My First Half

13.1 and it is done! I finished my first 1/2 marathon November 7, 2009 on Presque Isle. A great gal from the ward Lacey organized this "Keeping it Holy Run" for those of us interested in running a 1/2 marathon. Most of the races here are on Sundays and therefore we don't get to participate. This was a lot of work on her part and we all really appreciate her willingness and time!

I spent 10 weeks training for the run. I was enjoying myself quite a bit, I discovered I like running even more than I thought I did. I got to do a lot of runs with Micah, we pushed the little kids in the strollers, so we were all getting a little break at the same time. Things were going pretty good ...... then Reagan and I got sick, blahh. I ended up with Strep and Pneumonia and was out of commission for a couple of weeks for everything, let alone any race training! The closer race day came the more and more worried I got. Between the weather, sick kids and life the last 3 weeks before the race I only got in about 6 miles TOTAL! I tried to be prayerful, but come race day I was scared. I considered not doing it but I have wanted to do a 1/2 for so long and didn't want to give up yet. I started out running with Micah, she had her kids with us at first and things were going good. About half way through my lungs started to tighten up and things got rough from there. I ended up walking a little and then running a little. Micah (who was probably sick of me by then) jetted ahead and I was on my own .... and struggling. The last 3 miles was the killer for me, I ended up doing a lot more walking then I wanted to. At this point pretty much everything hurt and I was ready to call Wes to come and pick me up. As corny as is sounds I kept thinking of the Pioneers and how far they walked everyday for months, without asics or Ipod's. I kept praying and walking and trying to jog as much as possible, I felt beaten down and wiped out! As I got close I could see Micah and her girls waiting to cheer me on! (what a friend!) I wanted to finish strong so I started jogging, Micah said "just around the corner Jodi seriously just around the bend!" (she had said this a few times along the way) She was right this time and as soon as I turned the bend Reagan and Jack started running toward me, my family and the whole bunch of runners were there, I was touched. I thought for sure they'd gone home tired of waiting for me, but they were there cheering. I hit the finish line and hugged Wes, I wanted to cry, I didn't think it would be that hard! I was so glad to be done and so happy that I did it, what an accomplishment. So with the help and support of The Lord, my Family and Friends I finished my first half marathon! I am excited to try again in the future. Thanks everyone, Yeah!

The Leaves are Down and The Beds are Up!

I realized last week that it's been over 5 years since we lived somewhere the kids could jump into a pile of leaves. Well this fall we have more than a pile of leaves and the kids had a blast jumping! Wes was raking and bombarded with all 3 kids and the dog!

The boys are finally off the floor! When my folks were here they decided to do an early Christmas and get the boys some actual beds, thanks G&G. Jack put on his hard hat and he and Reagan helped Wes put up the new beds. Dylan popped in from time to time between rounds of Super Mario Galaxy, but came for the finished product! They love the beds and their room looks Great, amazing what a difference beds make!

Zoo Boo, Trunk or Treat, Piano Recital and Halloween ..... Oh My!

This was a SUPER busy Halloween!! The kids dressed up 5 out of 7 days the week of Halloween, and I was sick of it ..... ok looking back it was pretty fun. We went to the Erie Zoo Boo for F.H.E. to start off the week. The Ewell's came with us and of course Wes and Andrew talked a little school/O.R. but once that was out of their systems they loosened up and had a good time! Our kids loved the Zoo Boo. Dylan was a little nervous with a few of the costumes, especially the man dressed as a gorilla, but he stayed close and was ok. Wes got to see how much Jack loves the carousel and the ducks. Reagan came straight from Takekwondo so she was dressed as a yellow belt, (real life costume) yes she is moving up fast! She had to break a board with her hand to move up a belt and did it not problem, pretty cool! She's good at it and she loves it. We also hit the Ward Trunk or Treat held in the church gym. Both me and Wes had to help with a booth, and after that the kids did more candy grabbing, trick or treating around the halls.

The next day the older 2 took their costumes to school for the parade. And then came the big Oct. 31 .... We went and picked up a couple of girls in the Ward, Kate and Hannah, their little sister was sick and their Mom couldn't take them out. We trick or treated in their fantastic neighborhood, sidewalks, street lights, and happy neighbors! Jack had all his gear, flash light, umbrella, pumpkin, hat, glow necklace and he wasn't letting go of anything! He zonked in the stroller part way through, made it nice for the big kids. Dylan did really well this year, he was excited for Halloween and spent a lot of the night laughing and telling Kate "it's not real the scary costumes and stuff, only pretend." The school helped talk a lot about that with him for the parade and so did we for the BIG 31 night. Halloween night was when Reagan's foot got so bad that she ended up getting piggy back rides to finish out the trick or treating and to get to the car. She's pulled some tendons and bruised a few bones! Yeikes :-(

Oh I forgot, another night this wonderful costume filled week we got to go to Reagan's Halloween Piano Recital. She did SO great, as usual. She is very talented and Wes was more than impressed as was I. She is really enjoying piano and she has a Fantastic teacher who get's her! All in all we are sugar loaded and I am wiped out, fun stuff!

Smith and Pitt (ok Willes but Smith originally)

After my parents came my good friend Terra came for a visit, yeah! We didn't know when we moved here that Erie was going to be such a hot spot, but we LOVE the company! Dylan really liked having her here and kept calling her "Mommy's best girl friend," pretty cute. Our first night out while she was here we went to dinner and a movie. When we came out of the movie it had snowed, yes snow! She came 2000 miles to visit and it was snowing and dang cold! Welcome to Erie Terra, windy cold and cold. But the leaves were pretty!

We went down to Pittsburgh on Saturday. (Wes's recommendation) We rode a lift that overlooked the 2 rivers that run through the city, and had some cool views of the city, including the stadiums and the bridges.

We also went to this part of town called the Strip District where tons of street vendors sell their stuff in the shops and on the street. We drove through the city a bit to get there and were excited to see some local shops. By the time we go there it was about 4:40 and after walking around a bit we realized that the entire strip (everything but the bars) shut down at 5pm so needless to say we were a bit disappointed. We hit a couple of places quick and headed to the outlets just north of Pittsburgh. We shopped there until they closed :-)
It was so great to see Terra, I hope she had fun! During her trip Reagan got sick with viral meningitis and strep throat, and the night we got back from Pittsburgh I got really sick. Found out Monday that it was strep and pneumonia yuck! Wes drove her to the airport in Buffalo and I crossed my fingers that she wouldn't catch our germs. Thanks for the visit Terra! Come back anytime!