My Longest Run Ever

So here I am dripping after my longest run ever. 17.2 miles.


I got up at 5 am with these intentions in mind:
Case normally sleeps until 8 am, sometimes later, so I should be back by then. I will have imposed on no one. Not my husband, who could sleep in. Not the other kids, who could also sleep in and not be required to "babysit." I would be back in time to help start everyone's day, help get paint...possibly even defy my fear of high heights and help paint.

Intentions. What's that saying about the best intentions....?

Well, I made it back in 2:57.20. That includes a 3 minute potty break at the Ymca.

Just as I'm arriving, I see Dan pulling out. I'm thinking, "Menards." So I call. His painting has to be put on hold for now, for the helpful and wonderful man he is, he is giving his Saturday to his parents, helping prepare for a family reunion to be held there tomorrow.

Here's where those well-laid plans don't go the way you think they should...he told me Case woke up on and off from 5:45 am on. So much for my dh getting a restful night of sleep.

Before I left, I said a prayer. I don't usually do that, but I'm so glad I did. It helped clear my mind and keep me focused. I also am grateful that it was answered. However, now I see I should have prayed for others, not me.

Cookie Monster!

Aunt Diane will appreciate this post the most today. We made her famous chocolate chip recipe for our small group tonight. Of course, we needed to sample them before we take them to share!

Hmm, wonder if Case will like them? Check out the pictures below and you tell me if he likes them or not!

He needed something to wash all that down, so I tried filling a sippy cup with water and seeing if he would know what to do. Like all new toys, he had to experiment with it.

By the way, he is now 8 months old and a few days.

Time Flies When

It's amazing how two days can just go by in an instant.

I would describe yesterday as "tired." I think a day in the sun (Sunday's air show) zapped much of my energy.

Of course, it could also be a little poop machine that resides across the hall has something to do with it, too. Just when I think he's mastered the art of sleeping through the night, he proves me wrong with a girly scream.

This happened at least twice last night, too. I lost count actually. It might have been four times, but I know I only fed him twice. He acted as though he was starving....Growth spurt, anyone?

So. Today. I'm trying to get a few essentials done. Feed kids. Do laundry. Run an easy 10K.

But I also managed to read 10 more pages in Atlas Shrugged. I will give you a book report at some point, but it'll probably be months from now. It's over 1000 pages thick, and has writing that is around size 8 font. You can do a google search and find out more about it, but for now, I'll let you know that it's a great philosophical, fictional book about capitalism and the Movers & Shakers who make the economic world keep turning.

Here's hoping you have a restful night.

Actually, I'm hoping I have a restful night, too.

Air Show on Sunday - A Day of Fun!

Quad City Air Show, June 22nd. It was fun!

These guys are amazing. The jets are amazing. Who would want to mess with America's military? That's what I'd like to know!

A Few of the Things We've Been Up To

The girls have had Chemistry Camp all week this week in the mornings in the Quad Cities. They've been going to college! It has been held at St. Ambrose University (www.sau.edu) and they've learned all sorts of new things, from chromotography to chemical reactions.

I didn't plan it this way, but it just happened that there was an Art Camp offered at the Art Center this same week in the afternoons. The theme was Project Insect, since there's been a huge exhibit here for the past few months with that theme, including a resident artist. Below are some pictures of the girls with a couple of their works.


Haley with her dragonfly and ladybug painting.

Moriah with her butterfly and butterfly painting.

Brooke with her butterfly and butterfly painting. (I thought it was a lunar moth, but she corrected me. It's some kind of butterfly.)

Case has been learning how to be flexible. He's spent a lot of time in his car seat this week.

I've been listening to talk radio. Thought provoking stuff out there.

The FLOOD of '08

This is the Riverfront Park, where we often come to play.

This is a sculpture that was erected about a year ago.

This is the former Hotel, which has since been turned into upscale condos with an awesome Thai restaurant on the ground floor. Hope those sandbags help!

I feel bad for the guy building that house!

This is a railroad bridge down by Columbus Junction. There are railcars filled with gravel to help steady the bridge and prevent its demise.

Junction again.


This is the bridge near Conesville. The old bridge is the one we're looking at.

A shed under water.

Notice the bridge piers out there?

A famous line from the movie Twister: "Debris! We have debris!"

Pictures from Marathon to Marathon

This is the night before, at the hotel in Storm Lake. Of course, we all forgot our swimsuits! It was nice to soak my legs, though. I think it helped!

This is the morning of. Notice the clock. It says 5:35am. The marathon starts at 6:00 am. We were supposed to meet in the lobby at 5:15 am, but Nancy and my alarms (plural) didn't go off. We actually woke up at 5:15 am! It was a Seinfeld!

This is me after I showered and got cleaned up. They announced the winners in each age category, and I about fell over when they said, "And in 3rd place, women 30-39, for the half marathon, from Muscatine, Iowa, Linda Steele!"

This is the group of Muscatine Running Friends that made the migration to Storm Lake. Getting there was interesting...it took more than an hour to get across the I-380 bridge in Cedar Rapids because of the flooding. Our detour on the way home way US20 to Dubuque, then US61 to Muscatine! Uggh! 6 1/2 hours.