Shamrock Half Marathon!

I did it! WE did it! It was great and I could not have done it without my team, my friends, and my family. Thank you for your support, your donations and your cheers.

I'm not an athlete so the thought of training for this was daunting and had I not committed my running to something more than myself I never would have accomplished this. Below is my version of the day and the race and some photos and the video Jon took right before I took off to the finish line:

We started out piling everyone (Jon and the kids, myself, sister and brother-in-law) into the car at 5:30 to head down to the beach to be at the start by 6. Of course with 7,000 + several thousand volunteers heading there at the same time the streets were pretty crowded. We (Kim and Becky) made it to 39th and Pacific Ave to wait for our other running partner Lisa. While Lisa was waiting in the line for the bathrooms we bumped into our friends Belinda and John. I couldn't believe I saw people I knew among so many thousands of people! By 6:55 Lisa was out of the bathrooms and we made it to our spot at the start. Our coral was a bit further back than we probably should have started as the entire race we passed people rather than them passing us making for tight travel for 13.1 miles. I have to say that besides it being the longest run I've ever done it truly felt long. There were so many people to look at wearing silly costumes, and we covered some serious ground too. From beach houses to tree lined road, a military base on the ocean (Fort Story) to the boardwalk on the beach.

Along the course I ran into a couple people that I knew which was pretty cool. Jon and the kids met us around mile two and tried to follow us as far as they could until the road closed. Along the stretch where there was nothing but a canopy of trees there were some DJ trucks pumping music to keep us going. The first one we came up to was playing YMCA...... so imagine thousands of people running singing and doing the YMCA together..... it was so cool to watch from behind as I was in the middle of the crowd!

The next part of the race that really sticks out in my mind was coming off the base and around the curve onto the boardwalk hearing the song "lets see how far we've come" by Matchbox 20 blaring..... this made us all sing as were at mile 12 by now our farthest run to date and made us pick up the pace. The next point was approaching the finish. Kim and Lisa had already picked up the pace and had gone ahead and I threw in the kick and my feet start go. I could feel my stride was huge and I was flying by people...... then I looked up at the finish line and it was still sooooo far away I knew I couldn't keep it up that long. So I slowed it down a bit and saw Jon and the kids in the crowd then kicked it back into high gear caught up with Kim and crossed the line at 2:22:27.

It was fun. I'm proud of myself. Sad that I lost so much sleep over it the night before as it was the unknown that makes me nervous and the logistics that I go over and over in my head. Because I'd done 12.26 miles before, the .75 yesterday was not such a huge deal. My legs feel good today. My quads are sore and I know it's from the final kick I gave and it feels good. No knee pain! I will do another half marathon. I will continue volunteering with DetermiNation and helping others make their miles more meaningful. SHAM ROCK ON!

SNOW FUN!

Yesterday was had our first "real" snowstorm that we have experienced since we moved to VA. I'm pretty sure it was Rudy's first time playing in the snow.... At any rate we were completely unequipped for snow from boots to clothes to no marshmallows for hot chocolate. I was the only truly dry one (except for my feet) I pulled my ski jacket out of the attic with a lift ticket still attached from January 27, 2004, Vail, CO..... pre -marriage and pre- children. I still fit into my snow pants from then! SCORE!

Rudy wore Ella's snow boots from last year, you couldn't tell they were girlie unless his pants came up above the tops of them. Ella wore some pants and boots that the neighbor's friend lent them. (in fact our neighbor's friend dressed just about all the girls on our street for the past couple days!)

The snow has completely immobilized our entire area. Even if it were a storm up North the roads would have been bad yesterday. The snow fell all day yesterday. Today all the churches were closed. Tomorrow all the schools are closed and likely Tuesday as well. We only have anywhere from 5.5 inches in Va Beach to 8 inches here in Portsmouth and 12 inches 1.5 hours north in Richmond. Our streets are about 2 inches of solid ice. Some parts melted with the afternoon sun only to freeze again tonight. Our street is a solid sheet of ice. No kidding, it's thick enough and smooth enough to ice skate on! The news on TV yesterday was not stop about the winter storm. You would have thought they were covering a hurricane!

Our entire neighborhood was down at the park at the end of our block first thing after breakfast yesterday to soak in an entire winter's worth of snow fun in the shortest amount of time. God only knows how long it will stay with us. Kids and parents went out for 3-4 rounds of play yesterday and today going in the house to put the clothes in the dryer to prepare for the next round. It's kind of funny to watch everyone try so hard to get everything out of these couple of days we will have with such a "precious gift":-) One kid had a snow tube this afternoon and a total of 8 kids shared it while one directed who's turn it was. Until the snow tube was exposed the kids were using a plastic lid to a storage container to slide down our little hill! No one knew any different. We have one small hill at the end of the street at our little park that you would laugh at. The kids had a blast and made memories that I'm pretty sure will stay with all of us forever. Yesterday snow angels were the big deal as the snow was powder soft and the blankets were untouched. Today sledding was the cool thing. Tomorrow I'm sure it will be so dirty and crunchy that it will be just plain painful.

Once again I'm reminded how awesome the people in our neighborhood are. They are more than just neighbors, they are our friends too. So many children Ella and Rudy's age. I'll whine about our old house and all the money we are having to sink into it for crap that won't make a difference in the selling price when we sell it one day, but all the money in the world couldn't buy us better neighbors!

Hope this finds you all warm and dry!

1st Girls weekend in over 4 years!

This past weekend at the end of our annual Nor'Easter through flooded streets, littered by tree limbs, lawn furniture and outdoor toys, Jon and the kids searched for an open on ramp to the freeway to get me to the airport. The first girls weekend I had planned since....... huh...... who knows when, almost got canceled due to in-climate weather. What are the odds? With rain still coming down, high tide on it's way out and winds still around 30 mph I gripped the armrests of my seat and prayed. I prayed first that God would get me there and second that I wouldn't throw up from the turbulent ride. I was determined to make this trip happen. I needed a break from being mommy and wife I needed a weekend to be MINE.

Arriving in Chicago in the late afternoon, Kelly (one of my best friends from High School) picked me up and it began. Unseasonably warm in Chicago (which was really good for this Virginia girl) we changed clothes had a beer or two and walked to dinner to meet up with one of my best girlfriends, Megan, from college! It had been 9 years since Megan and I had seen each other! In those 9 years we both got married, I had 2 kids, she is now pregers with her first, homes, moves etc happened, but it was as if there was never a beat skipped......... as true friendship goes. It turns out that Megan only lives two blocks from Kelly which is so crazy!

After spending a couple hours eating entirely too much and catching up on EVERYTHING Megan went home and so did we, over fed and happy.

At about 10pm Cessy showed up..... Cessy always brings hysteria. Probably the funniest, most creative, and random person I know. We had a few laughs and then of course I was the first to fall asleep. Waking up on Saturday we walked to Starbucks and then started our day shopping and then into the city. We found ourselves at a micro brewery pizzeria called Piece. We sat at the bar drinking beer eating pizza and of course laughing. Some of Kelly's friends from college met us and we hung out for a while longer before heading out doing a bit more shopping and driving back to the burbs. That night we met up with one of Jon's best friends from college and his fiance and a couple of their friends. Kelly and Cessy have met him before at our wedding. We went to dinner and laughed some more. Followed by a bad bar and a walk home we hung out a little longer and fell into bed laughing. Sunday was my day to get home, I spent 9 hours trying hard to get on a flight but as Sundays go I came home Monday afternoon instead.

My entire time gone was the first time I'd left Jon AND the kids. The first time I'd left him to do my job for more than a day. Happy to get home and see them as I missed them terribly, they were alive and well and Jon managed better than I expected. I have a bit of laundry to do but not really any more than normal for a Monday...... oh wait, it's Tuesday!

The biggest event of the weekend did not happen in Chicago but back in Folsom...... Jenny had her baby! My 3rd and newest niece Makenna May Brown! Jenn was in labor for the better part of the day went to the hospital in the afternoon around 1 and baby girl finally came a couple minutes after 10pm after only about 20 minutes of pushing. Everyone was surprised to see that this baby was ginormous! Makeena arrived weighing 10lbs 4oz! (My sister-in-law is like 5'4" 120 when she's not prego and soaking wet) Jenn is a tough girl and from what I heard (and certainly believe) she didn't even break a sweat a little...... in fact I saw a picture of her post delivery eating and she looked SO great! That's Jenny!

But Big Little Makenna May who we are so excited to meet and know is healthy and fine. Looking a lot like her mommy! I can't wait to know her and experience what this littlest new person will bring to our world! We love you Makenna!

I'm back to my normal routine, heading to the gym not feeling like running today but will likely be harassed by the running group unless I get there too late and miss them:-) I need to run today........ Which BTW I've raised $910 of my $1000 goal so far! I'm so pumped!

Ella's First Day of Preschool

Let's start with  a half a bottle of wine...it's 9PM, both kids are asleep, the basement is "recovering" from a "flash flood" of 5+ inches of water and floating basement crap, the smelly dog is asleep on a pile of clean laundry,  and Jon is chillaxing in Georgetown awaiting fun stuff at the Pentagon tomorrow.... yeah the Pentagon.... returning tomorrow or Friday... Jon's getting himself in deep in the Navy:- ) or so we hope:-) Anyway, that said, I am putting it all aside to absorb the blessings of our family and the milestone in our 3.5 yr old daughter's life sharing in her first day of preschool.  She is attending the preschool at our church, First Presbyterian Church of Norfolk.  A mere 3 miles or so away, but anywhere from 7 to 30 min+ depending on the traffic, and of course the day of the week.  Jon and I were able to take her to school together with Rudy this morning. (Rudy is also attending the same preschool, but only one day a week and his first day will be on Monday of next week)  We pulled up to the church and saw a bunch of TINY TINY people waiting impatiently at the door to get in.  We  parked the car, put Ella's back pack on her, took a few pictures and bumped into everyone we knew....... being a little fish in a big pond in Norfolk, VA we felt really good walking into Ella's school and actually knowing people.  Of course we know these people because they are our church family and for once not Navy... for the most part.  When we headed into the church to go to the classroom and passed our pastor; whom we love and respect so very much; we were both warmed through and through by the love and presence we felt by our church family and God.  Ella ran right into her classroom and into the arms of her teacher; Mrs. Vislocky; and no tears were shed.  (Actually Rudy almost cried!  It was very sweet!) Jon and I both talked about how good it felt to leave her there.  Truly a safe, loving, happy place where the people who whitenessed her baptism just a few months ago and promised to teach her the word of God and raise her as part as their family are now not only fulfilling their promise on Sunday mornings but Monday through Friday throughout the school year.  Wow.  So yeah, here are pictures of our sweet little girl, Jon is looking amazingly civilian and I'm headed to the gym:-)  

A little story about picking Ella up that I hope I never forget and want to share with the world..... The church is almost 100 years old, big and brick with a lot of additions.  One of the old entrances that we pass by has an elaborate, old, iron, gate blocking it.  While passing the old and unused entrance, Ella notices it  and grabs onto the old iron gate, peeks in and says, "Oh that's scary, there is a monster in there Mommy."  I tell her "no, there is no monster, that is just an old doorway they don't use anymore and it's God's house so no monsters live in Gods house"  Ella continues to press her face between the rungs of the gate and yell "God, GOOOOOOD!  Mommy, I want to see God!"......Of course leading into a short conversation about how we cannot really see God.....  A lesson certainly to be learned at a Christian preschool:-)  

Jon's Homecoming

After 154 days apart, the United States Navy's VRC-40 Rawhide Lt. Jonathan Kalbach returned home to us to fill the open gap in our family's circle.  After a couple weeks of VERY mild weather he returned on the HOTTEST day in July.  We showed up at the squadron anxious and 45 min early only to discover that they were already there hanging out over head waiting for all the families to show up.  45 min of waiting for them to land then about an hour of waiting for the two aircrafts full of people to clear customs we were ready for our man!  There are only 2 CODs on det at a time so it was easy to find Jon's plane and we could see him through the window as he taxied in.  Here are a few shots from his homecoming and the following week.  

20 days (or so) left and COUNTING!!!

We are in Ohio for the remainder of Jon's deployment.  Actually I'll return home about 5 days before Jon which will be JUST enough time to prepare for him to come home and screw up the single parent routine I have going on.  (Totally kidding, screwing up my groove is welcomed!!!) 

My awesome friend Cara flew down to P-town only to turn around the next day and drive to Ohio with me, the two kids and the dog.   She was a great help!  We've been invading Cara's parent's home (they live next door to Cara) during our time in Salem.   They have a full apartment in their basement that they have let us use.  Not to mention rein of the playground out back.  

During our stay in Salem I got to spend time with my dad and his new wife Mimi whom I'm very excited over.  She seems to be a great fit for my dad.  We went to the zoo with my step dad Jim and Maureen, an Amish town festival with my dad, spent an awesome 4th of July hanging out with my Aunt Debbie, Uncle Dave and cool cousins at the Salem Country Club and an awesome 3rd of July hanging out at Waterworth Park for Salem fireworks with them as well.  Truly spent the holiday in our family's traditional style only minus a few people (my mom).  I also got to meet up with an old friend from college who I had not seen in 7 years, a best friend from elementary school who I had not seen in at least 15 years, and of course a couple of other friends who I try to see every time I get up here (Rachel and Rashelle) but don't necessarily get to, and meet Rachel's 3rd baby for the first time at a mere 4 weeks old!  It's been an event filled week!  Tomorrow we head to my sister's and Ella is going to do VBS all week for the first time!  As well as a visit with my great friend Jenny from 2nd grade and a trip to Cincinnati for the Dayton air show and a visit with Cessy!  

100 days

So I didn't realize that I was stressed until 100 days into Jon's deployment when I went to the doctor to get a referral to Derm to have my beloved mole removed and a very long lasting spider bite checked out and discovered that I in fact do not have a crazy spider bite but I DO have shingles.  So now I'm even more stressed about being stressed and am fearing what I'm doing to my body.  I drink, I exercise, I shop...... what else am I supposed to do to relieve stress?   Hmmm...... perhaps eliminating drinking and shopping and focusing on exercising as my main stress reliever would be good.....

The countdown is ON and we are closely watching the deployment tracker that tells us down to the seconds.  Here are a few pictures from our 3 weeks in CA.  What a wonderful time we had visiting with Jon's family.  I loved every day we were there.  I ran at least 4 days per week UP HILL...... Running there was euphoric.  Loved it.  The challenge was really great as the only hills we have in VA are bridges and 90% of the trails I got to run in Folsom were up hills.  It was really awesome.