First 5k of the Season

We did our first run this season on Saturday. It was the Run for the House at Hawk Island Park.  Saturday morning was freezing! Everyone was cold, but the very coldest were our two boys who rode in the jogging stroller for 2 miles and then couldn't take it any more. Aaron kept jumping ship so Chris couldn't finish the race. It was so sad and frustrating. The boys are troopers but we probably won't take them on another race again. Its hard when our needs (running fast) and their needs (playing at the playground 50 feet away) conflict. Plus, the boys are getting big and thats a lot of weight to push. 

Good news is I did my personal best at 26:42. The racing chair is very fun and I have a lot to learn in it. I expect that 5k time to get shorter and shorter each month I train. 

My Competition - Yikes!

I am doing some research about different racers and what type of equipment they use as well as their technique and positioning. I am learning so much. I am a little overwhelmed right now because I just read that gold medalist Chantal Petitclerc is going to be competing in the Grand Rapids Riverbank Run! Oh my goodness. She is the best in the world right now. Here is a link that shows the list of gold medals she has earned - starting in 1992! I can't believe we are going to share a starting line. 

The crazy thing is that I was already totally nervous about the River bank run because they only offer a wheelchair division in the 25k and that is way farther than I have ever gone before. So I have a month and a half and we will see what can be done in that amount of time. 

I am excited and so motivated. 

Racing Season in HERE!

This is a racing chair that we borrowed from Michigan Sports Unlimited. (Thank you Jeff Coupie) It was fun to try out yesterday as the temperature finally got above 35 degrees. It was my first time in a racing chair and it surprised me how different it felt.  Instead of grabbing the pushrims, you box them. It seemed like it transfered the major active muscle group from the triceps to the biceps. Big change. 

I bought my own racing chair from a guy on Craigslist. It is a Top End that fits me really well. Its at the bike shop right now getting new tires so no pictures yet. This sport it is going to take a lot of hard work this summer, but I am so excited. I have a mentor in Saginaw, Art Hope, who is going to teach me technique. 

To gear up for the marathon in October, Chris and I are doing several races this summer:

3/28 - Ronal  McDonald Run for the House 5k

4/18 Riverbank Training Run 15 k

5/9 Riverbank Run 25k in Grand Rapids

6/6 5K4TJ at Kinawa Middle School

6/18 Thunder in the Valley Games in Saginaw

8/22 The Crim 10 Mi. in Flint

9/7 Mackinac Bridge Run 5 Mi.

10/3 St. George Marathon

This is Alex having great success on the climbing wall at the Flint Childrens Museum. After we got home he said that was his favorite thing there.  

Monday was Chris' birthday and we celebrated with a squirt gun themed birthday party. (Alex's idea of course. We had a squirt gun shaped cake, pinata (we made from a cereal box) and a squirt gun game patterned after the midway game. It was loads of fun. 

Aaron at the Ann Arbor Children's Museum.  He was getting some good air on these keys.

Nemo Musical at Disney World

My favorite thing at Disney World was the Finding Nemo the Musical. It was amazing to see the performers singing, dancing and controlling their puppets. My kids watched the puppets the whole time. Chris and I were amazed by the talented performers and the innovation throughout the show. We were on the edge of our seats excited for what was coming next. The music was great as well. 

I am bored!

Alex says it a couple times every day. Its usually about 1 pm when he has been playing with legos for 3 hours and his mind can't handle it any longer. I sympathize with him. There is only so much you can do inside and this weather is killing us. Its bright and sunny and beautiful. But its still freezing cold. We are so ready to play outside but frozen fingers and noses are not worth it.  

Last Saturday I woke up, made my bed, got dressed and was ready to hit the road for my first run of the season. I got out about an 1/4 mile and couldn't feel my pinky fingers at all! I came back home. Our enthusiasm is bursting at the seams to do all the things we want to do. The weather will break soon, I know it. Its MARCH! 

Jesus' Promise

Mom: Alex, whats the most important thing to you?

Alex: Keeping Jesus' promise.

Mom: That makes me really happy to hear that. What is Jesus' promise?

Alex: Thinking what he is thinking.

This is a conversation we had while I was sectioning an grapefruit for Alex and he was sitting at the table. His brain is amazing. It really allows his spirit to come out and be seen. 

Disney World Vacation

We just got back from the McQueen Family Reunion at Disney World. We had a great time and the kids had so much fun with Mickey, Minnie, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts and Uncles. Its like all their favorite people were in one place. 

Captain Hook made an appearance on the Cruise Ship. 

The adults had dinner together on the last night. 

Grandma took the boys to the pool. They loved it!

Aaron now has 2 Buzz Lightyear Toys. Its crazy, but we let Alex and Aaron each choose one thing to buy from Disney World and he chose another Buzz. 

Grandma and Grandpa took Alex for an afternoon in the Magic Kingdom so Aaron got some one on one parent time. 

This is the water slide on the boat. It was pretty amazing.

It didn't matter how long the line was, Alex wanted to go down the slide.

Taking a break from walking to beat some bongos.

Alex found his one true love.

The pool at the Polynesian Resort was amazing. Each afternoon we came back to the hotel to swim instead of wait in long lines at the parks.

Animal Kingdom had this huge playground with dinosaur bones.

We took a boat tour of the Disney World greenhouses. Saw some crazy ways to grow plants. 

The incredibles taught us how to be a super family.

Alex got the chance to steer the boat on the jungle cruise. He was so excited to do it. He took his job very seriously. He didn't take his hands off the wheel or his eyes of the water.  In this picture he is wearing the awesome shirts Aunt Victoria made for everyone. Each family had their own color. Thank you Vic!

We had a great time. The boys made a lot of memories. We are so blessed to have Sharon and Keith and their amazing generosity. Without them, none of this would be possible.