.....JOE MAUER!!!  Heee heee hheeee.

When you live in around this area....and follow the MN Twins to any degree, you end up hearing a TON about JoeJoeJoe (Tyler's name for him when he was a baby)!  He is the local boy who has become a gigantic part of the MN Twins team.....and he is very single and women everywhere DROOL over him!!!! 

 

Sorry ladies.  I'm married to him.  See:  HA.  Even better....It is Nathan dressed up as Joe M. for the Trunk or Treat Festivities that our church had.  He completely/seriously/totally looked like Joe in this get up. People were doin' double takes at church before a few got up enough nerve to play along and "ask for his autograph". 

 

So why put this up now?

 

Well, life has been filled with icky sickness off and on for the last couple of weeks so there are no new pics to put up.  Secondly, Thanksgiving is around the corner and I thought I would get a head start and brag about my beau for a little bit.    What dude would go to this extent on Halloween for his kids/family....not many.  And, just an hour ago or so, he did a lot of post dinner dishes!  He listens to me.  He tolerates my piles of "junk"...oh wait it is "treasure".  Time may not be available all the time but he still loves to date me. Hee Hee.  He is devoted to ALL his family members.  He works very hard at his job so that some dreams of mine, his, and the kids are coming true.  And heck, he plays a mean shortstop for his softball team!

 

Thanks Nathan.SHMILY.

....I liked these pics.  That is all.

 

the pictoral version...from Halloween day.

 

 

PS-First time for the kids to "help" carve pumpkins.  First time for us to take a drill to the pumpkins....stinkin' SWEET!

 

We love you soooo much!

You add so much joy and giggles and dance and spunkiness and cuddles to our family!!!

 

Pics from the party that all most wasn't (Tyler had a fever so we "rearranged" some things)

 

 

(This is from later at night when Tyler was feeling better - Thanks Tylenol)

Mr. Owl

Hello.

 (Because our day will be busy tomorrow!)

 

...we have had a few glimpses of it here and there.  Mere "snapshots" of fall....in between rain and snow.....what a wacky autumn!

 

....

 

....and he's getting ready to have a "Royals v. Yankees" in the basement right now.  PLAY BALLLLLL!

(Thanks for the reminder KM)

 

So, it tried to snow here on the 23rd.  I guess it snowed here on the 10th when we were out of town for my cousin's wedding. (Congrats again EJR)  Sooooo.....when it really did snow here on the 12th....and because Tyler had been praying for snow since Sept......we went out and played in it!!!

 

 

Cute Mug Shots:

 

 

Snow puppies....see the long floppy leaf ears!?!?!?

 

Trying to catch snowflakes on our tongues:

 

 

 

...because there hasn't been a Wordless Wednesday for a long while!

 

....I will show you some autumn pics from our family fun in the area.   (Because it did snow Oct. 12th....and I will show those pics later....and it is still chilly around here....more snow could come at any time!)

 

 

Finally took the kids to a local orchard.  It was cold that day and we should have worn more layers/coats....but the kids had a good time so that meant that the parents could relax and have a good time too!

Check this out....I found a video of my finish in the marathon.

 

(Look around the 41:10 mark as the timer runs down on the video timer, I am wearing gray shorts and a black long sleeve shirt and I raise one arm right at the line...)

 

 

 

Well, if a rush can last 5hr and 11min. that is!

 

Success at the Twin Cities Marathon!!!!

See:

 

It was simply amazing!  Never a dull moment!  Lots of fans.  Lots of runners.  (I am not sure who was more crazy...the fans or the runners...given all that I saw and heard and experienced....WOW!)  It was a perfect day for a run.  A great course (although there were plenty of pot holes that need fixing)

 

Yes I am very sore.  My PT friend from college gave me the tip to go down stairs backwards...totally helps in a major way!!! (Thanks LL)  But, none of my soreness is from the 3-4 weeks prior that created extra chaos in my training schedule....all of that was a non-issue during the run...HOORAY!  I am only sore because I did 26.2 miles. 

 

Ha.  I really did it.  I almost can't believe it because so many little detail memories are fading away....aaaahhhh.  I better write them down before I forget.  And, if you want to know some of the details....let's talk in person and I will tell you all about it....I feel a little weird sharing EVERY detail on the web...privacy stuff...ya know.

 

But before closing I will share these two things:

1) I have the best fans EVER!!!  This is a pic of the family members that "chased" me around the course (minus Nathan because he is taking the pic).  Aren't they beautiful and wonderful and lovely and generous and sacraficial....!?!?!?

Oh wait.  Here is Nathan attempting to talk to me at mile 23/24 or so.  What a guy!!

2) I had a re-energizing thought while training that hit me even harder during this race...."God made me as a runner...I am designed to run".  Plain and simple.  So, now the question is "How far?"    That is yet to be determined....and I am in no hurry to figure it out.  I plan on relaxing with friends and family for a while. 

This time it is Beth's turn.  Things are generally going well.....just some more details to iron out.

 

What does Woody the Woodpecker think he is doing?  Our deck may be older, yes it is made out of wood...but it is NO TREE!

 

 

Tyler's school does a fundraiser every year....right away, just this, all done! 

 

(not pictured: lunch, silent auction, DJ, crafts, crazy hair, book fair, bouncy castle, popcorn...)

 

What a BLAST!!!

It is official....today is the day!

 

I just can't believe it!  I am all knotted up inside...with all the thoughts and feelings rolling around in there.  I am wound up so tightly that I can't seem to get my thoughts together! 

 

But Tyler was a champ and just seized the day....or classroom...whatever.  Here are the pics:

 

 

PS.  Starting to potty train Beth too....since she shows ZERO interest....this may take a while!