Monday, April 23, 2012
Our weekend
Grammie and I took the kids to see Disney on Ice Saturday as their birthday present! Lisa, Kiera and her mom joined us as well! It was such a great show and the kids were on the edge of their seats the entire time! We were only 9 rows from the ice. It was a great show, and the kids loved it!
After the ice show, Grammie and I went to the mall to look at DSW, and we went into Home Goods/TJMaxx. While there, we walked by Claire's and Ari asked again to get her ears pierced. Mommy knew that Daddy was completely against it...however...the look on Ari's face was priceless! So...Mommy took one for the team and well...got her ears pierced! (Daddy is still mad - but he'll get over it!) She looks so cute in her little Tanzenite flowered earrings. She's been really good letting me put the solution on them and twisting them so I can clean them.
Saturday night I went out with my girlfriends for my birthday and Marci's birthday. We went to Fire & Ice in Providence and then walked across the street to the water-fire. Such a fun night!
Yesterday, the kids were invited to their first "school friend" birthday party! Robbie was turning 3 and he had his party at Chuck-E-Cheese. The kids had fun playing on the rides, playing games, eating cake and pizza! Overall - it was a BUSY weekend - but lots of fun!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Mom is a marathoner
My neighbor Zee, her friend Rose and I took on a challenge in January to complete the Boston Marathon in April...with walking 4-5 miles a day, 5 days a week for the past few months, the day finally arrived! Figures it would be the hottest day in marathon history...with an 88 degree day!
We started our walk at 8am in Hopkinton. It was about 70 degrees when we started - so it wasn't too bad. We were walking with 2 national guardsmen who took on the challenge as well - wearing their full army outfits AND carrying 40lbs on their back! We did tell them if we fall they need to carry us too!
Around 9:20 the wheelchairs started coming by us - we were about 4.5 miles in. It was unbelievable to see them in this race! We saw the Hoyt's (Rick and Dick) who have been in the marathon for 30 years now! I even saw Matt Brown, the high school hockey player who is now paralyzed. It was so inspiring to see amputee's running in the marathon as well. One man was a double amputee!
We weren't too much farther and the woman's lead truck came with the pack of Kenyan's running behind.
I didn't get a good picture of the men running ...but they ran by us too! As did a ton of other people! There were water stations and pit-stops all along the route, but due to this heat, people were still dropping like flies! Some were top elite athletes who ended up in ambulances due to heat exhaustion! At mile 13, we stopped at Whole Foods for some more water and some fruit. Zee started getting really nauseous and thought she was going to be sick. I told her to put some water on her head and to cool her head down. As soon as she did that - she felt 100x better! They had water-spray tents all throughout the route as well! Those were so much fun - but I think that's what killed my camera! The families all along the route were unbelievable as well. They had ice, water, orange slices, bananas, Popsicles, wet sponges, water hoses, etc! They were helping to keep everyone hydrated!
There were inspirational signs all along the route...but this one was my favorite:
I do have to say though...Heartbreak Hill had nothing on us!! We walk bigger hills during our morning walks!
The students from Wellesley College and BC were absolutely amazing! The girls at Wellesley screamed and screamed for everyone...but the BC kids were my favorite! We were only a couple of miles from the finish line and they were telling me I was their hero...to keep running...you can do it...the end is in sight! They really kept you motivated to go!
Finally - we are less than a mile from the finish line and we pass Deuxave! We swing in to use the restroom because there were no more toilets along the route! The line was really long and I couldn't stand any longer, so we were ready to leave and Jason (the manager) brought me down to the staff bathroom! Brian wasn't there, but I was able to take a picture with Chris - then they cheered us on and we went on our way!
When we went to Deuxave, we had to cross over Commonwealth Ave - so instead of back tracking, Zee thought it be best to cross over the other street and to meet up with the race...well...the road was barricaded! So we kept walking along the sidewalk and then we hit Boylston St. We saw the finish line! I was NOT going to finish this on the sidewalk and I was about to turn around, when I saw a little break in the barricade. I said to the man standing in front...we've been walking since Hopkinton - had to do a bathroom break and haven't been able to get back in...can we come through here! He opened the gate and said ABSOLUTELY! Rose continued to walk, but Zee and I ran the last 800 yards across the finish line! WE DID IT! 26.2 miles in 8 hours!
At this point I started to feel really sick. Wasn't sure how I was going to get to the train. We asked a police officer where the T was, and he said we had to walk another 6 blocks. I didn't think I was going to make it! My eyes welled up with tears and said "you mean I have to walk further!" We made it - another 6 blocks. Got on the T and we went to Alewife where Nicole (Zee's daughter) picked us up.
We arrived back to Leominster and she let us out at the end of our street. We got out of the car...and not sure how we did it, but we ran the rest of the way up the street. All of our neighbors and family were outside cheering us on! We had our own finish line with balloons and gifts!
It was such an unbelievable day - so emotional and inspiring. I'm so glad I put my mind to something and I did it! I'm really proud of myself and one thing I learned is - If you believe in yourself, you can do anything!
We started our walk at 8am in Hopkinton. It was about 70 degrees when we started - so it wasn't too bad. We were walking with 2 national guardsmen who took on the challenge as well - wearing their full army outfits AND carrying 40lbs on their back! We did tell them if we fall they need to carry us too!
Around 9:20 the wheelchairs started coming by us - we were about 4.5 miles in. It was unbelievable to see them in this race! We saw the Hoyt's (Rick and Dick) who have been in the marathon for 30 years now! I even saw Matt Brown, the high school hockey player who is now paralyzed. It was so inspiring to see amputee's running in the marathon as well. One man was a double amputee!
We weren't too much farther and the woman's lead truck came with the pack of Kenyan's running behind.
I didn't get a good picture of the men running ...but they ran by us too! As did a ton of other people! There were water stations and pit-stops all along the route, but due to this heat, people were still dropping like flies! Some were top elite athletes who ended up in ambulances due to heat exhaustion! At mile 13, we stopped at Whole Foods for some more water and some fruit. Zee started getting really nauseous and thought she was going to be sick. I told her to put some water on her head and to cool her head down. As soon as she did that - she felt 100x better! They had water-spray tents all throughout the route as well! Those were so much fun - but I think that's what killed my camera! The families all along the route were unbelievable as well. They had ice, water, orange slices, bananas, Popsicles, wet sponges, water hoses, etc! They were helping to keep everyone hydrated!
There were inspirational signs all along the route...but this one was my favorite:
I do have to say though...Heartbreak Hill had nothing on us!! We walk bigger hills during our morning walks!
The students from Wellesley College and BC were absolutely amazing! The girls at Wellesley screamed and screamed for everyone...but the BC kids were my favorite! We were only a couple of miles from the finish line and they were telling me I was their hero...to keep running...you can do it...the end is in sight! They really kept you motivated to go!
Finally - we are less than a mile from the finish line and we pass Deuxave! We swing in to use the restroom because there were no more toilets along the route! The line was really long and I couldn't stand any longer, so we were ready to leave and Jason (the manager) brought me down to the staff bathroom! Brian wasn't there, but I was able to take a picture with Chris - then they cheered us on and we went on our way!
When we went to Deuxave, we had to cross over Commonwealth Ave - so instead of back tracking, Zee thought it be best to cross over the other street and to meet up with the race...well...the road was barricaded! So we kept walking along the sidewalk and then we hit Boylston St. We saw the finish line! I was NOT going to finish this on the sidewalk and I was about to turn around, when I saw a little break in the barricade. I said to the man standing in front...we've been walking since Hopkinton - had to do a bathroom break and haven't been able to get back in...can we come through here! He opened the gate and said ABSOLUTELY! Rose continued to walk, but Zee and I ran the last 800 yards across the finish line! WE DID IT! 26.2 miles in 8 hours!
At this point I started to feel really sick. Wasn't sure how I was going to get to the train. We asked a police officer where the T was, and he said we had to walk another 6 blocks. I didn't think I was going to make it! My eyes welled up with tears and said "you mean I have to walk further!" We made it - another 6 blocks. Got on the T and we went to Alewife where Nicole (Zee's daughter) picked us up.
We arrived back to Leominster and she let us out at the end of our street. We got out of the car...and not sure how we did it, but we ran the rest of the way up the street. All of our neighbors and family were outside cheering us on! We had our own finish line with balloons and gifts!
It was such an unbelievable day - so emotional and inspiring. I'm so glad I put my mind to something and I did it! I'm really proud of myself and one thing I learned is - If you believe in yourself, you can do anything!
Monday, April 9, 2012
Busy Easter Weekend
This weekend was go...go...go!
Saturday morning I took the kids to the College for their 11th annual Easter Egg Hunt! Matthew wasn't so sure about it! He got really nervous when all of the kids started running and he couldn't see Mom anymore! He started crying, so I tried to help him look for eggs, but by that time, they were all gone! Arianna ended up having 6 eggs in her basket, and she saw that Matthew was so upset, that she put an egg on the ground and said "Look Matthew - an egg!" So he was excited to pick up the egg an put it in his basket! I thought that was the sweetest thing! They ended up seeing the Easter Bunny and ran right up to him!
From there, I brought the kids to Joyce & Mike's house. We had an early Easter Dinner / Birthday Dinner for me. Joyce and I decorated eggs with the kids, and she did a egg hunt as well! Daddy then took the kids on a walk through the orchard to see if they could find any deer! Matthew had too much candy, and decided to throw a FIT when I left. I needed a quiet car ride home - so I let Daddy drive them home (since he came late!) We got home and I continued to bake for Sunday!
Sunday, we got up and went to church! The kids were good for the most part, but the entire service they said...OK...time to go to Grammie's for the egg hunt! I think they repeated that about 1,000,000 times! Finally - we got to Grammie & Grampa's house for the egg hunt! Auntie Lisa, Uncle Matt, Kiera and Nicolas joined us too since they were down the street at her moms. The kids had a blast hunting for eggs, and mom found her "big pink egg" too! I got cupcake wrappers, pics and a check to go shopping! woo hoo!
Grammie & Grampa bought the kids a new swing set - and Grampa spent a lot of time putting it together! It got a lot of use yesterday...even from Uncle Brian and Daddy!!!
Overall it was a great day...I even got a birthday cake...my favorite...BUNNY CAKE!
Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Sunday!
Saturday morning I took the kids to the College for their 11th annual Easter Egg Hunt! Matthew wasn't so sure about it! He got really nervous when all of the kids started running and he couldn't see Mom anymore! He started crying, so I tried to help him look for eggs, but by that time, they were all gone! Arianna ended up having 6 eggs in her basket, and she saw that Matthew was so upset, that she put an egg on the ground and said "Look Matthew - an egg!" So he was excited to pick up the egg an put it in his basket! I thought that was the sweetest thing! They ended up seeing the Easter Bunny and ran right up to him!
From there, I brought the kids to Joyce & Mike's house. We had an early Easter Dinner / Birthday Dinner for me. Joyce and I decorated eggs with the kids, and she did a egg hunt as well! Daddy then took the kids on a walk through the orchard to see if they could find any deer! Matthew had too much candy, and decided to throw a FIT when I left. I needed a quiet car ride home - so I let Daddy drive them home (since he came late!) We got home and I continued to bake for Sunday!
Sunday, we got up and went to church! The kids were good for the most part, but the entire service they said...OK...time to go to Grammie's for the egg hunt! I think they repeated that about 1,000,000 times! Finally - we got to Grammie & Grampa's house for the egg hunt! Auntie Lisa, Uncle Matt, Kiera and Nicolas joined us too since they were down the street at her moms. The kids had a blast hunting for eggs, and mom found her "big pink egg" too! I got cupcake wrappers, pics and a check to go shopping! woo hoo!
Grammie & Grampa bought the kids a new swing set - and Grampa spent a lot of time putting it together! It got a lot of use yesterday...even from Uncle Brian and Daddy!!!
Overall it was a great day...I even got a birthday cake...my favorite...BUNNY CAKE!
Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Sunday!
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