tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-348683162024-02-06T22:38:40.378-05:00Our Life with 3 Guys and A Doll*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.comBlogger961125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-83371548241577891892013-05-17T13:28:00.000-04:002013-05-17T13:28:00.212-04:00Harpers Ferry Half Marathon race report, 2013<br />
I ran this race <a href="http://machenfamily.blogspot.com/2012/05/harpers-ferry-half-race-report.html" target="_blank">last year</a> and what a different experience it was this year! <br />
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Like last year, Hank ran the 4 mile option, though it was closer to 4.4 miles this year. He didn't want to do his own race report but just wanted to say he had a fun run, and he was glad it didn't rain too hard.<br />
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I'll just cut to the chase and tell you I had a darn good time with this race. It was hard work for sure, but my mental state throughout the race was excellent. <br />
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My plan was to use this as a training run. So that meant I would start off slow and ease up from there. I was looking to run 11ish or slower miles and to happily walk the brutal hills. I lined up at the back, starting chatting with the folks around me and talked pretty much the whole race with anyone nearby. I'm sure there were folks who either dropped off or sped up because I was so chatty! <br />
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As diabolical as the <a href="http://harpersferryhalf.org/images/HarpersFerryHalfCourse.pdf" target="_blank">course</a> is, it really is a nice mix of trail and roads, and you can't beat the scenery in this area. We've had a lot rain lately and both the Potomac and Shenendoah rivers have been at/near flood stage. Harpers Ferry is at the confluence of these rivers so flooding would have been an issue for the race organizers. Thankfully they didn't have to worry about it. </div>
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The first major uphill is from lower old town to upper old town. The picture below doesn't really do it justice because it's about a mile from top to bottom. There was a woman on her porch cheering for us, "Keep going! The hill really does have an end!" </div>
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It was on this hill last year that my brain fizzled and popped. This year I ran about half way up and then walked the rest. Got to the top and started running again. Happy!</div>
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I happily plodded along for the remainder of the course and crossed the finish in 2:27 and change...about 6 minutes faster than last year. How funny is that! I have to say I also felt sooo much better after this race, no weird foot issues or leg cramps. yay!<br />
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Now if I can hang on to this mindset and just roll with whatever my runs bring me, I'll be golden!<br />
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My thoughts on <br />
<strong>Price</strong>: It was $60 to register the day before (my bad) which I think is a bit steep, but they let kids under 18 run the 4 mile for free and kids always run the 1 mile for free.<br />
<strong>Course</strong>: Very challenging hills, nice mix of trails and road. Well marked. Lots of enthusiastic course marshalls and volunteers<br />
<strong>Food on the course</strong>: The stations later in the course seemed to be just water (though I may have missed a Gatorade stop somewhere). I'm not a big drinker (unless it's wine), but it was warm and very humid out so a shot of Gatorade would have been nice. They also had Hammer gels which make me sick so I didn't partake.Because of my stomach issues, I almost always carry my own fuel so it wasn't an issue for me.<br />
<strong>Atmosphere</strong>: Party time. It's fun to run with folks who love to run for fun. [say that 3 times fast]. Mark Cucuzzella and his staff from Two Rivers Treads are enthusiastic to say the least. What I really love is that the races they're a part of are fun for the whole family. They cheer very loudly when kids cross the finish line, and every kid gets a medal...who doesn't love that! <br />
<strong>Post Race</strong>: The post race food was pizza and beer, oh and some apples, oranges and Gatorade too. I'm grudgingly gluten free so I ate 2 apples and drank a bunch of Gatorade. I found a Lara bar in the bottom of my bag so I ate that too. But the rest of my family was gorging themselves. Bill had to go to work so he had to pass on the beer. <br />
<strong>Swag</strong>: Since I didn't pre-register I had to stop by the reg table after I ran to see if any shirts were left. Men's medium was the smallest size left. Sadness, but again not a big deal to me. The medal is a replica of John Brown's armory in Harpers Ferry so the history geek in me thinks that's pretty cool.<br />
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Fun race. Fun atmosphere. I definitely recommend it as a nice change from a boring ol' flat road race. ;)*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-26361390094791722372013-05-15T12:31:00.001-04:002013-05-15T12:31:55.867-04:00Diary of a Bad CatNote: I didn't take any photos of this event because it all happened before I had my coffee so you're stuck with what I could find online.<br />
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Slater is Shane's cat (so he thinks - she prefers to think of herself as a free agent). And she is mischief to infinity.<br />
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We have cleaned up many, many murdered toilet paper rolls<br />
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But her latest adventure has taken her to a new low.<br />
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Bill's dog is old and poops in the house more often than I would like. So when I stepped into the hallway at 6:15 this morning and saw 2 brown masses, I immediately turned back to Bill, "your dog crapped in the hall again," and kept walking.<br />
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He came out to me holding one of the brown masses in his hand (ewwww!) and said I owed Blu an apology because Slater was the criminal this time.<br />
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It would seem Shane's little princess somehow snagged the driftwood from the fishbowl and dragged it from the boys' room to the hallway. She then grabbed the FISH (a<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plecostomus" target="_blank"> plecostomus</a>) and dragged him to the hallway.<br />
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The fish was still alive so Bill dumped both back into the bowl and we got a good laugh out of it. While Bill was in the shower, she did it AGAIN. This time dumping water all over the dresser. The fish survived again and wee have moved his bowl to the kitchen where we can better protect him.<br />
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She's a wily one, that Slater...<br />
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<br />*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-90159757802999637042013-04-01T08:54:00.000-04:002013-04-01T08:54:01.311-04:00Busy, Busy, BusyEven the casual observer will notice that my posting has been a bit lax lately. I can promise you that it's not because we're sitting around with nothing to do. Sometimes it's much easier to just load a picture onto Facebook with a caption and be done with it. But I hav to remind myself that the purpose of the blog is for the kids, and I don't let them on Facebook. :D<br />
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A couple of weekends ago Bill and Hank went camping with the Boy Scouts so I had Ella and Shane to entertain. I also had to get Jake to/from work on my own. Saturday morning he had to be there at 8 so we were up and out pretty early.<br />
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<em>We picked up Ella's BFF Elizabeth and headed to a Cub Scout conservation project. Nothing like picking up some trash to get your day started!</em></div>
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<br /><em>Then we headed to Lowes where we attempted to build some very complicated Piranhakeet choppers (based on the Croods). </em></div>
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<em>Next month we're going to Home Depot to build bird feeders... that's more my speed!</em></div>
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<em>A quick lunch</em></div>
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<em>Playdate at the park with some friends</em></div>
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Next we headed to Whole Foods in Gaithersburg where they were hoping to break the world record for number of hula hoopers in one place. Elizabeth and her sister take a Rock A Hula class so they can do all sorts of fun tricks with the hoops.<br />
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Ella, as with most things, is a natural and can hoop for hours (I can't even make one rotation!)<br />
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<br />And my little booger butt looked like he was having a seizure out there. He had a blast until he got whacked in the face by another hula hoop...one of the perils of being short, I suppose.<br />
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I don't think they had enough hoopers, but the kids definitely had a great time. And we went home and crashed on the couch after our crazy day!</div>
*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-59244092334724849522013-03-29T08:31:00.002-04:002013-03-29T08:31:43.808-04:00Hank is in training<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
He's only 10 - though he'll quickly remind us that he's a young adult (!!) - so it's pretty low key training, but he has a couple of goals he's working towards. He wants to hike the 15K option at the <a href="http://www.ironmasterschallenge.com/" target="_blank">Ironmasters Challenge</a> in a month. </div>
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He is also working on the Boy Scout <a href="http://boyscouttrail.com/boy-scouts/meritbadges/hiking-merit-badge.asp" target="_blank">hiking merit badge</a>. The requirements for this are pretty steep so it will require hard work on his part. And we're all too happy to help him reach those goals.</div>
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So he and I looked at the calendar and made a little training plan with hikes of varying and increasing distances.</div>
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The good thing - he could probably easily hike 10 miles today because he's an active kid and we hike on a regular basis.</div>
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Not so good - we don't typically have him carry a pack and he struggles at pushing himself sometimes.</div>
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So yesterday I got out his pack and put in just a few things that he'll need to get used to carrying - first aid kit, small headlamp, extra socks, rain poncho, compass, and flint and steel. And I attached one water bottle. I forgot to weigh it, but it wasn't heavy at all... well, Shane added a bunch of snacks so maybe it was slightly heavy?</div>
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I decided to hike at Reno Monument on the AT because it's mostly flat and not very rocky. A little over a mile to the Rocky Run shelter, hang out and play, and then hike back for almost 3 miles. Excellent!</div>
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Two false starts for forgotten items and we were off. Not even half a mile in, Hank was ready to pass off the pack so I took it.</div>
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<em>Spring is trying to arrive!</em></div>
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<em>We got to Rocky Run and the kids had a few snack and played. </em></div>
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<em>They have 2 shelters - the new built a few years ago</em></div>
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<em>And the old one built by the </em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_Conservation_Corps" target="_blank"><em>CCC</em></a><em> during the depression</em></div>
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Sweet hike, lots of fun. </div>
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Then the winds changed. </div>
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The kids were running up the hill to head back and Shane crashed, hard. He landed in a bunch of rocks on his hips and knees, and the blood-curdling scream that followed was probably heard for miles.</div>
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Thankfully, there was no blood, and no bones were poking out. He doesn't usually scream like that unless he has broken something so I was a tad concerned. I was well over a mile from the truck with a 50 pound kid who couldn't walk.<br />
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We still needed to stop at the dairy and Ella had an orthodontist appointment so we couldn't just sit around in hopes that he'd feel better soon.<br />
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We dumped half our water to lighten our load. I gave the remaining bottles to Ella to carry, and Hank got the pack. I put Shane on my back - thankfully his hips were ok and it was just his knee that hurt because I don't think I could have carried him on the front of me for very long.<br />
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It turned out he was fine...swollen and bruised, but fine. <br />
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The good that came out of this was that Hank had no choice but to carry the pack, and he did it. He was lagging in the last bit so he gave it to Ella... who looked like a cheerful little hobbit and skipped along with no trouble at all, but that's a post for another day...*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-10732834477027129822013-03-20T16:03:00.000-04:002013-03-20T16:03:00.061-04:00Bridging from Cub to Boy Scouts <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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sniff, sniff, my baby is growing up. He bridged from Cub Scouts into our local Boy Scout Troop. It's not too huge a change for him though since the scoutmaster is the wife of his track/cross country coach. We've known her for several years and it's a great group of boys. He's just excited for more opportunities to camp, hike and fish.<br />
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They had a nice little ceremony where they received their neckerchief and shoulder loops.<br />
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Then they put my baby in a canoe and paddled him, in the dark (!!), across the pond to signify the transition from Cubs to Boys. He thought it was SaWeet! and really enjoyed it.<br />
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Then they stood around the new Boy Scouts and recited the Boy Scout Law and talked about what each point meant. <br />
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He's excited! Their first campout is coming up soon and they have lots of fun things planned. Of course we've already marked our calendar for summer camp. But I'm not sure who's more excited about that...Hank or Bill!<br />
*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-58452264193245452632013-03-18T15:50:00.000-04:002013-03-18T15:50:01.057-04:00Cub Scout Swim Meet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our Scouting District puts on a low key swim meet each year which is a lot of fun. And by low key I mean, everyone swims 1 length, there are no ropes/lanes, and it's not timed - first kid to touch the wall wins.</div>
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This is a great thing for my boys since they aren't exactly Michael Phelps, but they do enjoy swimming.</div>
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Warming up</div>
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Getting warm after warming up</div>
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Shane's goal was to not stop and touch the floor, and he did it! He swam the whole length without stopping.</div>
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I think I can, I think I can!</div>
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What he enjoyed most was the free swim before and after the meet, but he said he had a great time and wants to do it again next year. Yay Shane!*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-56127936148529918792013-03-16T15:39:00.001-04:002013-03-16T15:39:18.595-04:00Forest of Needwood 5 Miler Race Report by Hank<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I opted not to run this year - again. A good run during this race eludes me every time so I will be content to volunteer and cheer for everyone else!</div>
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Hank decided at the last minute that he wanted to run it. He's young, strong and healthy so I figured why not?</div>
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Here's his race report:</div>
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The race is a hard one, very tricky because of the hills, but I wanted to run it anyway.</div>
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The weather was cold, but it wasn't raining like everyone thought it would be. Mom made me wear a hat and gloves, and I got hot so I took them off towards the end.<br />
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The last big hill was the hardest. It's huge and it didn't feel like it would end, but I kept going.<br />
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Most of the grownups out there were really fast, but I was the youngest kid there so I got a medal for that.</div>
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I did my best and I had a lot of fun. I think my next race will be the Race for the Birds. It's a trail run which is cool even though I like roads better right now.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzW7A9B-CJzOSK3hzRhdSq86_T3wmZ9jq1SqneiRVbZJyu7eyszVVdEkzF4cvpUbsJT_jYyt-g3t41VYdpo0hffIIrKtLGd2HbCl2nhqK-bltY3WSl35LYOnBdMqIEwNCGn9PiQ/s1600/hank+finisher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzW7A9B-CJzOSK3hzRhdSq86_T3wmZ9jq1SqneiRVbZJyu7eyszVVdEkzF4cvpUbsJT_jYyt-g3t41VYdpo0hffIIrKtLGd2HbCl2nhqK-bltY3WSl35LYOnBdMqIEwNCGn9PiQ/s320/hank+finisher.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-31614721065869662552013-02-10T19:59:00.001-05:002013-02-10T19:59:35.274-05:00Bear Springs to White Rock and back again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another AT hiking adventure! Today we took advantage of the stunningly gorgeous day by hiking with friends. This hike was a little tougher than some of our past hikes, but the kids met the challenge with gusto.</div>
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<em>Bear Springs cabin</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY046tp1QVRpE0J-BBseJm5shyphenhyphenm-oAbV35U8Gac7l4GBCLQHQoGXZJzTBI1fkKmbO34arIhz8mj6NRUjBuohhQp_PFDMU9LDJ9ouB_V6EdJ701evUHeeSstunW60yraN-X8mw2og/s1600/bearsprings5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY046tp1QVRpE0J-BBseJm5shyphenhyphenm-oAbV35U8Gac7l4GBCLQHQoGXZJzTBI1fkKmbO34arIhz8mj6NRUjBuohhQp_PFDMU9LDJ9ouB_V6EdJ701evUHeeSstunW60yraN-X8mw2og/s320/bearsprings5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>Water stop</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYP1U8CaZHdUhAJjsgXCNO4_PBrozK_u_rYNNZPHmzBxJ2X4zzu9WHwZp01Xce2RFV6l_723DpLlMsF2bRwRTZv7ffXKPxo84lYzGwXGoJ_A1XZ2hlIETXkf1qN82k1rJAgtP6Lg/s1600/bearsprings1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYP1U8CaZHdUhAJjsgXCNO4_PBrozK_u_rYNNZPHmzBxJ2X4zzu9WHwZp01Xce2RFV6l_723DpLlMsF2bRwRTZv7ffXKPxo84lYzGwXGoJ_A1XZ2hlIETXkf1qN82k1rJAgtP6Lg/s1600/bearsprings1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<em>the view from White Rock</em></div>
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<em>beautiful!</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVfY_jLaQj0kBBSN-RxXvksO3Y51Ufa6rZgdMNPbKwR0NfJDwT4hfdv8NqV9_or0yLkhDfyVi3k3hbMs30QthKVVoJtdjKQzcc3iYHjlCxKR6O8bDHE4w1yRUKs2TRo-Jg7eA-A/s1600/bearsprings3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVfY_jLaQj0kBBSN-RxXvksO3Y51Ufa6rZgdMNPbKwR0NfJDwT4hfdv8NqV9_or0yLkhDfyVi3k3hbMs30QthKVVoJtdjKQzcc3iYHjlCxKR6O8bDHE4w1yRUKs2TRo-Jg7eA-A/s320/bearsprings3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>he hates the self photo thing</em></div>
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<em>cookie break at the top makes it worthwhile</em></div>
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We took a different trail back and missed a turn so we ended up bushwhacking for about 10 minutes. The kids were real troopers and didn't get upset or freak out in the least. Of course it probably helped that the grown ups were cool about it.</div>
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Our friend commented that Ella and her friend should take up trail running...they left the boys in the dirt while laughing and running. Of course the boys were busy sword fighting and stalking bad guys with their hiking sticks. </div>
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3.1 miles total and we had a great time. I can't wait to get on that section of trail again.</div>
<br />*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-61991067223400494722013-02-03T08:07:00.001-05:002013-02-03T08:07:46.541-05:00Snowy Trail Run<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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These days I'm following Higdon's Half Marathon training plan with a focus on strength training, cross training and my long runs. So if my mid-week run can't happen, I don't sweat it and just do some strength training or yoga instead... and a lot of my mid week runs end up on the treadmill.</div>
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That means I really, really look forward to the weekend when I can get outside and run. And for a Texas girl who *hates* the cold, I am surprisingly willing to run in just about any kind of weather!</div>
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Our schedule yesterday was a little crazy so I had to wait until after 3 to run. I dropped everyone where they needed to be and hustled up to the AT trailhead near our house. Just as I backed into the parking spot, little flakes of snow starting falling.</div>
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It was really quite peaceful and beautiful. I usually like running with friends but was happy to be alone so I could take my time and just enjoy the scenery.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMi_kcz_LSu-pLeBYnwiFYhsv4WvRu74RVJhV4JWLqYk6yBB0FybpE_P12NJyRbI8Xr6dsHg-2MtP44CuyIjdonHYtED35FCbGtBEdISZzumdKAFxaGZv8H9t-X0O4Fo5YYBxfGg/s1600/AT+Gathland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMi_kcz_LSu-pLeBYnwiFYhsv4WvRu74RVJhV4JWLqYk6yBB0FybpE_P12NJyRbI8Xr6dsHg-2MtP44CuyIjdonHYtED35FCbGtBEdISZzumdKAFxaGZv8H9t-X0O4Fo5YYBxfGg/s400/AT+Gathland.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Footing was dicey in a few areas, especially on the inclines/declines. Water had collected on some of them so they were like little ice covered creeks. I was quite surprised to see 5 hikers and a dog over the course of my run.<br />
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It started snowing a little heavier so I debated cutting my run short and just doing 5 1/2- 6 miles. I'm glad I pressed on for the whole 7.<br />
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I'm still figuring out cold weather clothes. It was 26 degrees with no wind and a light snow.<br />
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I had on:<br />
~ New Balance 1010's: a little light weight but my Newtons are close to death<br />
~ My dad's diabetic compression socks (so comfy!), and a pair of wicking socks: my feet were warm and dry at the end<br />
~ Running tights and wind pants: warm, comfy lower half<br />
~ UA turtleneck, short sleeve running shirt, thicker long sleeve running shirt and light fleece: I could have done without the short sleeve shirt and maybe added just sleeves since my arms got cold but my core was a little too warm<br />
~ Woolband: it's ugly as all get out but it keeps my ears warm<br />
~ 2 pair of gloves: I need to get new ones because wearing 2 pair makes it hard to do anything with my fingers...like take pictures!<br />
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It was a great run but I am very happy the Groundhog predicted an early spring because I can't wait to run in the sunshine again!*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-51602391536097670612013-01-22T11:41:00.002-05:002013-01-22T11:41:46.441-05:00Winter Night HikingHank is getting ready to leave Cub Scouts and bridge to Boy Scouts. We are lucky that we have a number of great Troops near us and that we have friends in a few of them. So now we're visiting each one to see where he'll best fit and have the most fun.<br />
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The Troop we visited last night is the same one Jake was in when he was a wee lad so we've known the Scoutmaster there for years and years.<br />
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This particular Troop is hosting a series of activities for area Webelos to attend so they can see if this Troop is the one for them. Last night was a Night Hike.<br />
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Before you start clutching your chest and gasping at the notion of hiking, at night, in the winter, with kids, I would encourage you to try it for yourself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6wBeejjJipYnUoZnTEJIfCR8gnp-YqfkHxbkPdgluPqNVaRyUqJpYR1YNgU0SIcSFufXMuXI7hmNExGDLiisWXaeKWsm1llGsUx9nxaggj5LwpfMfb4K3bKzTqNMVmFJDDWGuw/s1600/nighthike+boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6wBeejjJipYnUoZnTEJIfCR8gnp-YqfkHxbkPdgluPqNVaRyUqJpYR1YNgU0SIcSFufXMuXI7hmNExGDLiisWXaeKWsm1llGsUx9nxaggj5LwpfMfb4K3bKzTqNMVmFJDDWGuw/s320/nighthike+boys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Winter hiking gets a bad rap mainly because it can be darn cold out there. You have to wear a bunch of layers and it can be windy and so on. But the beauty of winter hiking is that there are no bugs, no snakes, no humidity to make you sweat like a bovine, and no leaves on the trees so you can see the views you're missing in the spring.<br />
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Night hiking gets a bad rap because it can be a little spooky out there in the woods in the dark. But hiking at night can be quite peaceful (well, unless you're with 13 Boy Scouts; then it's pretty noisy) and beautiful. Star gazing from a mountain ridge is way more fun than from your back deck.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiklsSmA758bCuXbR7AR131v0iQ-z_PA7KOW8xGxk_lJXKEybDRDZQPSyMj_krD8grxSaJztyclu6730q1_e_B9ft9KQBbP9bSA7yb4BRbM0PNaFM_Yxa4EPM6HTkJCTGI1SG9iQ/s1600/nighthike+hank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiklsSmA758bCuXbR7AR131v0iQ-z_PA7KOW8xGxk_lJXKEybDRDZQPSyMj_krD8grxSaJztyclu6730q1_e_B9ft9KQBbP9bSA7yb4BRbM0PNaFM_Yxa4EPM6HTkJCTGI1SG9iQ/s320/nighthike+hank.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ella wanted no part of our adventure so I bundled up the boys and packed every headlamp and flashlight we own, and I tied a glow stick to Shane's coat for good measure. We hiked up to a local ridge to some power lines. One of the dads brought fluorescent light bulbs so the boys could see how they glow when held under the power lines. Very cool stuff and the boys had a great time with it.<br />
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On the way back Shane petered out on the last uphill to the parking lot so I had to carry him on my back. I didn't realize all the boys had run ahead of us so we were last which meant the poor dad who had to be the caboose was stuck with us. My little moose weighs a good 55-60 pounds so this was a pretty good workout. Thankfully it was only 10-12 minutes before we reached somewhat level ground and he was ready to go again.<br />
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It was a really fun night, and I'm glad we were able to go.<br />
Now find yourself some experienced hiker friends and enjoy a night hike adventure!*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-77816699897291133492013-01-19T13:08:00.000-05:002013-01-19T13:08:22.094-05:00Grains and Dairy on the chopping blockAfter nailing sweets to the floor, I decided it was time to step it up and drastically limit my grain and dairy intake to 1 serving a day for each.<br />
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Nothing grows a love for leafy veggies, fruit and protein like a rumbling tummy. And I've been rewarded with a 5 pound loss so I can now stand comfortably in my jeans. If I lose another 5, I'll be able to sit *and* talk at the same time in them. Yay!<br />
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Again, the idea isn't self flagellation but rather to retrain the taste buds to love veggies over bread and mountains of yummy cheese, to happily munch celery with almond butter instead of reaching for chips and dip, and in general crave whole foods over processed ones.<br />
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This is huge for me because I love - actually love isn't a big enough word to hold how I feel - LOVE grilled cheese sandwiches...as in if I was on death row I would wrestle mightily between choosing a grilled cheese sandwich or a steak for my last meal.<br />
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Anyway, my plan is to do this for the month of January and then reintroduce only gluten free or soaked grains and still limit my dairy to no more than 2 servings a day. I have noticed an improvement on my stomach problems. I haven't been running a whole lot, but I haven't had any issues on the runs I've managed to squeeze in so far.<br />
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Unfortunately, I'm just not one of those people who can eat anything, exercise and maintain a healthy weight. I have to watch my diet and exercise like mad just to maintain, not lose. That's not my preference, but I have to work with what I have!<br />
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<br />*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-63374069160904565102013-01-15T11:46:00.000-05:002013-01-15T12:29:16.366-05:00Giving up sweetsI eat when I'm stressed out, and while I was in Texas I ate pretty much non-stop. <br />
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To make things worse, we ate out almost every meal because, frankly, none of us felt like cooking after hanging out in a hospital or hospice room all day. And if I'm going to eat in a restraurant, I'm going to order food I don't normally get to eat....like dessert.<br />
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Not surprisingly I gained quite a bit of weight in a short period...as in it hurt my guts to sit down while wearing my jeans.<br />
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Drastic times call for drastic measures. One of the guys in my running club started a FaceBook page for giving up sweets. I am best motivated externally, and I knew public humiliation would keep me on track like nothing else. Confessing to my friends anytime I caved would surely prevent me from eating a cookie (or ten) and nibbling chocolate every night so I joined on December 10th.<br />
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I realize never eating sweets again is *completely* unrealistic, but I also know that until I kill my sweet tooth, a Take No Prisoners attitude is the best approach for me.<br />
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And I'm quite proud to say that I can count on one hand the number of sweets I've eaten since then. And they were each planned, small tastes like bites of pie at Christmas and a couple of squares of chocolate on New Years and so on.<br />
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Did I lose 50 pounds in a week? Nope. Try 1 pound in like 2 weeks. BUT I feel better, less sluggish and gross. And each time I had a sweet I found it less satisfying and didn't feel like I wanted to inhale extra servings of it.<br />
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What's my goal in this? I want to retrain my taste buds to crave healthier food, to find an apple more satisfing than a Snickers bar, to be content with a handful of cranberries and almonds as a snack instead of a handful of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.<br />
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After crushing the Sweets monster, I decided to up the ante for a period of time, and I'll tell you about that next...<br />
<br />*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-76506808139373774522012-12-28T18:22:00.002-05:002012-12-28T18:22:47.452-05:00Wreaths Across America<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After my dad died, I wanted to participate in something that supports and honors veterans. I found my way to a group called <a href="http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/" target="_blank">Wreaths Across America</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/about-us/the-arlington-story/" target="_blank">This link</a> explains how it all started, and in a very small nutshell - a wreath company in Maine provides Christmas wreaths to various veterans cemeteries around the country so that local volunteers can place them on the graves of vets. The intent is to honor those who have served our country. In some cases, the wreath laying is the only time the graves are visited each year.<br />
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Originally I wanted to go to Arlington because that's where my dad will be interred this spring, but the reality of our schedule dictated that we choose a cemetery that was easier to get to and home from so we chose the Crownsville Veterans Cemetery near Annapolis.<br />
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At Arlington every grave gets a wreath. At other cemeteries they rely on donations so the number of wreaths varies from year to year.<br />
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I asked Bill's family if they wanted to join us since we'd be so close. His dad, brother and nephew were able to come.<br />
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<i>Grandpop with the littles</i></div>
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They had a nice opening ceremony with buglers playing shadow Taps, a 21 gun salute and a representative from each service placing a wreath and saluting it.<br />
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<i>The Army wreath</i> </div>
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Afterwards we walked around the cemetery looking for boxes of wreaths to place. They encouraged everyone to linger at the gravesite they chose and read the name of the veteran.<br />
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<i>Ella getting wreaths to hand to Grandpop and daddy</i> </div>
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The kids took it very seriously. Reading names and choosing specific graves. It was very sweet to watch them.<br />
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I asked the kids to stand with the circle of wreaths and this is how they posed themselves. I was very proud of them.<br />
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We've sponsored a wreath in my dad's name for next year so we'll go to Arlington in 2013. Though I'm wondering about a grassroots effort to do something similar in our local cemetery. As Cub Scouts we work with the American Legion to put flags on veterans' graves for Memorial Day. I'm mulling over some sort of wreath project too....because I have so much free time and need another project, right? :D<br />
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You can check the Wreaths Across America website to see if there is a participating cemetery near you. If you can't physically attend to place wreaths, you can make a donation for a specific cemetery.*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-62377383884118510162012-12-27T16:51:00.000-05:002012-12-27T16:51:08.073-05:00Time keeps on tickingIt has been a while since I've updated the blog. My dad passed away unexpectedly in November. Thankfully I was able to get to Texas before he died. Sadly he was already unresponsive before I arrived.<br />
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I was away for 15 days, and when I got home I had to dive headfirst back into schooling Ella and Hank as well as preparing for some semblance of Christmas.<br />
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His passing was harder than I expected. The whole process, ICU, Hospice, funeral home, was harder than I imagined it could be. Of course I knew I'd be sad. I just didn't expect to be strolling along and suddenly hear a song or remember something from my childhood and begin bawling.<br />
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Days after I returned from Texas, I learned that the receptionist at the kids' dentist office was murdered. We've been a part of the practice almost since the doors opened for business so while we weren't personal friends, it was a terrible blow to hear not only that she had died but how.<br />
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Then the Newtown tragedy and the past 6 weeks have been hard to say the least. I haven't felt like I was ready to just start writing about the mundane happenings of our life.<br />
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Things are returning to normal here. We made it through Christmas, though I had to bail on our last service at church because hearing the songs my dad used to sing was too much. I should mention he had an amazing voice and sang quite a bit, especially at Christmas and Easter.<br />
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The kids are getting back on track [sort of] for school. I've been working on clean eating and getting my butt back in gear. So we are in process....one step at a time...*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-41437677967032920102012-11-08T13:05:00.000-05:002012-11-08T13:05:00.878-05:00Tiger Hike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
School was out on Monday so we Tiger Den moms took our little cubs on a hike</div>
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They made pinecone and peanutbutter bird feeders</div>
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and then hiked to the shelter where they made leaf rubbings</div>
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and then we hiked back. Simple, quick and fun!</div>
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<br />*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-1526795386605906062012-11-07T14:21:00.000-05:002012-11-07T14:21:02.968-05:00Skittles Party!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last night while many people were wringing their hands waiting for election results, we were busy chowing down on popcorn, skittles, starburst and gummy candy.</div>
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"Icky yucksters!!" Is probably what most of you are thinking, and typically I'd be right there with you. But last night was special. It was Ella's last opportunity to eat hard, sticky food for quite some time. <br />
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Because this morning she got her braces on!</div>
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This is the next step in her cleft palate repair. Very thankfully her bottom teeth and jaw are darn near perfect so she just needs to have her upper teeth realigned and jaw reshaped.</div>
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And very thankfully my sweet girl will probably be the best patient her orthodontist has ever had. She's more responsible than I am sometimes! She has already taped her "Don't Eat These Foods" list to her bedroom wall and set up her braces care supplies in the bathroom. I love her so much!</div>
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Her ortho uses the <a href="http://www.robisonsmiles.com/damon-system.php" target="_blank">Damon System</a> which is supposed to be less painful and need fewer adjustments. He isn't on our insurance plan - but - he specializes in cleft repair and is highly recommended by the many, many, *many* people I asked so I would sell my non-vital organs on eBay to afford him if I needed to.</div>
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These amazing braces will:</div>
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~ straighten her wayward tooth that is currently perpendicular to her gumline, </div>
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~ expand her gumline, prepping it for a bone graft in a year or so, and</div>
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~ reshape her upper jaw so that she doesn't have an underbite anymore.</div>
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She'll have braces until her late teens/early twenties, but the results will be worth it. The next step after the bone graft is to wait until her mid-teens when she'll get a false tooth but only if she wants it.</div>
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After that, she'll get a dental implant in her late teens/early 20's because she has a tooth that didn't form in utero - which is very common in cleft palate babies.</div>
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If you're considering adopting a little cutie with a cleft lip and/or palate and have more questions, please don't hesitate to email me. It's such a manageable special need, and I'm happy to help in any way that I can!</div>
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<br />*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-52035781038340767262012-11-06T12:49:00.000-05:002012-11-07T08:17:16.281-05:00Veterans Day Parade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sunday was the 80th Brunswick
Veterans Day Parade. Our Cub Scout Pack marches in it every year and the boys
really enjoy it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The parents... not so much. The organizers ask us to arrive HOURS
before it begins and then hang out. That means we have a dozen or so little
boys in uniforms that can't get dirty standing near a playground they aren't
supposed to play on. Yea, we let them play on it. Made our lives much easier and who is going to sweat a little dirt that [hopefully] no one is going to notice?</span></div>
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Hank and another boy were the biggest and oldest scouts so they got to carry the flags. They thought that was super cool - at first. Then they realized those flags get really heavy after a while. Still they did a great job and kept the flags upright the whole way.</span></div>
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<em>Hank, center</em> <em>and Shane is on the right</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In case
you thought we were big city, fancy pants folks, I present to you:</span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>Goats in Patriotic Costumes!<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWgfBC8c-ro5-YB_yp8jlXVlJbWUkdhr5cHCHjRVJng1iQRnHGWx7fqbErwYtiSL0JdrwFR0gAb1ep0Lz3JH4oKJBEDF6fiLOWxkW3h8aF3Ks5-N-U1Fbeh3VD8372L6KWViQlw/s1600/IMG_8301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWgfBC8c-ro5-YB_yp8jlXVlJbWUkdhr5cHCHjRVJng1iQRnHGWx7fqbErwYtiSL0JdrwFR0gAb1ep0Lz3JH4oKJBEDF6fiLOWxkW3h8aF3Ks5-N-U1Fbeh3VD8372L6KWViQlw/s320/IMG_8301.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Only half of our Pack was able to make it, but those who
came did a great job. The route is about a mile. It's stop-and-slow walking.
Waving. Smiling. Carrying a banner or flag. Dodging candy being thrown from the floats in front of and behind us. All things little boys would rather not do but they rocked it!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMFCG07ZmTqExXeT9srAj7dlKs65P5fqd_4gxLDWMgnCGibX2pG86hcAYC1wJnZwV1hOLWbG-dmIhQhD7h7q5TS3L5WcMALAGrBuawkN966bzgQxOwO9hG8vG_5YSkIWQ0t3aPg/s1600/IMG_8311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMFCG07ZmTqExXeT9srAj7dlKs65P5fqd_4gxLDWMgnCGibX2pG86hcAYC1wJnZwV1hOLWbG-dmIhQhD7h7q5TS3L5WcMALAGrBuawkN966bzgQxOwO9hG8vG_5YSkIWQ0t3aPg/s320/IMG_8311.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> The bigger the banner, the older the boys carrying it. Here is Shane and another Tiger carrying the smallest banner. So cute!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJm5_60KKmbv3ZiBHD1tK1MbMmf3ZWUFr-e-OQexv6xVuu5E44nS2qcBasbH6uAFKzMqCuKbsjtAjb1-Eqr9ur1t6LxqB72ozNTT5Avjea2GImRqf9SebraqMhKBFBtZ3769LFA/s1600/IMG_8314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJm5_60KKmbv3ZiBHD1tK1MbMmf3ZWUFr-e-OQexv6xVuu5E44nS2qcBasbH6uAFKzMqCuKbsjtAjb1-Eqr9ur1t6LxqB72ozNTT5Avjea2GImRqf9SebraqMhKBFBtZ3769LFA/s320/IMG_8314.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And because I love to share with ya'll the fruit of my uncanny knack for unflattering photos, I bring you this:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4-FuisNthnz2QJeRdEBpM0daO6jBVsyRNNRI9gixF9NPDCT4Zksv2tULypLShK_7CljUWDiePlGEdY9tKC_Y1KWaogPiLVfMU75nf_x_9tKLbrbj_8HxqOpM7FDRp4RaXFi2pw/s1600/crazy+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4-FuisNthnz2QJeRdEBpM0daO6jBVsyRNNRI9gixF9NPDCT4Zksv2tULypLShK_7CljUWDiePlGEdY9tKC_Y1KWaogPiLVfMU75nf_x_9tKLbrbj_8HxqOpM7FDRp4RaXFi2pw/s320/crazy+hat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Photo credit goes to the mom of 2 of the boys in the picture. The hat is Hank's and for some reason he refused to wear it. I was cold so I was happy to rock it.*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-3044047468277619442012-11-05T12:28:00.002-05:002012-11-05T12:54:33.658-05:00My Wee Little Warriors Dashing About<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But first a picture from Shane's Fall Fest party. His public school adventure is still new to us so it's a little exciting. I volunteered to help with his Fall Fest class party so I got to see the costume parade. </div>
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Cutest.thing.ever.</div>
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My little policeman</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0E1IZ6ZST2L3fLrF_fgjVG3Jzg1sTElwFueT6CrfkksW4SFkZ4-_IkQLVKfLdwq0f_HVjyg_t6OAjh4rNcIiJEIeP6ZsjRAgmLOrYb9j51wuiKN6JJIBN8XHYMxM5nafcLoAVZQ/s1600/IMG_8189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0E1IZ6ZST2L3fLrF_fgjVG3Jzg1sTElwFueT6CrfkksW4SFkZ4-_IkQLVKfLdwq0f_HVjyg_t6OAjh4rNcIiJEIeP6ZsjRAgmLOrYb9j51wuiKN6JJIBN8XHYMxM5nafcLoAVZQ/s320/IMG_8189.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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Saturday was the 2nd Annual Halloweeney Wee Warrior Dash. This is a free, kids obstacle course run that takes place near Shepherdstown, WV. Dr Mark and the <a href="http://www.tworiverstreads.com/" target="_blank">Two Rivers</a> team do a great job of directing this race and making it FUN for all ages.</div>
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The course was about a mile long with all sorts of fun challenges for the kids like the pumpkin mine field, hale bale maze, hay roll climb, and more.</div>
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My peeps wanted to test things out in advance</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zDr2cRMOMqirhAROG5CY93kVf1b4lRmukIkyKKmLjBhjRiAhyphenhyphenhgMb9USl_Bo5BcojicKQwIAyD_ZwjQW5GCO7hO_KwNOlH5f3XurEFxPB9PnpOROiO4GDyzGtSdZdUHTTSIYNQ/s1600/IMG_8230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zDr2cRMOMqirhAROG5CY93kVf1b4lRmukIkyKKmLjBhjRiAhyphenhyphenhgMb9USl_Bo5BcojicKQwIAyD_ZwjQW5GCO7hO_KwNOlH5f3XurEFxPB9PnpOROiO4GDyzGtSdZdUHTTSIYNQ/s320/IMG_8230.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Volunteers held the orange tubes up so the kids had to crawl through them to get to the finish</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2uMAZz2vEYAabwVgFBTvXl1vqf-aYOEoB3vyX7BxGnqdocgoE02btK9m_dfJ18-xZh5qdTZlAB8RjSxNo1MtNFDExv846T6iIc7qfdfQxv5IVb3f_tiKiX7PCsDfapbITkDSQQ/s1600/IMG_8231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2uMAZz2vEYAabwVgFBTvXl1vqf-aYOEoB3vyX7BxGnqdocgoE02btK9m_dfJ18-xZh5qdTZlAB8RjSxNo1MtNFDExv846T6iIc7qfdfQxv5IVb3f_tiKiX7PCsDfapbITkDSQQ/s320/IMG_8231.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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afterwards the kids were encouraged to take a pumpkin, or 10!, home with them</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vHtlX_31DCuSf7drn6achcJmL5bRhyphenhyphenkVLOwDJ3Nu4shE1xN8LY0VRUh75Ybmqv-nLYPCxgy8pBo5chJrxmizDoMTMBtJ74CpKlGDXEwMYzNUiefPyYw6AxIFzPDaTBXcCWnljQ/s1600/IMG_8241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vHtlX_31DCuSf7drn6achcJmL5bRhyphenhyphenkVLOwDJ3Nu4shE1xN8LY0VRUh75Ybmqv-nLYPCxgy8pBo5chJrxmizDoMTMBtJ74CpKlGDXEwMYzNUiefPyYw6AxIFzPDaTBXcCWnljQ/s320/IMG_8241.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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getting over the round bales was harder than it looked. </div>
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there were enthusiastic volunteers to help them out</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXUspcTaOB7f_IyadY-GcBv73ivMkSi75XMeIxeiWXlKfdT7oU2oIxXKmdabA7AO1wVByVcvZItBwCzcTQEsuMzP_LwBWSMIVHNJssZfAYBJTYrVH2TONtsFoctZrsM3BG2cM6w/s1600/IMG_8265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXUspcTaOB7f_IyadY-GcBv73ivMkSi75XMeIxeiWXlKfdT7oU2oIxXKmdabA7AO1wVByVcvZItBwCzcTQEsuMzP_LwBWSMIVHNJssZfAYBJTYrVH2TONtsFoctZrsM3BG2cM6w/s320/IMG_8265.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbAfH0BIIgHMU038qNCy7k48E8Qq-302vgMZXJyADJTQKs8UvZQe1hQm_ZQ3t1ZZO9Xj8ZEvY6EAwoWaOAgsq-95ZMTXqEtzsizlsjIXwc2kX8Oqh-ugHGDX0f57O72fr1KLmMg/s1600/IMG_8275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbAfH0BIIgHMU038qNCy7k48E8Qq-302vgMZXJyADJTQKs8UvZQe1hQm_ZQ3t1ZZO9Xj8ZEvY6EAwoWaOAgsq-95ZMTXqEtzsizlsjIXwc2kX8Oqh-ugHGDX0f57O72fr1KLmMg/s320/IMG_8275.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I want Ella's form</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikn456HJb4JeRkMHx4iJoy5xJ1tZ9tv-LKkVFlGLI2ZlAKLvSUpzsYeUlE7SvtNhd2Rm_0JPo_rRtmmPNuMxtDXnFqqeDIdCm-BGm2FCFcCAqbgfOVrHGgfhebWCUXZWlaIjePVQ/s1600/IMG_8239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikn456HJb4JeRkMHx4iJoy5xJ1tZ9tv-LKkVFlGLI2ZlAKLvSUpzsYeUlE7SvtNhd2Rm_0JPo_rRtmmPNuMxtDXnFqqeDIdCm-BGm2FCFcCAqbgfOVrHGgfhebWCUXZWlaIjePVQ/s320/IMG_8239.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And they get medals at the finish!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJasiIvawmZ3FcIbso1uaqhCfy-q0cb9UeynWWCs4FoouMU7BOLiZN77LUmecRX-1RPtGa0HVf7wY7zjbhVq4UfhGtPuCfiNNyEsNnFBLwaWzDBA44tbesygHyM6blX5mQUkubvw/s1600/IMG_8290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJasiIvawmZ3FcIbso1uaqhCfy-q0cb9UeynWWCs4FoouMU7BOLiZN77LUmecRX-1RPtGa0HVf7wY7zjbhVq4UfhGtPuCfiNNyEsNnFBLwaWzDBA44tbesygHyM6blX5mQUkubvw/s320/IMG_8290.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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Downer alert so don't read below if you like end with cheery stuff:</div>
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I ran Shane's lap with him and then 2 afterwards with Hank. Shane stopped and started a lot so I didn't have any pain that run. With Hank, I didn't have any pain at all for the first 1/2 mile or so. But after that aching quickly turned to pain so I walked the last half of our second lap.</div>
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We have a slew of expenses because of the storm so no chiropractor for me anytime soon. Frustrating, but that's life so I'll keep strength training and doing a little yoga so I don't turn into a blob.</div>
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Ok, I don't like to end on a downer either so here goes: The kids' cross country team had their end of season party Saturday evening. The kids ran around looking for baggies of candy while the grown ups stood around and chatted. We have a great group of families on our team so I really enjoyed one last opportunity to hang out with them before we start running again in the spring. :D</div>
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*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-9255420946076423282012-10-30T09:24:00.000-04:002012-10-30T09:24:25.972-04:00Sandy's Aftermath<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hurricane Sandy was some storm. The wind came in from the west, off the mountains and across the valley in violent gusts. It was like a huge pressure washer pounding against the back of the house for hours. Two windows leaked pretty badly and soaked the floor into the basement. </div>
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We're not sure what the extent of that damage is yet. Otherwise the house is ok.</div>
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Our yard is another story.</div>
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This tree used to be upright</div>
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We'll have to take it down because the ground is giving way beneath it</div>
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This is in the field next to us. It belongs to our neighbor so thankfully we aren't responsible for cutting and hauling the wood. Bill will probably help though since chainsaws are toys for men.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjW2IypPm8qNydv_2HoRdlQc3gbyVYyQ3XO4nlKyIOt0r1MgcTVAKmLn4fh4h2rAbNBm0TT_HjdEUSnXyWogo2-uJ1cpiJSMfoO0Cth3CVMm9v50vcovFUKKYkFBZsS0E1m5PLEA/s1600/IMG_8167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjW2IypPm8qNydv_2HoRdlQc3gbyVYyQ3XO4nlKyIOt0r1MgcTVAKmLn4fh4h2rAbNBm0TT_HjdEUSnXyWogo2-uJ1cpiJSMfoO0Cth3CVMm9v50vcovFUKKYkFBZsS0E1m5PLEA/s320/IMG_8167.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A little perspective in size</div>
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We used to have to open a gate to get in the backyard. Sandy fixed that for us.</div>
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Our smooshed chicken tractor. The chickens were stuck inside and seemed completely unfazed. Bill ripped out one side and off they went scratching and eating.</div>
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We gathered the mobile stuff under those trees because we thought they'd be safe there. That's the way it goes sometimes.</div>
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And when looking closer at the big evergreen in the front yard, I found where my not-so-smart chickens have been laying their eggs.</div>
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The power flickered but never went off. One of my kids is really afraid of storms but didn't freak out even a little. Relatively speaking, the damage is minimal. <br />
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From what I've heard so far, none of our friends have catastrophic damage or injuries either. We're so grateful!*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-12243619270979222462012-10-25T09:48:00.000-04:002012-10-25T11:43:38.702-04:003 Things Thursday Medical EditionWhat a week. I would love to have a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulligan_(games)" target="_blank">Mulligan</a> because it has been one crazy thing after another.<br />
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1. Hank has strep throat which is not unusual for him. He won't keep his hands off his face... despite the fact that I am constantly saying, "Please don't touch your face. Take your hands off your face. Do you not hear that I am talking to you?! Stop touching your face!!!! Now go wash your hands...with soap!"<br />
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Now it appears he's having a mild allergic reaction to his medicine. So we get to go back to the dr. We're so excited to spend our day doing this that we just can't wait to get out the door!<br />
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2. I mentioned in my race report that I had cramps in my feet. Well, my feet are still out of sorts. They'll cramp while I'm driving now too...that's some fun stuff right there. And my gastrocs and peroneus muscles are still sore. I have bruises on my calves where I've tried to find the trigger point(s). Both times I've tried to run I ended up with extreme knee pain on the inside of my right knee. I'm a mess, I know!<br />
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Maybe a trip to the <a href="http://www.xojane.com/newagey/dead-sea-cured-my-cramps" target="_blank">Dead Sea</a> would help?</div>
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Based on what I've been able to read at <a href="http://sock-doc.com/" target="_blank">Sock Doc</a> - in all my spare time - it could well be related to my lower back, glutes and hips. This happy little trio was the culprit in my IT problems.<br />
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So I've been looking for a good chiropractor since Sock Doc is too far away for me to visit. I have to figure out the insurance aspect of it too because I'm pretty sure Bill will have a cow if we spend another dime on my "running thing."<br />
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3. Aaaaand Point 2 leads me to the decision to pass on the <a href="http://annapolisstriders.org/2012/Rosaryville50K.html" target="_blank">Rosaryville 50K</a>. I'm disappointed and feel like if I could trade in my legs, the rest of me could nail it. I'm still hoping to do the <a href="http://fortitude4fd.com/" target="_blank">First Descents Marathon</a> in December. It's flat as a pancake, and at least part of it is on a packed dirt trail. Can't get any friendlier than that!<br />
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In spite of the craziness, </div>
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*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-42195546898762389482012-10-17T09:34:00.002-04:002013-01-19T13:14:10.073-05:00Freedom's Run Race ReportLooking back, nothing about my training seemed spectacular. I had some great runs, some ok ones and some really bad ones, but you'll have that with any training cycle. <br />
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I think being so incredibly busy really helped me not *completely* freak out - I had my moments, but for the most part I didn't have time to dwell on what I was preparing for. But I'm a little bit amazed that I did it. I ran a marathon. <br />
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I've been running for just 3 years, of those I missed nearly 1 year to injury. I have a crazy schedule between homeschool and volunteer work. I'm generally lazy and eat too many sweets - which contributes to me being 15 pounds overweight. But I did it. I don't say all that to make anyone feel bad. If anything it's to encourage anyone who doubts they can do it. Seriously, if I can do it, YOU can!<br />
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Alright, enough of that. Here's how it went...<br />
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The day started really early - 3am. The first buses were leaving Shepherd U at 5:30 and my friend, Eddy, was picking me up at 4:45. We walked up to the bus stop and our friend Larry from our <a href="http://www.steeplechasers.org/" target="_blank">running club</a> was already there. <br />
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It turns out Larry planned to run the same pace I did and he agreed to let me tag along. He is known for running an even pace - be it an 8 m/m or an 11 m/m, he can dial in and maintain his pace. I - on the other hand - am *not* known for running an even pace so running with him was a real Godsend.<br />
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We got to the start and met more folks from our running club, checked our bags and hung out until the start. With a "Ready, Set, Go!" we were on our way. I didn't carry my phone so I don't have any pictures but you'll have to trust me when I tell you that sunrise at Harpers Ferry is quite lovely.<br />
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Just after mile 4, we crossed the footbridge from Harpers Ferry, WV to the tow path in MD. The bridge was wet which made me wonder if it had rained. We got close to the spiral staircase where it was slippery and realized it was frost. Brrrr!<br />
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The temptation with this race is to hit the tow path and turn it on. That would be a really bad thing to do for someone like me because you get off the tow path at mile 15ish and begin the really steep climb to the battlefield. Thankfully I was running with Larry, a nice relaxed pace, and I felt great. We chatted with fellow runners, got a chuckle out of a really crabby older runner and generally enjoyed the ride. <br />
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We got to Millers Sawmill Rd and began the climb up. Still feeling good but I decided to walk the steeper parts of the hills in this section because I knew what was coming, and honestly my walk pace was about the same as my run pace on some of these!<br />
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The volunteers for this race are wonderful and cheered us on like rockstars. The aid stations were spaced well, and I was happy that I decided not to carry water. We walked through each aid station and walked for a bit past the one at mile 20ish. <br />
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Mentally I knew if I could make it to the elementary school, I was set because most of the course is downhill from there. What I didn't count on was that my knees would start aching like crazy around mile 21 and my feet - oh my feet - they were talking by mile 22 and were done by 24.<br />
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<em>not sure what that hill at mile 10ish is. the tow path is pretty flat</em></div>
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When I ran the Harpers Ferry Half in May, I got cramps in my feet. First time that had happened and I haven't had trouble like that since (that I can remember). Mile 24ish my feet started cramping hard. I would walk a bit, run a bit and pray. <br />
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I almost started to cry out of frustration and pain so I stopped, took a breath and said outloud "Pull yourself together. You can do this." So I did. Funny how that works.<br />
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I got to the bridge just after mile 25 and decided I was running to the finish come hell or high water. I heard some strange grunting sound and realized it was me! Each time my right foot hit the ground I made this awful sound, but I didn't slow down.<br />
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Because of road construction we had to wind through the campus a bit, and there was one last uphill. Really short, but steep and I got an awful cramp in the side of my right leg and my foot again. After that I couldn't feel my right foot (and it actually still hurts a little), but I kept my arms moving so my feet had no choice but to go.<br />
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I got to the top of the hill and couldn't figure out where to go. Thankfully someone was standing there, "follow the arrows!" Oh you mean those giant white arrows in the middle of the road?? doh!<br />
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The kids run was taking place next to the stadium entrance and there were people everywhere. My brain was addled so I was very grateful they had 2 lines of volunteers marking the way. Then I saw Bill and heard someone else yell name. At that point I couldn't feel my legs and ran as hard as I could focusing on my arms.<br />
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When I stopped my feet hurt so bad, I really did think I was going to cry. I wanted to wait for Larry who was just a couple of minutes behind me, but I had to keep moving or just melt into a puddle - and I had to pee.<br />
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I think I was in a state of shock...not physically...I was fine physically other than my feet. It just all seemed so surreal and a bit anticlimactic. <br />
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I hobbled around to find Bill and the kids, got something to drink, and we made our way to the Oktoberfest. On our way I saw <a href="http://highermiles.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Abbi</a> and her husband. It was great finally meeting her in person after corresponding via email and blog for so long.<br />
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After hanging out with friends from the Steeplechasers for a bit, we headed home. I took a shower and went to bed and Bill took the kids to football. I guess he was right afterall. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 22pt;">Finish Time: 4:41:12.6<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 22pt;">Pace: 10:44<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 22pt;">Age Rank: 16/35 F-40 to 49<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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And I am nothing if not a good sport, particularly when it comes to unflattering photos. So I present to you....my unofficial finishline photo (at least I hope there was another photographer)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIMJNKedO3hx3d7V9XhtG5Aq-FatC3ASnsWe9P6X7mmGdk494VopfV3Sha32joMp8vlohOWRfOiJtzLxM3wwfs8y3tq_pPNEML6vuV4JweDk2LsCUf1Y6ldNFmn-1_DgbF2WnPw/s1600/worst+picture+ever.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSIMJNKedO3hx3d7V9XhtG5Aq-FatC3ASnsWe9P6X7mmGdk494VopfV3Sha32joMp8vlohOWRfOiJtzLxM3wwfs8y3tq_pPNEML6vuV4JweDk2LsCUf1Y6ldNFmn-1_DgbF2WnPw/s320/worst+picture+ever.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">many thanks, I think, to </span><a href="http://www.charmingandquaint.com/FREEDOM-RUN-2012.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jacqueline of Charming and Quaint Photography</span></a></em></div>
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I realize she can only photograph what she sees so don't consider this picture a reflection of her skill as a photog. I like to think of it as a portrait of determination...yea, that's it, determination is all over my face. ;)*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-19265360863509776112012-10-14T09:31:00.001-04:002012-10-14T09:31:38.880-04:00Hank's 5K Race ReportI lined up towards the back of the pack with my friends. Mom told me later that I should have been more in the front of the middle because I can run fast. (I also told him to ditch the sweatpants next time. They were thick and probably weighed 3-4 pounds!)<br />
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Dr. Mark said, "Ready, set, go!" and we all took off. At first I could barely run because there were so many people. I started to pass a lot of people and I took off .<br />
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We started in West Virginia and ran over to Maryland. We stayed in Maryland for a little bit and ran on the tow path. I finally got to the aid station and took a sip of water. I never stopped running.<br />
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I ran up the hill back to the bridge. I kept running fast and finally made it to the football stadium where the finish line was.<br />
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It was a hard race, but it was a lot of fun. Next time I want to do the 10K!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 22pt;">Finish Time: 28:37.5<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 22pt;">Pace: 9:14<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 22pt;">Age Rank: 13/25 M-1 to 13<u></u><u></u></span></b></div>
*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-75423555905893111852012-10-14T09:09:00.009-04:002012-10-14T09:09:39.674-04:00Killing time with Picstacheo, and I ran a marathon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Waiting on pictures for a full race report - but - I should mention...I ran a marathon yesterday. It was my first, and it was such an amazing experience. I'll tell you more about later. </div>
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The nice folks at <a href="http://www.freedomsrun.org/" target="_blank">Freedom's Run </a>had some fun things for kids to do while waiting for the runners to finish. There was a playground of some sorts accepting donations for a breast cancer cause (I didn't fully focus on it because I had just finished running a million miles...give or take).</div>
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They had other stuff too, but the favorite of my little monkeys was the <a href="http://www.picstacheo.com/" target="_blank">Picstacheo photo booth</a>.</div>
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Such hams!</div>
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<br />*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-72742866641115780692012-10-13T03:39:00.000-04:002012-10-13T03:39:20.828-04:00It's like preparing for an invasion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Getting myself to the marathon start is hard enough (hello 3 am wakeup!). But organizing everything so Bill can get 3 kids to 3 races and then to football takes a little preplanning. Now that the mornings are chilly adds to it all.</div>
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Below is the race day tote with blanket, water, and snacks. In the two sling bags are smaller fleece blankets along with hats and gloves. On top is the itinerary for Bill. As long as Hank makes it to his race on time, it's all good!</div>
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Their shorts, tee shirts and sweats with shoes under each pile, bibs already pinned on.<br />
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My junk. I still haven't decided on the handheld. The pile to the right is all for afterwards. I'm going to hang out for their games so I need dry clothes to change into. The pile on the left is my throw away blanket and jacket. I'll be glad when I'm an old pro at this and can just throw what I need into a bag on my way out the door!<br />
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Their football stuff was already in the car when I was taking pictures. That's another tote filled with uniforms, flags and pom poms. </div>
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Time to get dressed and git 'r done! I'm excited!</div>
<br />*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34868316.post-9831389338319961292012-10-12T06:00:00.000-04:002012-10-12T06:00:00.376-04:00Friday Five - Marathon Edition1. Tomorrow I'll run my <a href="http://www.freedomsrun.org/" target="_blank">first marathon</a>!! My training has gone pretty well with no injuries or major set backs. Yay!<br />
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2. I'm a little worried because Ella has been coughing up a lung for more than a week - directly in my face as often as she possibly can, of course. I started OD'ing on Vitamin D and drinking hot green tea like liquid crack, but I feel like I'm on the cusp of the crud.<br />
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3. Last month I won a<a href="http://www.spibelt.com/" target="_blank"> SpiBelt</a> sponsored by Yo Momma Runs (<a href="http://yomommaruns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Hi, Lisa</a>!), but it hasn't arrived yet. Surprisingly this isn't unusual. You'd think companies would crank that stuff out the door while people are still giddy and happy so they'll tell everyone in the world how much they love the product. But most giveaways take f.o.r.e.v.e.r. to arrive. I may have to wear my granny fanny pack so I can carry all my crap with me.<br />
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4. I can't decide if I want to carry my handheld or not. The weather is supposed to be nice and cool but I'll still sweat like crazy I'm sure. The aid stations are every 3 - 4 miles which isn't bad, and I don't really drink all that much unless it's really hot and humid. I will - for sure - carry my Gu because the aid stations will have PowerGels which make me want to throw up in my mouth. Decisions, decisions.<br />
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5. My kids are all running, too. Hank = 5K. Ella and Shane = 1 mile fun run. Afterwards they all have football games. I'm going to sleep in the car. When I told Bill that I plan to be at their games, he looked at me like I was nuts. "You do realize you'll be really, really tired, right??"<br />
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5.5 Because I can't leave this out. A bunch of my friends are going to be running their FIRST 5k in the morning. I'm so stoked for them and sad that they'll be finished loooong before I will so I won't see them cross the finish. I got to do a handful of training runs with them and they are going to crush it! I can't wait to hear all about it from them!*~*~* Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07224249961990268502noreply@blogger.com3