Halloween

Paula was so amazed I got dressed up!

The family at Nick & Erin's house.

We had a fun Halloween this year. I got up early to make a healthy breakfast for everyone since I knew it would be a long day, and for the first time (Paula was so proud), I got into the spirit and dressed as a mean, green running machine. You were all so hopped up getting your costumes on that it took a few walk-bys before you realized I was in costume. 


























After drop-off I ran nine miles with a fun collection of other mother runners. We've agreed to do it every year from now on.  So much fun.

New Jersey/New York Get-a-Way

This year we took the whole family over MEA weekend to visit the East coast relatives.  Grandma Barbara has a wedding in the Kelly family and so we jumped at the chance to see her and the extended family.  We started the trip with a visit to Manhattan. James has a work conference and we took the opportunity to enjoy the city.

We got in very late the first night and didn't get to bed until after 2.  The next day James worked and the kids and I hit Central Park and the Zoo, Rockefeller Center, and Times Square.  Thomas gave us all a run for our money.  He never napped and therefore fell apart at the end of the day. I know, I know, what was I thinking? This trip was probably the peek of Thomas's terrible twos - and as much as we loved him - I think Seamus and I in particular got very close to the end of our ropes. When we met James back at the hotel - Seamus and I took a walk on our own to clear our heads and just get a brake.  We toured the Central Library and held hands walking through the city. He seems so old now - I was grateful for a break from the terrible twos, but mostly I enjoyed having some quiet time with Seamus. It's so much fun to love being with your kids.

Before we headed down to New Jersey we went to battery park to sketch the State of Liberty. We talked about Uncle Walt and all the trips James got to take out to the statue.

More New Jersey Relatives!

The best part of this trip was seeing all the relatives. We saw big group of the Flemmings as well as many of the Doughertys. Kids got a good taste of hanging at the boardwalk because Grandma rented a beautifully renovated house right on Ocean.

We also had a chance to visit Aunt Mary Jane Farrell for an afternoon and she enjoyed the kids and the chaos. She passed away a few weeks later and so we are forever grateful for that last wonderful afternoon.

Twin Cities Marathon - Photos & Recap

The marathon ended up being one of the more fun days of our lives.  As much as I was worried about it in the days leading up, by the time we loaded up into the car early Sunday morning, I felt excited and happy.  Erin drove Angie, James, Matt, Therese and I to the Dome and as we walked in the first door we ran into Chrissy and Mary. Of all the thousands of people, we happened to be in the right place at the right time.

I didn't know Mary or Chrissy well at all, but we had talked on the phone the day before and thought that maybe we'd try and meet up and start the race together. I typically don't like to run with other people, I find myself worrying about pace, but I thought it would be a fun idea to at least catch up at the starting line.

We headed over to the start and James and I said goodbye. The ladies and I meandered our way to the last corral and from that moment on I don't think we stopped talking until around mile 14. And even after mile 14 we still chatted quite a bit, but we were settling into the work at hand.

James crushed his Boston Marathon qualifying time by 5 minutes. My favorite part of the whole marathon was telling my running partner Therese as we were passing mile 16 that I bet James had finished the marathon already and I was guess he finished in 3:04.

I ran mile 16-19 on my own thinking about James and how grateful I was that we had decided to do this race. Around mile 20 Therese and I reconnected and we ran the last six together. I'll never forgot that experience of running those, hard, hard miles with someone else. The gift of getting to share the work as well as being with Therese as she did this for the very first time, it was beyond cool. We appreciated all the spectators, Laura brought the kids, Paula & Nancy, Carl & Meg, Renee and of course Bridget Ling.

Therese and I crossed the line exhausted, smiling, grateful and holding hands.

When we saw James, he told us that he qualified and I ask his time. Therese couldn't get over that I'd guessed right.

James ordered us burgers from the Blue Door and we had a beer and a rest in the afternoon.  Poor Matt had to drive half way home that day - we tried to get him to spend the night but to no avail.

The next day Laura took Thomas and James and I did a little shopping and got massages. We were sore but not miserable - and we both felt uninjured so that was a relief. I don't know when or if we'll run another, but I am so grateful that we saw this through.  I felt so ready to quit training when my dad had his Aneurysm, but looking back I feel as though the preparation helped me with the endurance that those few weeks required.

James almost killing the runner in front of him.

Running toward a Boston Marathon qualifying time.

Matt, James and I at the finish.

Mary, Chrissy, Therese and I at the finish!

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Smiling at mile 22!