Wanted: A New Running Buddy

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my last running buddy... but the truth is she is just A LOT faster than me. I finally untethered her and she is flying along at amazing paces. After a summer of convalescing from excruciating double plantar fasciitis (marathon), an undiagnosed broken toe (fall with Tadpole) and a sprained ankle (fall with Abizella), I am back running. At first I thought I would make my new "nike + ipod - nike" my new running buddy. Especially after my first run with it. It clocked me at maintaining a 10 minute mile pace for 6.5 miles (Wahoo!). I was thrilled... but eventually brought my head back to reality and remembered that was my old favorite 5 mile route and at my running prime I was holding 10 minute mile pace. Turns out the old "nike + ipod - nike" is about 20% off, jams my ipod and I really hate music blaring in my head while I run.  So I am dumping that buddy and hoping Santa brings me a Garmin 305. But just in case I have been too naughty for that magnitude of a gift, I have been scoping out possible running buddies. So far everybody that I know that runs is faster than me. But this hasn't prevented me from checking out a few possibilities at the gym. I am just wondering what kind of approach one would use when prospecting a new (almost stranger) potential running buddy. "Hi, I run REALLY slow and you look like you might too, do you want to run together?"

I would just run by myself, except I just won't. It is 90% of the reason I like running, I like the socializing and the free therapy sessions. I count my running buddies as my best friends. They have all seen the good the bad and the ugly (and I am not just talking about the "pit" stops). They all know I am long winded and self absorbed, and I already mentioned really slow, but they stick with me anyway. When I was recently married I met my friend Sarah at the old high school track a couple of times a week to chat and run. We even did a few 5K's together. Jupawsly and I ran together up until I moved back East. She was such a great partner that she consented to run the St. George marathon with me even though we couldn't physically train together, but I honestly couldn't have done it without her. ...or for that matter Sandy, who trained with me even though she WASN'T running a marathon (at least not that year). My sister Mindurs was a great running partner too, although I spent a lot of time choking on her dust. And then there was my last running partner that not only pulled me through the training of my first marathon, but also the Boston marathon. 

I guess my want add goes something like this:

Wanted: Running partner/emotional therapist. Must have high tolerance for long stories and long runs. Can run 10 mph, but will more likely run 11 mph. Must turn a blind eye to frequent road side potty stops and a deaf ear to frequent whining. Preference given to generous massage therapists.

Who wouldn't want to run with this?!

Let me know if you are interested!

"Who Wants to Live in Utah?!" "I DO!"

We have this little game we play as a family. Someone shouts out a question and then the rest of us shout, "I DO!" as fast as we can. The cutest thing ever is that about a month before Tadpole's birthday he joined in the fun (making him the most intelligent baby EVER!). He doesn't pose the questions, but he does get the cutest, "I DO!" out of any of us. The day we got back from vacation Superkid started the fun by shouting, "Who wants to live in Utah?" and then beating everyone to the punch he yelled, "I DO!" Who could blame the kid? Who wouldn't want to live where ALL of your grandparents are constantly showering you with love and affection (and toys, candy and entertainment)? And where there is always lots of fun cousins to play with. It was heart breaking to drag the kids away. It really is a crime not to see the family more often. We are just grateful for the time we had to be with everyone. The kids are constantly talking about their cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

And now the "Mass of Ketchup" (...yes I am plagiarizing from Melonius)...

Fun with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Sandi at Boo's Cabin

This hammock was a definite favorite place to play sardines

Tadpole and Izzy snuggle time

Correct me if I am wrong Grandpa, but didn't Superkid put you in your place by telling you he was pretty much an expert at fishing?

We LOVE Grandma story time!

and Watermelon time too!

We had a great time visiting with Pop's Grandparents, we wish we only had more time... and next time we are bringing a bigger bag to haul away those tasty  Utah peaches!

We had so much fun at Boo's cabin that we begged Glama and Bampa to take us up to their cabin too! 

Nerz and the K-Man

And we infused our Eastern kids with some Western adventure

And the best part of good filthy fun is getting sparkly clean with your stinky bum cousins.

And then snuggle

Cindurs and Davis

Davis and Tadpole

Abz and Nicholas jammin

Nicholas, Coach and Ashy collapsed in exhaustion

Abz Superkid and Cousin Davis and I at the park

And don't even get me started on the family pictures! I will say that we beat the odds and we ALL managed to be there (one VERY serious car accident and violent illness later). A major feat for 29 people....hopefully there will be more pictures soon!

And you can't go to Utah and Not go to Hogle Zoo! 

Abz and Aunt Jenny

Uncle Brian and Izzy

The train is a BIG fav!

Especially for little Tadpole who calls it a "Choo!"

I am not sure if we had more fun looking at animals are being animals...

And then we collapsed at the park...

Except those slide enthusiasts

...and swing enthusisasts among us!

Lagoon!...the Longest Ride a Kid Ever Knew!

Ahhhhh! Lagoon! We are kind of pathetic, but we have been talking for most of the summer about taking the kids to their first amusement park. Honestly it was tough to decipher who was more excited about the event. In the end, Mindurs and I agreed that Pops had the most fun. He spent the afternoon giggling in excitement, and he didn't even go an any rides (that weren't kiddie rides). He LOVED watching the kids! But who can blame him with moments like this...
The kids were so excited that they would give each other high fives and hugs while waiting for the next amazing ride (Abizella and her cousin Ashy pictured above).
Here are all of the little ones that were tall enough to ride (Sorry little Tad)... Ashy, Abz, Superkid and Coach.
This was one of my favorite moments. As soon as Ashy sat down next to his little Bro. Coach, he put one arm around Coach and the other arm at the wheel. It was a heart melter....you should have heard all of the passer-bys gasp.
Okay, it was pretty tough to choose a favorite ride....but these jet planes with guns were definitely in contention. The kids rode these about a dozen times...which actually turned out to be a great trial of our patience because the operator of this ride was a snail. 
Tadpole had a pretty good time too even though he missed the cut off by about an inch. He ran around with his older and sophisticated cousin Coach, ate a TON of fries, and sometimes even shared with his cuz...
Although the kids rode the airplanes a TON, the bumper cars may have edged out as the fav. There is something about being in charge of your own destiny even if you spend your whole time chasing your tail or rammed up against the wall (poor Superkid!). But after a second spin the kids were all masters. This truly was Abizella's day, her own PURPLE car!

As you know, little Puff is the scariest ride at Lagoon! Abizella was not so sure she was having fun on her first lap, but after Big Bro. reassured her it was all smiles (this one is worth clicking on to see their little faces).


And here is Aunt Mindurs pulling a "no hands" stunt on this thriller.
Here is Pops and his perma-grin now! Abz missed the first "Twain" ride because of that pesky bladder so Gwama and Pops happily took her out.
And here is Ashy and Superkid on their farewell lap of those famed rockets...

Arches

I think it is important to educate the children in the way of the Red Rock. This year we visited Arches National Park. Superkid took the experience very seriously and found it difficult not to pick up every rock in the path to "study". He pointed out all of the finer features, the red hue, the hard yet soft surface, and the general size (in relation to what type of animal could reasonably sit on it).

I happen to think it is of utmost importance to be an avid hiker. I know I need to advance my agenda delicately so as not to become the "pushy stage mom" type, so I try to play it cool. While we were out hiking and dealing with a great deal of whining from our sleep deprived daughter, I considered my task at hand. I thought back to my own hiking apprenticeship under the direction of my father and my "Cool Uncle David". You see, in my family, you were not taken if you were not up to the task, which meant you had to play it cool if you wanted to play. I remember one trip to Lake Powell when I was in elementary school. On this particular trip it was my Dad, Uncle Dave, my cousin Catherine (who was in college), and my soon-to-be cousin Lon (also in college). Uncle Dave helped excavate the Native American artifacts before Lake Powell was filled with water so he knows where all of the cool ruins are hidden. Most of the time these ruins are located at least 40 feet straight up and have to be accesed by toe holes dug into the side of the sand stone, an exciting prospect for a thrills seeker but the truth is I am TERRIFIED of heights. I remember one such climb when I was particularly praised for, "being a much better hiker and climber than Jamie (my older brother)". Now that I am a parent I know the truth. I most likely was not. But that was exactly the button Dad and Uncle Dave had to push to motivate me up the trecherous cliffs. I just realized that today. All of these years believing that I am the BEST hiker in my family, and most of the world crushed with the realization that I was a pawn in my Dad and Uncle's psychology experiment. Today my hiking companion was my daughter, who happens to enjoy the same birth order as myself. I "get" her. ANYTHING to "one up" big bro. I actually didn't resort to this tactic today, but tucked it away for a more challenging hike. Instead I did a lot of singing of, "Do As I'm Doing" with great emphasis on "FAST" not "slow" and I carried her a lot, all the time praising her for what a GREAT hiker she is and telling her how much fun we were having. I am no hero though, that badge goes to Pops who at times carried both Superkid and Tadpole, not to mention deal with all of the desert dukie. 

We did resort to the preverbial "carrot" tactic. I learned it from my Dad who told a story on almost every hike I ever went on with him, I almost believe that I was there. You see, I have this heavier uncle. This must have occured before Uncle Dave had standards for hiking companions. As the legend goes Uncle Dave hand made some tasty beef jerky to munch on during the hike. My chubby uncle was struggling and wanted to turn back but was goaded on with promises of this tasty treat. I did employ this tactic today. We may not have had Uncle Dave's homemade beef jerky, but we were packing a sommer sausage and juice boxes, which was enough incentive to make it out to 5 arches total.

Superkid also was a great hiking coach. Here he is reassuring me about the next passage. He told me, "Don't worry Mom, I'll help you because you are fat." When I managed to squeeze through without getting wedged, Superkid praised me for making it without getting stuck. To his wild astonishment, Pops didn't get stuck either. I am just wondering what superpower he was going to employ to un-wedge us?

Do you remember this tasty joint Jupaws? Their crispy burrito sticks with you like ever.

The kids REALLY loved climbing up the rocks! Superkid is a regular billy goat...and when Abizella's legs are a little bit longer she will be right behind him.
Taken by our aspiring photographer Abizella (another carrot for my little hiker).








Here are my little monsters on the way home from our little trip. This is about when we saw the billboard that invited us to, "Introduce our little monsters to theirs", a dinosaur exhibit at the College of Eastern Utah. Which we did. And I must say it was a GREAT, and very timely exhibit.