Happy Father's Day

Today has been a relaxing day watching the US Open. Happy Father's Day Dad and to my brothers who are all wonderful parents. They are great roles models and leaders!

My Grampa is the coolest beacuse...

• I recently asked him why he didn't want olives or ice in his martini...Grampa's response "It just takes up too much room."
• At the age of 92 he still plays tennis at least once a week
• Recently he sent Greg and I a letter which said "Cold weather and snow coming this way, can't wait to shake this joint"
• In the letter he cut out an article for Greg on "Life with wheels"...Grampa knows how Greg is into BMX and anything with wheels
• On my recent visit to Marco Island with him and mom, he stayed up until 11pm a few nights
• And he loves any opportunity to sleep in....that's where I get that from =)

DECEMBER RECAP

December was full of a lot of "firsts" for Greg and I. Here are some photos to recap the new things we experienced.

First time I could get a picture of Lani in a Christmas hat (only because I'm holding her). Despite what Greg says, this is not animal cruelty.

First snowman together.

First snow angel in our backyard.

First Christmas tree!

The Big MOVE

Greg and I have successfully made the move to Virgina. It is a very big change from the desert of Arizona but we are enjoying the beautiful colors of the leaves and slowly adjusting to the colder temperatures.

We are renting a very cool two story townhouse in the burbs! Our neighbors are very nice and it's located close lots of resturants and shopping! The cats are enjoying more house to run around and chasing eachother up and down the stairs. They also love the birds, squirrles and chipmunks that constantly hang around outside the windows.

The house is still full of boxes and we are hoping to be unpack before it's time to put up the Christmas decorations.

Here are some photo's of our house...I'll update with some inside photos once the boxes are put away!

Drag Queens, Naked Bike Ride, Drinking, Dancing...

Yes, all of the above happened in one jam packed weekend in Chicago.

My mother turned 60 on June 6th and I've been waiting for 32 years to be able to pull one over on her. If you know her, she is a big time jokester and I've endured many jokes in my lifetime. The plan was for mom, Rachel (sister-in-law) and I to have a "girls" weekend in Chicago. Little did she know...a few other people would be joining in on the weekend fun.

Dinner Thursday night was at Morton's and I had a private dining room scheduled with all of her friends and family (sister's-in-law, sister,etc) anxiously awaiting to suprise her. The door opened and after seeing all of her close friends/family...eyes wide open she said "shit, shit, shit...#$*&, #$*&, #$*&" then proceeds with "You were adopted...we did good" (looking at me). The night was a hit with everyone roasting mom and drinking the night away!

Everyone stayed at the Westin Michigan Avenue hotel, which is beautiful and a perfect location. Friday consisted of lunch, naps, shopping then cocktails and hors'dervs at Meg's place. An absolutly adorable condo in Lincoln Park! The real entertainment started at 10:30 when we arrived at Baton for the drag show. We had many drag show virgins and a few alums (yes, I am a drag show alum) but everyone had a fantastic time drinking and tipping the entertainers. We were all riled up after the show that we went to English to dance to the wee morning hours, a recommendation from Sasha in the show. It was a packed, hot, awesome bar/dance club that we all enjoyed grooving to the music...yet another night to remember.

Saturday started with a chilly and wet Architecture tour on the boat. The tour itself was great but the weather quite honestly sucked...I really wasn't prepared for the drastic weather change from the day before. Once the boat ride was over we grabbed a burger to warm up and headed our seperate ways. Rachel and I shopped and napped while the other ladies walked to festivals, dressed as Chiquita banannas (I have yet to see a picture for proof) and had many laughs. Dinner reservations were at Carmines on Rush at 8. We arrived and headed to the bar for...wait for it...a drink! We got a nice table upstairs in the middle of a dining room overlooking Rush Street. In the middle of dinner, people in the resturant started getting out of their seats and looking out the windows, well not people, everyone. So we all did so too only to discover that there were about 300 people on Rush St. riding their bikes NAKED. Yes, butt a** naked bike riders. Some had body paint or other things covering areas but it was a sight to be seen. What a perfect ending to wild weekend.

San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon

Whew I did it! June 6th was the San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon and I finished. My time was 4:30:00 but it was not too easy. First lets rewind to the weekend....

I have been training with wonderful people for a wonderful organization...Team in Training raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Greg and I flew to San Diego with the team on Friday morning. We arrived and got our rental car then headed to Wahoo's Fish Tacos for some lunch. Friday night we went to Sea World for dinner and some shows. I got free tickets because of my fundraising over my goal and the entire park was closed for Rock and Roll Participants. It was quite eerie to be walking around the park with nobody else around you but very cool at the same time.

Saturday we were up early for breakfast with friends at Broken Yolk in PB. Just a short while after that we headed to the Hilton downtown on the water for our Inspiration lunch...just what I wanted...lots of pasta after a big breakfast. It was amazing to be in this lunch for about 1500 people. We came up the escalator with coaches lined on both sides cheering like crazy for us. Inside the lunch our table had pictures of our honored hero's and I have to say I teared up seeing my Nana's picture on the table. A guy from Minnesota told his tear jerking story of his daughter that battled Leukemia 3 times and at the young age of 13 lost her 3rd battle with the terrible disease....this just gave me more inspiration to keep on running during the race.

Race day the alarm went off at 3:15 am...yes AM! We headed to the start line at 4am for the 6:15 start. Our group sat in a circle stretching and just getting mentally prepared for the race. Oh and I made MANY trips to the port-a-potties....which became quite gross towards the start of the race. Greg, Heather and I were in corral 8, out of 39 corrals. It was very exciting to be starting the race. The course was very beautiful except for Fiesta Island. Mile 20-25 was on this terrible, horrible, long island with nobody to cheer us on. Somehow I found my second wind once I spotted the Sea World towers and ran the last 3 miles to the finish.

The entire experience was incredible and very fulfilling. I've just signed up for the PF Chang's Phoenix Rock & Roll Marathon on Jan. 17. Of course I'm doing it with TNT...can't pass up meeting more great people and raising more money...and I'm a glutton for punishment ready to beat my time =) Enjoy the photos!

It's been a while

Yes, It has been a while since I've posted because I've been caught up blogging on my team in training site.
What an experience the past 4 or 5 months have been. I can't believe that I have been able to run the distances that I am currently capable of. Who knew I could get up while on vacation (um...a wine tasting vacation...with the girls) and run 15 miles by myself. I never would image that I could do that but that what happens when you make a commitment to such a good cause.

I have been touched hearing about all of the people that are affected by leukemia and lymphoma. Greg knows a family that just lost their little girl to stomach cancer a few weeks ago, one of our captains lost her dad a week ago and I just found out one of my dads friends lost their daughter on April 12. It is very inspiring knowing that I am helping to raise money for all of the people suffering to help find a cure. I know it will be a very emotional race coming up and I can't wait. This is all for Nana as she is my inspiration and personal hero.

I can't wait to get up to the lake and tell her all about my experience over the 4th!!