lot (only) sometimes when my uncle comes over. That's why I read a lot. My favroite food is watermelon. My birthday is Semptember 26. I hope you write me back.

From: Alex

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T17:13:00.001-07:00

20-Miler

2009-04-11T17:41:00.001-07:00

I walked 20 miles today. In marathon training a 20-miler is 'key'. Its at this point in your training you realize that you more or less could finish the entire 26.2 miles in a few weeks. Any novice marathon training schedule has you completing at least one 20-miler in your training. Ideally, I'd do at least two 20-milers, but since I've been training through the winter in northeast Ohio, I worked only one 20-miler into the schedule. If I was training through the summer the weather would allow for more. I felt lucky to at least get one in this winter. Today was a perfect day for 20 miles. Very sunny. Low 40's. A little windy but not overbearing. Armed with my MP3 player, in a little over 5 hours (and a stop for a bagel and lemonade at Bruegger's), I completed my longest training walk for the Cincinnati Marathon.

It has been a long time since I walked 20 miles. My last marathon was in April of 2007, so technically I walked 20 miles that day. However, I was lazy with my training that spring, and didn't complete a 20-miler before that marathon. If I remember correctly, I did two 20-milers in August and September of 2006, before the 2006 Portland Marathon.

A 20-miler in southeast Cleveland is quite different that a 20-miler in Portland or Vancouver, Washington. Suburbs are different, and either non-existent or quite larger, out west. You see, if I walked 20 miles in Portland (usually 10 miles out and back, or something similar), I would still be in Portland. If I walked 20 miles in Vancouver, I'd still be in Vancouver. (I never walked long-distance while I lived in Las Vegas, but if I had, after 20 miles, I'd still be in Las Vegas). Today, I walked through South Euclid, Lyndhurst, Beachwood, Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights (again), University Heights, and finally back to South Euclid. I actually planned my route to take me down some fabulous historic roads in both Shaker and Cleveland Heights, where I walked by the BIGGEST. HOUSES. EVER. Seriously. And, I say this after living in Vegas. And Portland. And, spending significant time in Lake Tahoe. Alex and Allison love it when we drive down these roads. They often ask if the houses are hotels. Or castles.

The Cincinnati Marathon is 3 weeks from tomorrow. After my 20-miler, I'm feeling ready.....

Opening Day

2009-04-10T16:29:00.001-07:00

It's been over ten years since we've lived in a city with a Major League Baseball team. For those ten years, we were usually unaware of when baseball season begun. No longer. I'm not sure how you could live in Cleveland and miss the fact that today is opening day at Progressive Field. Unfortunately the Indians began their losing streak on Tuesday when they played in Texas. Already they've lost three games, and are currently losing their home opener in the 5th inning. Let's hope the entire season isn't like this....

Computer Update: Mike from Dell returned today, for the second time, and all is well with Adam's laptop. Thankfully!

3-Day Thursday

2009-04-09T05:20:00.000-07:00

Days Until Event: 114

Actual Miles Last Week: 33.5. I fell short of my 35 mile goal. I had planned on walking 15 miles on Saturday. The weather was horribly windy. For a few miles I had Sierra with me, who was starting to drive me crazy. I walked home at 13.5 miles.

Training Goal This Week: 38. This is my heaviest week (mileage-wise) until the Cincinnati Marathon on May 3rd. This is also extremely tricky because the kids are on spring break. We'll see if I log all these miles while I'm busy rushing to Chuck E. Cheese and dying Easter eggs......

Total Miles for March: 125.6

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-08T04:51:00.000-07:00

These photos aren't of the best quality because I took them through our kitchen window and the screen. I was afraid if I moved down into the family room, and open the patio doors, I would disturb this great scene. If you look to the far right of the first picture, right where the treeline starts, you can almost make out the deer that is debating cruising through our yard. Sierra had her eye on the deer the entire time.

Pittsburgh Ikea

2009-04-07T04:51:00.000-07:00

The kids and I headed over the Pittsburgh Ikea yesterday for Day #2 of their spring break. (They had last Friday off also, and we spent that day in Columbus with my family). I was hoping to pick up a couple pedestal tables at Ikea that match one we bought last spring in Portland. Of course, they were completely out of stock and won't be receiving a new shipment for awhile. Fortunately, I was able to pick up a few other things that made our trip worth it. (That's not hard to do at Ikea). The kids absolutely love the Ikea playlands and miss not being able to visit one regularly.

Computer Update: Dell Technician should be here sometime early afternoonish to work on the laptop. Fingers are still crossed.....

Computer Woes

2009-04-06T12:51:00.000-07:00

We have three computers in our house. At the moment, not one is working properly. Our most important one, Adam's laptop, has a defective motherboard. He has all his school work saved on that computer, most of which is due in the next 7 days. A technician is supposed to schedule an appointment with us later this week for service. Keep your fingers crossed....

3-Day Thursday

2009-04-02T18:13:00.000-07:00

Days Until Event: 121

Actual Miles Last Week: 31.5

Training Goal This Week: 35 miles

Of course, I also need to mention that in order to participate in the Breast Cancer 3-Day, I need to raise $2300 in support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund. I'm thrilled to report I've raised a little over 25% of my goal. I am grateful for my supporters! However, I am hoping to raise all of my money by June. In order to be a part of my journey, you can donate online by clicking here. Or, if you would prefer to mail a check, please email me (Anne.Huminsky@gmail.com) for the mailing address. Thank you!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-01T15:42:00.001-07:00

Allison started Tae Kwon Do this week. She LOVES it!

The Ocelot

2009-03-30T16:08:00.000-07:00

Allison loves to recite poetry while I video her. This is a poem she knows from school called, The Ocelot. (They've been learning about the rainforest this month). We have several other videos, but I won't overwhelm you by posting them all in one day!

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

2009-03-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

Allison has been tying her shoes for over a month now. Problem is, she doesn't wear very many 'tie shoes'. She prefers shoes like this.....

Or this....
(I think this looks a bit like the legs stuck out under Dorothy's house once it touched down in Oz).

Or any of these....

However, she has done a great job practicing on mine.

Bicycle Pics

2009-03-30T15:44:00.001-07:00

I Want to Ride My Bicycle

2009-03-28T04:35:00.001-07:00

Update: No more training wheels are needed at the Huminsky household. Yesterday, Allison rode over a mile-and-a-half, on her two-wheeler, to and from the park.

She claims, '...this is the MOST FUNNEST thing I've ever done!'

Pictures to come.....

3-Day Thursday

2009-03-26T18:33:00.001-07:00

Days Until Event: 128

Actual Miles Last Week: 31.5

Goal Miles This Week: 30

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-25T14:44:00.001-07:00

I had intended to post some recent pictures on here today. But, for some reason, I can't get to my shutterfly account. I'm hoping its a problem with the site as a whole, and not just my pictures. Anyway, I thought you might enjoy these from March 2004.

7 Daily Chores

2009-03-24T15:10:00.000-07:00

Occasionally I visit the blog Totally Together Journal. The blog features tips on how you can organize your busy household. (Is that an oxymoron...?). The author has 7 Daily Chores for a Highly Successful Household. I've only posted the steps below, but she goes into a detailed outline on her site. I've found the list to be useful. Of course all these chores should be obvious to me, but for some reason I find them easier when they're in outline form.

Number 1: Make Beds Right Away
Number 2: Do One Complete Load of Laundry
Number 3: Empty All Garbage Cans
Number 4: Keep Your Kitchen Sink Empty
Number 5: Clean Up After Yourself and Help Children Do the Same
Number 6: Bathroom Wipe-Down
Number 7: Before Bed 10-Minute Clean Up

I'm still not sure your house will be completely organized, but I guarantee it will be less chaotic.

My mom is....

2009-03-22T10:01:00.001-07:00

I had fun asking the kids the following questions.

1. What is something Mom always says to you?
Alex: After breakfast, go brush your teeth.
Allison: Go do something else instead of bothering everybody.

2. What makes Mom happy?
Alex: Clean rooms.
Allison: Us being good.

3. What makes Mom sad?
Alex: When she has to yell.
Allison: Us not listening.

4. How does Mom make you laugh?
Alex: Saying stuff that’s funny.
Allison: Tickling me.

5. How old is your Mom?
Alex: 34
Allison: 34

6. What is Mom’s favorite thing to do?
Alex: Running/Walking.
Allison: Sleeping…and laundry. (Hmmm....I'm not sure she understood the question. Sleeping, maybe. Laundry, definitely not).

7. What does Mom do when you’re not around?
Alex: Clean up the house.
Allison: Walk Sierra. Clean up the house and do the laundry.

8. What is Mom’s job?
Alex: Cleaning the house and working at my school.
Allison: Cleaning the house. (You would think for as much as my children think I clean, that our house would be a whole lot cleaner).

9. What is Mom’s favorite food?
Alex: Vegetables. (Poor Alex is fooled into thinking I clean, and eat vegetables, all day).
Allison: Pizza.

10. What do you and Mom do together?
Alex: Go to the dollar store. Walk the dog. Go to the park.
Allison: Read books. Go shopping. Go to the mall and the movie theatre.

11. Where is Mom’s favorite place to go?
Alex: Shopping.
Allison: To the Candy Land place.

I recently came across a similar interview that Alex did for Mother's Day in his very first preschool class. I posted it below.....

Mother's Day 2006

2009-03-22T09:57:00.000-07:00

Alex's answers (in italics) from 3 years ago....

My mom is Anne.
Her favorite color is orange.
Her favorite food is almonds.
She is 32 years old.
She weighs 32 lbs.
She is 34 feet tall.
My mom likes to play books with me.
In her spare time she likes to lie down.

Facebook

2009-03-21T12:31:00.001-07:00

Three years ago Adam and I signed up for Facebook, and no one we knew was on it. I guess, now we all know what it it.....

3-Day Thursday

2009-03-19T18:05:00.002-07:00

As many of you know by now, this summer I'll be participating in the Cleveland Breast Cancer 3-Day. The 3-Day is truly the greatest distance I can go in the fight against breast cancer - 60 inspirational miles, three heroic days of celebration and determination. Joining the ranks of the Breast Cancer 3-Day walkers, I've become part of something much bigger than a simple stroll down a stretch of road. I'm now part of a movement that is putting an end to breast cancer. (I've posted a quick video below for anyone who is unfamiliar with the 3-Day).

I'm 135 days away from my journey, but I've already begun my training. I figured I would use Thursdays to give you brief training updates. Honestly, for the first time in my life, I'm actually ahead of the training schedule. (To anyone who has ever followed a marathon/half-marathon plan, etc. you know what an accomplishment this is. Usually, we are all trying to 'catch up'). I'm only ahead because of our training for the Cincinnati marathon this May. The Breast Cancer training has me logging 17 miles this week, with a 6-mile walk being the longest. I'll really be logging about 30 miles this week, with a 16-miler being my longest. For once, it feels great to be ahead of the game. However, what's new to me this time, is I'll be logging two long walks back-to-back each weekend. One on Saturday, one on Sunday. It is going to take a little planning and organization on our part, but I'm looking forward to it!

3-Day Video

2009-03-19T18:05:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2009-03-18T16:29:00.001-07:00

Cleveland's Irish Parade

2009-03-17T14:10:00.000-07:00

Today, around 12:15pm I discovered that Cleveland not only has a St. Patty's Day Parade, but that its the fourth largest in the nation. The parade started at 1pm downtown, but most people arrive at the crack of dawn for parking. I decided, due to the time, not to check it out this year. Most parents take their kids out of school, and Adam said his classes were half empty. We'll check it out next year. Although, today, its been sunny and in the high 60s. It would have been a great day for a parade. Next year, it will most likely be snowing.

One Year Ago Today...

2009-03-17T14:09:00.000-07:00

....we placed our Vancouver home on the market. It is easy to remember the date. A lot has happened in the past year. We're very grateful.

West Side Market

2009-03-16T17:07:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we finally ventured over to the West Side Market. Impressive. We've heard about the Cleveland West Side Market since we arrived in town, and we have been meaning to check it out for awhile. This is how its always described by others...

"You've got to check out the market. The market is so cool. Its almost like the one in Seattle (Pike Place)....but I've never been to Seattle. That's just what I've heard."

Well, after moving here from the Northwest, we had high expectations. Portland had a wonderful Farmer's Market, and even Vancouver's was great in its own way. And, we have been to the Pike Place Market, so we could make a fair comparison. Cleveland definitely has a well put together market. I was amazed at the amount of meat vendors there. I will be eager to return when more produce and flowers are in season. However, what impressed me the most were the prices. I always found the prices at the markets in the Portland area a little higher than what one could find at the grocery store. Granted, the quality was better, but sometimes the price wouldn't allow us to partake. However, at the market, I found the prices to be, on average, either the same as the grocery store, or even lower. Quality, freshness and price! We'll definitely be returning with many more sacks to carry our purchases home.

Red Rock Half Marathon

2009-03-13T17:09:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Adam and I traveled to our old stomping ground of Las Vegas, NV to participate in the Red Rock Half Marathon. We had a great time! The Red Rock National Conservation Area sits in the desert mountains to the west of Las Vegas. We always loved making daytrips out there when we lived in Las Vegas. The park has a 13-mile one way loop road that travels throughout the canyon. When we lived in Las Vegas we weren't the runners/walkers that we are now, and we have always regretted not traveling by foot along the 'loop' road. Fortunately, we had the opportunity last weekend.

The half marathon was one of the most difficult courses we have ever done. The starting elevation was around 3000 feet, and then we climbed another 1000 feet in the first few miles. Mile 4 was entirely uphill. I mentioned in an earlier post that we are training for the Cincinnati Marathon this spring. We've heard there are some 'killer hills' on that marathon course, but I guarantee you there is no hill in Cincinnati that compares with the mountains of the desert southwest. Despite the intensity of the course, we were both somewhat impressed with our performances.

We've been training throughout the winter here in Cleveland, and part of the reason we planned a trip to Las Vegas, is because we thought we'd log some weekend miles in warmer weather. However, Vegas had unseasonably cold weather last weekend, and I think it was warmer in Cleveland than it was in Vegas Saturday morning. But the sun was out, and the scenery was perfect, so we're not complaining. And, we're feeling even more prepared for our next Marathon in May.

We moved to the Portland area from Las Vegas in the spring of 2003. The city is probably twice as big now as when we left. During our time in Las Vegas we used to hear rumors that the city was running out of room to build. Well......they're still building.

Wild donkeys in the Canyon.

This is one of the things we miss the most about Las Vegas. The sky looks like this nearly 365 days a year!

Our Forays

And So it Goes....

I Went Out of Town this Weekend and Came Home to Find This....

Mary Pope Osborne

My Kids Went to Narnia Today.

Regifted?

Organize Me!

We Have Snow!

Bitty Baby

Let's Read

Pictures with Santa....

Allison's Birthday Gift

Chrissa

Board Break

Tae Kwon Do

More Disney Pictures....

Happy Birthday, Allison!

It's Christmas Music Time....

The Greatest Thing on the Internet....

Let's Read

Field Trip Friday

Alex's Signature Dish

Why Allison Loves Homeschooling....

Pictures!

2008

Trick - or - Treat

This One's My Favorite....

One Month...?

Gorgeous Fall Days

Marine Corps Marathon

Happy Birthday, Alex!

Mercy Watson

Forseeing the Future...

North and South

Tomato Pie

Times:

Directions

Homeschool History Lesson #1

Sheppard Software

Boston Pictures

Whale Watching

Sights from the Freedom Trail

Balcony of Original Declaration of Independence Reading

Tombstone of Samuel Adams

Massachusetts Statehouse

Boston Harbor

American Girl

Road Trip

Why I Love This Picture So....

This Blog Needs an Update....

More 3-Day Pictures

60-Mile Feet

3-Day Thursday

3-Day Thursday

3-Day Thursday

3-Day Thursday

You Make Me Feel Like Dancin'...

3-Day Thursday

One Belt, Two Belt, Yellow Belt, Purple Belt

3-Day Thursday

3-Day Thursday

Go Orioles!

3-Day Thursday

Memorial Day

3-Day Thursday

License to Drive

Busy, busy, busy.

3-Day Thursday

The Flying Pig

3-Day Thursday

Wordless Wednesday

Should We Talk About the Weather...?

Discovery Walk

3-Day Thursday

3-Day Thursday

Wordless Wednesday

From Alex

Happy Easter!

20-Miler

Opening Day