Spirit of Gettysburg

Today I competed in another 5K in Gettysburg. My last one was about a month and a half ago and I have been really trying to improve on my speed. I have to say I LOVE Gettysburg. I never get tired of going there. I could go every weekend and be fine with it. The race was wonderful. We started at the seminary and ran by the eternal flame. I was not sure what to expect because I have not timed myself on a 5K since my last race. I was so excited when I got the results. I finished one minute faster than my last time and I paced about a 7 and half minute mile. I placed 3rd in my age group and the two ahead of me were only seconds faster. It was such a rush. I can honestly say now I know how people can get addicted to the racing aspect of running. Runners high here I come...

I loaded my pictures backwards (sorry) and I am too lazy to drag them or reload so here it goes... This is me after I was done posing with the kids.
I was lucky Corey got this shot, he said he wasn't expecting me that early and the only reason he got this one was because Logan spotted me.

I love this picture Corey took, yes that is me getting in the zone. I put my Ipod on and I just tried to zone everyone out. It is hard not to start out at a normal pace when people are speeding past. But you quickly learn that those same people are the ones you pass walking or going super slow around mile 2.

This is before the race started in front of the old seminary.

The kids and I when we got there and I got all registered.

Now it is time to concentrate on my half marathon in September. I am so glad that I found a running group at my church with experienced marathoners who have helped me so much with my training. So looking forward to that next half to kick some trash.

Hershey PA

I will be the first to admit I have an addiction to chocolate. But almost all women I know do. I love how it melts in your mouth and how sweet it is. That has been the hardest thing for me to moderate.....my chocolate. We went to Hershey for vacation and it was pretty "sweet". We had a great time. The kids were so excited and they could not hold still for the past couple of days. I thought the hour and a half ride up there was torture, because the kids kept asking if we were close. So I let them color and do craft things. It made the ride that much more pleasant.

Corey was the least excited one. He does not go all out for amusement parks, but he knows that the rest of us just adore them. Getting up early is not on his favorite list either. So we got a mildly grumpy dad on the way up. This is all I could get out of him.

Me, this is really how I felt. We used to go to amusement parks all the time growing up and I have always loved them. I have learned recently that my tummy can't handle the dizzy rides anymore, but I still enjoy a good coaster. Plus nothing is better than seeing your kids so excited.

We got there at 9am, which is when Hershey World opens. This is where you go to see how their chocolate is made. It was really cute. Plus they have a big store there where you can buy their candy. We did leave with four bags of chocolate. Hey they were on sale and it freezes really nice. The tour was cute and the kids were enthralled with it. Even Hailey sat still.

I loved while we were waiting to walk in, Hailey had her little face pressed against the glass. She really wanted some of that chocolate.

At the end we ran into Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and that is one of my favorite candies. The kids wanted to say hi, and I wanted to see how Hailey would do with the overgrown chocolate bar. I was surprised. She actually kept giving him five and would try to pull his face off. She is our only kid who has not screamed at the characters. I think secretly she wanted to eat him.

Then onto the park. It wasn't that crowded and so we didn't have to wait long in the lines. We road almost all of the coasters, which was so fun because they have 11 of these giants. Logan was tall enough to ride everything, and he did. He was not scared to try anything. I was so impressed with him. Gabe got to ride two coasters and he almost cried on all of them. I think he got a little freaked at the top of the hill before they drop you. I also got freaked on a couple of crazy ones. You would not believe some of these coasters. It didn't help that it was almost 100 degrees and add on the nice humidity and we about died.

We were so glad for kid swaps, because we all could ride who could. It made it better so that one of us didn't have to just sit with the stroller the whole day. Hailey did really well, she liked the water park the best. I didn't get any pictures, I wish I would have but just know she had a blast. She kept well hydrated by drinking out of the cup the entire time. This is once when I caught her while waiting for the other kids on a ride.

We had such a great time. If we happen to be this way next summer we will probably go again.

Beach Bum

I know you are all tired of looking at pictures of the lake...but I am addicted to it. I love it. It is so warm, it is roped off and shallow everywhere and there are lifeguards. This is life. I would go everyday if I could, but I have to pay 6 bucks every time we go. I have to limit myself to once a week to be reasonable. Although my friend Cynthia who I always go with gets in free because her family is military. They charge you by car, so I am thinking we might just start riding with her now. This way I can more often. The kids love it, Hailey is getting used to the schedule there. Summer time is glorious.

I realize I have a lot of pictures of Hailey, but this is mainly due to the fact she is so stinkin cute and she is right there beside me. The other kids take off and I don't see them as much. I am not biased...really.

Frustrations

March 2010

June 2010

So I noticed it has been a couple of days since my last post. Nothing too exciting happening here in MD right now. The kids are out of school and driving me crazy everyday. We were supposed to go to the lake yesterday but thank you rain now we have to go tomorrow instead. I am trying to figure out what to do with four kids when it is raining and dreary outside. So I came up with my favorite, lock myself in my room and get in the Internet. Yes I know horrible mom, but sometimes I need a little break from the mayhem of things here. Don't worry I don't stay too long, just long enough to get my bearing straight again.

So Corey and I have been having the same argument for the past couple of weeks. He says I have become obsessive about weight loss and am going overboard. I say I am fine and he should be happy for my accomplishments. Number wise I am in the healthy weight range, and I feel great. Why the major complaint then? If I look at what my mom says about me I can be OCD about things. I think that is why WeightWatchers works great for me. You have to be meticulous about the points and measuring and weighing. I love order and I love planning and following that plan to a tee. Throwing random unplanned events in my schedule really throws me off. I have gotten better being married to a man who is laid back about everything, but I still have my moments.


So how do you "weigh in" on the matter? I try to see Corey's point of view, but what point is that? I am not jeopardizing my health and I am running faster now than even a month ago. I would still like to lose another 5 pounds before I maintain. I don't think it is that much more, but this is where Corey really freaks out. He threatened to put me in an addiction class. Well if I go in for weight loss then I am putting him in for Mt. Dew. At least my addiction is healthy.

Anniversary

I got to thinking how when you first get married and you reach that one year mark, you get so excited. One whole year, and then you figure people would stop calling you the newlyweds. Well this morning I woke up to a nice long run and then came home to a whole bowl of cereal all over the kitchen floor. Happy 11 year Anniversary is what Corey and I exchanged as we were both trying to mop up the mess. I can't believe it has been that long. I still look at Corey and see the guy that I fell in love with ages ago. It started out as a crush and then turned into something wonderful and eternal. I woke up this morning wonderfully happy and content with my life.

Corey and I try to be reasonable with our Anniversary gifts. But this year we really needed a bigger table where we could sit our growing family all together. So we went and found this great table

And after they dropped it off I realized how much bigger it really was. In that huge store it doesn't look so large, but in our tiny eating area it looks humongous. But we love it and we can all eat comfortably now.

Corey and I have only been on one date since moving here to MD. It is hard to find someone who is willing to watch four kids longer than an hour, and then you have to consider the cost of such a feat. But my great friend Cynthia came over and watched them all for us. Hailey is used to her and didn't cry once. And I could just relax on our date.

I got this outfit at Khol's the week before all on sale. I was so proud of my pink shoes which I love.

Corey and I excited to have some time alone.

I did a lot of research and found a great restaurant in Frederick called Dutch's Daughter which got great reviews. Of course it was pricey, but since Corey and I never go out we splurged on it. It was the best steak I have ever had. They didn't even give us steak knives, we just used our butter knives and it cut right through. This is my face as I am eating it, pure heaven...

We attempted to go to a movie afterwards, but we hit the time wrong and the next round of shows were like two hours later. So with nothing else to do we just went home. It was a great way to celebrate my wonderful marriage to such a wonderful man.

Too Cute for Words

Daddy and his little girl

Greenbriar State Park

Once a week during the summer the women at my church all meet at a state park called Greenbriar for the day. They have built a beach with sand swimming areas. It is all nice and roped off and they have lifeguards as well. It is only 3 dollars per person, unless you are in any kind of safety seat than you are free. So for me and the kids I only have to pay 6 bucks. This is a steal for a nice clean fun place to play all day. The kids love it. Hailey loves playing in the sand and is slowly learning that eating it is not so fun. I have always loved laying out and relaxing by the water. With Hailey I don't get as much down time as I would want, but we still have a blast. I brought along my good friend Cynthia as well. She and I usually go everywhere together. I tell her all the time she is turning me Mexican. Corey and I put hot sauce on everything and my new favorite candy is Mexican candy. They are usually suckers that they cover with chili powder and then put it in the middle as well. My mouth is actually watering just talking about them. Strange I know, but oh so good. So every week I have something fun to look forward to for the summer.

Not only does Hailey look like her daddy, she seems to have inherited his taste for Mt. Dew. I only drink the diet stuff, so she had to settle for that. I had left this almost empty can on my blanket and when I turned around this is what I saw. She was trying to sneak by with it. When she saw me coming toward her she tries to run away from me. So cute.

I honestly don't see the boys at all except when it is lunch time. They play the whole time we are there. I love it. We both win.

Can't have a post without a picture of Cynthia and I.

The girls play some in the water, but they mainly stick in the sand and make things. Today they decided to bury each other.

Hailey just likes to play with it and of course as I mentioned eat it.

I am loving summer here in Maryland.

Where Is Everyone?

Is it just me, or does it seem like the blogger world has been deserted lately? I mean, no comments on post, people not posting for a month or so. What has happened? Has Facebook pulled everyone away in it's grasp? I do look at Facebook, but I always look at blogs as well. For those of you who haven't posted in awhile, I say bring it. I miss reading about people and what they are doing. This is my way of keeping in touch with everyone. You don't have to be doing anything out of the world to post. Just little things that have made an impression will do. So if you actually read my blog (which I am scared to find out because it might not be any) could you please either leave a comment so I know you are alive? Or better yet, could you write a post of your own so I can have something to read?

Memorial Day

Maryland....the land of endless state parks. It seems the whole state is just a huge state park with town in between. So I thought that going to one for Memorial Day to swim and have fun would be relatively easy right? I guess once you narrow down the ones with a decent lake to swim in, there are only a couple of options. Well being new to Maryland I did not realize this until we drove around all morning trying to get into one. It seemed everywhere we went the park was closed due to being full to capacity. The kids were getting super bummed, I was getting bummed. When we reached Cunningham Falls we were rejected and drove up the road to turn around. Once we got back down they were allowing people back in. So we hurried and drove in and got a spot. It really wasn't that crowded and I think they were keeping it that way. The beaches were man-made, but they had lifeguards and everything there. It was sunny and warm and the kids jumped right in. I was content to just lounge in the sand and wade in to my ankles. You should have seen this water. It was practically black. You could not see a thing below the surface. Plus it was really stinky. But I was fine as long as I didn't have to swim in it. We brought our lunches and ate there on the sand. It was perfect, the kids had a blast and I had fun watching them have fun. It is crazy how your definition of fun changes as you have kids.

So here are some photos of us having fun. We went with our friends the Robello's and Corey was so glad because she brought homemade chicken tostados that I have to admit were wonderful. Made me feel small compared to my little sandwiches. After we were done swimming we came back to our house that evening for a BBQ. We had the usual hamburgers and hot dogs. Plus I had some lobster tails in the freezer that I took out and Eddie cooked for everyone. I couldn't taste them, the fish smell was too strong. But everyone else loved them. It really was a nice beginning to the summer.

Hailey testing her limits. She would just keep wading out deeper and deeper until someone came and got her. What a pill.

Don't we just look so cute together. It will be 11 years in two weeks...can you believe it.

Oh Hailey, she kept trying to eat it. Ended up with the nice sandy goatee.

Cynthia making me pose with her. But I have to put in that I am wearing my most favorite swimsuit. Best thing I have ever bought at Ross's.

My gross husband eating grapes. Trying to look seductive, but he really needs to work on it.

She really wanted to go out with the kids in the water.

This is Cynthia lounging with her hubby in the background.

You can never have enough photo's of her.

Even though the lake was stinky, the park was beautiful. So many trees.

Logan mid catch, well as you can see he missed it. I am signing him up for football this fall. He is so excited.

What a little cute blond beach babe huh?

Only the girls played in the sand, the boys stuck to the water.

Gabe showing his swimming skills. Thanks for swimming lessons.

The older girls made Hailey little swimming holes in the sand. She liked them.

So how did we rate the day....this says it all.