Boston Strong

We had a fabulous time in Boston. It is a cool old city, I like it there. It was one of those weekends where everything worked out perfect, no problems, just fun and celebrating. We were just busy enough, got to explore the city, laughed a lot, shed some tears, met some awesome people, and were lucky enough to share a super special experience with about a million other spectators and runners. It was a weekend I'll always remember. My sister finished with an awesome time breaking her previous Boston record.

Article in the Oregonian:
http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2014/04/boston_marathon_an_amazing_rac.html#incart_river_default

At the expo

My sister ran into all kinds of old running friends.

 

All four Power Bar winners.

Power bar event at expo

 

Duck tour on "Olga"

View from the water

 

Cool old ship

 

One of many very old graveyards in the middle of the city.

Finish line the day before

Cool old buldings

Our camp out spot for the race about 1K from finish line.

 

That's my sister in pink! Yay, she saw us cheering and waved.

 

Meet up after the race

 

Celebrating at the bar after

 

Leaving for Boston

To support my awesome sister! She qualified to run Boston last year but due to the number of people that wanted to run this year in support of the tragic events last year they raised the qualifying time and she missed out by a just few minutes. Then she entered a Power Bar competition on Facebook to win a chance to run and won! Now she is running Boston with VIP treatment, so awesome! Not to mention she had open heart surgery 2 years ago and thought her running career was over. And she will possibly need open heart surgery again to replace a value at some point. My sister ran the Boston marathon in 2006 and my mom was there to watch her finish. Since she is no longer with us it is an honor to go and watch my sister run. It will be a truly special event celebrating life, tragedy, the running community, my sister and our mom.

"Even when our heart aches, we summon the strength that maybe we didn't even know we had, and we carry on; we finish the race."

One year ago I was at work running on the treadmill on my lunch break when the bombs went off. The incident made me so mad and upset that I vowed then and there to be in Boston for the marathon in 2014. Before and after my heart surgery so many people had told me I couldn't or shouldn't run marathons anymore, but I didn't listen. I wasn't about to give up the sport I love. Fate aligned and in just a few short days I will be crossing that historic finish line in Boston. "The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." John Bingham


Boston 2006-



My sister with her cardiac surgeon/coworkers.

Someone learned how to ride a bike today!

It was her idea to take the training wheels off. There was a lot of falling down and falling off but she never gave up and got right back on. I'm starting to appreciate the positive side of stubbornness. So proud :)

Easter oldie but goodie

My favorite thing to do

Take pictures of the kids and play with my editing software :) The pictures are from an afternoon bike ride on the Centennial trail.

Ready, set, summer (hurry up!)

Even though we live in Eastern Washington there is still something special about going to the lake. The Chelan/Wenatchee area looks different and feels different than Spokane. Maybe it's because it's always a place we come to have fun and relax and be outside and hang out as a family. Whatever it is we look forward to another summer of fun in the sun and everyone is invited! :) 

Brad got a wood stove so we can still hang by the fire and roast marshmallows in the summer when open fire pits are banned. We are going to pile rocks around it and build it into a rock wall.

New picnic table, Brad is still building benches.

Best day ever!!!

We had Abi's teacher conference today. I wasn't expecting her to have low scores but I figured she'd be average with some things we could work on. I was blown away that she exceeds expectations on most things. The teacher was amazed how quickly she has learned reading, writing, counting, addition, and science. Socially she is respectful, kind, and has lots of friends. We pretty much have a perfect child, and since I'm hormonal I just want to cry I am so happy and filled with joy. My girl is beautiful and smart and I'm so proud of her words can't express. Tearing up :)




Maybe it's because I've been feeling guilty that I don't have more time to practice writing and school work with her or that we only read her one or two books a night instead of three. But it's ok there's no reason to feel guilt we do the best we can and that's enough. It's ok to breathe.




I'm a worrier by nature. Can't help it. So knowing the baby girl in my tummy is ok as far as we can tell on ultrasound was great news too. I don't have to feel guilt about my cup of coffee everyday or whatever else I do that I worry isn't ok for baby. My best is good enough as far as we can tell. It's ok to breathe.




Now Ben on the other hand, we don't know about him. We do the best we can and hold our breath. JOKING!!!! Got him signed up for preschool next year and he is perfect too.




I have a four day weekend and we are off to the lake now, our happy place. Like I said best day ever!!!

Got to make something like this for kid art work-










Story of my life, have to have dessert!