the news

okay, so Runner Boy hates the news. i enjoy the news...most of the time.

tonight was the perfect example of why Runner Boy hates the news.

there was a story about sun screen. the dangers of sunscreen. why? because some brands contain forms of vitamin A which can intensify some of the sun's dangerous effects. some brands contain oxybenzone--a chemical which can disrupt hormones.

so, some sun screens are DANGEROUS.

then, the reporter went to the local medical school/teaching hospital to talk to one of the experts. the doctor notes that some of the science behind concerns over sunscreen is sketchy. therefore, he would recommend DAILY use of sun screen to protect skin from the harmful effects of the sun.

now we know that sun screen is DANGEROUS and that it should be used DAILY.

that's why runner boy hates the news.

26.2

This past weekend we went here...

for Runner Boy to chase after these gentlemen...

I am proud of Runner Boy. He's tough.

we have an awesome daddy...

Daddy found Sam sitting on the couch with a "few" of his favorite wheeled objects...this boy loves his cars...and he comes buy it naturally...

Daddy's day turned out to be lovely. We had planned to spend the morning at church, but a runny nose kept Sam from going to the nursery. So, we loaded everyone up for a morning on the shores of our favorite Great Lake. We got Daddy coffee and a cherry turnover and the kids shared a black 'n white cookie. Then...came...exploration...

Sam set out looking for sticks, rocks, dirt, sand...

Oh yeah...the playground...this boy loves his slides...

...bingo...he found the sand...see our favorite Great Lake in the background?

Sissy, was quite taken by the playground...climb...

attempt to summit...

charm with a smile...

then do it all over again...


these happy kids have a good reason to smile and have joy...they have a wonderful Daddy!

their Daddy:
-takes K to gymnastics...then to get doughnuts...just for fun...
-makes S laugh til he can't breath...
-works hard to provide...
-takes the time to teach, encourage and guide...
-chases them until they are breathless...
-reads them stories...over and over and over again...because they love their books...
-pushes K on the swings...higher and higher...
-comforts when they are sick...kisses boo-boos...cuddles when they're tired...
-prays with and for them...teaches them about how much God loves them...
-loves their Mommy...and her kitty...
-the list goes on...

no one has a better Daddy!

thank you Runner Boy...

learn somethin' new every day...

everyonce and a while you learn something about someone you didn't know. like today.

Runner Boy was priming an area in the house that we are about to paint and listening to the "oldies". ...then the Carpenters came on.

"Ughh!" i said..."reminds me of the Carpenters' concert i went to when i was like 5 years old."

"you went to a Carpenters concert?" asked Runner Boy with a look of shock.

"yeah." i admitted.

then he said, "i went to a barry manilow concert once...for a chick...it wasn't my idea."


(at least i wouldn't do THAT to him...good thing she's out of the picture...)

i'm still almost speechless over this act of infatuation.

wow...i had no idea how good he had it with me until i heard what he had to do for her. all Runner Boy had to do for me is become a cat lover, adopt a child from china, move to the frozen tundra, put me through college, put up with my starbucks addiction and shell out some money for clothes once in awhile.

you are a lucky man, Runner Boy. ...next on her list of concerts would have been Hanson and the Backstreet Boys...

Touch the Tundra '08

Runner Boy has been training and looking forward to a spring 1/2 marathon for months. He and my sister-in-law (Auntie "Q" to the kids) have pounded the pavement, compared injuries and talked strategy along the way.

One of the highlights of the Green Bay 1/2 Marathon is running through Lambeau Field on the way to the finish...imagine circling the field while listening to the theme of Rocky and "We are the Champions" by Queen...exactly what you need when you're gasping for breath dreaming of a brat and beer at the finish...

We arrived Saturday afternoon in time to check out the expo, pick up Runner Boy's bib and time chip and make a sign to cheer family on!

Kate helped me make a sign and proudly displayed it inside the Lambeau Field Atrium. She loved the expo...she found a mat to practice her gymnastics, ate chocolate and found markers and stickers...can you beat that when you're 3 1/2?

Runner Boy got a pre-race pillow massage arranged by Kate. ...note the toddler in the background...he's working on the heating/cooling unit it our room. He jacked up the heat right before we went to bed, so Runner Boy woke up to our room feeling like dry sauna at 2:30 a.m. Thanks to our little maintenance man.

The race started at 7:00 a.m. and included a 5K, 1/2 marathon and full marathon. The kids were packed in our double jog stroller, so I ran around the course trying to catch glimpses of Runner Boy. (I love cheering him on!)

I love watching the elite runners and the ease in which they move...must be due to those great quads. (ever look at the quads on a distance runner...you should...it takes a long time to earn those bad boys.)

Here are 2 of the cutest fans on the course...Kate is looking at the runners (checking out their quads), while Sam studies the cop car nearby.

Here's another elite runner...if you look hard enough, you might see Runner Boy tucked in behind him to draft! Can't see him? look harder...

So, the quads start to burn, the breathing gets irregular and the miles seem endless...just then, Lambeau appears on the horizon. The crowds cheer on the runners, the music starts to pound and the end comes into sight.

Runner Boy and Auntie Q ran a great race. They kept their focus, ran through their pain and finished well! We are so proud of them. My dedicated little fans started to melt down as we waited at the finish line, so they didn't finish quite as well.

Sam pulled it together when a local jazz band started to play and he got a post-race cookie. He munched on his snack, swayed to the music and took in the sights. (Note...we have now switched to winter coats--tundra temperatures.)

The post race party was a great way to celebrate Runner Boy and Auntie Q's success. Auntie Q set a new PR and looked great. What a million dollar look! (Not only can she lay down the miles, but she's a rockin' Mom!)

Here's Runner Boy (cow juice in hand) and his Runner Buddy (fermented hops in hand) comparing race notes. What do you have a post race party in the Frozen Tundra, you ask? ...you know the classics...white, strawberry and chocolate milk...beer...brats...cream soda...cookies...and, oh yeah, the healthy stuff like oranges and bananas.

Runner Boy did fantastic and Kate and Sam were so happy to see their Daddy. He trained for this race while putting his family first, spending time with the kids and working hard.

Daddy you're awesome.

Busted!

Runner Boy...I found them...my little lounge pants!

What Not To Wear...

Runner Boy has had enough. Enough of my beloved flannel lounge pants. This started with a few comments last week about them...

"So, how long have you had those?" (Pointing to my flannel, toile-print, baggy friends.)

Me, "Ahhh, 5 or 6 years, but I love them...they're broken in."

"You know, they don't exactly fit you." (They are allegedly a "small" but they are enormous.)

Me, "Yeah, I know, but they're comfy...the same way a bowl of chili is after a day of downhill skiing. I know that one of the offensive lineman from the Packers could wear them, but they're MINE."

"If you were on the show, "*What Not to Wear*", I'd toss those things into the basket." (This is one of my fave TLC shows.)

Me, "Huh? It's not like I grocery shop in them...I'm just hanging out at the house...you would get rid of them?"

Now, Runner Boy almost never says anything negative about my clothes, so this vicious attack on these shapeless, pilled pants blew me away. I had no idea what would come next...until yesterday...
****

Runner Boy gave me a call at work while I was wrapping up my clinic leftovers...

"Your lounge pants are been confiscated..."

me, "What? gone? you took them?" (I pictured them laying at the bottom of the trash can...)

"Yeah, I felt so bad about givin' you a hard time about them that I bought some new ones for you--they're even your size. So, the other ones, are no longer available...but the new ones are cute."

me, "oh."

****

After I got home there was an adorable pair of lounge pants waiting for me...sure enough they fit!

Thanks, Runner Boy...