Where did it go???

Have you ever noticed that it takes a really long time to get into good shape? Have you ever worked really hard to get into shape? And when I say this I mean like you exercise everyday just so you can "take first in your age division" kind of hard. Then you go on a few weeks vacation and you don't really do much of anything and BOOM! you get back and you would have thought you didn't exercise a day in your life.

Now, normally, this would not bother me but this weekend I am participating in one of the Ragnar Relays. If you haven't heard of it you really should go check it out. It is the sweetest race I have ever competed in. This will be my 5th year and I have the time of my life. There are 12 people per team, 2 vans, 6 people per van and 24 hours of running, eating, sleeping and repeating, three times!! It is the best, I mean if you are weird like that.

So you are wondering what my problem is, right??? I don't think I can run one for myself right now, let alone run one for the team!! Tomorrow will be my first run in about 4 weeks. I hope I don't die. If you don't hear from me again then you will know I didn't make it past mile 1.

Reality Check

So it is officially time to come back to reality. I have tried to postpone this day but unfortunately, Ted is no longer on board with me. I have had the best three weeks of my life and I will post pictures to prove it, just not tonight.

I know you are wondering where I have been so let me give you just a small peek into my life. The first two weeks of my missing from reality started in Greece, yes you read that right, GREECE!!! It was absolutely amazing, no other word for it. Me and a long time friend decided to take a trip to visit another long time friend that works for the U.S. Embassy as a diplomat in Athens. We went all over the islands, Olympia, Nemea, Marathon, Athens, more islands and basically had the time of our lives.

My third week was spent camping with my parents and older brother's family in Fort Bragg, California. We took a short detour to visit Ted's Mom and sister in the bay area before hitting the coast and camping. It was a great time relaxing with family. The weather was great and I loved being with the nieces and nephews.

While I was gone I started reading the Twilight series. I was sucked in and had to read the entire series in like 4 days. I had a couple of sleepless nights, literally. I am anxious to see the movie. I could go on but I wont, let me end by saying, I loved them!! I think Ted was just as happy that I read them as I was!!

Pictures to come, hopefully tomorrow.

The family is getting BIGGER!!

Welcome the two newest members of our family!

Need I say more????

Ogden 1/2 marathon

This weekend I did the Ogden 1/2 marathon with my lifelong best friend and cousin. She is a year older than me and the sister I never had. The company was amazing and the course was great. I will definitely make this a yearly tradition.

Before the race

After the race-we're still smiling!!

Fortunately, I was the camera lady so I got a nice picture of her "trying" to make it up the stairs. We both were sore and achy. She could barely bend her legs due to knee pain. I felt the exact same as her but I had the camera not her.

I was very proud of her because she decided last minute to race and was not properly trained. I don't know that I would have done that but I was glad she did because that made the weekend that much more fun(it's always more fun to share your pain with someone else!).

Here and There

Ted and I enjoyed a little bit of the "there" (aka, San Francisco area) this past weekend. My wonderful parents took our three children so Ted and I could play for a couple of days. It was so much fun. I felt like we were newly weds again but even better. Ted had to work our first day there so I spent time with his Mom and sister, Melanie. I have never had so much fun shopping.

The following day we hit the city and enjoyed every second. Here are a few pictures of our amazing time.

The fresh seafood at

Fisherman's Wharf.

Ghirardelli Square

I had to check out the chocolates!

Ted worked on his photography skills

I loved all the brick buildings.

The golden gate park

My first time visiting the park and it

was beautiful!

(the Golden Gate Bridge in the background)

As we were driving through the park, I saw this older gentleman and had to get his picture. I felt like I had been thrown into a scene of "The Hobbit".

This picture is too small to see details but he has a pipe and a long white beard, very hobbitish.

It was a fabulous weekend and I owe my parents big time.

Spring has Sprung

We made strawberry freezer jam. The best part

was mashing the strawberries into nothing! I hope

this lasts until next spring. I have a feeling if it takes us through

the summer I will be lucky!!

Dear Costco

It was so good to see you today. It seems our once a week visits aren't quite enough. I know you would love to see me daily and for that matter, I would love to see you daily. My husband, on the other hand thinks we already see each other too much. He thinks you would be a negative effect on me. I continue to work on him but he hasn't seen the light yet.

I have to say, the thing I love most about you is how each visit is a new experience. I don't think I have ever gotten tired of visiting you. I know, I know you think I say that to all my friends but REALLY I don't. It's funny how you can always put a smile on my face.

I have noticed one thing, our parting of ways is always the hardest. You would think that after all these years I would have learned but it never fails. For example, let's talk about today. We had our usual weekly visit and as always I stayed waaaaaaaaaay too long. I had hoped to say a quick hello and an even quicker good-bye. As always, you pulled me in with your delicious appetizers. Then of course you always have the best books, you know I love to see what your latest reads are. I almost forgot to buy what I went for, I H.A.T.E when that happens. But today, I thought I did pretty good. I thought for sure our parting would not be as hard as usual. But alas, I was wrong. You know the part when you ask to see my cute plastic card, the one that has my amazing picture on it??? I know you know the one. Well, I brought it out and when all was said and done I thought for sure we would no longer be friends. Today you took waaaaaay too much and I felt like I left with nothing(I hate that feeling!). I'm starting to think you don't really care about me you just want my pretty plastic card.

So now I've come to why I am writing, after today's time with you I think we might have to stay away from each other for awhile. I know this is hard on you but even harder on me. I hope you don't forget me or even worse replace me with someone else. I guess if you do replace me, I will find my place again as soon as I show you my pretty plastic card.

Love, Me