Christmas Commercialization

Our plan to take the commercialization out of Christmas backfired somewhat when Charlie's preschool took a field trip to the local toy store. The teachers told them to look for the gift they want Santa to bring them for christmas and took a picture of the kid next to the gift. Charlie wanted a Thomas the train boat with a lighthouse and it was about $100. ???

On a side note we have charlie's first parent-teacher conferences tomorrow. Should be fun!








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NZ Thanksgiving (Part 2)

Well... it's Sunday night and we've successfully completed the second weekend in a row utterly exhausted. Good, fun times - but wow... You know it's bad when Jason says he can't wait for the week to start so it won't be so crazy.

We just finished celebrating a Thanksgiving dinner at our friends' home and it was really, really fun. It was fun to celebrate American Thanksgiving with a bunch of Kiwis. We brought a pumpkin pie and a turkey. We were horrified yesterday to find the turkey still frozen after 2 days in the refrigerator (in the past we've gotten fresh turkey from a farm in VA). I stumbled across a website that said you can stick it in rock solid and cook it at 325 degrees. Jason woke up at 4am to put it in the oven, and I woke up at 6am to season it. I found the turkey on "BBQ" which is American for "broil". It looked pretty crispy already but I seasoned it up and put it back in the oven (we cooked it upside down and it makes for a moister breast). At the end of the day - I think it turned out okay, a little drier than I hoped, but at least we didn't food poison our kiwi friends. The pumpkin pie was a little "carmelized" around the edged, so I cut out the darker edge and decorated it with aerosol whipped cream - honestly it tasted really good but looked a little funky.

Unfortunately the awesome dinner at our friends' home - again ended on a somewhat embarrassing/sordid note.  The boys didn't know that we were filmding.  Keep in mind, the last time we were at their home Charlie clogged their toilet. 

Reflections on Marathon Running

One of my favorite "hobbies" is long distance running.  This is an unfortunate past time if you find yourself pregnant or recovering from a pregnancy often.   I wish 5ks or 10ks would suffice, but there is something about reaching mile 8,9,10 and beyond where I feel so connected to God, and my body and even my community - it's just awesome.   I also met the love of my life running, and I'm so thankful for the long runs we've had over the past 7 years.  I am especially thankful that he doesn't mind pushing 60 pounds of kids so that we can get out as a family. 

One of my goals was to run  a marathon between each pregnancy.  Most of all for the reasons above, but also as a great way to get my pre-pregnancy body back.  Unfortunately recently I was suffering from sciatic/hamstring pain for over a month.  It was SO depressing!  The running here is GORGEOUS and I was so disappointed if I wasn't going to be able to do our weekend family runs together.  I started taking ibuprofen before my long runs, but I just hated to medicate the pain.  Last Saturday we literally ran into some friends from church at the beginning of a 14-mile run.  I told them about the pain, and I guess they prayed for me after we left them to continue on our run.  I didn't know that they prayed, but when I finished, I was so excited to tell Jason that there was NO PAIN!  I didn't even take ibuprofen and it felt better than it has in months.  I believe God healed me and I am thankful!   I finished another 14-mile run this morning and didn't feel anything.  Praise God! 

So - I'm close to signing up for the Buller Gorge Marathon in the South Island in February.  They call it "The Most Scenic Athletic Event in New Zealand."   My training is going pretty well - I really only need to do 5 more long runs or so before the race.  

Here is a video of my long run today.  I ran from our house to the Miramar Peninsula where the WETA studios are located  (Peter Jackson's group).   It is so amazingly beautiful - I just can't even describe it.   I'm pretty dorky in the video.  Jason lent me his Raptor hat (confession - I actually tried to destroy the hat while washing it recently - but Jason still loves it and wears it) and it was a real lifesaver from the sun. Here is the route

If I'm able to complete the marathon it would be my 8th.  Because this blog is for my own reflection, it's interesting to actually think back on each run.  I apologize for the dissertation, it's more for my benefit.  :)

1. 1996 Twin Cities Marathon 4:50ish.  I was 16 years old and at mile 5 some guy totally I didn't look good and wasn't going to make it - I passed out at the end, it wasn't pretty....

2. 1997 Twin Cities Marathon 4:50ish. Basically a repeat of the previous year.

3. 2002 Boston Marathon 4:05.  My friend was able to finagle me a race number even though I didn't qualify.  My dad came out to Boston and we ran it (he finished in 3:53).  It was SUPER fun - great memories - great race!

4. 2003 Oklahoma City Marathon 4:44.  Great first half when the wind was at our back - HORRIFIC second half.  At mile 20 I could see my hotel and I asked a race volunteer what I needed to do to get off the course.  They encouraged me that I was so close to just finish - it wasn't pretty...

5. 2006 Marine Corps Marathon 4:06.  Super fun run - first time I got really emotional while running - the cheering crowds were fantastic and it was really moving to see the wounded warriors completing the marathon. Jason and I did this race together, but this is where he unfortunately messed up his knee. 

6. 2007 Marine Corps Marathon 3:49.  Personal Best - gorgeous run - SUPER fun!  My first few miles were 11 minute miles and the second half I just went fast.  SO MUCH fun!  With this race I felt like I evened the score with good/bad marathons.  After this, I was 3/3.

7. 2010 Disney World Marathon 3:59.  First post-baby marathon and I was ecsatic to eke out a sub-4 hour marathon.  My mom came down to Florida did the half the day before (I dressed Charlie up in his monkey costume and we cheered for her).  The temperatures were freezing, and it made for a great race for this Minnesotan.  I did a slower first half, and then put music on and went much harder the second half.  At mile 22 I thought I was dancing instead of running, but in my euphoria I fell kind of hard - but I got back up and had a good finish.  SUPER FUN!   I love Disney World! :)  

8.  2012 Buller Gorge???

My parents had a huge influence on me and my running.   I was always so thankful that they weren't intense about sports.  They were very encouraging and didn't put a lot of pressure on an event or more importantly there was no pressure on me to perform.  That being said, it would be amazing to run this race, but I'm not too concerned about my time or even being able to finish.  I'm a little concerned that my "marathon scorecard" is 4 good, 3 bad - I certainly hope this doesn't even the score.  :)


Katie's Marathon Tips

1. Go out slow!  The 4 good races I had started with 10-11 minute miles, but the second half was 8 minute miles.  I died on the ones where I went out to fast.

2.  Don't over train.  I usually run 4, sometimes 5, days a week.  The important thing is the long run, everything else is just fun.  Some crazy training plans that I've seen are so intense with way too many miles and I think this just leads to burnout and injury.  

3. Do 2 long runs and make sure 1 is more than 20.  Often training plans recommend 2 x 20 mile runs.   You always here about "hitting the wall" at mile 20.  I think people hit the wall at 20 because they've only trained up to 20.   I do one 22-23 mile run and it makes the last 5k during the marathon much easier.

4. Cross train.  I've been terrible about this - but it's good to swim or do a yoga or body pump class.

Anyway - really simple - but I'll write a book about it some day.  ;) 


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Mr Piggy and Imaginary Friends

I started this game where we press our noses into the BOB weather shield and oink like a pig - it's caught on like wildfire. BTW the weather shield is perfect for Wellington weather.

On another note, we are enjoying seeing Charlie's imaginary world each day. I think he has a borderline imaginary friend named "conductor." He's talked about conductor for a few weeks now but over the past few days we've really seen conductor's presence expand throughout our home. He takes tickets, cooks snacks and tells Charlie he doesn't need to take a nap. I'm not sure where the line is between imaginary friend and more general make-believe. I sort of feel like if we need to set a place for conductor at the breakfast table or he is somehow in the room with us, he may have crossed over that line. The closest he got today was grilling on the patio...



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NZ Thanksgiving ( Part 1)

We just finished celebrating our first of two Thanksgiving celebrations this week. This evening we went to the Defense Attache's home for a super yummy dinner with others in the Embassy DoD family.











Charlie had a funny run-in at the party. He is a great pooper but he needs a lot of time and a lot of privacy. One of the other little boys at the party grew impatient with Charlie and forced him off the pot so he could go poopy. Here Charlie describes the incident:

Okay - confession! Jason, Liam and I spent the day together while Charlie was at preschool. I asked Charlie if he wanted to stay home or go to preschool and he chose preschool. I felt a little bad, but honestly it was a little nice having a special day with Liam. The video also shows how cool NZ gym class is.

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Final Coromandal Post

We had planned to take a 3-hour (o/w) ferry to the South Island for the Thanksgiving holiday, but we decided to stay back in Wellington instead.  They say October and November is a very turbulent time on the Straits, and with Jason and Charlie's motion sickness -- it just doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun.  Here's what they are predicting this week:  http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6010220/More-wild-weather-on-the-way.   That being said, instead of new pics of the South Island, I will finish posting pics from our Veteran's Day weekend in the Coromandal Peninsula (I also added some captions to previous pics).

Here are pics from our glass bottom boat ride:

For those who have seen the latest Narnia movie - this beach was used for the scene where the kids "enter Narnia" from the UK

Charlie is impressed by our proximity to movie set

The couple on the left are from Wellington and they actually were our current pastor's youth leaders when he was in high school (we were about 6-7 hours from Wellington) - New Zealand is SO small!  

starfish

octopus

During low tide you can actually wade through this hole in the rock and the boat will pick you up on the other side

Liam loves the boat ride (especially when it goes fast) - doesn't his hair look red here?

Shark tooth rock

Sunset back at our hotel

Pottery Train Ride in Coromandal:

I'm obsessed with these fern trees - they are just gorgeous!

Double decker bridge made from recycled materials

Watch your head!

Protective mama bear

Wall made from recycled bottles

Trying to get daddy in a shot but Liam's not cooperating

Another dadd y shot

He's probably telling mommy how to take the shot

Add caption

Liam was pretty tired and cranky by this point - we found ergo head cover thing very helpful!  

Again - love these trees!!!